WALBRIDGE – The Wood County District Public Library will take over the decorating of the city’s holiday tree in front of its facility.
The library also will coordinate the tree lighting in November.
“We’re taking over the event, we’re going to provide everything,” said library director Michael Penrod at the trustee’s September meeting, held in Walbridge.
The event will be called BG Merry and Bright with the library planning events until Dec. 15.
A “secret Christmas club” has formed, led by library Deputy Director Michele Raine, to develop activities around the tree lighting, scheduled for Nov. 22.
The movie “Elf” will be shown at 4 p.m. with characters including the Grinch making an appearance outside for photo opportunities, Raine said.
A candy cane scavenger hunt will be held in the library’s garden.
A story time will be held in the library at 6 p.m., the Bowling Green High School Madrigals will perform, and the tree will be lit at 7 p.m.
The library will be open that night until 8:30 p.m., Penrod said.
Trustee Brian Paskvan will take care of the exterior sound system “so we have much better sound for the event,” Penrod said.
The library will purchase more ornaments to decorate the tree, he said.
Several events are already planned to follow the tree lighting.
According to Paskvan, Santa will be in the Wooster Green gazebo one weekend with carolers and professional photographers to shoot family pictures while another weekend will see Santa strolling through the downtown with carolers and horse drawn carriage rides.
Details are still being worked out for a holiday concert, he said.
“We are also going to light up the downtown area like never before,” Paskvan said.
Downtown Bowling Green, which previously coordinated the tree lighting, will focus on decorating the downtown area, Penrod said.
Downtown Bowling Green is working collaboratively with the library and other community partners to ensure we are offering a robust lineup of holiday festivities downtown, said Interim Director Kati Thompson.
The library offered to take on the tree lighting as its event, being that they are the host location, she said.
“We will continue to assist with whatever they need, but they have a very excited and capable staff who are hard at work to ensure this year’s tree lighting is the best one yet. Downtown Bowling Green will invest time into planning additional holiday events and decorations throughout the downtown,” Thompson said.
Also at the meeting, trustees:
• Learned more than 50 nominations were received for the John M. Gibson Outstanding Performance Award, which recognizes a library staff member for excellence in the performance of their job.
After a “good but challenging” deliberation, a decision was made, and the award will be presented on Oct. 4 during an internal staff development day.
“I really enjoyed reading all of the nominations. It’s a testament to the team at the library … and people are really, really happy,” said library Trustee Heidi Nees-Carver.
• Watched an eight-minute fraud training video provided by the auditor of state’s office.
• Learned $133,000 was raised at Novel Night, which will be used to purchase books and material.
• Learned plans for next year includes a possible new roof of Carter House, plus tuckpointing and caulking of windows.
“That 149-year-old treasurer is going to be protected for years to come,” Penrod said, and added that plans for the carriage house are moving forward.
Future plans also include new furniture in time for the library’s 150th birthday celebration in 2025 and work on the elevator.
“We have things that are falling apart because our library is well used,” Penrod said.
• Was told the five Callery pear trees in the Carter House parking lot will be removed and the 2006 landscaping updated.
• Learned the library may add an EV charging station to the parking lot, dependent upon grant and local funding.
• Was told 2,780 inactive card holders were purged from the system after three years of non-use, leaving 24,000 active card holders. With September being Library Card Sign-up Month, a new card design has been developed. Cards can be replaced at no charge, either key chain or wallet size.
• Learned Maria Simon, youth services coordinator, has shifted collections to create a baby play area, and made room for the picture books collection and Reading Buddies program.
