All Library locations will be closed Monday, January 19 for Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday.
The end of an old year — and the start of a new one — offers an opportunity for a fresh beginning.
Many people make a list of New Year’s goals focused on health, exercise, or diet. Others set intentions for their money, relationships, hobbies, work, or career.
Whatever you’ve got on your mind in the new year, the Library is here to help you tackle everyday challenges, reach your goals, and explore new interests.
For example, winter is a great time to prepare for spring planting. Whether you’ve tried that before or it’s uncharted territory, check out flower and vegetable seeds, gardening books, and cookbooks at the Ruiz Branch’s Seed Library.
If you want to dig into other new hobbies, the Library has you covered there, too. From art classes to book clubs to writing classes at different branches, brush up on old skills or learn something unfamiliar. Tap into your creative side and learn how to knit or sew on Craftsy. Explore a new language on pronunciator.
But as you might expect, stepping out of your comfort zone can feel ... uncomfortable.
And that's okay. The Library’s Kathleen Kennedy, a career and personal finance specialist who connects patrons to job search resources, says to think of this time of year as an invitation to pause and reflect.
“The new year is a great time to step back, take a look, and figure out: Have I stayed too long in my current position? Do I want to try a whole other area?” Kennedy says. “And so, with that sometimes comes: Do I need new education or short-term training?”
Sometimes just showing up takes a lot of effort.
Luke Welsh teaches Tai Chi and Qi Gong at the Plaza Branch and welcomes people of all ages. Welsh says his classes are accessible, slow-moving, and easy for beginners to follow.
“It’s a nice way for people to meditate, but also move at the same time. It’s not so hard as just sitting and meditating,” he says. “It checks several boxes at once: exercising and breathing and community.”
Welsh adds, “So I would just say, ‘Come and have fun.’”
If fitness is on your to-do list, the Bluford Branch hosts NickiFit classes. Stop by at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays for a 200 Tough Workout to build muscle or at 6 p.m. on Thursdays for Mixxed Fit classes to dance and tone with weights.
Boost memory and problem-solving skills at the North-East Branch every third Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Game Night. Play some games at open tables, or check one out to take home.
Test your knowledge about national parks, Academy Awards, and Earth Day, among other topics, at Trivia Tuesdays from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Sugar Creek Branch.
And, by popular demand, the Central Library’s 101 series is moving to Saturdays at 2 p.m. Look for a wide range of sessions on using Library resources, repairing clothes, registering to vote, and more.
Stop by your nearest Library – or visit us online – to start your new year right.
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