Hayner Library to Host Local Author Book Fair, Holiday Open House and More

Our Daily Show! Beyond the Shelves With Hayner Library: Ready for Holiday Fun!

ALTON - The Hayner Public Library District invites the community to come out to a few unique events this weekend.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, community members can stop by the library at Alton Square Mall for the Local Author Book Fair. Across town at that same time, the Genealogy and Local History Library will host their Holiday Open House.

Executive Director Mary Cordes noted that the Local Author Book Fair is a great chance to meet local writers and learn about their projects. With 25 authors slated to make an appearance, she hopes many community members come out to support them.

“You can come, and you can meet all these different authors,” Cordes explained. “They’re all different genres — children’s books, history, self-help, religious, sci-fi, romance, all kinds of different authors. Meet an author, buy their books, get the book signed. It is a great chance to support local writers and cross some things off your Christmas list for people.”

The Genealogy and Local History Library Holiday Open House is another opportunity to engage with the library. Cordes believes the Victorian-inspired decor is “really pretty” and a great chance to get family photos taken.

“If you’ve not been in the building while it’s decorated, it’s like a Victorian-inspired holiday. It’s beautiful,” she said. “We’ll have the fireplaces going. The whole building will be decorated in this Victorian-era decor. We’ll have all kinds of snacks and crafts and local history-related items for people.”

Also, this weekend, you can enjoy The McAtees: A Holiday Musical Performance at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, at the Benjamin Godfrey Chapel on the Lewis and Clark Community College campus. The married couple will perform favorite holiday songs, and Cordes said they have “fantastic voices.” Registration for this program is required, as seating is limited; call 1-800-613-3163 to reserve your seat.

The following weekend, Cordes is excited to welcome families to the Kids Holiday Celebration at the mall library. This hour-long celebration at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, will include music, snacks, games, visits with Santa, and more.

All of these events are completely free to attend, and Cordes hopes to see many people come out to enjoy them. The library’s goal is to bring people together and provide programs and resources to the community.

For more information about Hayner Public Library District, including a calendar of upcoming events, visit their official website at HaynerLibrary.org.

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