Wolves will again take center stage at the Farmington Public Library as part of its summer reading program, with two educational presentations by Paula Woerner of Wolfwood Refuge on Monday, July 7.
The program will be offered at 11 a.m. and again at 5 p.m., which features live animals and wildlife education. The morning session will include a live animal visit, while the evening session will feature a slideshow and indoor talk.
“We did (this event) last year – that was the first time Farmington libraries had Wolfwood,” said Heather Erlandson, Youth Services Librarian. “We had a great turnout and people were really happy with it. A lot of people stayed to pet the wolf and pet the dog afterward. Petting the wolf is pretty unique.”
The event is part of the library’s effort to provide exciting, hands-on learning opportunities through its summer programming.
“It’s always nice to get kids interested in something or to allow them more experience with something they’re already interested in,” Erlandson explained. “It’s part of the summer reading program – we try to capture their interest and give them something cool to look forward to and some great experiences at the library. Then they follow up on that with their reading.”
If you go
WHAT: WolfWood Educational Event at Farmington Library
WHEN: Monday, July 7 at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
WHERE: Farmington Public Library, 2101 N. Farmington Ave.
INFORMATION: Visit https://bit.ly/Farmingtonlibraryevents
The Wolfwood Refuge, based in Colorado, is dedicated to the rescue, care, and education around wolves and wolf dogs. Woerner, who founded the organization and previously worked as a teacher, presents regularly to schools and libraries. Her experience, Erlandson noted, makes her especially good at connecting with young audiences.
“She really has a lot of background with working with kids,” Erlandson said. “She does a great job of managing the kids and answering the questions that they’re going to want to hear and that they’re going to want to ask.”
Erlandson believes animal-themed programs like this resonate strongly with local families.
“Everybody seems to love animals, and it’s always interesting to hear how animals are cared for,” Erlandson added. “They get a lot of information about wolves in captivity or in the rescue, as well as a lot of information about wolves in the wild.”
And for any audience members who might dream of having a wolf as a pet, the event also provides some practical perspective.
“It’s good information for them to have if they’re ever considering having a wolf for a pet – that it’s probably not their best idea,” Erlandson remarked. “A lot of kids talk about how much they love seeing the wolves and how they didn’t realize how big wolves were. They bring a husky and a wolf-dog mix, and to see the size difference – it really impresses them.”
The library’s wildlife presentations have proven to be popular across the board. Earlier this summer, the library hosted New Mexico Raptors with live birds of prey and a Border collie program focused on dog training. Another past program featured marine biologists who shared footage of great white sharks.
“We have a lot of parents telling us that they love the programming,” Erlandson said. “They love being able to come in with their kids and see the same things. Nobody gets to go sit with their kids at school and see all these cool things that happen, so they really like being able to bring their kids in.”
One memorable moment came during a shark presentation, when a young girl waited in line to speak with the presenters because she wants to be a marine biologist. “This is their interest,” Erlandson said. “This is the one they’re after.”
As for what’s next, the library is considering more wildlife and science-based events for the future.
For now, families can look forward to meeting some of Wolfwood’s animals – and maybe even petting one.
“It’s a great thing for kids to learn how to care for others, whether that’s people or animals,” Erlandson said. “And Paula does a great job telling kids that their actions matter with animals.
For more information on events, call the Farmington Public Library at (505) 599-1270.
