Here’s a really short recap from October onward. And by the way, big shoutout to the Hobart staff for their awesome decorative efforts! I really wish I had more time to capture all their creative work. That’s actually going to be one of my goals for 2026, to make sure I get plenty of pictures of their amazing decor and art pieces.
Just a quick disclaimer that this might come off as a bit of a rant. I started this blog with the hope of finding more passion in the work I do. Sometimes I do certain parts of my job just because I "have to," but there are also many parts I genuinely want to do. So, I thought I’d take a moment to reflect on the things I actually enjoy and wanted to do..
After Summer Reading Program wraps up, there’s a little time to rest and gear up for the rest of the year. Right away, I made it a goal to do as much back-to-school outreach as possible in September. I’ve noticed that October tends to draw in more patrons than any other month outside of summer, so we organized a Spooktacular event to invite families into the library. I’ll admit, it was a bit rushed because of my wedding, but my awesome coworkers showed up with decorations and craft supplies for families to enjoy, and we ended up with a pretty good turnout. Fun fact: our neighboring library branch had their Halloween party on the same night!
In November, we usually hold off on big events because of Thanksgiving. Honestly, I’m not sure we’d get huge attendance even if we tried. It’s a good time for me to relax a bit and recharge for the holidays. In previous years, we did Christmas programs with surprisingly low turnout. We had a Pajamas and Grinch movie night, held on December 23rd, and the attendance was pretty small. This year, we tried a kids’ craft evening, but it wasn’t as busy as I’d hoped, probably because I booked a smaller room than I needed. I think the size of the space might have scared some people off. Also, our neighboring branch hosted their holiday program on the same night, which didn’t help.
Luckily, there was a second wind just in time for holiday programming. Although it was a short wind, it was enough of a breeze to continue forward.
By the end of the year, it can be tough to muster the energy for holiday programs, but I believe they’re still really important. I’ve noticed the community loves embracing the holiday spirit—from spooky Halloween fun to cozy Christmas crafts. I always say we’re on the lookout for those perfect Instagram moments, and you don’t need to go all out to make them happen. Even simple efforts can make a difference! I had some adorable crafts for storytimes that really stole the show, and a lovely display of holiday books. Let’s see what the new year brings!
Happy Holidays and here’s to a fantastic New Year!
Love, the newly Mrs. Johnson
*images are from our Spooktacular. All decor was either purchased or handmade from staff at my library branch.
