My Longest Running Adult Library Program

My longest-running program is one that, technically, I didn’t even start. When I was first hired at the Starkville Public Library, a staff member named Nicole had already begun experimenting with adult programming. She was an avid crocheter and wanted to create a space for fiber arts at the library. Across the country, many libraries host similar groups, and Nicole launched one of our own: Common Threads.
Around the same time, the local fiber arts guild was looking for a new place to meet on Wednesdays. They gather almost daily in different spots around town, and our library happened to be a perfect fit.
Since then, every other week we’ve welcomed a group of 8–10 women who crochet, knit, sew, and cross-stitch together. Once, a participant even brought her spinning wheel and spun thread from the fur of her pet rabbits. She brushed, collected, and turned the fur into yarn.
What began as a small gathering has now lasted nearly four years. The program has grown so much that we host it every Wednesday, and we’ve even added a Monday morning session after the bookstore where the guild used to meet closed its doors. Since we were already an established hub for them, they turned to us first.
I couldn’t have made this program thrive alone. When I inherited it, I didn’t know a single fiber art. I even taught myself to crochet just to better support the group. But the real reason Common Threads continues to flourish is the passion of its members. They love what they do! They love it so much, I often joke they’d show up even if we didn’t want them to.
From running this program, I’ve learned that the key to a successful adult program is knowing your community. What are people already passionate about? In our town, fiber arts thrive, and so do gardening projects — which is why our gardening programs are always a hit.
Right now, I’m exploring other homesteading topics we might bring into the library. But again, it comes down to finding your people. A public library isn’t just a repository of knowledge or a keeper of tomes. It’s more like a hospital: a safe, welcoming place where people can come as they are and enjoy what they love — without anyone asking them to buy something.