Libraries are not only homes to book clubs, celebrity authors, town meetings and movie discussion groups, they can also be a haven for learning or perfecting a skill…in this case (the suburbs of Omaha, NE) crocheting.
Which arts/crafts/games/skills/are popular @ your library these days?
Definitely all the rage
Knitting is huge. One of our branches has drop-in sessions for knitting and other crafts like crocheting, needlepoint, etc. We’ve also offered knitting classes, and they usually fill in a second and have long waiting lists.
Fiber arts are waaay popular, it seems.
Re:Definitely all the rage
Is this done to increase circulation of craft books? To bring people inside the library?
Our church partners with an urban school, Highland Elementary–puts lots of volunteers in the classrooms and playground. One of the projects is to teach the children how to knit (at lunch time). Members are donating the yarn and needles and volunteers provide the instruction.
Re:Definitely all the rage
The thinking about programming these days (in many libraries) is that it is not seen as a way to boost circ stats, but as another facet of what libraries do–the notion of libraries as community centers. Even if it doesn’t boost circ stats, programs are a way to engender positive feelings about a library, and ultimately, can only help raise awareness.