Want to learn how to save money? Energy? How about how to relieve stress? Maybe
Save money and energy
Relieve stress
Make a greeting card
Take an online class for free
Make a scrap fabric wreath
Detect allergies with a computer
Make jewelry using beads
Do counted cross stitch
Exercise and eat right
Check out eBooks
Hand quilt
Get rid of your physical pain
Make better food choices
Do a self breast exam
Gain flexibility and balance
Sew a necklace
Request a room at the library
Make a smoothie
Make prairie points for quilts
Do a Tai Chi sequence
you want to learn how to make better food choices or gain flexibility and balance.
All these topics and more will be addressed at Baldwinsville Public Library when it holds its How To Festival from 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 26.
“This is a new idea for the (Baldwinsville) library, but it is part of the ‘makerspace’ movement in public libraries, [in general],” said Julia Schult, adult programs librarian at Baldwinsville Public Library.
Makerspaces are places to create, build, craft and promote community engagement. Patrons and experts often come together in makerspaces to learn new techniques and train others in a skill.
“Our library directors started talking at a directors meeting about libraries as makerspaces. They brought the idea back to our libraries, our staff got together and it’s happening.”
Those who attend the How To Festival can expect to find about 20 tables set up for each How To activity. Healthy snacks will be on offer at both the Make Better Food Choices table and the How To Make a Smoothie table. Guests can try a brief Reiki demo or learn how to relieve stress with simple tapping exercises. Active sessions, such as “How to do a Tai Chi Chih Sequence” or “How to do a Full Body
Workout in 20 Minutes” will be held on the half hours between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.
“We love it when we can bring people together and provide facilities for the community to have fun and learn things at the same time,” said Schult, who organized the event with outreach librarian Nancy Howe. “This event embodies our library’s objectives, which include meeting the educational, cultural and recreational needs of the B’ville community.”
The How To Festival is also being held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 25 at Liverpool Public Library and from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 26 at Northern Onondaga Public Library (NOPL) – North Syracuse. The Baldwinsville Public Library is located at 33 E. Genesee St. in Baldwinsville. For more information, call 635-5631.