Library Offers Free Circus Tickets

The Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library is joining with other libraries around the County in using the circus to encourage young children to read more.

The Library is giving away free tickets to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which is coming to the RBC Center in Raleigh Feb. 9-13, to youngster who read at least five new books.

"The purpose, of course, is to encourage more reading," said Children's Librarian Kristi Lesmann. "Hopefully, we can boost our circulation, which usually dips during the winter months."

The Library, which has already issued more than 200 free tickets, has 500 more to give away.

The program is for children 2 to 12 years of age.

Getting a ticket is easy, she said. Just come by the Library and get a certificate for a ticket and some books. Once the certificate has been validated by Library staff, it can be traded at the RBC box office for a ticket.

Kristi recommends getting your ticket early, though.

"If you wait until the day of the circus, there might be an availability issue," she said. "So, get it early if you can."

The program is called "Reading with Ringling Bros."