The library is typically a quiet place to study, but Nov. 17 the Whitman Library, 200 Snyder Ave., was invaded by noisy children. The noise equaled that of a zoo, which is exactly why so many children were gathered at the library. Philadelphia Zoo’s Zoo on Wheels program brought various animals to the library for the event Who’s Who at the Zoo.
Philadelphia Zoo educator, Tajah Williams, put the animals on parade one-by-one while shouting out questions and educational facts as the youngsters stood on chairs and crowded around her. First to make an appearance was Timothy the chinchilla, followed by Kibibi (“princess” in Swahili) the guinea fowl. Williams then opened a cooler and took a corn snake out of a sack, and the grand finale was a large worm-eating armadillo named Suzie Q.
“It’s important environmental and conservation information and a way for kids to develop a love for animals,” Williams said on her role as educator. “Field trips can be expensive and many inner-city children can’t come to the zoo, so it’s great to have this option of bringing the zoo to them.”
Present at the event was 4-year-old Will Kravetz, who told his aunt, Nicole Stewart, that he was hoping for an elephant to be at the library.
Terrance Johnson, 5, said his favorite animal at the event was the armadillo.
“Because it can roll,” he said.
Parents told Williams, who started working at the zoo as a volunteer in high school ten years ago and has been an educator for the last year-and-a-half, that their children normally won’t sit still for long, but she had their attention.
“Kids like to get hands-on, so when I bring out the animals they are hooked right away,” Williams said.
Who’s Who at the Zoo was organized by the Friends of the Whitmans Library. Laura McColgan, the group’s president who was responsible for fundraising the Zoo on Wheels’ first appearance at the library, sent a grant proposal to the Philadelphia Activities Committee. In return, the group received a $1,000 check from 1st District Councilman Frank DiCicco, who made an appearance at the event.
“I would most certainly partner with the zoo again, because of the success,” McColgan said. “I was approached by several parents asking me when another event would happen.”
Partnering with the Philadelphia Zoo was a great way for McColgan’s group to support the Whitman library branch and, in turn, the zoo can expand its reach.
“The Philadelphia Zoo was able to bring zoo animals to a wider audience as well as make an educational connection with the community,” Erin McCool, manager of the zoo’s outreach programs, said.
Friends of the Whitman Library volunteers range from age 11 to senior citizens, and as a volunteer group for the library, Who’s Who at the Zoo was a way to increase membership for the friends group and increase patronage at the Whitman library, resulting in more library card registrations at the branch.
“It was our largest turnout for an educational event,” library supervisor Allen Merry said.
