Newsletter December 2023
Children’s Top 3 for December
We have such a wonderful friendship with Santa that he is coming to our Sensory Storytime and has invited us to his workshop! Visit Santa at The Shops at Mission Viejo and enjoy a special storytime before you tell him how good you have been this year. These free storytimes take place every Wednesday at 11 am November 22-December 13.
It’s never too early to introduce your children to Jane Austen. Join us Saturday, December 2 at 2 pm for our fun Jane Austen Storytime featuring the stories of one of the most beloved authors of all time. Enjoy songs, reading and other fun activities in our Storytime Room. No registration required.
If you are bummed our morning storytimes are on break for the holidays, don’t fret. Our Stay & Play will tide you over through the yuletides. Stop by the Storytime Room during our normal storytime days at 10:30 am December 4-14 to enjoy an hour of free play, socialization, and fun with your peers. An early childhood nutritionist will be on hand to answer all your questions during our Stay & Play sessions December 4, 6, 11, and 12. No registration required.
Friends of the Library Holiday Book Sale Dec. 1-2
A variety of nearly new materials for all ages will be available for purchase including children’s books, holiday-themed books, art and coffee-table books and signed books as well as holiday CDs, vinyl records, Blu-rays, DVDs, games and puzzles. Prices mostly range from $.50 to $2, and cash and credit cards will be accepted for payment. Stop by anytime from 1 to 4:30 pm on December 1 and 10 am to 4 pm on December 2 to stock up on holiday gifts and support the Mission Viejo Library. New items will be available each day.
The Friends of the Library’s two-day Holiday Book Sale takes place near the front entrance of the library.
Pride and Penmanship or Pens and Sensibility Dec. 8
Pride and Penmanship or Pens and Sensibility, part of the Jane Austen series of programs, takes place from 5:30 to 7 pm on Friday, December 8 in the Storytime Room.
This event will give us a chance to share stories about meaningful letters received in the past and to practice the lost art of letter writing according to Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.” Stationery and writing utensils will be provided. This is not a calligraphy class.
This free program is open to all ages. To register, contact libraryprograms@cityofmissionviejo.org; 949-452-8342; or stop by the “Ask Here” desk in the library. Hurry, space is limited.
Jane Austen Holiday Ball Dec. 15
Join us for a night of fun and dancing at our Jane Austen Holiday Ball on December 15! All ages are welcome to this free event that kicks off at 6:30 pm. Celebrate the author’s birthday and holiday season with activities for everyone in your family including refreshments, crafts, and historical dancing with lessons.
Historical or festive attire is encouraged but not required. The festivities take place at the Norman P. Murray Center. No registration is required.
Teen community service credit opportunities available
High school teens are invited to earn community service credit hours through the Mission Viejo Library and Cultural Services department. Beginning in December, teens can earn community service hours on their own schedule by participating in three different activities: friendship bracelets, letters to seniors, and hummingbird origami.
Available at the library’s “Ask Here” desk, friendship bracelet kits include instructions and supplies to create string friendship bracelets that will benefit organizations like the Mission Hospital Trauma Center and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Completed bracelets can be turned in at the library, earning teens one hour of service credit for every two bracelets created. Only bracelets made using the library kits will be accepted. Each kit contains supplies to create two bracelets. Kits are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Teens can take up to two kits at a time.
The letter writing to seniors’ prompts for December are:
1. “What are your favorite indoor activities when the weather gets windy and cold?” or
2. “In the next few months, the temperatures in our area will drop. Do you like winter weather, and if so, why? If not, what is your favorite season.”
Letters returned to the library’s “Ask Here” desk by December 15 will be hand delivered to seniors residing in Mission Viejo’s Atria Del Sol, an independent, assisted, and memory care senior living community. Teens will earn one hour of service credit for every two letters written. For more information on letter guidelines, monthly prompts and deadlines throughout the coming year, email libvolunteers@cityofmissionviejo.org.
Teens are also invited to earn service credit for contributing to Mission Viejo’s current public art project, an origami mobile. Targeted for installation in the library in 2024, the mobile will be composed of origami hummingbirds folded by community volunteers. Teen volunteers can earn one hour of service credit for every 10 hummingbirds folded. Volunteers can pick up origami paper and instructions at the library’s “Ask Here” desk and return their completed hummingbirds to a library staff member.
The Library and Cultural Services department is also seeking teen volunteers to assist at origami folding workshops on January 12 and February 23 from 3-5 pm in the library’s Storytime Room. Volunteers will be asked to familiarize themselves with folding origami hummingbirds ahead of the workshops and offer roving assistance to participants during the workshops. For more information on this or any teen community service credit opportunity, email libvolunteers@cityofmissionviejo.org.
Monthly Local History Display – Official NASA Portrait of Astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria
When you venture into the library, check out our Local History display in the southeast corner. In the glass case is this month’s display of the Official NASA portrait of Astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria. The display also includes an autographed montage of the 2006-2007 Space Station mission that he commanded. Michael Lopez-Alegria graduated from Mission Viejo High School in 1976.
See the display through early December.
