With kids on vacation from school at the moment, it’s a good bet that many neighborhood families will be visiting one or more of our local branch libraries this week…so it’s a good time to share some news from them.
First, the Christmas season continues for a bit at Wilshire Branch Library, 149 N. St. Andrews Pl., as the Friends of Wilshire Library (FOWL) hosts its second annual “Hansel & Gretel House Decorating Event” on Thursday, December 29.  According to FOWL member Mary Rajswing, the turnout for last year’s event was terrific, and 48 new houses have been constructed and are now ready for decoration at this year’s session.  On the day of the event, kids can direct volunteers to pipe ‘royal icing’ onto the structures, and then place candies and other decorations (e.g. LIFE cereal for the perfect thatched cottage look), on the sticky frosting.
Also, in addition to the messier fun, the event will feature a special guest: Â children’s author Scott Casperson, who wrote and will read from How the Candy Cane Got Its Stripes. Â The event is free and open to everyone.
Over at Memorial Branch Library, 4625 W. Olympic Blvd., there are four regularly scheduled events this week – a Used Book Sale on Tuesday afternoon, a free movie screening on Tuesday evening, an adult games afternoon on Wednesday, and a knitting circle on Saturday morning.  (Call the library at (323) 938-2732 to verify times and activities.) Also notable, however, is that the Memorial children’s librarian was recently promoted to another library branch, resulting in a reduction of children’s programming at Memorial.  So the Friends of Memorial Library group, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization established to support the library, is helping to raise funds to continue the children’s programs and fund other aspects of the library in need of support.  They would appreciate your donations, which are tax deductible and easy to execute through PayPal . Once you’re logged in to PayPal, specify [email protected] as the recipient.
And, finally, at John C. Fremont Library, 6121 Melrose Ave., you can enjoy a free screening on Thursday, December 29, of the scary, funny, Christmastime movie Gremlins, by director Joe Dante and executive producer Steven Spielberg. The show starts at 6 p.m., and free popcorn will be provided.  Then, on Saturday, December 31, come back for a family-friendly early New Year’s celebration at 3 p.m.  There will be stories, snacks, crafts, and an early New Year’s Countdown with non-alcoholic sparkling cider.
Definitely a good week to love your local libraries!
