Although many people are busy with holiday planning, shopping and travel, the Palermo Library Guild is asking you to give something even more special this holiday season – your time.

Three years in the planning, “The Palermo Community Library is coming soon, as the sign says,” reports Cheryl Parkman, one of three PLG directors with Judy Tripp and President David Remington.

Guild members have spent many volunteer hours bringing the library to town, an effort financed mainly through grants and fund-raisers.

“In addition, the Palermo community has been supportive with donations of time, money and books,” Parkman said.

But it’s getting down to the wire, and many last-minute details must be tended to before the library can open.

Except for a few minor interior finishing touches, the new building on Route 3 in Palermo is complete, including heat and bathroom facilities.

The Camden Public Library and the Gibbs Library in Washington have loaned or donated “good bookshelves and computer corrals,” Parkman said, and now it’s time to put those bookshelves together, put books on them, and put furniture in place.

All of that work requires manpower and good volunteer skills.

Additional bookshelves also need to be built. Donations are being sought to purchase new books to supplement those already received and ensure a well-rounded and varied selection from which to choose.

The children’s area is in the design process, and the guild is asking for donations of applicable furnishings for that area.

Three computers have been ordered, along with library cataloging and circulation software.

Remington requests people to bring in any special books they may have set aside for the library so they can be included in the cataloging process. He is asking for volunteers to help sort the books and help decide what new books should be ordered.

The Palermo Library Guild meets at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday of each month at the library building.

Anyone interested in this marvelous community project is welcome to attend.

The guild especially would like to hear from anyone who can help build additional bookshelves, sort books or register to volunteer at the library once it is open.

Dollar donations for new books may be sent to the Palermo Library Guild, Box 102, Palermo 04354. For information about volunteer opportunities, call Remington at 993-2074.

Although she will be unable to be with her parents this Christmas, and unable to participate in their 50th wedding anniversary celebration on Christmas Eve, Chris Halsted of Bangor has come up with a very special way of helping them celebrate this most significant occasion.

Halsted is asking old friends of her parents to send them a card or letter wishing them well.

Wilfred and Ruby Cline are former residents of Lubec, Woodland and Baring.

He is a retired lobsterman and Georgia Pacific employee, and she was, for many years, a sardine packer who also worked at Ware Knitters Mill in Calais.

The couple now residents in Clarksville, Tenn., where Ruby recently underwent a kidney transplant. That kidney, by the way, was a gift from her son-in-law, Allan Harriman.

“It was funny,” Halsted said, “no one in the family was a match for her, but he was.”

Harriman, who is married to the Clines’ daughter Sherrill, is a Woodland High School graduate and retired military man. They live in Clarksville, as well.

Halsted said her parents “would like to make it home,” for the holidays and celebrate their golden anniversary with family and longtime friends but, “since they can’t, this is the next best thing.”

You may send your greetings to the Clines, 235 Old Hopkinsville Highway, Clarksville, Tenn. 37042.

Maine-based Oakhurst Dairy and its owners, the Bennett family, are offering us a tasty opportunity to help others this holiday season.

Oakhurst is donating 4 cents from every unit of its Egg Nog sold during the holiday season to The Salvation Army of Northern New England.

Last year’s December-only promotion raised $6,000 for the Salvation Army’s holiday programs that provide food, clothing and other assistance to people throughout Maine.

This year, the owners of one of northern New England’s largest family-owned dairies expanded the program to include the entire holiday season that technically began the first of November.

By extending the time frame of the promotion, according to Vice President Bill Bennett, the possibility exists for the Oakhurst donation to be doubled this year.

Now those of us who especially enjoy drinking eggnog during the holidays will not only enjoy its special taste, but also get a warm feeling from knowing that with each sip we are helping those in need.

People with overdue books at the Ellsworth Public Library can help others as well as themselves this holiday season through a special EPL dispensation, “Food for Fines.”

During the month of December, the EPL will accept nonperishable food items as payment of fines for overdue library materials.

All the collected food will be donated to the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry in Ellsworth.

In fact, even those who have no overdue library materials are encouraged to participate and make a donation to the food pantry.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.