Librarian Confessions: We Have Hobbies Besides Reading

From the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach:

July 26, 2020

By Emily

I know it may come as a shock to you, but in our spare time, library staff does things besides read books. Yes, I know. If you need a moment, I understand.

And because we've seen a lot more of the insides of our houses in 2020, some of us have had some extra time to devote to new or old hobbies. This is why we decided to include “A book about a new (or old!) hobby” as one of our Summer 2020 Reading challenges. I asked the library staff to share some book recommendations from their (other) hobbies to get a sense of what we do for fun these days. I hope it gives you some inspiration to pick up an old hobby or start a new one!

Let's start with some truly Floridian hobbies. Tara’s pick is The Sea: Stories, Trivia, Crafts, and Recipes Inspired by the World's Best Shorelines, Beaches, and Oceans by Isobel Carlson. If you're like me, you have a giant bag (or box, or jar, or all of the above) of seashells collecting dust. This book will give you some ideas about what to do with them. Tara says, “I finally got around to making some jewelry out of seashells I've collected over the years. I enjoyed this little book as interesting, inspiring, and light bedtime reading.”

Antoinette’s pick, DisneyBound: Dress Disney and Make It Fashion by Leslie Kay, teaches you the art of Disneybounding. DisneyBound is a fashion trend in which Disney fans style their everyday outfits to match the colors and styles of their favorite Disney characters. Antoinette says, “I can't wait to dig into this book. I love to try to DisneyBounding even though I've been slacking in the skills. I’ve got some new clothing coming in, and I’m hoping I can make some into Disney fashion!” You don't have to go to Disney World to add magic to your everyday life.

Maybe you've seen these next hobbies all over Instagram lately and have been wanting to try them out. Danielle recommends Macramé Plant Hangars: 30 Creative Knotted Crafts for Your Stylish Home by Chrysteen Borja. She says, “I made a couple of macrame plant hangers a couple of summers ago, and I have the materials to make more!”

Sarah’s pick, Subversive Cross Stitch: 33 Designs for Your Surly Style by Julie Jackson, will have you stitching with a healthy dose of sass. Sarah says, “This is a fun book full of cross stitch patterns! Cross stitch and embroidery help me relax.”

Or if tiny gardens are more your Instagram style, Faith recommends Tiny Tabletop Gardens: 35 Projects for Super-Small Spaces – Outdoors and In by Emma Hardy. She says, “This is an adorable book about making miniature gardens. I used it as inspiration for the mini fairy garden craft video for the library!” Check it out - it is adorable.

If you have a larger garden, Sue recommends Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting for Successful Gardening by Louise Riotte. She says, “This is a great book about companion gardening. I used to practically drool over it late winter when I was planning my summer garden in Connecticut.”To throw some hobby-inspired fiction into the mix, Janice’s pick is a historical novel featuring a bittersweet story of friendship found in an embroidery circle: A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier. “Facing limited prospects after the loss of her loved ones, a woman joins a circle of embroiderers continuing a centuries-long tradition at the Winchester Cathedral" (NoveList).

But maybe crafts aren't your thing. If you're a writer, Lena’s pick, The Elements of Style by William Strunk, is a must-have. Lena says, “I am not a professional writer but have a passion for clear, concise, and correct use of language. Love this book and return to it often!”

Or perhaps 2020 has inspired you to be a little more mindful. If so, take a look at Jeremy’s pick: The Mind Illuminated: A Complete Meditation Guide Integrating Buddhist Wisdom and Brain by Culadasa (John Yates, Ph.D.) and Matthew Immergut. “This innovative book offers a 10-stage program that is both deeply grounded in ancient spiritual teachings about mindfulness and holistic health, and also draws from the latest brain science to provide a roadmap for anyone interested in achieving the benefits of mindfulness" (from the publisher).

Finally, we end with a recommendation from the Book Goddess herself. Tina’s artistic hobbies range far and wide, from painting wine glasses to making jewelry. She recommends The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. Tina says, “this wonderful creativity primer has now inspired a couple of generations of writers, artists, and craftspeople.” Whatever your hobby, this book will help you capture your creativity and put it to use.

This press release was produced by the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach. The views expressed are the author's own.