SYRACUSE — The Syracuse Public Library is forgiving overdue fines in exchange for a donation to the food pantry. A popular seasonal opportunity is offered for people who have fines on Syracuse items that have been returned late. Beginning on Nov. 19 and running through Dec. 22, food and non-perishable household items will be converted to a dollar amount and given to the Syracuse Food Pantry.

The library’s hours for the Thanksgiving holiday are to close on Thursday and Friday and open on Saturday. Materials can be returned in the drop box on Harrison Street. Additional days are included in the check-in date to account for the closing days.

Jackie Franks, the Kosciusko County food educator, is offering an hour program about the easy ways to avoid bad food-handling practices. Interested people are asked to sign up in advance for the Monday, Nov. 26 program, which starts at 3:30 p.m. Call the Syracuse Library at (574) 457-3022 to sign up.

Books with cooking ideas and recipes are on the shelves and ready to browse in the convenience of home. After the holidays, a beginning Mahjong is forming at the library for people who want to give the game a try. Tentatively, the game times will be early Monday afternoons each week, beginning Jan. 7. Interested patrons are asked to leave their name at the library to receive a confirmation of the meeting times.

Children story times are Monday and Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Pyramid chair yoga meets on Tuesday at 10:15 a.m. A pyramid builds up from a base and the exercises build on each other, allowing people with different levels of skill to participate in the same class. Guests and new people are welcome.

A support group that helps with possessions is especially important through the holidays. Decluttering Stuff is a library sponsored group that meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. The 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20 meeting accepts new visitors.