Spring into Creativity at the Library

Crafting at the library is fun all year long, but especially as we enter springtime. As the flowers bloom and the world around us wakes up, here at the library, we're excited to have more spring center programs. Over at the Port Royal Branch, we're kicking off spring with our Springtastic Craft Swap! Members of the community can drop off their unwanted but still usable craft supplies for the two weeks leading up to the swap and return on March 28th to pick up craft supplies to take home and enjoy.

Folks who attended previous swaps found fabric to make a new fashionable purse and scrapbooking materials for an upcoming grandbaby memories book. Any leftover supplies that patrons don't take home to enjoy are repurposed for library programming. Most recently, we used leftover donated mosaic tiles for our Green Mosaic Art Program, and last summer, we used them for a Mosaic Coaster Making Program. But sharing the joy of craft supplies doesn't stop there! Any remaining supplies that patrons or the library don't use are donated to a local organization. We're excited to work with DSN's Great Expectations Day Program this spring. We love that through one simple craft exchange, we're able to connect with so many in our community. 

At the library, we also love to find ways to pair fun, relaxing crafts with opportunities to learn new things. Sometimes we call this edutainment (education + entertainment). Mixing educational elements and fun crafting activities. One way this connection comes to life is through popular crafts using oyster shells, a beloved tradition here in the Low Country. These kinds of crafts offer a great way for folks to create something new, learn about local oyster shell recycling locations, and see how recycled oyster shells are put to good use here in Beaufort County for coastal conservation efforts. Patrons walk away from the library learning a little more about our community while also making a beautiful decoupage shell (and picking up their newest read, of course). 

Don't have the time to attend a crafting program in person? Have no fear! Bring crafting home by using resources like Hoopla, where patrons can check out digital crafting books and videos. We're big fans of the Craftsy Binge Passes, which give patrons access to a week's worth of crafting content with one instant borrow. 

Be sure to check out Beaufort County Library's Programming calendar to stay up to date on upcoming events. Don't forget to use the calendar's filter section to find programs that best suit you and your family's interests. For more information on craft programming, be sure to select the "Arts & Crafts" filter. We can't wait to see you at the library!