A readaloud with a service dog? An hour of Uno aimed at adults with intellectual disabilities and their caretakers? These are activities you wouldn’t usually see set up at a library. However, the Cincinnati & Hamilton Public Library actually has an amazing array of entertaining activities that you can sign up for. All locations in the area offer “classes” that you can sit in for an hour or two, and many of them are even aimed at helping groups connect with people their age or people going through similar situations. I’ve signed up for many of these activities before, and they are a great way to spend an afternoon as they have been very entertaining and informative, while helping foster connection with others.
My experience at the Green Township library was better than I could have expected. I signed up for an hour-long “lecture” about compost tea, which I originally only did as it was the only one that could fit in my schedule. However, learning about soil, microbes, and compost… ended up being more entertaining than I could have imagined.
The whole event felt very comfortable. Despite us not working with our hands, I was engaged from the start. Our Speaker, Nichole Gunderman, was clearly passionate about teaching us the subject at hand, amplifying the whole experience. Her presentation was almost a performance that had the audience feeling like they were in the front seat at a TedTalk.
It also served as the perfect class for me, since I plan on having a career in landscaping. I learned realworld, useful information about how to keep garden soil healthy, opening my eyes to the secret of why all my hydrangeas and daffodils die! Since the Cincinnati Public Libraries offers a vast variety of classes and activities, it’s almost guaranteed you’ll find one to fit your needs and interests.
Many of their activities are more than just a fun way to spend your evening. For some, they serve as a time for connecting with people in your community who may share your interests, experiences, and even difficulties. For example, multiple libraries in the Cincinnati area offer storytimes and card games geared toward helping adults with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers connect and have fun together. Or, if you enjoy Dungeons & Dragons but don’t have a group to play it with, consider joining the Ethics and Dragons experience that combines the popular game with ethics principles. These events are a great way for people to feel included and find a group of others to build a connection with.
While they offer countless interesting events, many of them are limited to specific ages or have a limited number of seats available. For the latter issue, whoever wants to participate can sign up for registration online early. If a class of your liking isn’t offered at your local branch, you can also consider visiting one nearby.
Those willing to get involved with something new on a random Tuesday evening may find that coming to their local library for a plentitude of fun and engaging activities. Participating in the Cincinnati Public Library activities have been an amazing 4.7 star experience for me; one that I would recommend many to try and also get involved with. Spreading the word about the events offered at the library may even help the impact it has on our communities in Cincinnati.
