Our Community Baby Shower is this Saturday and literally everyone is invited. In a few weeks, you’re also invited to our Fired Up For Safety extravaganza with firetrucks, firefighters, hands-on demonstrations, and Marshall from Paw Patrol. These events are a big deal and lots of work for us. So why do we organize them?

Libraries are here to give every person in our community access to information and tools they might not be able to get. We’re here to share knowledge and help our community thrive. Events like our baby shower and fire safety day tick all the boxes for those goals. And we can offer you so much more by getting community partners involved. We share what we know and they get to share their knowledge and resources with you, too.

This year marks our third community baby shower. It brings together partners from all over Northeast Ohio; partners that are specialists at helping children grow and learn. They can connect you with free resources, some that you probably didn’t know existed. If you’re not a new parent or expecting, chances are you know someone who is. Let them know about the shower or bring them yourself. There’s giveaways (like these cute onesies from the library), food, games, and prizes to make it festive.

A few weeks later, on Saturday, May 17, the Ravenna Fire Department has partnered with us to let you learn and practice fire safety, hands-on. Bring the whole group from 11am to 1pm because it’s an event for any and every age. Kids can climb in and investigate the firetruck and meet real-life heroes. We won’t actually light anything on fire, but you can practice putting out “fires” with a virtual fire extinguisher. In addition to the fun outside, some specific sessions are scheduled in the Jenkins meeting room – attend one or all of them.

• 11:15-11:45: Home cooking safety—This presentation is geared towards families and highlights the common safety concerns with cooking at home, how to avoid common mistakes, and what to do in the event of a cooking-related fire.
• 11:45-12:15: Smoke Detectors 101—This presentation emphasizes the importance of properly placed and working smoke detectors at home. Whether you rent or own your home, working smoke detectors and a fire escape plan ensure you’ll be prepared to get out safely.
• 12:15-12:45: Fire extinguisher show and tell – Ever wonder what’s in a fire extinguisher, how about how to use one? This presentation will give you a quick lesson on the history of fire extinguishers and the technology behind them. You will then get the opportunity to use a modified fire extinguisher with the latest technology to extinguish a virtual fire. How fast can you put out the flames?

We know a lot at the library and we love to share our knowledge. We also know that we have other experts in our community who love to help you, too. Bringing community partners together to help spread even more information and knowledge is one of our favorite things to do. Will you join us for one or both of these (totally free) events in May? Hope to see you at the library!