By Michelle Waltos

Librarian

Small Business Saturday is held on one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year, taking place on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, nestled between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This year it falls on Nov. 25.

Founded in 2010 by American Express, Small Business Saturday encourages community organizations, groups and individuals to actively support small businesses in their community.

On Saturday, Nov. 18, the Northern Onondaga Public Library (NOPL) at Cicero will promote the “buy local” effort by holding a drawing for one of a number of donated prizes. Participation is simple: stop into the library anytime from now until the 18. Check out library items and detach the bottom portion of the checkout receipt. Print your contact information, and be entered into the drawing.

“Small Business Saturday was a great success in the previous library I worked in,” said Susan Hansen, reference librarian at NOPL Cicero.  “Although I’m new to the Cicero area, I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to reach out to and learn about local small businesses, and I look forward to helping others do the same.”

Local businesses that have donated prizes so far include Toss ‘n’ Fire Pizza, The Chickadee Human Eatery, CMC Dance Company, Wysockis Manor, Paladino’s Cicero Pizza and Karate John’s.

Entrants need not be present to win, but music and refreshments are planned during the live drawing at Noon.

For more information about the participating local businesses and for contest rules, visit nopl.org/sbs.