Pumpkin Spice Lattes, Warm Knitted Scarves, and Prince William Public Libraries: It’s the Holiday Season!

As the days get shorter and we bring out the heavy sweaters, this season is a time to celebrate. Of course, this means we need ideas for decorations, food, and gift-giving. Prince William Public Libraries (PWPL) can help with that! 

Whether you’re a cook, a crafter, or a (film) critic, grab your library card and your favorite steamy drink, and see what the PWPL Digital Library has to offer. This can be done from the comfort and safety of your home, which is an added benefit.  

Are you looking for traditional foods for Diwali or Kwanzaa, a special meal for Hanukkah or Thanksgiving, or a new recipe for your Christmas cookie exchange? Perhaps you are simply in the mood for something different this holiday season. AtoZ Food America and AtoZ World Foods have thousands of recipes to suit your tastes. Log in and filter your search by region, country, state, ethnicity, or ingredients, and choose the type of recipe you want. Explore the “Classic Dishes” and “Special Occasion Foods” sections for various cultures and holidays, and do not forget the preparation tutorials, cooking tutorials, and reference information for the history and influence of foods. 

Creativebug is the place to go if you want to make handmade gifts and decorations or if you just enjoy being artistic and crafty. They offer 1,000+ video tutorial classes for just about anything you might want to do or make and there are classes designed specifically for beginners and children. Do you need to prepare for a holiday celebration? Be sure to check out the “Holiday + Party” link for DIY activities such as centerpieces, decorations, garlands, gift wrap, invitations, ornaments, and party favors. Maybe you or your kids want to make a special someone a personalized handmade gift. On Creativebug, you can choose from classes for DIY projects such as bath and body oils, beaded jewelry, potted plants, stamped tote bags, and teacup candles. 

Sure, cooking and crafting are great, but maybe you just want to snuggle up and relax with a movie. Just added to the Digital Library this fall, Kanopy is a video streaming service offering access to more than 30,000 documentaries, movies, and educational videos from thousands of producers such as Criterion Collection, PBS, Great Courses, Kino Lorber, and more. Need a break from movies and want to watch some shorter tv shows? Hop on over to hoopla Digital – tv, music, e-books, audiobooks, and yes, even movies – can be enjoyed through your desktop browser or mobile app.

PWPL’s Digital Library is a veritable treasure trove of premium websites and resources that you can enjoy at home, anytime. While searching for that perfect recipe, craft, or film, you might also discover something else you might want to try. 

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Written by Kris Goszka, Library Assistant, Haymarket Gainesville Library