On Saturday, October 24, the Baldwinsville Public Library’s Marketing and Outreach Coordinator, Erin Bronder-Major, joined staff from the Onondaga County Public Library system for Zoo Boo at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse. Publicized as “kooky, not spooky,” the event delivered a delightful celebration of creativity, costumes, and community!
One of the best parts of the day was seeing the incredible imagination families brought to their costumes. We spotted an alien baby accompanied by parents dressed as Mulder and Scully, a full circus family featuring a tattooed strongman capable of lifting an entire baby elephant, and even a walking pumpkin patch made up of an entire family. Everywhere we looked, children and adults alike had embraced the opportunity to be silly, imaginative, and wonderfully over the top. We also ran into a few familiar faces who had come to visit one of the zoo’s biggest attractions: its elephant twins, Yaad and Tukada. Their names come from Hindi words meaning “memory” and “chip,” respectively, making the pair an especially memorable part of the zoo experience. In total, Erin met 740 Zoo Boo participants and saw hundreds of amazing costumes!
Library staff got into the spirit, too! Maggie took command as a pirate captain, while Eleanor represented the “Sickos” meme from The Onion’s political cartoons. Erin opted for a more understated costume version of the thing she fears most: the unread book sitting on the top of her to-read list. Her literary nemesis? Radiant Star by award-winning science fiction author Ann Leckie. Maggie was even given a playful jury duty summons by the youngest postman when she asked if he had any mail for her. She promptly gave it back, a fantasy many adults can relate to.
These staff members took the opportunity to connect with people beyond their buildings and encourage families to visit all the libraries in the county when they attend freight-filled October programs and work toward completing their Passports by collecting the stickers from all 32 Onondaga County Public Library locations. Libraries are welcoming places for curiosity, discovery, and fun in the fall! Whether you’re looking for your next great read, a family activity, or a new resource to explore, your local library has something for you.
Thank you to the Zoo, OCPL colleagues, and all the creative families who made the day such a treat!
Check out these links for some of the cutest pictures you may every see:
Zoo Instagram
more Zoo Instagram
Zoo Facebook