“Children laughing, people passing, meeting smile after smile … in the air there’s a feeling of Christmas.”

While we’ve been a little spoiled this year by the warmer-than-average fall weather, as we move into December, there is a decided nip in the air. As they say, ‘Tis the Season!

While we like to think of our little seaside town of Old Orchard Beach as “sleepy” this time of year, we do enjoy every opportunity to bring the community together for a soirée. The beginning of December hails two wonderful opportunities for community connection, and here at Libby Library, we are thrilled to join the celebration.

Dec. 3 is Saco Bay Artists’ Second Annual Art Walk from 10:00am to 3 p.m. Several area businesses, including Libby Library, will showcase work by local artists. Stop by and see what these very talented folks are up to.

On Sunday, Dec. 4 from 3 to 6 p.m. the whole town will be out and about for the annual Celebration by the Sea.

Have a picture taken with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, do some craft projects at the library and the Chamber, enjoy some hot chocolate while listening to the Salvation Army Band, and catch a ride on the Trolley for the Scavenger Hunt, which includes a stop at Libby Library. And the pièce de résistance is the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in Veteran’s Memorial Park. Come join us for some community fun and pretty lights, and check the library’s Facebook page, Instagram, and website for a special event.

Not to be a Scrooge, but this year things aren’t looking so good. For many folks, the general stress that often accompanies the season is compounded with worries about the economy and whether or not we’ll even be able to afford a holiday supper. Factor in the stress of wanting to fill every wish request from our little ones without breaking the bank or contributing to the environment-killing consumerism, and it’s bound to be a disappointing year. More than ever, we’re looking for ways to create lasting holiday memories without destroying the world or our credit ratings.

We, here at Libby Library, got you covered. Did you know that it is possible to both save the planet and our pennies on eco-friendly gifts, decorations, and treats? Check out our upcoming display on how to save “green” by going Green this holiday season.

For those looking for an altruistic giving experience, a commemorative brick is a great gift. Have your loved one’s name printed on a brick that will be installed on the walkway at our parking lot entrance. It’s a beautiful way to give an environmentally-friendly gift and support your local library. Call the library or visit for more details.

We also have some great stocking stuffers. Free passes to the Southworth Planetarium can be reserved from now until July 2023. Passes for half-off the entrance fee to the Children’s Museum are available from now until April. Choose a date to visit the facility and stop by the library for your pass.

Here at the library, we are all about saving. To that end we love to extend the giving season by offering our patrons free stuff year-round. In addition to all of the physical materials available for borrowing from the library, we offer several digital resources, including e-books, movie streaming, and magazines/newspapers. Check out our website at www.ooblibrary.org for a full listing of the free digital resources available to our card holders.

But it’s not just about free materials. We also very much enjoy offering free experiences to our patrons of all ages! For the youngsters, we have Lego Club in the Community Room from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. every Wednesday. On Thursdays at 11 a.m. through the month of December, Miss Valarie will be reading holiday stories in the Children’s Room. For our older patrons, we have a great group of folks who meet in the Community Room each Thursday from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. to play Mahjong. New players of all ability levels are always welcome. We are very excited about our “new” monthly Creative Fiber Club, which will meet next on Dec. 7 at 3 p.m. in the adult reading room (by the fire place). Bring your knitting, crocheting, or small sewing project. Also on Dec. 7 is the next book club get-together to discuss the book One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus.

Community connections, free fun, and thanks giving are the focus for us here at the Libby Library this season. As our friend, Arthur the Aardvark, has wisely observed, “having fun isn’t hard, when you’ve got a library card.” And saving money and the environment are also nice bonuses!

Copy the Story Link

Comments are not available on this story.