From a circus-themed tree to one decorated with crocheted ornaments, the Festival of Tiny Trees and Wreaths is brimming with creativity.

"It's just amazing what people think of to do," said Anne Henson, assistant director for the Bartow County Library System. "I know everybody can't bid on a tree but it's an event [where people can] come down to wander in the room and look. It does [showcase] originality and creativity because you just kind of go, 'Oh my goodness, I would never have thought of this.' So I just think it is [an opportunity for people] to come down and browse."

The handmade ornaments, gift baskets and decorated wreaths and Christmas trees, 4 feet or shorter, are on display for a silent auction at the Cartersville Public Library, 429 W. Main St. in Cartersville. Located in the library's Nathan Dean Community Room, some of the items are for sale but the majority have sheets beside them in which the public can place a bid. On Friday, the bidding will conclude at 7:30 p.m. during the event's Jingle Bell Jam reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Reception tickets will cost $5.

Presented by the Cartersville Woman's Club and The Friends of the Library, the majority of the event's proceeds will benefit the Bartow County Library System. Last year, the offering raised about $1,000, said Carol Youd, co-chairwoman for the Festival of Tiny Trees and Wreaths and a member of the Cartersville Woman's Club.

"Supporting the library is a great cause," Youd said, adding a portion of the gift basket sales will go toward charitable efforts supported by the Cartersville Woman's Club, which range from providing blankets to nursing home residents to the Etowah Valley Humane Society. "The idea that you can just go and pick up a wreath that is not only interesting and pretty but the money does go to a good cause is great -- the same with a tree.

"The trees are small so they're tabletop trees. They can be used easily in addition to your regular tree at home but also at offices or places of business as a small tabletop tree. It's a perfect addition to your Christmas decor."

Due to budget cutbacks, Henson said The Friends of the Library's support is instrumental to the library's offerings.

"They always give us a check in the fall at their annual meeting/membership drive time," Henson said. "This past year they gave us $6,000 and we use it for our materials and some of it goes to our programming, our youth programming in particular, specifically the summer reading program.

"We're still growing our [book] collection and we think it's an excellent collection for the amount of money that we have. And there have been [budget] cuts and probably will be more cuts. So it's really important to have the supplement from the 'friends' and the more money they raise, the more money we have for materials and for our programming. And then, the more materials we have, the better the library will be for all of our patrons in the county."

The Cartersville Public Library can be reached at 770-382-4203.