A new year, a new you, a new hobby!

Hobbies can be a great way to unwind, foster creativity, and make new friends.  They offer an opportunity to pursue passions and set goals unrelated to our professional lives.  As children, our free time was consumed with hobbies such as arts and crafts, playing sports, and games.  While juggling the demands of adult life, we often push aside leisure activities due to time constraints and financial considerations.  However, studies have demonstrated that engaging in a hobby can contribute to long-term physical and mental well-being.

Joplin Public Library is a great resource to help you discover a new hobby or get back into a past favorite.  It can be tempting to splurge on expensive supplies after seeing a fun project online (hello, Pinterest!).  However, there is a risk that the hobby may not be ideal for you, and you end collecting expensive gear you never use.  By utilizing books, digital resources, The Makerspace and The Library of Things, trying out new hobbies doesn’t have to be time-consuming or expensive. 

For example, if you’d like to try out digital photography, a DSLR camera and lens can be hundreds or even thousands of dollars.  The Library of Things has one you can check out, countless books on photography and even a Great Courses series on photography through our digital resource kanopy.  Laser engraving is a fun pastime and a great way to personalize items, but again, the machine is expensive, takes up a lot of space and needs special ventilation.  The Makerspace offers this service and help using the machine when you bring your own supplies!

Another reason to utilize the library when looking for a new hobby is that we’re a trusted source for information. Have you ever tried a recipe you found online, only to realize it was missing a key ingredient or step? Books undergo a rigorous review process, ensuring that recipes or instructions for a project won’t lead to disastrous results like in this article from Good Housekeeping. Also, magazines and blogs are often sponsored by companies that promote specific products. The library, on the other hand, has no such agenda. We don’t care which brands you use, as long as you’re having fun!

Start the new year with a new hobby and enjoy all that Joplin Public Library has to offer in 2024!