In this issue:

Holiday hours

Dec. 21: Teen event with local author Lisa MacDonald

Jan. 16: Author Lesa Cline-Ransome

January book clubs, movie group, and 2025 lineups

Creative Play @ The Family Place returns in January

November private-funding update

PA Guardian Handbook available

Events: Bilingual & winter storytimes, your family tree & more

Just added: 54 items

New on Libby: 46 ebooks/audiobooks and 16 magazine titles

Year's most watched on Kanopy & NYE party music on hoopla

Teen event with local author Lisa MacDonald
Saturday | Dec. 21 | 2-3 p.m. | drop in

Jan. 16: Lesa Cline-Ransome (for 6th-8th graders)

Thursday | Jan. 16 | 4-4:30 p.m. | RSVP*

We're excited to welcome nationally recognized author Lesa Cline-Ransome, joining us via Zoom to talk about her new book, One Big Open Sky.

Her intergenerational novel in verse tells the story of three Americans moving west in the Black Homesteader movement of the 1870s.

Read the book in advance -- we have 10 free autographed copies for the first 10 who sign up! A discussion will follow our virtual visit with Lesa.

*RSVP: emmauspl@cliu.org, call 610-965-9284, or at the desk.

January book clubs, movie group, and 2025 lineups

It's almost time to welcome a new year--and that means brand new lineups of great books and movies to explore and discuss!

The daytime book club will kick off 2025 with a 'free month' to help us all discover new reads. Bring the books you're currently reading and/or a list of favorites to share. Check out the rest of their 2025 lineup to see what they're reading in February and beyond.

The evening book group is reading Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon in January, and has just announced its selections for winter & spring.

Finally, the movie group is taking a break in January, but will be back on Feb. 18 with a discussion of Porco Rosso. Go here to see the rest of their 2025 lineup.

Creative Play @ The Family Place returns in January!

Would your toddler enjoy playing in a room full of toys and fun art activities while you chat with other parents and tap the knowledge of local professionals? That's just what Creative Play @ The Family Place is all about!

Starting Jan. 28 and continuing every Tuesday through Feb. 25, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, the series is open to toddlers and their siblings with parents/caregivers. 

Each week, we'll be joined by Heather Kistler, Pediatric & Neonatal Clinical Dietitian at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children's Hospital. Pediatric dentist Dr. Bret Lesavoy will join us on Feb. 11.

Save your spot today and have something fun to look forward to in the midst of winter! Email emmauspl@cliu.org, call 610-965-9284, or stop at the desk.

November private-funding update

The private-funding thermometer rose by $51,467 in November, bringing the total to $150,178, or 110.1 percent of the goal.

Contributions to the annual fund added nearly $33K. Thank you to all who contributed. You can still make a tax-deductible donation online, in person, or by mail. Go here for info.

The library also received $15K in matching funds from United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.

Tee Time sponsorships totaling $1,900 began arriving last month for the annual spring event set for March 7 & 8, 2025.

General donations (including the donation box) added another $460, while cash receipts for lost and damaged items, printing/copying, and room rentals totaled $574. Finally, sales in the Friends' Book Nook also totaled $574 in November.

The Friends would like to thank everyone who came out to the Holiday Book Sale Dec. 6. At the event, Friends' President, Lucy McLeod (right), presented EPL Board President, Anne Zayaitz, with a ceremonial check for $33,486 representing the total they have donated to the library this year. So grateful for our Friends!

Finally, if you've noticed that our computers are now faster, it's because the library received a $4,200 grant from the Rotary Club of Emmaus, which was used to replace all of our patron PCs--a very welcome upgrade! The Rotary grant funds are separate from private funding and not included in this month's total.

Check back next month for December and full-year results.

Thank you for your ongoing support!

PA Guardian Handbook available

The Office of Elder Justice in the Courts has created a Pennsylvania Guardian Handbook, a new resource for guardians discussing important topics including:

• Guardianship basics
• Guardian of the person
• Guardian of the estate
• Signs of elder abuse
• Guardianship Tracking System (GTS)
• Resources & support for guardians

The 92-page handbook is available at the library (ask at the desk), and available here online [PDF].

Catch the last few days of the Keith Vogrin art exhibit

A new ART@EPL exhibit will be going up in January, so if you haven't had a chance to view Keith Vogrin's paintings up close, be sure to stop by the children's wing and enjoy them before they're gone! 

EVENTS: New storytimes, your family tree and more

Click on the flyers to expand and visit the online calendar for more.

Just added: 54 items

See/download our latest additions and click on a cover for details or to reserve items from your account online for quick pickup at the desk.

New on Libby

Over on Libby, 20 ebooks and 26 audiobooks have been added--as well as 16 new magazine titles and the latest issues of your favorites--all available with your card number and 4-digit PIN.

Need help with Libby?

Check out their help page or book time with library staff.

Thank you for reading and supporting the library. Watch for the next issue of BELONG on (or about) January 3.

© 2024 Emmaus Public Library | www.emmauspl.org | 610-965-9284