Becca Brown helps a stuffie find a seat as Mr. Giant the Bear gets ready to read a story during the Stuffies Sleepover at the Altoona Area Public Library Thursday evening. Mirror photo by Holly Claycomb

Dozens of “stuffies” took over the Altoona Area Public Library, where they hid in the bookshelves, read stories, completed puzzles and even learned to play chess, the latter thanks to the library’s chess club leader Don Hanes and member David Klapper.

The stuffies’ Sleepover at the Library helped wrap up National Library Week, organizers said, and helped foster reading, too, as each of the stuffies’ humans received a booklet of their beloved friend’s overnight adventures.

During library hours Thursday, young library patrons dropped off their stuffed pals — some with sleeping bags, blankets and, in one case, a toothbrush — for the overnight adventure.

Jim had some trouble letting go of his human, 2-year-old Lennox Snyder, said mom Britney Freet. Four-year-old Kallum Snyder played with Wolf for a bit before he, too, handed his stuffed pup off for a night of fun.

Freet said the kids enjoy coming to the library, playing with the toys and taking part in the activities.

While trying to talk Jim, a soft, fuzzy spider, into leaving the snug arms of his human, Freet said the adventure seemed like a lot of fun.

That’s why Paityn Shaw, 13, brought Thumper, the stuffed bunny she got at Disney last year. She imagined the sight of all the stuffed characters taking over the library would be pretty neat.

“It will be really funny,” added the avid reader.

Jim, Wolf and Thumper weren’t alone, as 70 stuffies found their way into the library for the night.

When evening came, the stuffies’ adventures began, helped along by Becca Brown, children’s services programming specialist, and Cindy Baney.

As a few patrons wrapped up their time in the library, Jim found a comfy nook in a bookshelf, Thumper and others gathered with Mr. Giant the Bear to read a book, and they all checked out the refrigerator in the staff room. They also watched over the library from the second floor.

Brown has the photos to prove it.

Those photos, along with a short story, were compiled in a booklet by an “assembly line” of library staffers Friday morning, said Mary Cheng.

“The kids were so happy” to pick up their stuffies Friday and were thrilled with the booklet that included photos of their stuffies’ exploits, she said.

The turnout for the event was awesome, she added, noting it took seven people to compile the books in time for the first pickups.

The program was offered at least once in the past, said Justina Fuller, children’s program specialist, but that was several years ago.

She expected about 20 or so stuffies, so when the number kept climbing throughout the day, she admitted to being just a bit anxious about how they would be able to pull off the adventure.

In the end, the stuffies stayed for breakfast Friday so that everything could be ready for their families.

“It’s a fantastic way for the kids to have an interaction with the library,” she said of the event. “We’re more than just books.”

National Library Week is a good time to remind the public that the library offers computer time, games, puzzles, toys, programs — including the upcoming Summer Reading Program — and more, she said.

“We’re a family-place library,” she said. “A safe place.”

In the pages of their booklets, youngsters could see what their stuffies did at the library.

Goat, Cakey cupcake, Mr. Mustard Whiskers the cat, Suzie sloth and Jimbo the opossum were joined by Ju Ju Jr. Jr. the blue dragon, Danny shark, Pen Pen penguin, Baby Bunny Whiskers and all the others in getting some tips from Hanes and Klapper on how to set up a chess board and “lose spectacularly.”

The two were good sports who volunteered to help Brown and Baney, when they pulled out chess pieces in an attempt to set up the boards while also juggling arms full of stuffies.

Those involved in setting up the special sleepover said it was a lot of fun.

“The kids were just so adorable coming in,” Baney said, noting they were excited and hugged their stuffies goodbye.

When they returned Friday, more hugs were bestowed, Cheng said.

The program was “very successful,” she said.

For anyone who missed the event, library staff said plans are in the works for another stuffie sleepover, probably in the fall or winter.