Play in the Library
When was the last time you played? I’m not talking about playing a game, necessarily (although certainly games, whether on a table, outside on a golf course or pickle ball court, or digitally on a computer, can fit the bill). When is the last time you engaged in an activity for its own sake, simply because you enjoyed it? Almost any activity can be considered play, depending upon the circumstances by which one approaches it. In Mark Twain’s famous novel, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, he famously observed that “Work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do, and that Play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do.”
It’s easy to talk about the practical benefits of the library — the way it provides access to media, its function as a community hub, its myriad of educational materials, and its ability to help connect people to information on everything from legal forms to automotive repair, but just as important to our wellbeing is the way the library provides us with opportunities to play. Beaufort County Library’s stated mission, our raison d'être, is “for leisure, for learning, for life.” All three of these come together in the simple word “play.” Play is a lifelong pursuit, after all. It is leisure in its most refreshing and productive form, and it is one of the most vital means of learning in the human experience.
Kids intuitively understand the importance of play. They are curious about everything; they explore and experiment. They climb on top of stuff or crawl under it. They take things apart and put them back together in new and unpredictable ways. To quote Ms. Frizzle from the 1990s cartoon The Magic School Bus, they “take chances, make mistakes, and get messy!”
As a children’s librarian, I have a front row ticket to be part of how the library provides opportunities for creative play, whether through interactive portions in a storytime program, process art programs in which kids experiment with paint or collage, or even through activities such as scavenger hunts or toys set out in the kids' department. A new library resource I am excited to share with families is our bagged kits, which come with a wide variety of books, toys, and games carefully curated to inspire creativity and learning. With the materials in these kits, kids can explore a wide variety of interests, from the human body to music to language, and even complex subjects like robotics and coding. These kits are designed for families to take home and play with at the kitchen table, giving kids opportunities to chase their interests and make discoveries in a low-pressure way.
The library also provides many opportunities for adults to play! Groups meet regularly for games like Mahjong and chess, not to mention peacefully solving jigsaw puzzles. Art programs allow low-pressure opportunities to discover new interests or build skills, and the library’s technological resources are available for anyone to explore. If you are interested in learning to use the 3D printer at the St. Helena Branch, for example, a librarian will be happy to show you the basics of 3D modeling software. From there, you’re free to tinker and play. And of course, the library has all sorts of books to help you chase whatever interest or hobby inspires you, whether you want to learn to decorate a cake, catch a fish, make a pot, or dominate your opponents at the poker table. There’s always an opportunity to pick up a book, ignite your brain, and find new ways to play.
Whether you are 1, 101, or anywhere in between, everyone needs to play. So come down to the library and let us help you get started.
