By Ann Marie, Information Services Supervisor, Dauphin County Library System
Recent research, including a study1 published online by Nature Medicine on September 11, 2023, highlights the positive impact hobbies can have on mental well-being. That study’s findings revealed that engaging in hobbies is consistently linked to greater life satisfaction among adults aged 65 and older. Moreover, it’s found that hobbies involving physical activity, artistic or cultural pursuits, and social or community participation are protective against age-related declines in mental health and have the potential of making the time after retirement a period of “productive aging”.
If such research inspires you to revisit a favorite hobby or try something new, The Library is here to help. From classic pastimes like knitting or crochet, painting, or stamp collecting to popular trends such as gardening, baking, and yoga/sports, you’ll find a wealth of resources—books, magazines, and digital resources—to get you started.
Begin your exploration by searching our catalog for books and materials about the hobby or pastime that interests you. You will discover that our collection includes a wide range of resources covering many different hobbies.
(Note: To find the most relevant results for your interests, try entering a keyword directly related to the individual hobby you wish to explore. You will receive many more results than if you simply enter “hobby” or “hobbies” as a search term.)
Next, look at the magazines and e-magazines that we offer. Many periodicals focus on a specific hobby or activity and will offer a great amount of information in a concise format. Our e-magazine collection in Libby includes 649 titles, including many dedicated to specific hobbies. To find Libby, visit our collection webpage and look under eBooks & eAudioBooks. To limit your search of Libby to a magazine about your favorite activity, try entering a search term that includes the phrase “magazines and” followed by the name of a specific hobby or interest.
Don’t forget to explore our databases, as still more hobby-related information can be found in them. A great one to explore is Universal Class, a digital database offering over 600 online courses, including many ones related to hobbies. Cake Decorating, Photography 101, and How to Draw 101 are just a few of these. You can find a link to Universal Class on our Research webpage. It is available wherever and whenever you are. If you are outside of a library building, just enter your library card number and PIN to gain access. All courses are free to library members and can be completed on your timeline.
Want to actually try out a new hobby for free? Your library can help you with that as well. Many libraries offer free hobby-related programs that you can attend – programs like craft programs, sewing instruction, gardening, and more. To explore what the Dauphin County Library System is currently offering, view our Compass (program guide) or visit our Events & Programs webpage. Some hobby-related programs scheduled for this winter include:
- Knit One, Crochet, Too!
- The Stitch Sitch
- Craft Café
- Coloring for Adults!
- Crafternoon at The Library
- Upcycling Crafting
- Build Your Own Terrarium
- Mary Sachs Series: Sourdough for Beginners
Lastly, gardening enthusiasts, you can visit the Seed Library at the East Shore Area Library to get seeds. Puzzle enthusiasts, we have plenty of jigsaw puzzles for you to borrow. Do you like playing board games? We have those too. This January (National Hobby Month), plan a trip to the library/library website and begin to enjoy all that having a hobby can do for you.
Citation
1 Mak, H.W., Noguchi, T., Bone, J.K. et al. Hobby engagement and mental wellbeing among people aged 65 years and older in 16 countries. Nat Med 29, 2233–2240 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02506-1