The season of giving

Thank you to everyone in the community who donated books for our book sale. We had an overwhelming response to our request for donations. People in the community were so generous and, as a result, we had another great book sale. People were also very generous with their time. I had so many wonderful volunteers help to set up the book sale and work as cashiers during the sale. We really could not have done it without you.

Through our "Food for fines" program in November, we were able to donate four very large boxes of food and hygiene products to the Newark Food Closet. Thank you to everyone who brought food in, and special thanks to those who brought extra food in so that library fines could be forgiven for others. It is so heartwarming to witness such thoughtfulness and generosity.

We are continuing our season of giving with the second

year in a row of making new hats, gloves and scarves available for free for community members in need. Last year we had a "giving tree" decorated with these hats, gloves and scarves. This year, we will have a tree again on the lower level of the library with hats, gloves and scarves for kids and teens, but upstairs you will find a "giving line" instead, hanging in front of the magazines. Please come help yourself if you need something to keep you warm - or take some for someone else who could use it.

We will be in constant need for more hats, gloves and scarves, and continuing donations would be greatly appreciated. You can bring them in any time the library is open.

Make your holiday season even more special by watching out for opportunities throughout the community to help others - Toys for Tots, The Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign, ongoing donations to the food closet (I heard they are currently in special need of hygiene products), reaching out to your church or school to see if there is a family that needs a little help with a holiday meal or holiday gifts. There are so many opportunities to help those less