Have you ever thought of a library as a place to create? More and more, youll see libraries opening Makerspaces, welcoming artists and crafters, and hosting workshops. Westerly Library and Wilcox Park is no exception: our Makerspace is now up and running; our Knit and Crochet Club meets every Tuesday; we have offered needle felting and quilting workshops; and our upcoming Studio Rhode programs will soon connect patrons with their inner artists.

This Saturday, June 10, is a big day for all things handmade here at Westerly Library and Wilcox Park!

First up is Knit in Wilcox Park, our celebration of World Wide Knit in Public Day (WWKIPD). WWKIPD was started in 2005 as a way to bring knitters together. Knitting can be a very solitary activity; the point of this day is to make knitting more social, to bring knitters together, and to show off the love of knitting. WWKIPD is now celebrated in many countries, and groups all over the world will gather to celebrate it (you can see a list of worldwide events at wwkipday.org). Here in Wilcox Park, we will welcome all yarn crafters (not just knitters) to bring a project and something to sit on and join us between the fountain and Runaway Bunny statue any time between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. We will socialize and craft! And just a reminder, even if you cant make it to Knit in Wilcox Park, you can join our Knit and Crochet Club every Tuesday evening in the Reference Department. They are a very social, friendly group!

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The second crafty event on June 10 is our first-ever Pop-Up Museum. A Pop-Up Museum is a temporary exhibit made by anyone who wants to participate. You bring an item that fits the theme (this one is handmade), fill out a label for it (it can be a simple title or a whole backstory) and you display the item for the two-hour event (and take it home with you when you leave). The Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History started hosting Pop-Up Museums and offered the idea to other groups via their website, popupmuseum.org. June 10 is the perfect day to kick off such an event with a handmade theme if we already have yarn-crafters around, maybe they will be willing to show off their handmade items! We welcome everyone to bring a handmade item it doesnt have to be knitted and it doesnt necessarily have to be handmade by you (maybe you want to display something that was made for you). Feel free to drop in any time between 1 and 3 p.m. to show off your item or just browse the exhibit!

So pack your yarn craft project, bring a handmade item, and join us for some crafty, social fun on Saturday! If you cant make it, watch our events calendar for more crafty programs and upcoming Pop-Up Museums. We hope youll come create with us soon!

Top-requested books

1. Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

2. The Fix by David Baldacci

3. 16th Seduction by James Patterson

4. Camino Island by John Grisham

5. One Perfect Lie by Lisa Scottoline

6. The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand

7. The Black Book by James Patterson

8. No Middle Name: The Complete Collected Jack Reacher Short Stories by Lee Child

9. Come Sundown by Nora Roberts

10. Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout

Top-requested movies

1. La La Land

2. Hidden Figures

3. Lion

4. Get Out

5. Beauty and the Beast

6. Logan

7. The Shack

8. Fences

9. The Zookeepers Wife

10. John Wick: Chapter 2

Top billing

For All Ages

MONDAY Welcome RI Exhibit, a free exhibit showcasing the stories of individuals and families who have migrated to Rhode Island, will be displayed on our first floor from June 1st to June 24th!

TUESDAY 3:30-4:30pm Teen Writers Workshop Aspiring writers of all experience levelsjoin us in the Roberts Room to get advice on your writing, dabble with writing prompts, and eat delicious garlic bread; 5-6 p.m., Internet Basics 1: Navigation This free workshop will introduce you to the internet, different browsers, and the basics of search engines; 5:30-7:30 p.m., Knit & Crochet Club Bring your project, work on a project with others, or swap yarn and ideas with fellow yarnies; 6-6:45 p.m., Meditation Group All experience levels and ages are welcome!

WEDNESDAY 3:30-5:00 p.m., Crafting Wednesdays Join us for drop-in crafting fun in the Teen Space! Materials will be provided, but feel free to bring your Pinterest ideas; 5-8 p.m., Hoxie Gallery Opening Reception Join us for the opening of Maria Scagliones solo art exhibit, showcasing 5 years of photographs. The exhibit will remain in the place through June.

THURSDAY 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Mothers Group Enjoy some downtime with other moms while your little ones play and socialize; 5-6 p.m., Internet Basics 2: Everyday Internet Uses In the second part of this free workshop, well learn how to setup and manage an email account, what it means to sign up for websites, and also about social media; 5:30-7:30 p.m., Chess Club All ages and experience levels are welcome. Chess sets and roll up boards will be provided; 6-8 p.m., Welcoming RI Film & Reception In addition to their exhibit on the first floor of the library, Welcome RI is hosting a showing of the film Welcome to Shelbyville in the auditorium.

SATURDAY 10:00 a.m.-3 p.m., Knit in Wilcox Park Bring your yarn and something to sit on, and meet us in Wilcox Park (between the bunny statue and the fountain) to celebrate World Wide Knit in Public Day! Drop in for as long or short of a period as you would like; 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Master Gardener Kiosk & Soil Test Bring your gardening questions and/or soil samples to Wilcox Park, and the URI Master Gardeners will test your sample and provide suggestions for improvement; 10-11:30 a.m., Specimen Trees of Wilcox Park Meet the URI Master Gardeners by the fountain for a 90-minute walking tour of the park; 1-2 p.m., Book Talk with Dale Martellino Join us for this engrossing talk by RI author Dale Martellino, about her book Precious Jewels; 1-3 p.m, Pop Up Museum: Handmade Were holding our very first Pop Up Museum, which is a temporary (2 hour long) exhibit created by whomever wants to participate! Bring an item that fits the theme (this one is Handmade), fill out a label for it, and put it on display for everyone to admire! During the exhibit, you can walk around and see what other participants brought to share. Look for us in Wilcox Park, near the fountain!

Colleen Walsh-Jervis is a library associate at the Westerly Library.

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At the Library: Come join Worldwide Knit in Public Day on Saturday in Wilcox Park - The Westerly Sun