UCPL plans cookie and recipe swap for adults on Dec. 5

The holiday traditions are officially starting at the Unicoi County Public Library. One of our favorites, the annual Gingerbread Decorating Contest, is coming up this week. Join us Saturday, Dec. 6, with sessions at 10:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Registration is required, so please call (423) 743-6533 to reserve your family's spot. All materials are provided, and prizes will be awarded in multiple categories. While you're here, don't miss our special guest. Santa will be visiting the library from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and will be available for family photos. We can't wait to celebrate with you.Here's what we have going on this week:Tech Help Drop-InBring your device and your questions from 2 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 4. We offer one-on-one help with smartphones, tablets, email, apps and more. Please note: We cannot assist with broken devices or password recovery.Adult Cookie and Recipe SwapBake a batch of your favorite cookies and bring the recipe to share at 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5. Enjoy refreshments, gather new ideas for holiday baking, and take home a plate of treats from fellow participants.Visit from SantaFrom 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, stop by to meet Santa, take a family photo and share your holiday wishes. This event is free and open to all ages.Free Wrapping StationFrom Monday, Dec. 8, to Saturday, Dec. 20, visit any time during library hours to wrap your holiday gifts using our paper, ribbons, tape and tags. Perfect for last-minute wrapping or keeping gifts secret from your household. Have extra paper clogging up your closets? Consider donating it to us for our station!Tiny Tales Lap-Sit StorytimeBabies ages birth to 18 months and their caregivers are invited for gentle stories, songs and sensory play at 9:45 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 8.Big Kids' Story HourStudents in grades K–3 can enjoy stories, crafts and activities designed to build reading skills and creativity at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 8.Preschool Holiday Lights StorytimeAt 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 9, Ms. Hannah will lead a bright and festive storytime filled with holiday lights, songs and a fun craft.Teen Tiny Art OrnamentsAt 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 9, teens are invited to create miniature holiday ornaments.Upcoming Book Club SelectionsCozy Book Club (Dec. 8 at 4:15 p.m.): "The Christmas Angel Project" by Melody Carlson.BYO Book Club (Dec. 17 at 4 p.m.): Read any book with the theme of "Merry Christmas" that makes you feel warm and cozy and come discuss it with the group. Bring a snack or just yourself.Story Seekers Kid's Book Club will return next year!Cookbook Club (Dec. 13 at 11a.m.) "Dessert Person" by Claire Saffitz.Weekly Book Recommendation"The Dysfunctional Family's Guide to Murder" by Kate Emery features 14-year-old Ruth, who was expecting a few fights on her family's vacation at their remote farmhouse. But she wasn't expecting a murder. And "death by typewriter" wasn't quite how she thought her step-grandmother, GG, would meet her end. As an avid reader of mystery novels, Ruth is more than a little excited to have a real mystery to solve. (Though she's sad about GG. Obviously.) And she's read enough Agatha Christie that catching a killer should be a breeze... right?With her annoyingly hot sort-of-cousin, Dylan, as the Watson to her Holmes, Ruth soon begins to uncover long-buried family secrets, finding that each of her relatives\ — her dad; her aunts and their partners; even, in the interest of fairness, Dylan and herself —had reasons to want GG gone.But are any of them capable of murder? As tensions rise with everyone stuck in the house together, Ruth will have to dig deep to find out... before the killer strikes again, according to information from the publisher.•••Morgan Olson is the director of the Unicoi County Public Library.