At this time of year, when our connections to others and to our community are stressed, remember a meaningful civic institution — your public library — is always available to you. Down here at the Public Library of Catasauqua, you can get warm, browse our books and DVDs, use our computers to get on the Internet or do a little work, sit down to read the local newspaper or a book, have a cup of coffee or tea from the one-shot machine, chat with a neighbor or just enjoy some relative quiet.

As a plus, a library card, which allows you to check out items, is free!

Near the front door right now, there is a display of recommended winter/holiday books from our collection, as well as all our available new books from popular and newer authors. We can get thousands of other items from dozens of other regional libraries in a matter of a day or so. Just tell us what you are looking for!

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Stop by the library to see “Sonic the Hedgehog 2.” The movie will start 11 a.m. Dec. 21.

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The adult book club is reading “The Secret Book of Flora Lea” by Patti Callahan Henry and will discuss it 3 p.m. Jan. 8, 2025. Call or come in to find a copy from a local library and join the discussion.

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We always have our 4 p.m. Thursday afternoon reading and crafting program for children in the children’s room, for a wide age range of kids.

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The Keep Them In Stitches fiber arts group meets 5:30 p.m. Mondays.

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Stop by or call for more information on any of the events or programs.

If you want to suggest a book for us to purchase for the library community, don’t hesitate to talk to us or send us an email at catasauquapl@cliu.org.

DECEMBER BOOKS

Fiction: “Tom Clancy Defense Protocol,” Brian Andrews; “Stuart Woods’ Golden Hour,” Brett Battles; “Bellevue,” Robin Cook; “Christmas in Bethel,” Richard Paul Evans

Nonfiction: “The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World,” Robin Wall Kimmerer; “Good Nature: Why Seeing, Smelling, Hearing, and Touching Plans is Good for Our Health,” Kathy Willis

Young adult: “Unraveled,” Shannon Messenger; “To Shatter the Night,” Katherine Quinn; “Heavenly Tyrant,” Xiran Jay Zhao

Juvenile: “Eloise the Flame Dragon,” Maddy Mara; “Dog Man 13: Big Jim Begins,” Dav Pilkey; “The Losting Fountain,” Lora Senf; “Alana’s Cupcake Garden,” Coco Simon; “Wings of Fire 8: Escaping Peril,” Tui Sutherland; “I Survived the Black Death, 1348,” Lauren Tarshis

Children’s picture books: “5-Minute Disney Moana Stories,” Disney; “Marvel Spidey Amazing Friends,” Marvel; “When the Stammer Came to Stay,” Maggie O’Farrell; “Eight Sweet Nights, A Festival of Lights,” Charlotte Offsay; “A Sea of Gold,” Patricia Polacco; “Lefty,” Mo Wiliems

To place a hold on any of these books, contact the library either by phone at 610-264-4151 or by email. Be prepared to provide your library card number, in addition to the title and author of the book you wish to reserve.