Creativity is in the air at the Bluffton Public Library in March.

The library hosts a Student Art Showcase, displaying artwork by local students and homeschoolers.

The showcase will begin on Thursday, March 7, with a launch party with refreshments from 6 to 7 p.m.  The artwork will be on display at the library for the rest of the month.

March is National Craft Month, so the library will offer a craft project every Friday for anyone to come in or take home and create.

To further your craftiness, the library is offering a Lettering Workshop on Wednesday, March 27, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Participants will learn more about the art of hand lettering and create their own greeting card with the assistance of a lettering enthusiast. Anyone interested will need to register by March 22 to ensure the class has sufficient materials.

If crafts are not your thing, how about learning how to make maple syrup? Naturalist Beth Theisen, from the Johnny Appleseed Park district will teach a Maple Syruping class about maple trees, the history of making maple syrup and how it is produced. The class will be on Thursday, March 28, at 6 p.m. This program is open to families, but children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required by March 26, by calling 419-358-5016.

No matter what your age or interests, the library has a little something for everyone. See below for a list of events for this month:

For music lovers

Do you play an instrument? Do you want to play with other musicians? Jammin’ at the Library is a song-circle style jam session that meets on March 11 and 25, at 6 p.m. on the main level of the library. Anyone is welcome to join - bring your acoustic instrument, voice, and/or just come to listen to some local talent.

Did you know Bluffton has a dulcimer group? Dulcimers @ the Library meet on Tuesdays, starting on March 16, at 1 p.m in the lower level meeting room. Feel free to join, independent of whether you can read music or not, or even if you've never played a dulcimer before. The group is very friendly and welcome to new players.

For your health

If you're preparing to join Medicare in the near future, then the library offers Medicare 101 session on Tuesday, March 5, at 5:30 p.m. This session is led by Gerry Burton, Senior Services Resource Specialist, and covers the process of enrolling in Medicare, with Q&A, plus other services offered by the Allen County Council on Aging. The meeting is in the library's lower level (park and enter from the lower level parking lot). The library advises you register for this session, on our website or by phone.

Additionally, Ohio Northern University students and licensed medical staff of ONU’s Healthwise Program will visit the library for another free Mobile Health Clinic on Friday, March 29, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. This clinic includes free screenings for blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol (please fast for 12 hours to participate in the cholesterol or blood sugar screening).

Participants may speak with Healthwise students and staff about their results or concerns, and even receive referrals to area doctors. The ONU Healthwise program employs health care providers to reach the local community with knowledge and resources to address health-related concerns and to improve your health.

For gardeners of any skill level

The Gardeners of the Bluffton/Pandora Area invites the public to “Seeds,” a lecture on seed starting, on Tuesday, March 12, at 6:30 p.m. Marilyn Beltz, Hancock County Master Gardener member and past president, will discuss the best way to start flowers, vegetables, and herbs from seed. This meeting will be on the lower level, and is open to the public.

For the technologically-challenged

Tutor Me Paperless is an ongoing program to help those who find technology overwhelming. The program is a one-to-one session, by appointment, on Wednesdays in March. This program consists of one-on-one tutoring sessions covering basic technology such as: accessing eBooks through the Ohio Digital Library, setting up an email, the basics of Microsoft Office products, or even how to navigate a computer, smartphone, or tablet for the first time. Please remember, sessions are by appointment only.

For preschoolers

Friday Playgroup sessions continue at 10 a.m. every Friday in March. This informal group enjoys different toys and activities each week, and usually lasts about an hour. The group meets in the lower level meeting room.

The library also offers Storytime for preschool children (ages 3-5) on  Mondays and Tuesdays. The Monday sessions are March 18 and 25, at 6:30 p.m. and the Tuesday sessions are March 19 and 26, at 10 a.m. Storytime involves lots of stories, games, crafts, and plenty of fun while developing early literacy skills. Registration is required. Please specify if your child has any food allergies when registering, as snacks (usually popcorn) are often provided. 

There is also a special storytime just for babies. Babies Love Books Storytime is on Thursday, March 14, at 10 a.m.  Activities promote early literacy, language, and motor development. No prior registration is necessary, but all children must be accompanied by a parent or child care provider who will participate in the program with them.

For children (ages 6-12)

Brain Builders S.T.E.A.M. Club will meet on Thursday, March 21, at 4 p.m. S.T.E.A.M. Club stands for Science Technology, Engineering, Art, & Math Club. This group enjoys fun time of experiments, construction and exploration. Children under 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult who will remain in the building during the program.

For teens and tweens

The library offers a kind of after-school club for teens and tweens called Chill Zone. They meet on Tuesdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., starting on March 12. Chill Zone is a safe space for tweens and teens to hang out and relax at the library. Anyone in 6th through 12th grade is welcome to join. Activities include gaming, socializing, themed events, and crafting. Snacks are provided.

For homeschoolers

This month’s Homeschoolers Learning Libratory is on Wednesday, March 13, at 1 p.m. Homeschooled children ages 4-11 will participate in a S.T.E.A.M. program with a coding focus. Please note, children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration for our new 2019 sessions is required for each session.

Winter Book Challenge

Stay inside and read, as part of the library's Winter Reading Program.  The program is for children, teens, and adults. Pick up a Winter Reading Bookmark at the library, or download and print it from our website. Complete five or more challenges this month to receive a prize. There is also enter a drawing to win a larger prize.

Book Discussion group

The library hosts a monthly Adult Book Discussion group. This month's meeting is on Wednesday, March 6, at 12 p.m. to discuss "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. This monthly discussion group is open to new members, and registration is requested. Copies of each month’s book are available for checkout the month prior to each discussion, and you may register at the library desk.

Need more time? Looking ahead, the group meets again on Wednesday, April 3 to discuss "The Stranger in the Woods", and during the discussion will meet with the author, Michael Finkel, via Skype.

Gluten Free/Food Allergy Group

The Gluten Free/Food Allergy Group meets on Monday, March 25, at 6:30 p.m. This group utilizes the library’s Local History room on the fourth Monday of every month and each meeting is open to anyone looking for support with food in tolerances and/or allergies.

For information on any of these programs, please email [email protected] for more information.