Two years ago, COVID-19 restrictions meant the Lititz Public Library posted a video of Santa reading "The Night Before Christmas" on its website. In 2021, children braved the cold to greet Santa on the library's back patio, but for 2022, Santa is back and will return to spending some time with children in the warmth of the library, 651 Kissel Hill Road, Lititz.

A visit with Santa will be one of several events happening at the library during the holiday celebration. Activities for children and opportunities for area residents to give back in ways that offer warmth, food, and education to others are also planned.

On Saturday, Dec. 10, Santa will visit from 10 a.m. to noon, and he will read "The Night Before Christmas" at 11 a.m. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., children's activities will include a Christmas movie, a make-and-take craft, and a train display in the community room. The same activities will be repeated on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Mitten Tree, which has been a fixture at Lancaster County libraries, provides items of warmth to both children and adults. According to Diane Guscott, community relations coordinator at the library, this year the collected items will be distributed through Community Action Project and other local organizations. The goal will be to provide new umbrellas, socks, mittens, hats, gloves, scarves, and earmuffs in sizes for children and adults. Baby blankets and sweaters may be donated as well. Items may be brought in to decorate the library tree by Dec. 10. When the tree is full, items may be placed in the baskets beneath it. "I would say 80% of what we receive is handmade," said Guscott, who noted that members of a knitting club that meets at the library bring items and encourage friends to do so. "I think a lot of the residents of Luther Acres knit and bring things over," said Guscott. "There are people who knit all year knowing they will bring it here." Last year, nearly 900 items were donated.

Since 2020, the library has taken part in the Lititz Warwick Community Chest Christmas Basket Project, which provides holiday meals for local families. A Giving Tree, located in the front of the library, has removable leaves that name food items the library is collecting including cranberry sauce, stuffing, canned vegetables, canned pumpkin, and cocoa mix. Last year, a number of extra food items were donated to the Community Chest. Library public services coordinator Cathy Lenhart assembles the baskets to deliver to families. Gift cards, which the families may use to buy fresh produce and other items, are accepted as well. Food items and gift cards will be collected through Dec. 10.

The Gift-a-Book program, overseen by children's librarian Karen Payonk, helps fulfill Payonk's wishlist for books for children and youths. A table near the front of the library offers the names of children's materials that may be purchased to commemorate a designated person. Books for the program may be purchased through Dec. 10.

Readers who have questions about any of these efforts may visit http://www.lititzlibrary.org or call 717-626-2255.