Bosler Free Library
When it comes to holiday outings, you might think of venturing over to the shopping mall, the town tree lighting, maybe a tree farm or a neighborhood party.
I would add one stop to that list: your local library.
In our area, the library is a special place come December, when you’ll find everything from harps to handbells, gingerbread men to secret Santas.
“December is a busy month in our town,” said New Cumberland librarian Joy Hassler.
And in her library, as well.
This month, the New Cumberland Public Library will host a Secret Santa workshop with small, wrapped gifts for children to buy for relatives, as well as a book and vintage jewelry sale, all during the first week.
Then, on Dec. 13, things get a little musical with a talk on “Christmas in The Great American Songbook.” Pianist Charles Stone will discuss well-known Christmas songs like “White Christmas,” “Let it Snow,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and “All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth.” The annual Holly Luncheon, a fundraiser for the library, follows.
“We’re a friendly, medium-sized library with a well-balanced collection of books and programs for all ages,” Hassler said.
Unique Creation
Nearby, the typically event-packed Fredricksen Library goes even further, featuring a smorgasbord of special programming.
The Holiday Book Tree is a new tradition at Fredricksen. The 6-foot tree is created entirely from out-of-date, withdrawn books otherwise destined for recycling. For a donation (minimum $10), the library will place your name or family name on the spine of a book, so that you or a loved one can become part of this unique creation.
Marketing Coordinator Cindy Smolinski said that one of Fredricksen’s most popular holiday programs is “Library for Lunch,” held this year on Dec. 12, 13 and 15.
“Children will hear stories about the Gingerbread Man, the classic holiday storybook character, then decorate their very own gingerbread cookie,” she said.
On Dec. 18, teenagers can build and create a gingerbread house of their own at the “Teen Gingerbread Extravaganza.”
The regular afternoon book club, “Curl up with the Classics” also gets festive, featuring a discussion of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” on Dec. 6. The following week, on Dec. 12, the library will host the annual Harp and Handbells Concert with harpist Louis Lynch and the First UMC Handbell Choir.
And here comes Santa! Over at the library’s East Pennsboro Branch, Santa will visit on Dec. 7, when families also can enjoy the annual tree lighting ceremony.
“Our holiday season is a special time for us,” Smolinski said.
Busy Time
Down the road a bit, the Bosler Memorial Library in Carlisle emphasizes music and the arts for its holiday programming.
On Dec. 16, the Vintage Brass Quintet will be put on a show featuring a variety of holiday tunes and traditional favorites.
Over the next week, the library twice will bring a holiday theme to its “Meet the Artists” format, giving children ages 7 to 12 an opportunity to explore various artistic styles while creating their own holiday projects. There will also be holiday-themed stories, craft-making and other arts projects.
Even Santa will make an appearance. Along with the Downtown Carlisle Association, the library will host a “Doughnuts with Santa “program on Dec. 3. So, children should be prepared to share their holiday wish lists with the jolly old man.
“The holiday season is an especially busy time at the library,” community manager Vallie Edenbo said.
The same can be said at the Hershey Public Library, according to adult educational coordinator Julie Brnik.
On Dec. 10, the library will host a wreath-making class and, on Dec. 12, “A Christmas Carol” will be staged—a one-man show starring Steve Anderson and featuring an entire Victorian village.
Of course, parents know that the holidays don’t really end until the kids go back to school. So, the library is planning a series of family-friendly movies to run over the last week of December.
Elsewhere in the area, the East Shore Area Library will host an hour-long Celtic holiday music performance by the Harrisburg-based Celtic Folk band, Seasons on Dec. 3. And, of course, the Elizabethtown Public Library will set up its always-popular train display, which opens Dec. 1.
So, folks, put on that ugly Christmas sweater, bundle up the kiddies and head on over to your local library for a month of holiday fun.
The events in this story constitute only a partial list of holiday happenings at local libraries. For all events and schedules, please visit the libraries’ websites.
GOING THERE
Bosler Memorial Library
158 W. High St., Carlisle
www.boslerlibrary.org
Cleve J. Fredricksen Library
100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill
www.fredricksenlibrary.org
East Shore Area Library
4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg
www.dcls.org/esa
Elizabethtown Public Library
10 S. Market St., Elizabethtown
www.etownpubliclibrary.org
Hershey Public Library
701 Cocoa Ave., Hershey
www.hersheylibrary.org
New Cumberland Public Library
1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland
www.newcumberlandlibrary.org
Author: Don Helin
