Young residents can pick out a favorite book, wrap it as a gift, and design a new cover for that book. Visitors can pick a “mystery” book.
This holiday season, some of Mt. Laurel’s younger residents will experience a tradition of many family and employee holiday parties when the Mt. Laurel Library holds its own “Secret Santa” exchange.
Yet unlike other Secret Santa events where participants are tasked with anonymously purchasing a variety gifts, the library’s Secret Santa exchange will focus solely on books.
On Dec. 15, residents in grades five through 12 can pick out their favorite books, wrap them as they would a gift, and then design a new cover for that book without quite revealing the book’s true identity.
Once enough books have been gathered and wrapped, the library will then arrange the books in a Secret Santa holiday display so other library visitors can choose “gifts” to take home based entirely on the newly designed covers.
According to Mt. Laurel Library manager of special projects Julie Binger, the Secret Santa event is meant to give younger readers another reason to explore their love of reading.
Since participants have to create a new cover for their books without revealing the actual book itself, Binger said the kids would have to think a little harder about what attracts them to the book and why the book is appealing.
“It helps keep them involved by letting them choose a favorite book, and it also gives them a chance to be creative,” Binger said.
With that in mind, Binger said the Secret Santa program will also provide holiday fun to those who decide to take a chance and checkout one of the “mystery” books.
“Hopefully, someone else will be interested, and hopefully they’ll love it as much as these kids do. It’s nice to have a little surprise now and then,” Binger said.
Binger said residents might also be familiar with a similar event the library held in the past where teens had only a few minutes to persuade others about their favorite books in a “speed dating” type format around Valentine’s Day.
“It’s sometimes harder to plan events for this age range, so we always like to find a nice motivation for them to stay involved with reading,” Binger said.
The Mt. Laurel Library’s “Secret Santa” event is set to take place on Dec. 15 at 6:30 p.m. Those interested in participating can register at www.mountlaurellibrary.org.
The display to checkout books will then be setup at the library following the event.
