Plumb Library Ushers in Holiday Season

The first Saturday in December every year marks the Annual Holiday Open House at the Joseph H. Plumb Library, which, for the neighbors of a small town such as Rochester, is like walking into the open door of the holiday season.

One of the first major holiday events of Christmastime, the Friends of the Plumb Library’s Annual Open House is a time to warmly welcome in the community and to fundraise for another year of valuable library programming for youth and adults.

The Friends support all the educational programs at the library, including the kiddie story times, the summer reading program, and the two book groups.

“We’re always hoping for a good turnout,” said Library Director Gail Roberts. “People especially look forward to the bake sale, and people also use the silent auction to find Christmas presents.”

Some of the offerings this year will be gift baskets as well as donated items from local shops and also some handmade goods.

“Someone dropped off a gift basket of dog toys and little doggie things,” said Roberts. “There’s an original Helen Johnson pen and ink sketch, a family game night basket with backgammon, and Uno cards, and card games…”

Other gift baskets feature four movie passes and candy, and a make your own dog biscuit kit. Tuesday morning someone dropped off a hand-knitted scarf, which Roberts said she thought was more like a shawl. “Beautiful, beautiful,” said Roberts.

The Plumb Library Open House is now a tradition in the small Rochester community.

“This is my tenth year doing it, and it was already going on when I got here,” said Roberts. She estimated that perhaps the event has been running for 12 or more years, but it originally began as a partnership between the library and Plumb Corner, which is likely why it was deemed an “open house,” said Roberts. Plumb Corner ceased its participation at one point, but the Friends at the library continued on with the tradition.

The Junior Friends have their own little kids table set up with activities and crafts, and they hold their own Christmas caroling event, complete with instrumental accompaniment. Later, Roberts and some of the Friends produce their own traditional renditions of ancient Christmas carols on the cello, recorder, and dulcimer.

And, of course, Santa arrives to make everything about this small town Christmas tradition complete.

“Because we’re so small, we can’t really be like a big church fair,” said Roberts. But the Open House is one of the library’s larger fundraising events of the year. “People just come by and see their friends and neighbors and have a good time.”

By Jean Perry

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