In a world increasingly dominated by technology, artificial intelligence and virtual reality, it is easy to assume that libraries are on the path of dinosaurs. In fact, far from extinction, many libraries have evolved to become just as important and important to the community as they were before the Internet.
Rather than a musty, beige building where silence is golden and fun is prohibited, modern libraries are able to gather together to learn new hobbies, skills, languages, become healthy, make friends, or fall in love. It’s now a place to do it! Of course, there are still books in the local library, but you might be surprised at what else is going on.
Cat to rescue
Last year, Worcester Public Library in Massachusetts found another way to revive some of its estranged members with seemingly minor promotions that have become a global phenomenon.
After realising that there are thousands of library accounts that have been deactivated over the years due to unpaid late fees, WPL people came up with a fun way to welcome fees. Although the book fine was eliminated in 2020, many people were reluctant to come back to the library for fear of the fines they had been waiting for the lawn bowl manual, which they forgot to return to in 1982. Meowness in March.
The premise was simple. If you want to go back to the library, instead of paying your fees, all you had to do was submit a picture of a cute cat. It didn’t even have to be your cat. Little did they know that this simple scheme would go viral.
The final results have been a massive surge in new and existing members coming to explore what the library has to offer, and more than anything, more than anything. Photos of over 10,000 cats!
March Meowness 2.0 – Marchy-erand Meowy-er
With the unprecedented success of March Meowness 2024, the WPL team felt pressure to follow up with bigger, better and Meowy-er March 2025 Promotionand it looks like a huge thing! This year, the library wants you to show them your cat, and for all the photos they receive, the Worcester Public Library Foundation will donate a dollar to summer programming of all ages.
They accept:
- Photos of your cat, famous cat, shelter cat, your friend’s cat
- Cat drawing
- Honorary cats are also welcome – dogs, raccoons, or even your favorite capybara!
Bring your photos to your WPL location and email them to comms@mywpl.org or share them on WPL social media. Be sure to tag @catstermag So we can share the fun!
More cat fun
In addition to their photo promotions, WPL has an action-packed calendar of cat-themed activities for older and younger people, including made cat suncatchers, magnetic paintings, and stained glass cats. They also have the chance to name foster cats visiting teenagers and WPL’s new cat mascots!
If you’re in the Worcester area, head to WPL Branch and join the cat-loving community. If you’re not a local, you don’t have to miss out on the fun. Be creative by March 31st, help take pictures of your cat and put a smile on your face. And if you think you have the best name for Worcester mascot, you will need to submit your ideas until March 14th – the winner will be announced at the end of the month.
Has it been a while since you checked out your local library? They are not your grandparents’ libraries!
