Southport Memorial Library is gearing up for the holiday season. The week after Thanksgiving, the annual Christmas Craft Fair will open on Friday, Dec. 1, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and continue Saturday, Dec. 2 with the same hours.

So far more than 15 craftspeople have signed up. Any local craftsperson who wants to participate is invited to contact Linda Brewer at the library, 633-2741.

This year’s show will include Maria Doelp’s beautiful gift cards, decorated Ukranian eggs and other Christmas ornaments by Barbara Lally, Fran Scannell’s wooden garden fish, cutting boards by Jack Allen and his wife’s famous horseradish jelly, Antique Annie’s vintage jewelry, ceramics from the Andersen studio, alpaca yarn and other items from the Cape Newagen Alpaca Farm, Ursula Smith’s hand-woven dish towels and other textiles, sea glass jewelry from Cindy Heil, and, of course, librarian Linda Brewer’s famous Christmas tree ornaments.

In addition to the crafts, the new cookbook published recently by the Southport Library Aides will be on sale at the front desk. “Southport Chefs” is a compilation of recipes by Southport residents, focusing especially on soups, breads and desserts served at the popular January Souper Bowl Luncheon sponsored by the Aides. The cookbook is $7, and all proceeds will go towards enhancing the non-fiction section of the children’s collection in the library.

This is a good place to begin your Christmas shopping, so come and browse from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and don’t forget to pick up a book or two to read over the holidays. The library is open to all in the region free of charge.

The Used Book Store, on the second floor of the library, is open all winter with a good selection of fiction, non-fiction, cookbooks, travel books, self-help books, craft books, and paperbacks. A special children’s section downstairs has plenty of books for all ages. Some of those might make good Christmas gifts, too. Hours are the same as the library: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 9-4, and Tuesday and Thursday, 7-9 p.m.

The Southport Memorial Library is located at 1032 Hendricks Hill Road on Southport Island. For more information call 633-2741.