Getting Crafty at the Library

Getting crafty at the library

In my last column I wrote about how books from the library could provide an enjoyable and productive way of utilising the increased time spent inside during the winter months. One area I neglected to mention, and one that allows people to read about and practice a huge range of activities, is our art and craft section. This was recently highlighted to us when one of our borrowers brought in a magnificent crochet blanket she had created using one of our books.

The blanket really was a work of art, and at over two meters square represented a great deal of talent and commitment. The book it was taken from, 200 Crochet Blocks for Blankets, Throws and Afghans, is just one of numerous books we have on crochet, ranging from Adorable Crochet for Babies and Toddlers to Crochet for Barbie. And crochet is just one of numerous art and craft topics contained in our collection. We have books on sewing, felting, weaving, embroidery, cross stitch and quilting, and that’s just those that deal with fabrics and fibres.

Our craft books range from general titles that give a broad view of a variety of crafts to those that cover more specific crafts, such as Egg painting and decorating by Deborah Schneebeli-Morrell. The craft book collection is designed to cater to a range of abilities and levels of experience, from beginner to expert. In addition many of the topics that are covered in our adult craft books are also available in our children’s collection.

There are books on paper crafts such as papier mache, decoupage and card making, books on ceramics including pottery and mosaics, and books on flower arranging. We have books on toy making including doll houses, numerous books on scrapbooking, and books that specialise in Christmas crafts (and don’t dismiss these – it’s coming faster than you think!). There is also some crossover between our craft and woodworking books. These include books on specific tools like routers, lathes or band saws that can be used for craft projects.

We also have a large number of books available for artists, again catering to both beginners and experts. These cover techniques for drawing and painting in oils, acrylics or watercolours, and advice on how to paint or draw specific subjects such as landscapes, people or flowers. There are also books on how to paint in the style of a particular artist or movement such as How to paint like the Impressionists by Susie Hodge. We also have a number of books on photography covering the work of well know photographers and techniques for taking different types of photos, although with the weather we’ve had lately you may want to contain yourself to inside subjects.

Our large collection of art and craft books are a great resource for learning or enhancing skills, and the inclement weather makes the winter an ideal time for doing so. If you are already a keen knitter the library is still acting as a depot for Operation Cover-Up, the nation-wide scheme designed to get hand-knitted blankets and clothing to orphans in Eastern Europe. And if you ever want any inspiration for a craft activity, take a look at the wall hanging that was created by the Wairarapa Embroiderers Guild to celebrate the 1982 opening of the library. And finally thank you to our borrower (who chose to remain unnamed) for bringing in and showing us her wonderful work and demonstrating the great crafts that can be produced from our books.

Jon Adams
Community Outreach Librarian
Masterton District Library

Take a mid-winter break at your library

The saying goes that “Everybody complains about the weather, but no one does anything about it”. One thing you can do about it is visit your library. The library, and books, are a great option for getting through the winter months and we have many library users stocking up on books for when it’s too horrible to do anything outside. With precious few daylight hours available at this time of year, coupled with the cold, the wind, and the rain, the idea of sitting down in front of a warm fire with a book or two is certainly an appealing one.


The winter months can provide an opportunity to do some research and planning for projects you may want to undertake when the weather eventually improves. Our gardening section in particular gets a great deal of use at this time of year as people plan ahead for the Spring and Summer. Whether it’s for landscaping projects or the care of specific trees or plants we have books to cover most gardening activities.

Some of you may be fortunate enough to be planning an overseas trip to somewhere a bit warmer and our extensive range of travel books are available if you want to do some research on where to go and what to do. For those of us staying at home the smell (and taste) of a hearty casserole or fresh home baking is a great antidote to the winter blues. If you’re looking for inspiration we have a huge selection of cook books here at the library, written by celebrity foodies like Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsay and Nigella Lawson, as well as local cooks like Jo Seagar, Allyson Gofton and Alison and Simon Holst.

Winter days can be especially tough on children (and their parents and caregivers) if they can’t get outside because of the weather. Our Winter Warmers Reading Programme is now well underway, providing the children enrolled with something to do for six weeks in the middle of winter. The library can be a source of some much needed distraction in the form of books (either for reading or to get indoor activity ideas), DVDs and magazines. Just as a chance to break cabin fever, a visit to the library can be beneficial for all.

The Masterton Library, and its staff are here for you rain or shine. The library itself is a nice warm space thanks to our heating system, and many people comment on how nice it is when they come in from the cold. If you have the time to sit down and grab yourself a hot coffee or chocolate from our vending machine while you look through some books or magazines, it’s a very pleasant way of avoiding the cold.

However if the weather is so horrible that you really don’t want to go out, or you are struck down by one of the winter bugs, remember that you can always give us a call if you need your books renewed. Our phone number is 370 6300 and if you have access to the Internet, and a PIN number on your card, you can even renew the books online yourself. If you would like more information on this please ask at the library Issue Desk.

Like an extra blanket, a hot-water bottle or a warming drink, books and your library can make the winter a much more pleasant experience. Books can provide a means of escaping the cold and the grey, and fiction books in particular can take you to any location the author can conceive – some a great deal less pleasant than the Wairarapa in the winter! Fortified with books from the library, the enforced time inside can be a time to be savoured and enjoyed and an opportunity to read up on subjects, to further our knowledge and learn new skills.
Jon Adams
Community Outreach Librarian
Masterton District library