December Newsletter: Fresh Library Cards, Holiday Deals, and Festive Fun

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Check out what’s going on at the library in this month’s newsletter.

Featured: Library Card Design Contest Winners!

We received so many excellent library card designs, it was hard to choose! However, we are pleased to announce the winners of our library card design contest!

   

We are placing an order with these designs, and the new cards should be available very soon; we'll keep you updated!

Once the new cards arrive, you'll be able to choose whichever design you like best when you sign up for or renew your card! You're welcome to renew your library card early to get one of the new designs.

Thanks again to everyone who submitted a design, thanks to our panels of judges, and congrats to Hamza, Queenie, and Laura!

Featured: Make Gifting Easy

Gifting isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card! 

DIY Gifts - Feeling crafty? Check out our Maker Collection for inspiration, patterns, and guidance for various skills like sewing, knitting, crocheting, woodworking, and more! You can also check out useful tools from our Library of Things, including a Knifty Knitter set and a yarn-winder!

Consumer Reports - Buy only the best gifts for your loved ones, and use Consumer Reports to research products! Consumer Reports is an independent non-profit organization that works to provide transparency in purchasing. They test and rate thousands of products every year so you can make informed purchasing decisions. This service is free with your ELPL library card; just use the following log-in information:

Username: wlcmichigan

Password: wlc2025croBox1048!

Marsha’s Friendshop - Did you know we have a used bookstore inside the library? With the best prices in town, find used books, art, puzzles, CDs, and other small treasures to give! Each purchase directly supports the library; all money raised from sales goes towards programs, staff education, and other special projects.

Give a library card! - Not sure what to give the person who has everything? Give them a library card! Non-resident cards are $30 per year for an individual, or $40 per year for a whole household! You could give them a regular old gift card or candle or something. Or, for the price of a dinner, you can give them thousands of books and movies, access to power tools and musical instruments, tons of online resources for personal and professional enjoyment, and more. 

A library card is the perfect gift for minimalists (you can enjoy things and then give them back, and get them out of your house!), anyone who loves online shopping (placing holds online fulfills the urge just as well as spending money), anyone with kids (free zoo passes and early literacy kits? Yes please!), and honestly, just about anyone with good taste. 😉 

Featured: December Reading Recommendations

Looking for your next great read? Check out some of our recommended reading lists for November:

Featured: Great Michigan Read Kit

We’re excited to announce that we’ve added two new Great Michigan Read kits to our collection! Each kit contains ten copies of Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant, by Curtis Chin, as well as ten bookmarks, one pack of conversation cards, and one partner guide. This is the perfect way to bring the Great Michigan Read to your book club!

Featured: Update on Musical Children’s Garden

Our musical children’s garden is making great progress! As winter approaches, we're pausing construction, but we're thrilled with the work that’s been done so far.

What's Finished:

  • The Instruments Are In! The heart of the garden (durable outdoor musical instruments) is now installed.
  • Stairs Re-opened: Our main stairs are once again fully accessible to the public.
  • Drainage Work Complete: We've successfully completed underground work to improve drainage, ensuring runoff water flows uninhibited to the storm drain and protects the garden for years to come.
  • New Lighting: We added better lighting by the stairs!

A Special New Feature:

We are honored to welcome a new statue to the library grounds, courtesy of Diana Tarpoff and her family. This statue is a gift in loving memory of her daughter, Sarah, who passed away in 1984 at just ten years old.

What's Coming This Spring:

This winter pause is just an interlude. When we return in the spring, we will:

  • Install a special play surface around the instruments
  • Plant a pollinator garden to attract bees and butterflies.

The whole project is expected to be completed in the spring, and we’ll share more details then. We’re excited to celebrate the grand opening with you next year!

Featured: Upcoming Programs

Library programs are free and open to the public; you don’t even need a library card! Unless otherwise noted, no registration is required.

Spotlight: Friendshop Holiday Sale

Tucked inside the library, Marsha’s Friendshop is a treasure trove of gently used books, games, puzzles, and unique specialty items, all managed by our dedicated volunteer Friends. Every purchase you make is a sustainable way to refresh your reading list, buy thoughtful gifts, and make a tangible difference, as all proceeds support vital library programs like staff education, the summer reading program, and the Maker Studio. 

The Friends are currently seeking new or gently used items for this year's holiday sale! They welcome high-quality donations that you would be happy to gift to a friend, such as holiday decorations, gift items (toys, books, jewelry, etc.), seasonal clothing, and art. Please drop off your donations at the library front desk during regular business hours - it's a wonderful way to pass on unused items while supporting your East Lansing Public Library.

ELPL in the News:

Upcoming Dates:

  • The library will close at 6pm on December 23, and remain closed December 24-25 for Christmas. 
  • We will close early again on December 30, and remain closed December 31 and January 1 for the new year. 

Catch ELPL Next Month:

Be on the lookout for more excitement in January! ELPL will be sharing featured reading lists, book displays, and programs throughout the month. Some of the library programs will include:

  • Nutrition Education Class
  • Resume and Cover Letter Workshop
  • Craft Swap
  • Teen Zombie Apocalypse Escape Room
  • Henna Demonstration
  • And more!

For more information, visit the library’s website or follow ELPL on social media!

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