Libraries are the heart of the community and that doesn’t stop as the year wraps up.

The Tuesday Social Library Group, is a space where people living with disabilities in our community can come together and during the holiday season they have been spreading the Christmas spirit to Timaru Library’s housebound customers.

The group is hosted by Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand and the Timaru District Libraries and meets on Tuesday mornings in the Timaru library community room.

“Here they get together to connect, create arts and crafts, play board games, take part in quizzes, listen to invited guests and share morning tea together,” said Acting Libraries Manager Lynley Simmons

“The group commemorates a number of different holidays and celebrations throughout the year and love getting out and about around the town. This past year they have played mini golf, pool at the Timaru Town and Country club, and taken part in a beach clean up for Seaweek.

“One of the ways they celebrated Christmas this year was to make decorations for the people on the Timaru Library Housebound service. A lot of fun was had placing the tissue paper on the silhouette Christmas shapes.”

The group enjoyed being able to create the decorations for other members of the community, Lynley said.

”The housebound borrowers have been delighted with their gift and are amazed that a group thought of them and took the time.

“They wanted to say thanks to the Tuesday Group and outreach librarian Ingrid for for organizing such a wonderful craft activity.”

The Housebound service is for people in our community who are confined to their place of residence. Library staff provide a free, regular delivery service direct to their doors.