The Henry Bloom Noble Library is promising a cracker of a Christmas over the next few weeks. The festivities begin on Thursday December 9 when coffee, tea and mince pies will be served on the ground floor between 10.30 to 11.30am and 2.30 to 4.30pm – and if you miss that or just fancy a second helping, there’s another opportunity to enjoy the library team’s hospitality on Thursday December 23 during the same times. Then on Thursday December 16 from 7.30pm to 9pm the performance group ‘Voices’ will be evoking a wintery and occasionally spooky mood, reading excerpts from seasonal tales - from Charles Dickens and Agatha Christie to Terry Pratchett and John Grisham. Tickets are free but must be collected in advance from the library’s ground floor counter and refreshments will be provided. On Wednesday December 22 it’s Christmas unconfined with a Cool Yule workshop for children from 2.30 to 4pm. One and a half hours of full-on festive fun with Christmas stories and craft sessions for making Christmas cards, baskets and tree decorations. The workshop is free but open only to children who are library members. Children who live or attend school in Douglas (verification required) can join the library for free; others may join by paying a ?2 annual subscription. Tickets are free but must be collected in advance (on production of a library membership card) from the library’s ground floor counter and refreshments will be provided. The Henry Bloom Noble Library is at 10 – 12 Victoria Street, Douglas. Telephone 696461. End