Earlier this month, Cornelius checked out a book, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, and a movie, Miracle on 34^th Street (he’s very sentimental).  He is very busy, getting cookies baked and the house decorated before Cora visits on Christmas Day. Cornelius is so busy that he hasn’t had time to read his book or watch his movie. He checks the due date on his library receipt: December 24^th!! Now he’s really stressed that his book and movie are due on Christmas Eve. He’s not sure he has time to return them but he really, really doesn’t want them to be late. What should he do?

We’re telling Cornelius not to worry. The library is closed on December 24^th and 25^th. That means his due date is actually December 26^th. You can breathe easy, too. If your due date is the 24th or 25th, you’re covered through the day after the holiday. The same rule applies for the New Year’s holiday. December 31^st and January 1^st are days that don’t count in library due-date math.

No one will be here when the library is closed. We solemnly promise, none of our staff will be checking to see if you returned The Muppet Christmas Carol on Christmas Day. (Please don’t, just go ahead and watch it one more time).

And even if those holiday days weren’t freebies, remember that auto-renewal is also happening, well, automatically. Your materials will renew on their own, up to five times. As long as no one else is waiting on the book/movie/game/magazine that you have checked out, rest easy. Even when the library is open, auto-renewal has your back. (Also consider: if you haven’t finished that book by the fifth renewal, maybe it wasn’t the right book for you?)

If Cornelius really, really wants to return his book and movie while we’re closed, our book drop is always open. You can take a quick detour through the drive through and return most materials anytime in the book drop, day or night and whether we’re open or closed.

Winter holidays are important; but they don’t count at all when it comes to due dates. Enjoy and rest easy. If you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed, we hope this tidbit will take a bit off the top. Your returns can wait until we open, post-holiday rush, on December 26^th and January 2^nd.