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 MTL NEWSLETTERDECEMBER 2025 |
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The holidays are coming up quickly, and winter isn’t far behind! The library is here to help you make the most of the season.
Holiday baking on your mind?
Don’t forget to check out our Baking Library, featuring 100+ specialty Wilton pans—including trees, bells, snowmen, and gingerbread houses.
Looking for fun family activities?
Grab a free puzzle or two from our puzzle exchange, or borrow one of our giant “yard” games like checkers, snakes and ladders, Tetris, or pong—perfect for indoor play on chilly days.
Need to keep the kiddos entertained?
Check out our hands-on kits for all ages! Each kit is packed with games, puzzles, science experiments, building blocks, puppets, and more. Themes include fossils, the human body, colors, letter sounds, weather, animals, and many others. You can also borrow a telescope for stargazing or binoculars for holiday bird-watching.
Hunting for a unique gift?
Consider gifting a library membership with one of our gift certificates, or pick up one of our reading-themed tote bags.
Ready to cozy up with a good book?
Join our Winter Reading Challenge for all ages and earn cool prizes. Your library card also gives you access to thousands of digital books, audiobooks, and magazines through Libby, CloudLibrary, BookFlix, and LOTE-4-Kids. And for nighttime read-alongs, don’t forget to try the fun sound effects in Novel Effect!
Need a warm place to gather?
Stop by the library! Enjoy our sensory and imaginative play space for children, help build the community puzzle, browse the shelves, or relax with a cup of coffee in a cozy corner.
Feeling the winter blues?
Watch movies for free with Kanopy and Kanopy for Kids, learn a new language with Mango, Little Pim, or ASL Deafined, or explore your family’s history using our genealogy resources.
On the go?
Remember that we offer free WiFi in our parking lot! If you’re traveling this season, grab a mobile hotspot, Playaways, Launchpads or a Kindle for entertainment on the go.
As winter approaches, follow us on Facebook and bookmark our website for weather-related closure updates. Closing is always a difficult decision, but the safety of our patrons and staff
comes first.
All of us here at the library wish you the happiest of holidays—we can’t wait to serve you in 2026. |
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Looking Ahead to an Exciting New Year at Morrison-Talbott Library
As we wrap up a wonderful year at the Morrison-Talbott Library, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our patrons for your continued support. It’s been a great year filled with learning, community, and connection—and we’re thrilled to share that 2026 is shaping up to be even better. We have several exciting programs planned for the upcoming year, and we hope you’ll join us for the fun.
One of our first big events of 2026 will be The Great Morrison-Talbott Library Puzzle Race. On Saturday, January 17th from 1–3 p.m., eight teams of four will compete to see who can complete an identical 500-piece jigsaw puzzle the fastest. Registration is required, and teams will need to fill out a short form to participate—so gather your puzzle-loving friends and sign up early!
We are also launching a brand-new ongoing program: the Movie Night Club. This group will meet at the RMC Cinema to watch a film together, followed by a quick discussion afterwards. To get the club started, we’ll be hosting an introductory planning meeting on Thursday, January 8th at 6:00 p.m. right here at the library. If you enjoy movies and great conversation, this is the perfect group for you.
In addition to our new programs, we want to remind patrons about our Diabetes Support Group, which meets on the second Thursday of each month at 10:00 a.m. This supportive group discusses a variety of topics related to living with and managing diabetes. On December 11th, the group will hold its annual Holiday Party, featuring delicious diabetic-friendly treats. If you’ve been thinking about stopping by, this is a wonderful time to get to know the group in a welcoming and festive setting.
Thank you for being a part of our library community. We wish you a safe, joyful, and relaxing holiday season—and we look forward to spending an inspiring and activity-filled 2026 with you!
Sherri Adult Services Coordinator |
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At Morrison-Talbott Library, we believe everyone deserves
access to great books, movies, and more—no matter their situation. If you or someone you know can’t make it to the library due to illness, a medical condition, or mobility challenges, our Homebound Delivery Service is here to help. |
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A Christmas Legacy
by Anne Perry
Thomas and Charlotte Pitt's former maid takes a new job as Christmas approaches--but not everyone in the household may survive the holidays in this tension-filled novel from bestselling author Anne Perry. Perry's Victorian-era holiday mysteries [are] an annual treat.--The Wall Street Journal
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Want more book suggestions? |
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It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year at MTL!
The holiday season is the perfect reason to slow down and enjoy some quality time with family and we’ve got just the thing to help! We’re launching two exciting activities at our Christmas Open House on Thursday, December 11, from 4:30–7:30 p.m. (and don’t worry, you can pick them up at the library anytime afterward too!) P.S. We are giving away a Tonies Bundle as an attendance prize at this event, so don't miss it!
-Youth Winter Reading Challenge
From December 11 through February 14, kids and teens can take part in our Winter Reading Challenge! We have three different challenge sheets, one each for ages 0–5, 6–11, and 12–17. Complete any eight activities and bring your sheet back to the library to earn a free RMC Cinemas movie ticket, generously provided by our community partner, First Community Credit Union in Waterloo. It’s a great way to keep young readers engaged all winter long!
-Winter Holiday Family Packets
Looking for something festive to do together at home? Our family packets are filled with seasonal activity sheets and creative ideas for all ages. Also included is our “Disguise the Gingerbread Man” project where you will decorate, disguise, and return it to the library to be part of our holiday display. Don’t worry, you’ll get your masterpiece back!
We hope to see you at one of our family-friendly December events or feel free to stop in starting December 11 to grab a packet and challenge sheet for the kiddos. Let’s make this holiday season full of fun, imagination, and togetherness!
Ms. Stephanie
Youth Services Coordinator
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I lost/damaged a book… here’s a replacement I found on Amazon! The library cannot accept items purchased from other retail stores as replacements for lost materials due to inconsistencies in editions, which often result in variations in ISBNs, page numbers, and cover designs. When items are added to the library’s collection, they are evaluated based on relevance and condition, and then cataloged with specific details that are input into the library’s database. This information allows for easy retrieval by both librarians and patrons. If a book differs in any significant way, it may not align with existing records, complicating cataloging and lending. This policy ensures that patrons have access to the correct editions and formats of materials, while also streamlining the borrowing process. Kara Cataloger |
 Genealogy |
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 Illinois Libraries Present |
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