Designed by: Joyce Tokuda, learning resources librarian
It’s December. Study spots, coffee shops and libraries will be getting busy with students spending endless hours studying and preparing for finals. The time will come to take a break from all the studying and give the brain a rest, or maybe you need ideas for Christmas gifts and gift tags.
From Dec. 9-19, The Lama Library will be holding a Pop-Up Sustainability & Holiday craft making station, a free “stress-busting” activity in the library’s alcove. Students will be able to use recycled magazines and old library card catalogs to make their own gift tags, ornaments and gift bows. Pre-cut gift tags will also be available for use.
What was the library going to do with the old library catalog cards? Everything is digitalized now.
“We then started experimenting with different types of magazines and paper and was so surprised at how super-easy it was to create good quality holiday craft,” Joy Oehlers, librarian said. “It’s certainly something any student, regardless of gender or age, can create and have fun personalizing their craft.”
The idea for this came from Makerspace in libraries on the mainland, Oehlers explained. Makerspace is a do-it-yourself (DIY) space in the library. Some libraries make use of 3D printers, technology or multimedia and the digital arts.
“This is our first pop-up — we hope students will let us know if they enjoy it so that we can plan future events.”
With help from the Peer Mentors, library staff and faculty outside the library, a collection of pre-cut magazine strips, fabrics, gift tag templates and more will be available. Joyce Tokuda, learning resources librarian, has also donated the use of her hole punchers and craft equipment. Other librarians have donated colored pens, ribbons and more fabric, Oehlers said.
Next year, the library plans on partnering with the Service Learning Program on campus to make more sustainable crafts for Earth Day.
‘Mālama your Mom’ is a theme Melisa Orozco Vargas came up with for Mother’s Day, which comes a day after Earth Day.
“Both Melisa and Maiana (Minahal, English instructor) have so many ideas for making sustainable gifts from recycled materials, we can’t wait to try them out,” Oehlers said.
Though fall semester is coming to a close, students will be able to head on over the the Lama Library from some stress-busting, sustainable activities from Dec. 9-19.
“We hope that this crafting activity may be a stress reliever for our students when they take short breaks in between cramming for Finals,” Oehlers said.
Pop-up Sustainability & Holiday Craft-Making station
- Monday – Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Saturday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.