The Food from Fiction book club is back at the Syracuse Library. Shown at the November meeting are Esther DeJulia, Joan Ulrey, Elizabeth Wamsley, Cathy Spaulding, Malinda Pinney, Ruth Judy, Linda Baird, Lou Olson and Ann Garceau.

SYRACUSE — The end of the year can be filled with many back-to-back activities. The Syracuse Library has some relaxing, social times early in the month. Laura Kaufman is talking about the process of avoiding probate and making the transfer of possessions easy after one’s death. She is presenting an overview of documents that communicate our desires at the end of life. This program is for adults at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3.

The Friends December meeting is a good meeting to come to hungry at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 5. They share cookies, and as everyone brings a couple of dozen cookies there will be plenty to take home. The group is making plans for the Friends bag-of-books sale on Dec. 14.

Those going to Magnolia Cooking Club are sharing favorite finger foods for the holidays, either to taste or with a recipe. There will be plenty of time to use the ideas since the meeting is at 4 p.m. Dec. 10. The Food from Fiction book club is using the recipes of Joanna Fluke, particularly from “Christmas Cake Murder.” The discussion and tasting are at 1 p.m. Dec. 12.

Holiday Schedule

The first three weeks of December are filled with a full slate of programs. The Syracuse Library is closing on Dec. 23, 24 and 25, then opens for the rest of the week. The library is open Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday  for the week of New Year’s. Make a craft with the library during Breakfast with Santa from 8-11 a.m.  Dec. 7  at the Community Center.

The children’s department is offering a full schedule of activities this December. Story time for preschoolers is at 10:30 a.m. on Monday mornings. Babies have special stories, music and movement when they join the toddlers at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays.  Fun at Four for children meets each Thursday where they can also read to Baylee. Adults can expect all programs to continue during the first part of the month when the library is open.