Blades the Bruins Bear Coming to Norton Library

The Norton Library is partnering with the Boston Bruins to encourage reading and support summer reading programs.

On Wednesday July 31 Blades, the Bruins mascot, will be on hand for a lunch/brunch starting at noon.

Children will be able to talk with Blades and ask him about his past, how he became a mascot, do hockey crafts and, of course, take photos with the Bruin Bear.

The event will feature giveaways for Bruins posters and raffles as well.

Summer reading students will be able to win Bruins signed jersys and the change to win one of three grand prizes including a ride on the Zamboni at one of the home games.

The program is part of a partnership between the Boston Bruins and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) and the Massachusetts Library System (MLS) and local libraries. This year, libraries across the Commonwealth are offering programs that inspire all ages to discover the world through reading: Dig Into Reading for kids; Beneath the Surface for teens, and Groundbreaking Reads for adults.  

The Boston Bruins began partnering with the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and the Massachusetts Library System in 2009.  Together the organizations support the Commonwealth’s participation in the national Collaborative Summer Library Program so that local libraries are able to offer the program free to participants. Brad Marchand, Dennis Seidenberg, Tyler Seguin and other players helped libraries develop “Favorite Books of the Boston Bruins,” a recommended reads list, to encourage children and teens to read a variety of books over the summer.

Massachusetts has offered statewide online summer reading programs since 2007. Participants register, write book reviews, set goals, and track their progress online. Massachusetts was the first state in the country to offer such a program. On average, 350 libraries offer statewide summer reading each year with over 300,000 children, teens, adults participating.