Holiday Library Gatherings

By Mary Alice Garrett

This story originally appeared December 22, 2011 in The News Journal of Wilmington, Delaware.

Libraries are happening places this holiday season. Besides early visits from Santa Claus, area libraries offer an array of special activities for young children: Handbell choirs, gingerbread cookie bakers and Polar Express pajama story hours are just a few of the recent activities.

More fun events are slated after Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa and before schools reopen.

Santa recently left his North Pole workshop to visit area youngsters during their story hours.

"Santa Claus is coming to town. Have a seat on the rug," said library specialist Kim Tull of the Woodlawn Library in Wilmington. Tull had read books on Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and a bear who came out of hibernation for Christmas.

Five-year-old Jordan Guinn was the first to hug Santa (who is also a retired librarian) and to sit on his lap. He told Santa he wanted a video game and a battery-operated car.

"And my mother wants a vacuum cleaner for Christmas," Jordan added. Janetta Guinn also used one of the library's computers during the visit.

Jacqueline Balderan, 4, asked Santa for a dog and the movie "Cars." Jacqueline was there with her 10-month-old sister Juleta and her mother. Both girls wore festive red velvet jumpers with white blouses.

Jack Aulgur, 5, requested a cuckoo clock.

"I don't know where he got that from," noted his mother. Will Aulgur, 18 months, also got to sit on Santa's lap.

Angelica Guillen of Newport was there with son William, 3, who asked Santa for a model train and battery-powered cars.

"We love this library. We walk up here all the time," said Jody Cross of Little Italy. Cross brought sons, Logan, 3 months, and Bryce, 2.

It's young families like the Crosses that librarians like to see frequent libraries.

"Our goal is to build lifelong readers," said Amy Abella, Woodlawn children's librarian. Even a baby can hear the sounds of a storyteller and "model the behavior," Abella noted.

Terry Jones has introduced math and science activities to her preschoolers' story hour at the Hockessin Library. The activities, along with art projects, help prepare the children for school.

"Story hour instills a love of literature, an interest in the written word and also opportunities for socialization," said the children's librarian.

"We invite people to the library," added Marlene Esposito, administrative librarian with the New Castle County Department of Community Services. "We want to build that love of reading. We want them to see a value in reading. We try also to encourage adults to read."

Story hours are offered for newborn babies to 5-year-olds at all county libraries. Book Babies is for birth to 17 months. Toddler Tales is for 18 to 36 months. And Explore and Discover story times are for ages 3 and up.

Pajama Story Times (for families) are held at night at Bear, Brandywine Hundred, Kirkwood Highway and Newark libraries.

And Bilingual Story Times (for all ages) are held at Elsmere, Newark and Woodlawn libraries.

For more information, go to www.nccdecs.org.