Parkland Regional Library System (PRLS) has joined forces with the Central Alberta Woodworkers Guild (CAWG) to provide wooden puzzle kits for programming in several local libraries.
The two organizations are inviting the public to join them at the project launch at the Blackfalds Public Library on March 21 from 1:30 – 3 p.m.
Other libraries across the region that will be offering the kits include Alix Public Library, Bashaw Public Library, Bentley Municipal Library, Big Valley Municipal Library, Castor Municipal Library, Cliver Public Library, the Mary C. Moore Public Library in Lacombe, Maskwacis Library Service, Ponoka Jubilee Library, Rimbey Public Library, Stettler Public Library, and the Sylvan Lake Municipal Library.
The kits are useful for adult, senior, and children’s programming, according to a PRLS release.
They are intended to provide children a way to develop their manual dexterity and are equally useful for seniors, or those experiencing developmental and cognitive issues who wish to improve their motor, nervous, or hand/eye coordination skills.
Each kit contains wooden puzzles and toys, ranging from slotting blocks into place to building wooden boats, trucks and planes with the provided tools.
“Our participating Central Alberta Woodworkers Guild members were very pleased to use their woodworking skills and problem-solving abilities to make challenging toys and puzzles for all ages,” said Mike Rondeau, guild executive.
“We hope the public reawakens to the joy of building, creating, and problem solving without the use of electronics. The toys and puzzles can be an individual activity or worked on together as a small group. Several of our test groups even challenge others to speed building competitions.”
In an attempt to be environmentally responsible, the kits are also being produced at a very reasonable cost using repurposed oak from discarded church pews.
The puzzles can be assembled and disassembled over and over again, allowing for years of use, noted the release.
“We are delighted to work on this project with such a gifted and enthusiastic group of individuals,” says PRLS director Ron Sheppard. “This project proves that cooperation and innovation can be found at the grassroots level.”
PRLS member libraries will have the ability to bring the kits into their libraries, but they will not be loanable at this time.
