HOULTON, Maine — Just in time for cold winter weather, the Cary Library has a new fun and relaxing program to help wile away the shorter days.
Advanced coloring books for teens and adults can now be found at the library, complete with a wide assortment of crayons, colored pencils and markers.
“The teen area and main reading area are set up with wooden boxes containing everything you need to relax and have fun, including material for origami making,” explained Librarian Linda Faucher. “We hope that this provides an activity that an individual, family or working group of individuals might enjoy for together time and it’s a great way to socialize.”
Those who do not finish their page may either take it home with them, or leave it at the table for the next person to finish, Faucher added.
“We brainstormed some ideas to help engage people not only by providing something to do beyond reading a book or magazine, but provide a little opportunity to be social in a small group,” she said. “We have just started and the teen box is seeing some steady use and it is doing exactly what we hoped — gathering a small group doing like minded things together and being able to ‘chit-chat’ quietly.”
Funding for this project was made possible through the Maine Public Library Fund, which is supported by residents on the Maine state income tax form.
“When people file their Maine state income tax, they have the opportunity to support Maine libraries by checking off a donation to the Maine Public Library Fund,” Faucher said. “The Maine State Library makes the funds available to Maine public libraries and library staff to encourage and support innovation in the creation and expansion of new library services or to expand an existing service or program already provided. We thought getting people together in a small group setting (it can be done individually) and coloring or drawing can help exercise the mind, relieve stress and just be a fun activity to do during the winter months.”
