Williamsburg Regional Library encourages learning and growth through myriad services beyond books, including plays, children’s activities and lectures on wide-ranging topics.
The library is further expanding the scope its programming with “A Year of Making,” which launched Sunday. The initiative gives users the chance to learn new skills through diverse hands-on projects almost every Sunday afternoon through September 2019.
“The library promotes lifelong learning. That’s what we do,” said Jesse Kelley, WRL programming librarian.
The program incorporates maker spaces — flexible areas meant to host special equipment such as 3-D printers, sewing machines and other such tools — to cover diverse topics.
“Maker spaces are becoming very popular in the library world. You hear people talking about them all the time. Our users were interested in the idea as well,” Kelley said. “What we’re looking for are ideas and programs that let people to use their hands.”
The library divided the series into four sections to help gauge user interest for the future, including the possibility of installing permanent facilities. The arts and crafts section runs through December, with ones on technology and textiles to follow in 2019.
Library staff members will lead some programs, while outside experts will lend their knowledge for others. October programs cover the likes of cupcake decorating and papermaking. In November, users can try activities such as making wreaths and comics.
“The one thing that strikes me about this program is it gives a person a chance to fail,” Kelley said. “The idea is to explore and the idea is to try and if it’s not perfect, that’s OK. There is no right or wrong in the maker space.”
Sunday’s inaugural maker space featured local potter Beth Turbeville leading two clay workshops.
“It went well. We had a good attendance. People seemed to enjoy themselves,” Kelley said.
Both sessions filled most of the 25 openings with adults and kids as young as 10.
The mobile nature opens up the possibility of spreading events between WRL’s Williamsburg and James City County locations and beyond through the library’s Mobile Library Services program.
“We think this is going to be a fun chance for our users to try their hand at a lot of different types of making activities,” Janet Crowther, WRL’s assistant library director, said in a news release.
Want to go?
“A Year of Making” runs 1-4 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 21, 2019, excluding Dec. 23. All arts and crafts programming takes places at the James City County Library except the Dec. 2 program at the Stryker Center. For ages 10 and older. Some programs require registration. For a complete schedule, visit wrl.org/year-of-making.
