Columbus Public Library doing sponsored books for holiday season

With the holidays fast approaching, many folks have already started scoping out gift prospects and the Columbus Public Library is coming out of the gate with a new one this year for bookworms.

Honor Books, or sponsored books, are pretty straightforward — patrons can "purchase" a book from the titles on display by the main circulation desk and dedicate it "in honor of" or "in memory of" a loved one.

"The book will then receive a plate inside, with the name of those who donated it and who it is in honor of," CPL customer service representative Melodee Pedersen said. "This could also be done in memory of someone as well. The library will send a letter to the honoree to let them know a book has been placed at the library in their honor."

With the number of new books the library has to order each year, both regular and large print, sponsoring books like this helps cover some of the costs, which means that even more titles can be ordered.

"Basically it just helps our book budget stretch a little further, because then if other people are paying for these, then that's more money that could have been spent on these that we can then spend on books," Pedersen said.

The Honor Books program will run through Christmas Eve.

The library currently has adult fiction and nonfiction on display, with children's books to be added shortly, Pedersen said.

In other library news, CPL is partnering with Paws and Claws on Nov. 23 for a "Kitty Cafe" from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the Creativity Corner on the second floor of the library.

The adoption center will have kittens on hand for patrons to meet and play with — and perhaps adopt.

No registration is necessary, but the library cautions that people will be allowed in with the kittens in small groups, and only a few at a time, so it's first come, first served.

Should one of the frisky felines tickle your cat fancy, adoption paperwork will need to be completed at Paws and Claws.

Also for the library, though not at the library, the Columbus Valentino's, 3100 23rd St., is partnering with the library for a fundraising night. On Dec. 3, 10% of proceeds from dine-in, takeout and delivery orders between 4:30 and 8 p.m. will be donated to the library.