The Charleston Carnegie Public Library will auction off 14 trees and four wreaths that were decorated by members of the Miranda Ploss | The Daily Eastern News starting Tuesday.

Pre-decorated Christmas trees will be auctioned off through Dec. 10 at 4 p.m. at the library.

Jeanne Hamilton, the library director, said the library provided trees for the public, people picked them up and decorated them before returning them to the library to be auctioned off.

All the proceeds from the auction will go to benefit the library.

“Last year, one of the trees was auctioned off at $85,” Hamilton said.

Joan Spencer, a library associate, said they have gotten many unique trees over the years.

They have had a woodland-themed tree, a Victorian-themed tree and a garden tree, she said.

“We’ve been doing it for quite a bit so we’ve gotten a lot of trees, Santas, snowmen, just everything,” Spencer said.

The tree that sold for $85 was a “Raven”-themed tree that featured different elements from Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “The Raven,” decorated by Lynette Drake, the director of Health Services.

This year, Drake decorated a tree for the book When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple by Sandra Martz.

The tree is decorated with purple ornaments, purple and gold ribbon and a purple hat as a topper. The tree also has a pair of shoes, perfume, a handkerchief, a teacup and the book.

Another tree was decorated in an Island Princess Barbie theme.

This tree was decorated by Beth Lugar, the youth director for the library, and her daughter, Ella Lugar.

Pink, green and purple ornaments, an Island Princess Barbie topper and a fur garland decorated the tree. The tree skirt is a pink and purple tutu.

“It’s fun to see how creative people get and see the different themes people come up with,” Hamilton said.

Spencer said the people who decorate the tree spend their own money on the ornaments, but the tree is supplied by the library.

“What some of the regular people who do it year after year, at the end of the season they go to Walmart or Hobby Lobby, or someplace like that, and they will pick out a theme and buy all their decorations,” Spencer said.

Hamilton said people like to see both types of trees and wreaths.

“Both styles have a demand,” Hamilton said. “It’s great that it appeals to people who are looking for more of a traditional tree and also the themed one appeal to the people who are looking for something unique.”

Last year, the library raised about $600 with about 20 trees.

The bids for the trees start at $15 and each bid has to be increased by at least $1.

Hamilton said it is a great way to end Thanksgiving.

“It is a great way to have a festive environment for a couple of weeks at the library, to celebrate the holiday,” Hamilton said.

Samantha McDaniel can be reached at 581-2812 or slmcdaniel@eiu.edu.