ECTOR COUNTY, Texas — Across the Permian Basin, schools are closing down for spring break. The week off allows students to get a mental break from school and to spend time with family.
While some families may take a quick vacation, there are other ways to spend time with the kids and not break the bank.
Libraries in the Permian Basin, such as the Ector County Library, are rolling out family-friendly events that everyone can enjoy.
“For our kind of older group we have our Harry Potter events going on. Today [Monday] it's Harry Potter potions, they get to make their own potion to take home," Children's Managing Librarian Jamie Henry said. "Tomorrow [Tuesday] it's Harry Potter wands, then Wednesday it will be the monster book, the one that Harry got from Hagrid."
While there are the usual reasons for parents to bring their kids to the library, libraries in West Texas are more than equipped to keep the kids learning in a fun environment.
“We have a nice air conditioned place to come to and there are events for the whole family," Ector County Library Director Howard Marks said. "It’s somewhere where the kids can run up and down and go from department to department."
For people who are interested in showing up, prepare to make some new friends. Marks said hundreds of kids and there parents will show up over the course of the week.
“It varies, I'd say 100 at least up to 500," Marks said. "By the time we get to Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, we hit the big numbers.”
These spring break events are such a hit that parents usually ask if they can be rolled over into summer vacations and even during the school years.
“[They'll ask] can you guys, you know, roll this out, during the summer or can you guys repeat this that sort of thing," Marks said. "They often like the programming and want to see it return it's often popular.”
Midland County libraries will be hosting their own events as well. Throughout the week, there will be story time readings for toddlers and a hand-on science exhibit that all the kids can interact with.