The McClay Branch Library hosts many different activities for the community. For the past few years, the library has hosted an array of different crafting programs for people of all ages.

“People came forward and said they were interested in forming these groups, and the library was interested in having them as well,” librarian Carrie Mares said. “Some of these groups have been going on for several years, so there is definitely a need and desire to have them in the community.”

Mares began hosting crafts at the library around five years ago when she started a tween knitting program that focused on teaching kids and teenagers the basics of knitting. Since then, she has formed an adult knitting and crochet group for people of all experience levels to participate in. Group members work on projects together and share ideas, knowledge, and supplies. The group meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month.

“My favorite part of being in the knitting and crochet group is the friendships that I’ve gotten out of it,” group member Vicki Barnard said. “They encourage you to try stuff that you normally wouldn’t try on your own, and you learn things that you never would have learned without them. I’ve even learned a lot of stuff from them that has nothing to do with knitting.”

Along with knitting and crochet, the McClay Branch Library hosts many other crafts. There is a scrapbooking program on the 1st Saturday of every month, they make crafts for charity on Tuesday afternoons, and they have a quilt along program on the 3rd Thursday of every month, to name a few. More programs can be found on their website or by picking up a brochure.

“All of our programs are a fun and casual atmosphere,” librarian Leslie Blanchard said. “Everyone has gotten to know each other and they help each other out. They have a lot of fun.”