December 9, 2021

Press release from Shreve Memorial Library:

December 9, 2021

Tis the season to be jolly, and Shreve Memorial Library is ringing in the season with Christmas-themed programs and events for children and teens. The library is offering Christmas-themed story times, crafts, and games. Participants are also encouraged to write letters to Santa.  All programs are free. Registration, masks and social distancing are required.

Several branches are hosting Christmas-themed story time programs for children. Toddlers and their caregivers are encouraged to listen to stories, sing along with music, dance and do crafts. Story time programs take place regularly at Shreve Memorial Library Branches, however special Christmas story times will take place December 14 through December 22 to prepare children for the Christmas holiday. Story time programs will center on themes such as jingle bells, snowmen, Christmas trees, Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, and more. Story time programs are scheduled as follows:

During the month, children and teens are also encouraged to write letters to Santa at the Higginbotham-Bryson Branch. Patrons may come to the branch, write their letters, and prepare them for the North Pole. Higginbotham-Bryson Branch will host patrons each day through December 15 during normal business hours. The Higginbotham-Bryson Branch is located at 9359 Greenwood Road in Greenwood and is open Monday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Friday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Teens will join in the holiday fun by participating in Christmas-themed crafts, as several library branches are hosting craft programs for children and teens from December 14 through December 20. On Tuesday, December 14, teens and children have the opportunity to participate in three separate craft programs. Teens at the Hamilton/ South Caddo Branch, 2111 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, will paint wooden Christmas ornaments at 2:00 p.m. Then at 4:30 p.m., teens at the Hollywood/Union Avenue Branch will make a “Reindeer Box” Christmas craft and teens at the North Shreveport Branch will make a “Holiday Stocking.”

Crafts program continue throughout the week at the Hamilton/South Caddo, Atkins, Cedar Grove-Line Avenue, and North Shreveport Branches. On Wednesday, December 15, the Hamilton/South Caddo Branch, along with Atkins Branch, will host craft sessions. Beginning at 3:00 p.m., participants at the Hamilton/South Caddo Branch will draw and paint a Christmas tree. At the Atkins Branch, 3704 Greenwood Road, teens will paint wooden Christmas ornaments starting at 4:00 p.m. On Thursday, December 16, children age 6 to 11 are encouraged to make a hanging “Fireplace Ornament” at the Cedar Grove-Line Avenue Branch at 4:00 p.m. Then on Saturday, December 18, patrons of the North Shreveport Branch can make sparkly icicles with aluminum foil, glue, glitter, and fish line from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Crafts programs will wrap up on Monday, December 20. The Hollywood/Union Avenue Branch’s Creative Minds group will create a “Rocking Santa” at 4:30 p.m., and at 5:00 p.m., teens age 11 to 18 will make beaded bracelets for gifts at the Atkins Branch, while patrons of the North Shreveport Branch will participate in a Paint Party and create a 3-D Christmas tree on canvas. The programs will take place in the meeting rooms at the branches.

Children and teens are also invited take part in Christmas-themed games at the North Shreveport Branch. On Friday, December 17, homeschooled groups will participate in a game of Christmas BINGO and an ornament-making craft session. The program starts at 10:00 a.m. in the meeting room at the branch.  Then on Tuesday, December 21, teens ages 11 to 17 are challenged to a game of Holiday Kahoot! Test your knowledge on how much you know about the holidays and win a prize. Game time is at 4:30 p.m.

All programs are free, and materials for crafts are provided. To register for these and other library programs, contact the branch by phone or in-person.

Program dates and times are subject to change.

This press release was produced by Shreve Memorial Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.