12/08/2005: "Attend Make a Book Workshops at Library"

The San Juan Island Library is offering a series of workshops on the art of making books. The workshops will take place on the second Thursday of the month at 3:30, December 8 and January 12.

All workshops will take place in the library's meeting room. Three different styles of art projects will be offered in the course of the series. "We had so much fun teaching making books at the Children's Festival and the San Juan County Fair that we thought we should do it again," said library director Lauren Stara. "We made keepsake books at Children's Festival, and at the County Fair, we showed two varieties that could be made from the same original materials. We have a third surprise in store for our finale in January."

Stara, an artist as well as degreed librarian, won best in class at the County Fair for her submission in the Book Arts.

The workshops, which will last for about an hour and a half, are open to all people over age five. The library will supply art materials free of charge. Participants may bring additional art supplies.

In addition to its collections of books, audio books and videos to loan, the library also provides computers for the public to use for email, Internet searching, and working in word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. Library computers offer software to help new computer users learn to type and use a keyboard, and guides, called tutorials, for learning to use the computer's mouse. A computer is available for those with special needs, featuring a magnifier and foreign languages.

Library hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM, Tuesday and Thursday from 10 AM to 8 PM, Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday from 1 PM to 5 PM. Library cards are free to island residents with proof of residency.