Dr. Jeffrey Brown (second from right) from Parkview Home and Hospice group led a discussion based on the book, “Being Mortal.” Chautauqua Wawasee and the Syracuse Public Library are facilitating a series of book discussions that are free to the public. The next discussion is Jan. 24. Photo provided by Syracuse Public Library.

SYRACUSE — The Syracuse Public Library announced its events for the week of Dec. 9-14.

The Syracuse Friends are having their bag-of-books sale before the holidays and the deep of winter. The sale opens at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, until the library closes at 2 p.m. Friends have many books that need to find homes, so buy their bag or bring your own.

The McGee’s Decluttering group is selling items from their downsizing activities. They have their main sale on Friday, Dec. 13, from noon to 5 p.m. Meet the McGee’s and shop from a variety of collectibles, new toys, jewelry and women’s clothes.   

The Syracuse Library is collecting food and nonperishables for the food pantry. Donated items will be applied to overdue fines from the Syracuse Library through Dec. 20.

Food from Fiction’s book choice this month is a Joanna Fluke mystery. The book is “Christmas Cake Murder,” but recipes can come from any of the 25 Hannah Swensen stories. The group meets on the second Thursday of the month and is always welcoming to new members. The December meeting date is Thursday, Dec. 12, at 1 p.m.

Magnolia Cooking Club is a show-and-tell of favorite or even promising sides. Cooking clubs are good times to try out a recipe as failures can be as much fun as successes. Attendees are asked to come and share a finger food or recipe on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 4 p.m.

Chautauqua Reading Circle has announced the next book. It is “The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World” by octogenarians, The Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, with Douglas Abrams. The theme of the next discussion on Jan. 24 is happiness. Copies of the book are available for pick up at the Syracuse Public Library.

The children’s department has plenty of games and activities for families that drop in anytime. Story Time meets on Monday, Dec. 9, at 10:30 a.m. for preschool stories, music and a hands-on activity. Tot Time, for newborn to 3 years, meets on Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 10:30 a.m.

After school on Thursday, Dec. 12, at 4 p.m. is a time for STEM exploration and to read to Baylee the dog.

Through-the-week adult activities start on Monday, Dec. 9, with Mahjong from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Chair yoga meets for easy Pyramid Yoga on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 10:15 a.m. and advanced chair yoga on Thursday, Dec. 12, at 9:15 a.m. String Theory, the social fiber group, gets together with individual projects on Thursdays at 5 p.m. The group members will teach basic knitting with needles and yarn provided by the library.