On April 2, 2022, the KRL opened a new Silverdale branch. It quickly became a popular study spot for students of both CK High School and CK Middle School since it is a quick walk from both schools. While the library is a great place to continue learning, it isn’t all work and no play.

All branches of the library hold tons of events each month, ranging from arts and crafts to book sales to family storytimes. One of those events is “Let’s Get Crafty, ” an arts and crafts event that is held every third Saturday at the Silverdale branch of the KRL.

When you walk in, you’ll see two tables with all of the supplies needed to complete that months craft. March’s craft was paper cherry blossoms, a choice that goes perfectly with the welcoming of springtime. You can grab your supplies and sit anywhere in the library to work on your craft, or you can grab a kit with all the supplies put together and take it home with you.

Kayla O’Connor is the teen services librarian at the Silverdale branch, and helps out with teen events held at the library. “It’s a nice way to de-stress and get your creativity out,” said O’Connor. “It’s a really good way if, maybe if you’re shy, to come hang out with some other like-minded teens. There’s lots of different benefits to these kinds of programs.”

O’Connor talked about how these events benefit teens by providing them with a de-stressor and a way to use their creativity.

“You don’t have to think too hard and it kind of gets those creative juices flowing. And then maybe you jump off from there to find something else that like, also helps you to de-stress,” O’Connor said. “So it’s something to do with your hands or your brain, so that you don’t think about maybe some important or scary or stressful things for a little while while you’re making a craft.”

Naomi Miller, a junior at CKHS, agreed with O’Connor that arts and crafts are beneficial to teens.

“Creativity is just a good outlet for lots of things,” Miller said. She recommends this event to other teens and peers: “It was also really chill.”

Even taking a kit with you and completing it at home can be a fun experience. I brought a kit home to my brother, CKMS student Damian Clifton*. “It was very, it was very creative and very fun to make,” Clifton said. “I think it’s pretty relaxing.”

If arts and crafts aren’t your thing, there are other teen events at the Silverdale branch that anyone can attend.

“We have monthly gaming meetups, both for Dungeons and Dragons and Magic the Gathering. And those are, again, really good de-stressors, you get to come and pretend to be someone else for a couple of hours on a Tuesday night, and not think about maybe homework or tests or whatever might be stressing you out.” O’Connor said.

You can find more events to attend and other information about the library on the KRL website.

*Damian Clifton is a family member of the reporter.