Find Your Place at Mid-Continent Public Library This Holiday Season!

It’s beginning to look a lot like the winter holiday season! Whether you’re in search of a cozy corner to read a good book, or simply some resources to help you manage the seasonal stress, Mid-Continent Public Library is your place for navigating “the most magical time of year.”

Here are just a few ways MCPL can help you celebrate the season:

1. Find the tastiest treats for your seasonal spread.
   Find the latest and greatest recipes in digital versions of top culinary magazines like Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, Better Homes and Gardens and more through MCPL’s website. The Library also has plenty of cookbooks in its collection — whether you’re feeding one or 100!
   
2. Get in the spirit with holiday music and movies!
   Set the tone with some seasonal tunes and flicks! You can stream (and download and keep!) a wide variety of music for free through Freegal Music on the Library’s website. Check out DVDs at your local MCPL branch, or try one of the Library’s free video streaming services, such as OverDrive Video. If watching a live performance like The Nutcracker is one of your holiday staples, stream a performance through medici.tv.
   If all the seasonal obligations have you feeling overwhelmed, explore the Library’s many free resources on health and wellness, including online classes on stress management, at mymcpl.org/Health.
   
3. Find the perfect gift for your loved ones.
   Before you drop another item in your Amazon cart, do your research with Consumer Reports! Make sure you’re getting a quality item at a fair price using this trusted resource. If you plan to take a more hands-on approach to gifting this year, be sure to check out the Arts, Crafts, & Hobbies courses available through another of the Library’s free online resources — Universal Class. You can learn everything from knitting and soap-making to painting and scrapbooking. For history buffs, use MCPL’s Midwest Genealogy Center to create a family tree memento.
   
4. Give the gift of your Library!
   Looking for a unique gift idea for your loved one? Consider an MCPL Library Lovers membership, which supports the important work of the Library and its mission to enrich all citizens and communities by expanding access to innovation, information, ideas and inspiration. MCPL serves every member of the community through its resources and services that are offered both inside its buildings and beyond. Visit mymcpl.org/LibraryLovers to find the perfect membership option for the book lover in your life. Library Lovers receive special swag as well as access to exclusive members-only events, including receptions with acclaimed authors, book group discussions, trivia nights and more.

And don’t forget — all the Library’s resources are free! Maybe the best gift of all is the one that keeps giving year-round: your Library card! Visit mymcpl.org/Holidays for more ideas.

–Emily Becker (all images courtesy of Mid-Continent Public Library)