By Thomas Smith

This March Break, the Haliburton County Public Libraries hosted their first ever Stuffie Sleepover event. For this event, youth brought their stuffed animal to their closest Haliburton County Public Library branch. The three branches that hosted the sleepovers included Minden on Monday, March 10,  Haliburton on Tuesday, March 11, and Stanhope on Friday, March 14.

Shawna Gamblen, Programming and Outreach Coordinator for Haliburton County Public Library planned the event for the stuffies, basing it on similar events held at libraries across Ontario.

For many youth and their stuffies, this was the first time that their stuffies had spent the night away from home.

Plushies were brought to the libraries by youth and their family during regular library hours.

With the help of Gamblen, the Minden Times was granted exclusive interview permission with the stuffies.

When the stuffies were brought to the library, their owners tucked them into beds, specially made for them at each hosting library branch. Stuffies had beds set up on the fireplace in Minden, on the shelf in Haliburton, and on the Kid’s bookshelf in Stanhope.

“I really liked being tucked in by the fireplace,” said Charmander. “As a fire Pokemon, I felt right at home.”

Once the library was closed to the public and everyone was gone, the stuffies were free to explore the library branches.

The stuffies that stayed overnight at the Haliburton branch spent time playing games on the computer, creating bookmarks for the bookmark design contest, playing with Snap Circuits, running through the parachute, exploring storytime props, completing the library’s scavenger hunt, adding leaves to the Forest of Reading Tree, and looking out the window for deer in Head Lake Park.

“One time, I thought I saw a deer outside, but it turned out that it was just Moosey sitting in front of me,” said Grace, the Spider Monster.

Being an electric Pokemon, Pikachu says that playing with the Snap Circuits was the best part of the sleepover in Haliburton.

Stuffies that participated in the Stuffie Sleepover in Haliburton included Grace the Spider Monster, Fluffy the Bunny, Coper the Hot Dog, Elmo, Moosey, Pikachu, Baby Sushi the Shark, Baby Gary the Panda, Skye, Piggy.

“I was a bit scared of the dark,” said Coper, the hotdog. “But being next to my new friend Pikachu made it better.”

Stuffies that slept overnight at the Minden branch enjoyed storytime, playing with the big blue blocks, playing with the photocopier, returning their books, learning to play ukulele, reading books, playing with storytime props, returning their books, and playing with Lego.

Stuffies that sleep over in the Minden branch included Sonic, Bowly the Frog, Crazy Frog

Lea Von Bubbles the Wolf, Pig Pillow the Pig, Meadow the dog, Charmander, Cinnamon Bun the dog, and Marshal the dog.

“I really liked the photocopier,” said Marshall, the dog. “We could make photocopies of each other while making silly faces.”

“The stuffies were wonderful,” said Gamblen. “They respected all of the rules of the library and didn’t make too much of a mess.”

Stuffie slept overnight at the Stanhope branch enjoyed crafting at the craft corner and looking for fire trucks at the Stanhope Fire Station in addition to reading, returning their books, and playing with Lego.

Stuffies that slept over at the Stanhope branch included Cheetah, Shadow the bear, Mr. Bear, Kitty, George the monkey, Owly the Owl, Bunbun the Bunny, and Spider-Man.

I love hearing the sirens of the firetrucks go by,” said Owly.

The Stuffie Sleepover was a roaring success at each of the library’s branches, says Gamblen. Every participant received a special sleepover certificate. Due to the popularity of the event for both youth and the stuffies, Gamblen says that they will be offering an additional Stuffie Sleepover event day in the summer.

With no costs for the event, Gamblen hopes that the event encourages more families and their children (and their stuffies) to visit the library and use their variety of services. The Haliburton County Public Library branches try their best to reduce barriers of access, while providing safe, welcoming, and nurturing places for everyone.