Holiday fun at the library

This week and next, there are candy canes and crafts, cookies and hot chocolate, puppet shows and parties, scavenger hunts and a special visitor in a red suit too. All welcome to drop by and join us, free and fun for all ages.

Bring your best singing voices; the Pictou Library is hosting a “Merry Christmas Musical” puppet show on Dec. 13, at 10:30 a.m. Later in the week, the library is hosting a Holiday Open House on Dec. 15 with hot apple cider, treats, crafts and music from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. And on December 16 at 11 a.m., there will be another festive puppet show, Twas the Night before Christmas, with a visit from Santa too. Join us for hot chocolate, candy canes and books from Adopt-a-Library Literacy Program.

The Elf Hunt continues at the Stellarton library. All are welcome to drop by and find all the little elves hidden on the library’s shelves until Dec. 23.

Also on display, our Mitten Tree decorated with donations of beautiful warm woolen items, which will be given to a local community organization. And we invite you to visit our Arts and Crafts table to make a holiday card for someone special until Dec 23. Plus, on Dec 21, from noon until 8 p.m., we’ll be making reindeer food, for Santa’s visit.

Dec. 16 is a holiday-filled day at the Library. The Westville Library is hosting a drop-in holiday ornament making session from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the Trenton Library is hosting a special drop-in Snowman Scavenger Hunt from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It is also the last day of coloring the Giant Gingerbread House at the River John Library, and later that afternoon, there will be a draw to win the house.

Next week, there will be a special visitor from the North Pole will be stopping by the Westville Library for an evening of family holiday celebrations with cookie decorating, and crafts on Dec. 21, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. All are welcome to drop by and join in the festivities.

Still searching for that perfect holiday gift? How about buying a book, DVD box set or audiobook for your local public library?

How do you gift-a-book? Simply drop by one of our seven local library locations to see a display of gift books and DVDs, or visit us online at www.parl.ns.ca to view our Holiday Wish List of Books. Then pick a title (or suggest a title), make your donation, and as soon as the book (or DVD) is ready to lend — we will let you know.

Holiday hours

As we celebrate the holiday season, please note, the Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library will be closed on Sunday, Dec. 24, Monday Tuesday, Dec. 25 and Tuesday, Dec. 26. The Library will be open regular hours from Wednesday, Dec. 27 to Saturday, Dec. 30. The library will also be closed on Sunday Dec. 31, and Monday Jan. 1.

Happy holidays and best wishes, from everyone at the Library. We’ll see you in the New Year. (Library programs resume starting Jan. 2. Please contact your local library for details.)

For more information on upcoming library programs, special events and services, please drop by your local library branch, follow us on Twitter, find us on Facebook, or visit us online at www. parl.ns.ca.

Trecia Schell, Community Services Librarian, and Branch Librarian; Books-by-Mail, River John, Stellarton & Trenton Public Libraries.