Move over, summer reading: Seminole County Library offers a slew of services for adults, too.
With the start to every summer, there come certain rights of passage: family trips, camps, exhausted parents, and summer reading.
But this summer, let’s not forget the parents and all of the programs that the Seminole County Library offers for those over the age of Where the Wild Things Are and The Phantom Tollbooth. The library system offers an incredible array of services for our children, but it offers adults a variety of events and ongoing activities, too.
And if you’re the type who still thinks that a library is nothing more than a quiet place to use a computer or take your kids on a rainy day, then think again. Today’s libraries are working to stay relevant to you, their patrons, and what they now offer might surprise you.
So, let’s take a look at a few of the adult-friendly summer offerings at the Seminole County Library, and let’s remember that the library isn’t only for kids!
For the Knitter, Crocheter, and Sewer
From beginner to advanced, Lake Mary to Oviedo, the Seminole County Library offers clubs and classes to suit everyone. For The Crochet Club of Lake Mary, you can bring your own project to the meeting and swap crocheting tips with fellow members while you work. If you can’t decide if you want to sew, knit, or crochet, then you can always do all of the above at Flying Needles (North Branch, Sanford) or at Yak & Yarn (East Branch, Oviedo.)
Note: these clubs are free to attend.
If you’re a true beginner and don’t know which end on a sewing machine is up, the Central Branch in Casselberry also offers sewing classes throughout the year (next series of classes TBA.)
For the Reader and Writer
Obviously, a library is going to be a perfect meeting point for those who love the written word, and the Seminole County Library system gives you ample opportunities to hone your craft or enjoy the work of others. The library staff at the West Branch (Wekiva/Longwood) hosts a monthly book club, and the book for June is Catch Me If You Can (which some might remember as the blockbuster movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks.)
If romance is more your style, the Northwest Branch (Lake Mary) offers the Romance Readers Book Club, with this month’s selection being Carolina Moon by Nora Roberts.
Or, if you have always wanted to tell your story (or any story, for that matter,) then the Seminole County Library has your chance with one of their writing clubs. Bring a 3-5 minute piece to the Central Branch’s (Casselberry) Write Your Heart Out club, and get valuable feedback from fellow writers. The East Branch (Oviedo) also offers a free writing club with Writers Block, which meets on the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month.
For a Date Night or Girls Night Out
Did you know that you can enjoy one of the hottest event trends – the paint night – at your local library? Seminole County Library West Branch (Wekiva/Longwood) is hosting a Paint Night at the Library on Wednesday, June 13th from 5:30 – 7:30 PM. Registration is required and there’s a $10 materials fee, but this would be one heck of a way to put a new spin on your library experience! (Registration must be made in person at the West Branch Library, limited to adult Seminole County Library cardholders.)
For the Amateur Chef or Kitchen Warrior
Working with the Seminole County Extension (a partnership that delivers research and information from the University of Florida to Seminole County residents,) the Seminole County Library is offering a series of classes geared toward nutrition, food preparation, healthy eating, and more.
Learn to cook with fresh herbs that thrive in Florida’s summer weather, and sample different dishes at Cooking with Fresh Herbs on June 21st from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. This hands-on food preparation class costs $15 to attend and will be hosted at the UF/IFAS Extension Seminole County’s demonstration kitchen in Sanford (not at the library.)
If you’d like to learn more about healthy eating and nutrition, then check out Quick, Healthy Meals for 1-2 (also hosted in partnership with Seminole County Extension.) The lecture addresses how to simplify meal preparation, ideas for healthy meals, and eating well to manage chronic diseases and the needs of older adults. This free event will be hosted twice, both at the North Branch (Sanford) and the West Branch (Wekiva/Longwood.)
For the Genealogy Buff
With the popularity of services like 23andMe and sites like Ancestry.com, it seems like now is the perfect time to finally tackle that family tree you’ve always been talking about. If the task of researching your family history seems daunting, you don’t know where to start, or you just want to share tips and tricks with fellow enthusiasts, then the Genealogy Club at the Central Branch (Casselberry) is for you. They meet the 3rd Monday of every month and the club is free, so make this summer the summer that you finally record your own history!
For the Gardener
Maintaining any type of green thumb in the hot Florida climate can be difficult. Luckily, Seminole County Library hosts a regular series of lectures to help even the most amateur gardener plant something they can enjoy.
This summer, bring some of the outdoors into your living room with Wednesday Gardeners: House Plants.‘ Don’t forget to include hurricane preparation in your garden with a presentation on when/how to prune your garden before a hurricane. And celebrate the end of summer with a class on planting your own fall fruit and vegetable garden, hosted by master gardeners with years of experience in Florida’s unique climate. (Note: fruit/vegetable garden has a $15 fee and comes with a Vegetable Gardening Booklet.)
For the Spanish Speaker
Enjoy monthly discussions in Spanish about culture, music, literature, art, and more at the Central Branch’s (Casselberry) Tertulia Cuatro Gatos. The group meets every first Wednesday evening of the month and no registration is required, so just drop in to enjoy some Spanish conversation, whether you’re a native speaker or are looking to practice!
What activities and services have YOU enjoyed at the Seminole County Library? What activities are you looking forward to attending this summer? Let us know in the comments below, and we will see you there!
