Holiday Bazaar at Lorain Public Library

To participate in the holiday fun of Waterfront Winterfest, the support group of Lorain Public Library’s Friends of the Library, held their second annual Holiday Bazaar at the main branch location, 351 W. 6th St., Nov. 24-25.

Many items such as crafts, baked goods, books, jewelry and more filled tables in the Toni Morrison room for the bazaar, dome donated by the public others by volunteers or members of the Friends of the Library group.

According to Valerie Smith, an employee of the library’s main branch for 43 years who is retired and is now a board member of Friends of the Library, said the bazaar was held as part of the Waterfront Winterfest holiday event in downtown Lorain and its events that followed. During

Winterfest, a “Frozen” program, based on the film was held and a performance by the Wind Jammers Band followed to keep the holiday festivities going. She said the bazaar was projected to stay open throughout most of the night to get involved with the program and performance.

Smith said majority of the items that were donated for the bazaar were focused more on the holidays. Some of the items were made from the yarn club who made knitted items for the holidays and the entire winter season.

She also added that when people are out shopping for the holidays, it could be easier for them to shop at the bazaar because it’s easier for them to park, especially when there are no crowds.

“Its a win-win; any shopping they do here is shopping small. Just like encouraging people to shop over on Broadway and in Black River Transportation Center,” she said. “We all (small shops) pull together to try and keep it local.”

Other items at the bazaar were made to represent Lorain, as well.

Smith said that the items they don’t sell will go to a craft show at Anchor Lodge, 3756 W. Erie Ave. in Lorain on Dec. 9, so, they could have another chance to have a fundraiser.

The Friends of the Library group is not only a group that supports the Lorain Public Library System in Lorain but for all local library systems. The Lorain Friends of the Library only supports the main and south branches in Lorain, while other groups support others in their city, she said.

Smith said the purpose of these groups, which are not employed by the library, “are formed to raise money to support library levies or anything the libraries may need improvements on. Any donations for the library has to be outside donations, like Friends of the Library.”