News - MLA
Written by Riz Hatton   
snowman and candy cane decoration on the lawn in front of a brick building

How Libraries Can Help You Celebrate the Holidays

December 3, 2021

The holiday season is finally here! Looking for a way to jazz up your family traditions or looking to create new ones? Your local library can help you do just that

There are so many ways your library can help you celebrate!

1. Find a new holiday recipe to wow the family

There’s always that family recipe that everybody looks forward to, but have you ever thought about adding another recipe to the repertoire? Head to your library for a cookbook! You can access plenty of recipes at your local library, and at some libraries, you can attend cooking and baking classes and you can even borrow kitchen gadgets. Delta Township District Library has a pasta maker set and fondue pot so you can try something new this year. If you’re looking to stick to the classics, Oscoda County Library has an 18" turkey roasting pan that will help make a mouth-watering turkey.

Pasta maker and fondue set at Delta Township Library. Photo courtesy of Delta Township Library

2. Watch your favorite holiday movie

Watching movies with the whole family is one of the best parts of the holiday season. Even if you can’t find your favorite movie on streaming services, you can access movies online with your library card and you can find lots of DVDs available for check out at your local library. Ann Arbor District Library has a variety of movies available to stream. If you really want to take your viewing experience to the next level, Grosse Pointe Public Library has a portable movie projector available for check out.

3. Spend some time doing something new together 

The kids are on winter break and need to snap out of that wintertime boredom. This is a great time to learn something new together! Check out your local library’s upcoming programs and events! You can find fun events at the library, crafts you can take and make at home, or borrow some instruments or supplies to try something new. Highland Public Library has a general fossil collection and a juggling kit that are sure to keep the kids entertained. Traverse Area District Library has a telescope kit and musical instruments so you can star gaze or practice to become a rockstar!

Aaron Olson, sight and sound manager at Traverse Area District Library poses with objects in the Library of Things. Photo courtesy of Traverse Area District Library

Elizabeth Phillipson, from the adult department at Highland Township Public Library posing with items from the Awesome Collection. Photo courtesy of Highland Township Public Library. 

4. Celebrate family by utilizing family history resources

The holidays are all about family, so this is a great time to dig deeper into family history. Head to your library to research your family tree. Both Spies Public Library and Grand Rapids Public Library have a variety of genealogy and family history resources. Celebrate family by getting to know your ancestors better!

5. Attend a holiday event at your local library or participate from home

There are plenty of events that happen around the holidays, but don’t forget about all of the wonderful events that your local library may be hosting. St. Ignace Public Library is hosting a gingerbread workshop on Dec 18. Looking for a way to have fun at home? Dearborn Public Library has New Year's Eve take-home craft kits so you can have fun indoors.

No matter how you are celebrating this holiday season, your library can help. “The holidays give us an opportunity to pause and reflect on what is most important, time spent away from the hustle and bustle of life, so we can be with those who matter most,” said Ryan Wieber, MLA President. “ Count on your local library to help you create a festive, special and magical time with family, friends, and colleagues.”

Happy holidays from MLA!

 


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