Libraries aren't just for quiet reading and solitary research. Sometimes, like the last Thursday of each month, they're for pizza and movies.
That's when the Norwalk Public Library hosts its "PJs, Pizza & a Movie Night," the epitome of a cheap date for parents and their young readers. For a buck, they get a couple of slices and the chance to sprawl on the floor and watch a kids' movie.
August's offering was "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," and Thursday night more than 100 youngsters and their parents descended on the library's auditorium. "We've been getting a great response since we started it in January," said Vicki Oatis, the children's librarian. "The only problem was running out of pizza once because some people took too much, so now we serve it to them." To make sure nobody had to watch on an empty stomach, 22 pizzas were delivered from Jordan's shortly before show time.
"It's a great bargain," said Kyle Russo, who drove from Trumbull for the event. "I wish we had something like this at home."
The program isn't just about food and flicks, though. The library tries to encourage youngsters to read and write about the book the film is based on, rewarding them with a free pass to the showing. "Diary" proved extremely popular. "We have seven or eight copies, and we can't keep it on our shelves," Oatis said.
She plans to keep the program going, although the fee might go up to $2 next year. "It's definitely been a huge success," she said.
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