Find Your New Passion During National Hobby Month
What’s your favorite activity during your spare time? January is National Hobby Month which makes it the right time to perfect your hobby. Or to try out a new one. Or two. The holidays are over and we’re into the grey and cold days of winter. Escape the winter blahs by boosting your creativity.
Why have a hobby?
Other than the fun of a hobby, research shows that hobbies have other benefits. Hobbies:
- Help improve mental health
- Improves creative problem-solving abilities
- Can lower stress levels
All great benefits!
The Library offers several resources for researching and doing hobbies. All of which are free – which is great if one of your resolutions is better budgeting.
Hobby resources at the library
The Hobbies and Crafts Source
The Hobbies and Crafts Reference Center is a digital collection that offers detailed “how-to” instructions and creative ideas. Organized by subject, you can read articles and excerpts from thousands of craft and hobby magazines and books. Dig into topics about model building, crafts for kids, outdoor recreation, games, needlecraft and more.
The Home Improvement Source
Is your hobby improving your home? Then explore The Home Improvement Reference Center. You can read articles from home improvement magazines and watch videos about popular home repair projects.
Check out The Home Improvement Reference Center.
Great Courses Video BingePass
Using your Library card and the hoopla Digital app, you can check out hundreds of Great Courses. Learn from the world’s best artists, chefs, scientists, and more. Explore topics from astronomy to yoga with the BingePass which allows you to checkout one video or several for seven days.
Check out the Great Courses Bingepass.
eBooks about hobbies
Using the Libby app gives you access to thousands of eBooks about a variety of topics including cooking, gardening, gaming, photography, writing, and more. Explore Libby’s eBook hobby titles.
Libby also has audiobooks available. Get super meta and do your hobby while listening to a book about it. Explore Libby’s audiobooks about hobbies.
Magazines about hobbies
Use a hoopla Digital BingePass to read current and recent issues of magazines covering a variety of topics like science, birding, boating, cooking, golfing, and writing. Explore magazine titles on hoopla Digital.
Use the Libby app to explore current and recent issues of magazines about cooking, health, cars, sports, and more. Explore magazine titles on Libby.
We also have a selection of hobby and craft magazines in our branches available to browse and check out.
In closing
Take advantage of the post-holiday season to practice some self-care. Learn more about your hobby, practice doing it, or take this time to explore new hobbies. The Library has thousands of resources to help you.
