Northern Tier Regional Library is offering a limited number of Old World Christmas ornaments for purchase.
Each ornament is hand-blown, silvered and hand-painted in the traditional fashion. Three styles are available: Snowman and Book Worm, $20 each, and Love You to the Moon, $22.
Ornaments come with boxes, and there is a limited supply. They are available for purchase at the library’s front desk.
Library programs and activities include:
• Maker space kits. Use craft sticks to create a mini sled decoration.
Kids and teens can enjoy a take-home kit featuring directions and materials to complete a craft from the library’s maker space. Call or register online to reserve a supply kit that can be picked up Dec. 9 and enjoyed at home.
• Natureology: Outer Space with Tony Palermo, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 10. The program is for children of all ages, and registration is required.
• Bridget’s Book Club, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 11. The club will have its annual “Gift of Reading” book exchange.
Every member is asked to bring a gift-wrapped book that he or she read and enjoyed for an exchange with other club members. It can be a checked-out library book that will be rechecked out to the person who receives it, or a book that you own.
There will also be food and wine, so feel free to add to the merriment by bringing a snack. For the next meeting in January, participants will discuss the books they received from the exchange.
• Conversation group, 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 12 on the library’s lower level. For more information, email cdstorrs@gmail.com.
• DIY holiday take-home kit. Create a unique card, book page ornament and paper origami tree with the materials provided.
Registration is required by Dec. 12 to account for supplies, and take-home kits will be available for lobby pickup on Dec. 13. The kit is intended for adults, but all ages are welcome to register.
When registering, please note if you would like to pick up your kit at our Richland Center on Dickey Road or the Pine Center on Pine Park Drive.
• Chess Club. Practice chess skills and play against other kids in the community from 5 to 6 p.m. Dec. 16.
The library’s program room will be set up with chess sets and tables for families to meet and play a few rounds in an informal setting. This is a self-directed program for all ages, but the library requests registration.
• Nonfiction book discussion, 1 p.m. Dec. 17. The documentary “The First Emperor’s Terra-Cotta Warriors” from the Great Courses collection “Understanding Imperial China: Dynasties, Life and Culture” will be shown.
Travel into daily life in the Qin Dynasty, China’s first empire. Encounter the emperor Qinshi Huangdi, builder of warriors, and observe his highly bureaucratic and technocratic regime.
The documentary showing will be followed by a brief discussion.
• Holiday making: DIY crafts, stocking stuffers and decorations, 5 to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 18.
Kids can work on a variety of simple, seasonal projects. This program is for children of all ages, and registration is required.
• Knit Lit, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 18. Knitters, crocheters, and yarn art enthusiasts are welcome to join.
If you’re working on a project, bring it along. Talk about life, books and craft projects you’re always working on but may never finish. Registration is required.
• Pop-up book sale, Dec. 18-23. The sale will take place during the library’s regular hours in the program room on the main level at the Richland Center.
• New Year’s Eve party, 1:30 to 3 p.m. Dec. 31. A kid-friendly dance party wraps up with a countdown.
The program is for all ages, and registration is required.
• Patronies: Northern Tier Library Patron Choice Awards.
During December, patrons can nominate their favorite reads, movies and shows of 2024. All ages are welcome to nominate their favorites.
You can vote in person at the Richland or Pine branches, or through a form on the library’s website. The most popular items will be announced in January and displayed in the Richland library for borrowing.
• A Great Deal game group, 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Pinochle currently is offered on Tuesdays and American Mahjong on Wednesdays, but additional games may follow.
Registration is requested.
Pine Center programs
• The Pine Needles, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 5 and Jan. 2. Yarn enthusiasts are invited to the new library room at the Pine Community Center, where beginners can learn how to knit and experienced crafters can bring a project.
Talk about life, books you’ve read and projects you’re working on but may never finish. Registration is requested.
Featured Local Businesses
• Family story time, 11 a.m. Dec. 6 and 13. Sing, move, read books and practice rhymes.
Story time is for children of all ages. Registration is required.
• Learn Mahjong, 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 10. Join Linda Parrish as she introduces you to the tiles, rules and strategies involved with the centuries-old game.
The program is for beginners only, and registration is required.
• American Mahjong, 11:30 a.m. Dec. 9, for beginners through expert level. Bring your own game board if you have one.
Please register if you are new or need help learning mahjong so that someone can be assigned to teach you.
• Pining for Books, 2 p.m. Dec. 9, discussion of “My Name Is Lucy Barton” by Elizabeth Strout.
Lucy Barton is recovering from a simple operation when her estranged mother visits the hospital. Although talking about local gossip seems to reconnect them, there is still a tension between the mother and daughter.
Lucy finds herself reflecting on her childhood dream of becoming a writer, and her marriage. The surprise visit from her mother has Lucy questioning her life choices and wondering where to go from here.
Library hours
Richland Center: The library will be closed on Dec. 24 and 25. It will close at 4 p.m. Dec. 31 and remain closed Jan. 1.
Pine Center: The center will be closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
For more library information and to register for programs, visit northerntierlibrary.org.