At Gilmer County Library
Today’s adults are busy people, but there are still times when meals need to be prepared and checkbooks need to be balanced. Those are just two areas of focus that will be included in an upcoming series of classes at the Gilmer County Library.
Jessica Tibbetts, the library’s new adult services coordinator, said the Adulting 101 classes will focus on basic, practical skills for young and older adults.
“Last year, some of our local Girl Scouts had a sewing for kids class and there were some adults who said, ‘You know what? I would like to take that, too,”’ she said about what initially inspired the program.
“A library in Decatur has (hosted) a series of courses for basic (skills), so we’ve modeled it after that. The idea is to get people in the community who are recognized as experts in their field to come (teach classes) in a low-pressure setting where you don’t have to learn everything all at once. You just take away what you need.”
The series kicks off Thursday, Jan. 23, at 5 p.m., with a class centered around operating such kitchen gadgetry as the Instant Pot, slow cooker and electric skillet. That session will be led by Jessie Moore, family and consumer sciences agent for the Gilmer Extension Service.
“It’s the beginning of the year when people want to start eating better. A lot of people probably got an Instant Pot or slow cooker for Christmas, so this will be a good time to figure out how to use it. Jessie has all those small appliances and she will be talking about how to do basic cooking with them,” Tibbetts said.
Subsequent classes will focus on such areas as using a sewing machine for the first time and basic financial responsibilities.
“We have sewing machines here available for check out, which are very popular. In March, we’ll be doing basic sewing like how to sew a button and mend a hem. In April, we’ll have (someone) to talk about basic banking like how to set up and keep track of your checking account. In May, we’ll be doing basic car care,” Tibbetts said.
All the adulting classes are free and open to the public. Advance signup is not required.
“People can come to all of them or mix and match whatever skills they feel they need to learn or need to improve upon. This (series) is geared toward younger adults, but anyone who feels they need to brush up on or improve these types of skills is welcome to come,” Tibbetts said.
“Depending on the success of this program, we may look at doing a series of retirement 101 classes (in the future),” she added.
Also at your local library
Tibbetts said the library is offering a new book club for adults that’s focused on science topics.
The next meeting of the Gateway to Science Book Club is Thursday, Jan. 16, at 6 p.m. Future meetings are scheduled for Feb. 13 and March 12.
“We’ve received a grant from the National Science Foundation to bring science to people in their everyday lives (by) explaining scientific concepts through a series of books,” Tibbetts explained.
This month’s book, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, is the basis for the 2019 Netflix dramatic film of the same name.
“We have two free copies here that people have read and returned. We also have a copy in the system that’s available for checkout. It is recommended, but people do not have to read the book in advance. They can come and learn and talk about the concepts, the first of which is transformation,” Tibbetts said. “In The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, the main character builds a windmill for a water pump in Africa and it’s about how that transforms his life and the lives in his community.”
Persons who are unable or no longer able to read printed text can also find out more about a free talking book service at their local library.
GLASS (Georgia Libraries for Accessible Statewide Services) talking book readers are supplied by a partnership with the Georgia Public Library System and the Library of Congress, Tibbetts explained.
Through the state program, the electronic readers are mailed to qualifying participants who can use and later return them. By inserting a provided USB flash disk into the device, the assistive technology can be used to access thousands of audio books and other publications.
“It’s for people who cannot see or are not able to understand text. We have the applications here and I am happy to talk to anyone who wants to sign up for it or sign up a family member,” Tibbetts said.