Russell Elementary School recently wrapped up its celebration of National Library Week with a visit from Lori Heatherington and her four-legged friend Bernie.

Heatherington is executive director of the Humane Society of Northwest Montana.

Heatherington read “Stray Dog,” by Marc Simont to a group of third-graders. As Heatherington turned the pages, she related the story about a family that encounters a stray dog with no leash or collar while picnicking.

“Have you ever been to a park and seen a dog off the leash?” Heatherington asked the students. “Are dogs supposed to be off the leash?”

A resounding “no” answered her question.

When family members see the dog a second time being chased by a dog patrol officer they realize the dog has no owner. The two children of the family claim the dog by using a belt and a hair ribbon for a makeshift leash and collar.

“Do you ever have a problem to solve? Do you thing you could come up with a solution that fast? Reading helps you do that. You see the world differently than you did before,” Heatherington said, noting that books help people acquire useful information.

After finishing the book, Heatherington and the students talked about canine safety and care. Then, much to the joy of her audience, she brought in Bernie, a sprightly 2-year-old Yorkshire-poodle mix she is fostering.

Heatherington and her Humane Society ambassador dogs are yearly visitors to the Russell, invited by school librarian Nancy Pensa.

“She always gives me a book about dogs so that we can have a teaching experience as well as talk about the importance of reading,” Heatherington said. “You cannot function in society if you can’t read because at some point you must read something — rules, an application to get a job.”

Pensa said these encounters that tie community members and reading show students why reading is important outside of school.

“That’s what I really want to emphasize with the kids — how reading is so important not just here, but in the community too with all the different kinds of jobs,” Pensa said.

Guest speakers included Undersheriff Calvin Beringer, local children’s book author and photographer KC Glastetter, Creston volunteer firefighter Joe Brenneman and Russell Principal Bill Sullivan.

“Each speaker brought their unique community perspective to our kids and how reading — and especially libraries — have helped them along the way,” Pensa said.

Another highlight of the week’s events was a schoolwide student book swap. Third-grader Mackenzie Marsh perused books spread out on library tables for the swap and picked up “Wayside School is Falling Down.”

“What you do is you bring a book to school and you swap them out for other books,” Marsh said.

Marsh is currently reading the Percy Jackson and the Olympians book series.

“I think it’s kind of cool. It’s about demigods,” Marsh said.

Nearby, third-grader Bastian Ryan held two science books about the sun and magnets he planned to check out from the library.

“I’m a scientist so I read everything science,” Ryan said. He is quite familiar where the science books are located. “There’s a whole science section over there.”

Pensa said visiting the library and the tactile experience of looking at books and leafing through pages remain meaningful to young learners in a digital age.

“Everybody talks about the digital age and how it’s going to make libraries obsolete. It’s that emotional aspect that libraries bring to children’s lives,” Pensa said. “It’s the experience of coming into a library and participating in all the events. It’s the experience of putting their hands on a book and being able to take it home and read it.”

A few years ago, the district underwent budget cuts and school library hours were affected. Pensa said librarians were traveling between schools; Russell’s libraries were open just three days a week. Hours have since been restored and the librarian role is more robust, said Pensa who, in addition to serving as librarian, teaches science curriculum three times a week.

“Now students can come in any time during the day and get their questions answered,” Pensa said.

The American Library Association sponsors National Library Week. The school also recognized April as School Library Month by the American Association of School Librarians.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.