I wanted to involve the community in a craft that would minister to others. Knitting and crocheting came to mind, but we would need a small and simple project for beginners.
I decided on a baby blanket for stillborn babies. With this project, patrons could make as large or as small a blanket as they wanted, and families of still born babies would receive something warm and soft to wrap around their babies.
For the past three years the Lakeville Public Library has hosted a Noon Year’s Eve celebration on Dec. 31. We make party hats, dance, have photo booths and do a countdown to noon. The festivities end with a huge pizza party.
This is one of our largest and costliest events of the year; last year's party attracted more than 200 guests.
It’s December, and that means Santa Claus is coming to our library.
At Mid-Continent Public Library, Kimberly Howard has collected more than a half dozen Santas over the past 16 years. “Finding Santas isn’t always easy,” said Howard, assistant manager in MCPL’s Community Programming Department.
Program participants read the Dickens masterpiece aloud from start to finish in a public reading using the original text of the 1843 novella. All are invited and encouraged to attend — individuals, families, book clubs and groups — and participate by reading a portion of the book.
All reading levels are welcomed and festive attire is encouraged. Cookies, hot cocoa and spiced apple cider are served as participants gather to read together.
For the holidays in 2019, Westmont Public Library staff taught patrons several techniques to decorate gift bags. Participants got to decorate and take home three bags. All supplies were provided.
This could also be offered as a virtual program with participants picking up a materials packet in advance.
There are lots of reasons why a public library might avoid holiday-specific programming, and there are many people who explain those reasons better than I ever could.
The LP Fisher Public Library in Woodstock, N.B., Canada has had a running club for a number of years now. In addition to our annual summertime Kids Kilometer Fun Run, we also hold a yearly Reindeer Run in partnership with the River Valley Runners (our local run club) and the Salvation Army.
Constellation Cross-Stitch is a beginner's class where patrons of all ages can learn basic techniques in cross-stitch and embroidery. Patrons utilize skills such as hand/eye coordination and hand dexterity, and they leave with a piece of handmade art for their home.
This program was inspired by Netflix show "Nailed It!", which features amateur bakers trying to bake crazy cakes and treats.
Our program encouraged teen and tween participants to create decorative, fun snacks. Since the program was being held in December, we challenged them to make holiday-themed marshmallow pops: a reindeer, a Santa and a snowman.
A food drive with a twist, Winter Festival of Gifts (WFoG) has become a beloved annual tradition at Mount Prospect Public Library (MPPL) as a means to creatively give back to the community, while at the same time highlighting staff talent. The giveaway takes place at a special December luncheon during work hours. The prizes are handed out to the winners at the luncheon, or placed by their desk if they are unable to attend. Diane Davis, pioneer of the program, took time to share the ins and outs of this celebration of giving.
The holidays are a good time for warm and fuzzy programs — from collecting winterwear to give to charity, to creative food drives, to budget- and earth-friendly adult craft activities that offer quality time and lessen patrons’ shopping loads. Here are a few of our favorites.
You may have heard of Small Business Saturday; perhaps you’ve even scored a Shop Small® tote bag while out shopping during the holiday season. Did you know your library can be part of it?
The Crowley Public Library participated in Small Business Saturday® as a Neighborhood Champion, rallying the local community to support small businesses.
Patrons were invited to drop off receipts for items purchased locally during the month of November. People who did received a prize and were entered into a drawing for a gift card.
Working with our local high school honor society and student council, we provided two hours of childcare to enable parents to shop locally without their children on Small Business Saturday. Relying on volunteers helped us carry out an event on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, when staffing can be tricky.
We showed the newly released-to-DVD movie "Finding Dory" with popcorn and hot chocolate followed by a craft: “countdown to Christmas” paper chains.
Gung Hay Fat Choy! Chinese New Year is a spring festival that follows the Chinese lunar calendar and traditionally falls between mid-January and mid-February each year. The celebrations usually last for two weeks and represent a fresh start, rejuvenating family love and hoping for happiness in the year to come.
Homemade Holiday is a wildly successful program series that the Hopkins District and Dorr Township libraries have hosted for several years now. It’s an opportunity for patrons to get out and relax with friends while making their own gifts and decorations for the holidays. We’ve done projects such as linen gift bags, etched snowflake mirrors and glass-fused ornaments (view the finished products in the Photo Slideshow at right).
Nowruz is a non-religious, non-political Iranian holiday that falls on the vernal equinox and celebrates spring and the Iranian New Year. It is a cultural celebration, recognized throughout the world each year among Iranian families.
Rural libraries are uniquely situated within their communities to relate on a personal level, rather than merely “business as usual.” One cool way to do this is by becoming an integral part of the celebratory atmosphere around holidays. Rural libraries can plan something patriotic for Memorial Day and Veterans Day, something sparkling and loud for the 4th of July, thoughtful and reflective for Thanksgiving, and nostalgic and traditional for Christmas.
The Marian Library at University of Dayton (Ohio), a Catholic, Marianist institution, boasts the world's largest repository of books, artwork and artifacts devoted to the Virgin Mary. Among the library’s many treasures is a collection of thousands of handcrafted nativity sets from around the world.
