MILFORD – Staff will need to keep a sharp eye on one of the home-made wreaths that will be hung around the Milford library soon.

Each year Friends of the Library run the Wreaths Around the Wadleigh fundraising auction, soliciting wreaths from residents and businesses.

Theft isn’t usually a problem, but this year one of the wreaths might be particularly tempting. Carla Boudreau, one of the Friends, built a wreath with a bottle of Champagne in its center and an “Advent calendar” of 24 little nip bottles of liquor around the periphery.

People donate about 40 of the festive wreaths, and everyone is invited to donate one of any size, decorated in any theme and made of any materials. They don’t have to be holiday wreaths.

Each year, Boudreau said, a quilt wreath is popular, and so is one full of lottery tickets.

Pasta Loft donates an elegant wreath each year that contains two $25 gift certificates to the restaurant.

New this year are enscribed cutting boards made by the Milford High School engineering department.

The wreaths will be on display over two weeks this year, so natural materials might not hold up well and artificial materials are preferred.

“People look forward to seeing them go up,” Boudreau said.

To take part, deliver a wreath to the library between Saturday, Nov. 24 and Monday, Nov. 26, and fill out a participation form. They will be on display around the library through Dec. 16 with the names of the donor and the wreath’s name posted with each wreath.

Winners will be notified beginning at 3 p.m. and wreaths can be picked up between 3 and 5 p.m. and no later than Tuesday, Dec. 18 at noon, or the wreath will go to the next highest bidder.

The recommended bidding increment is $2, and bidders are encouraged to bid high and often.

The fundraiser supports almost all the Friends’ activities for the following year., including museum passes for the library and its patrons.

“We also use the funds to provide the extra items the staff would like to provide their patrons with, but the budget can’t provide.” Boudreau said. “For instance, in the past we have provided a new bike rack, a coffee station, kids’ learning toys, game packs for teenagers, magazine jacket covers and colored paper and crayons.

Friends of the Library will also be wrapping gifts at Hampshire Hills’ annual crafts fair on Dec. 8.

Kathy Cleveland can be reached at 673-3100 or kcleveland@cabinet.com.