The Salina Public Library has several holiday activities planned for December, including its first holiday open house.
The Art of the Season will be from noon – 5 p.m. Dec. 5. There will be an art market where patrons can browse and purchase work by local artists Brenna Downs, Danton McDiffett, Shawn Delker and Andrea Fuhrman. In the Technology Department, patrons can try out various devices and get tips on technology buying at the Tech “Petting Zoo.” Children can create a Christmas craft in Youth Services. There will be hot chocolate and cookies.
Throughout December, there will be children’s activities that encourage creativity, reading and learning about technology. The Winter Break Reading Program will run from Dec. 1 – Jan.3. Children will be encouraged to keep reading through their holiday break with weekly games and pop-up contests. Sign up will be in the library’s Youth Services Department.
Children also can bring letters to Santa to the Youth Services Department through Dec. 14. If they include a self-addressed, stamped envelope, they will receive a reply from Santa.
Several craft events will be offered in Youth Services. The come-and-go Ornament Blowout will be from 10 a.m. – noon Dec. 2, and Christmas Cards will be all day Dec. 10. Family Art Night, where families can work on a project to be displayed in the library, will be from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Dec. 3. Arm Knitting, for ages 10 and older, will be from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. Dec. 4. Registration is required. Young children can make Dough Ornaments from 10 – 11:30 a.m. Dec. 9 and Holiday Handprints from 10-11 a.m. Dec. 16, directly following Brainy Babies Storytime at 9:30 a.m. Children 8 and older can create Baby Sock Snowmen from 3:30 – 5 p.m. Dec. 11. Christmas Origami, for children 5 and older, will be 4 – 5 p.m. Dec. 17. Registration is required for Snowmen and Origami and opens Dec. 1. In the Technology Center Training Lab, children ages 5-12 can make mini-notebooks by printing to adhesive paper. Christmas Craft with Tech will be offered from 10 – 11:30 a.m. and 2 – 3:30 p.m. Dec. 22. Registration is required and opens Dec. 8.
The popular Cookies with Santa will be the week of Dec. 7 – 11. Children can decorate cookies and meet a special, jolly visitor in the Prescott Room. Times will be 4 – 5 p.m. Dec. 7, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8, 4 – 5 p.m. Dec. 9, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10 and 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Dec. 11. Registration is required and opens Dec. 1.
To register for events, call 785-825-4624, visit the online calendar at www.salinapubliclibrary.org or come to the library at 301 W. Elm. For more information, please contact Courtney Hail, Youth Programs Specialist, at youthpgm@salpublib.org or 785-825-4624, ext. 230.