Submitted by Vincent Verrecchio
All photos courtesy of Harry Goodheart

Early reports have now been confirmed by eyewitnesses that Santa Claus did show up unannounced at the Lanier Library Members Christmas Party on Saturday, December 10. “The clock struck 4 and there he was, ho-ho-ho-ing in the stacks,” claims Ken Yeager, board president of one of only 16 remaining membership libraries in the United States. “No one can remember Santa ever having come to Lanier Library. Afterwards I checked and could find no written record of a such a visit in our entire history since 1890.”

John Diekmann, IT Committee chair and board member, corroborated the report saying that the jolly fellow had a list and was checking it once and then twice while mingling with members. “I think it was obvious that he found members to be overwhelming nice. There were 12 surprise gifts by the fireplace for a fundraising raffle…the launch of our drive for the $10,000 New Book Acquisition Fund.”

Tim Boyce, board treasurer, adds, “Members participated generously in the raffle with more donation tickets than anticipated dropped into Santa’s bag for the drawing. It was a good start to reaching our new book goal, thanks to the participants as well as other friends of the library who donated the raffle gifts.”

Allegedly, no one at the party could say with certainty that Santa, after drawing the twelfth ticket and wishing all a good night, was last seen heading toward the fireplace and chimney in the periodicals room. An anonymous source, however, offered a guarantee that “the big guy’ll be back.” •