[December 13, 2011] 

One of the many Christmas craft programs at the Lincoln Public Library was building gingerbread houses with graham crackers, white icing and candy -- lots and lots of candy. The 5- to 7-year-olds were treated to a story time as the after-school program began -- something different for the older children, according to Jamie Kaiser, youth services coordinator. Kaiser conducts story time for toddlers on a regular basis, but the children's department has recently added the feature to older children's programming, in conjunction with a craft class or other activity.

Pictures by Marla Blair

Jamie Kaiser, youth services coordinator, explains the process of spreading the icing and sticking the gingerbread (graham cracker) siding to the milk carton.

Brianna Wampler (in red sweatshirt), a sophomore at Lincoln Community High School, volunteers in the children's department. She plans to major in library science in college.

Patience paid off to change a milk carton into a gingerbread house with brightly colored windows and trim.

One of the gingerbread houses shows off candy designs and the builder's imagination.

Jamie Kaiser built a gingerbread house three weeks ago, to experiment with how icing and candy would stick together.

The craft room in the Lincoln Public Library's children's department is decorated for Christmas and is hosting holiday activities in December.

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