Both Glatz and Deputy Manager Michelle Varner were delighted at the turnout for the event. Not only library regulars came, but there were many new faces in attendance, both children and adults.

“It was great! Everybody knew each other, but there were some new people, too,” said 8-year-old Emma Nguyen-Ness.

Glatz said they are never certain how many people will come to any event, but it seems like the numbers keep increasing. “I wasn’t sure people would come out, just because they might be sick of driving in snow,” Glatz said. “Also, it’s so close to Christmas, I thought people might be too busy with shopping, baking, wrapping and all those things.”

The party, which lasted from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., featured Mrs. Claus reading stories to the children, Christmas crafts, an array of snacks and, of course, hot cocoa. “The snacks were magnificent. My favorite was the sugar cookies,” said Emma. “There was also chocolate bark. It was great! And there were peanut butter and chocolate blocks, oatmeal cookies and turnovers.”

Mrs. Claus reads to the children at Alexander Findley Community Library as she has done for decades.

Despite the multitude of snacks, Glatz noted that people wre enjoying them so much that they would probably run out. “I don’t think we’re going to have any leftovers today,” she said.

Varner said that not only was the party a success, but it helped her personally. “Honestly, it helped put me into the Christmas spirit,” she said. “I’ve had a hard time this year and I needed this today.”

Varner said she was overwhelmed at the turnout . “I’m happy that so many people came,” she said. “It makes it hard to keep things structured, but everyone is having a great time.”

Mrs. Claus, aka Judy Hunt, read the traditional The Night Before Christmas, and a book titled Santa’s First Christmas. She said she has read to children for decades, but still finds it as “delightful as ever.”

“Just seeing their eyes light up, especially when it’s something familiar like The Night Before Christmas,” she said. “Sometimes we get adults without kids listening. It’s a multigenerational activity.”

Mrs. Claus was given the honor of opening a gift that Santa Claus had dropped off for the library. It turned out to be a doctor’s kit for the children.

Glatz said she was pleased about the doctor’s kit. “Keanu, the koala, who was our babysitter for the animal sleepover, has been sick many times,” she said with a laugh. “So, maybe, he can get better.”