Library advocates life-long learning during How-To Fair
COSHOCTON – The goal of the Coshocton Public Library is to engage individuals in life-long learning. This was realized on Saturday, Sept. 20 during the How-To Fair where participants were able to learn everything from how to worm compost to playing playground games. The fair was part of recognizing September as National Library Card Sign Up month.
“The goal is to bring new people into the library and encourage individuals to come to the library and celebrate life-long learning and to sign up for a library card if they don’t already have one,” said Jennifer Ricketts. “I’ve been very pleased with the enthusiasm I’ve been seeing from the participants. These are all something that everyone at any skill level can do.”
The idea came from Holli Rainwater after she attended a workshop by the Ohio Library Council. A library in Kentucky had the first How-To Fair and had a huge success.
“It sounded like something that would be valuable to the community and an opportunity to celebrate life-long learning and to get people to visit the library,” said Ricketts.
Community members and local businesses came to the library, some for the entire three-hour event, to share their knowledge for free with community members. Ricketts helped those interested sign up for their own library card.
Throughout the event, different stations in the library hosted a variety of activities during three 50-minute sessions. During the first session, Tammi Rogers shared her knowledge on worm compost, Deborah Crowdy gave a demonstration on how to properly use microfilm, Barb Custer and Holli Rainwater led a class on the variety of games you can play with your hands, David Zacharias taught participants on the basics of fly tying, and Kevin Rainwater and Dave Custer led a group in juggling.
The second round saw a group of kids learning about the basics of chess from Terry Guilliams, a class about starting your own family tree by Deborah Crowdy, how to make a beautiful and simple holiday bow from Andrea Schweitzer Smith, how to write a hajku and make a nature-inspired greeting card by Holli Rainwater, and how to swing dance from Dave and Barb Custer.
During the third and final session, Dave Custer taught a class on knot tying, the Coshocton Genealogical Society discussed family history, Bobbie Smith and Candace Chapman taught a knitting demonstration, Statements by Shannon gave a class on how to step up your style, and Deborah Crowdy and Kevin Rainwater taught kids all about playground games.
“I was really excited that this was something Holli and Jennifer wanted to do,” said Eric Taggert, director of the library. “To me, the library is all about life-long learning. We wanted to have a hands-on learning experience with a variety of things to do.”
If you were not able to go to the How-To Fair but would like to sign up for a library card, visit the Coshocton Public Library at 655 Main St. Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. or the West Lafayette Branch Library at 601 E. Main St. Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., Thursday and Friday, Noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
beth@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
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