A Library Went Viral After Clarifying That Its Anti-Prom Event Will Have Snacks, Not Snakes

“Not to say we have anything against snakes."
Image of a coiled rattlesnake with its forked tongue hanging out
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A Texas library went viral after being forced to clarify that an anti-prom event for local teens would have snacks, not snakes, as a local newspaper mistakenly reported. Pflugerville Library near Austin, Texas, took to Facebook to clear up the mistake and also to let teen snake lovers know that they’d get a chance to hang with the legless reptiles at a different library event.

“ATTENTION - there will be no snakes at this Friday's Anti Prom at the library,” the library wrote in a post. “There was a typo in a local paper that said we will have snakes. We will have snacks. Snacks is what we will have.”

“Not to say we have anything against snakes,” the post continued. “In fact, snakes will be at the library in May during the Teen De-Stressing Day: Reptile Hangout.”

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Screenshots of that post about the April 12 anti-prom event blew up on Twitter as people relished the forked-tongue-in-cheek humor.

"At first I just thought, 'Oh, they mean snacks,'" the library’s marketing specialist, Rose Cobb, told BuzzFeed News of the original mistake. "I really didn’t think too much of it." But when she ended up getting messages asking whether the snakes would really be there, she wanted to clarify.

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"I know it sounds weird — we are kind of forward-thinking with our programming, so I figured that this one mistake might actually cause some real confusion in our community," Cobb told BuzzFeed News. A recent animal showcase event had featured snakes, Cobb added.

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The library has also put up a sign in its “Teen Space book display” advertising the anti-prom event as being snake-free.

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Cobb told BuzzFeed News that the anti-prom event idea came from a group of high schoolers who formed a Teen Advisory Group for the library. "The idea is to create a safe inclusive space without the pressures of a traditional prom," Cobb explained. “Anti-Prom is a safe space for you to dance — or not — the night away, no matter your sexuality, gender identity, beliefs, or any other reason."

The library’s programming does have events that are inclusive for those who would like to see some snakes. For those who prefer to let their hair down like Medusa, a finals-week event will give library guests the chance to spend some time with snakes.

“Are finals stressing you out?” a post advertising the library’s "Teen De-Stressing Day: Reptile Hangout," on May 22, read. “Take a break from studying with coloring, fuse beads, and a dozen live reptiles from Austin Reptile Shows! Get ready for creepy crawly fun with snakes, lizards, and turtles from around the world.”

Want more from Teen Vogue? Check this out: We Went to Anti-Prom at the New York Public Library and Here’s What Happened