At Northcote Library, two community programmes have really taken off: crafting circle ‘In Stitches’ and the youth-focused Dungeons & Dragons group. We talked to Community Library Manager Karen Walters about the crafting, games, and friendships happening at our local library.

Stitching up the hours

Every Monday afternoon, craft group ‘In Stitches’ gets together for a chat, a cuppa and a laugh. Anyone can come along, says Karen Walters, manager at Northcote Library. “Bring your knitting, sewing, art, crochet, dollmaking, cross-stitch or any similar projects.”

In Stitches is for people interested in craft and learning new skills, especially sewing – although the group would love to expand to artwork. People complete their UFOs (unfinished craft objects), or help others to have a go at a handwork activity, like cross-stitch or embroidery.

The team at Northcote Library has assembled heaps of craft supplies and fabric donations. “We’ll run specific activities, like making your own face masks, and we’ve borrowed sewing machines for some projects,” says Karen. “We’d actually like to put out a request to the community for more – so if anyone has an unused sewing machine sitting around, let us know!

Every Monday 1.30-3pm. All welcome. No bookings required.

For more information, contact Northcote Library, phone 09 486 8492 

Build your own world

Aimed at 10 to 25-year-olds, ‘D&D in the Library’ launched in December last year. The idea is to get together and learn to play the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons.

The fortnightly sessions have seen an enthusiastic turnout of young people aged eight to 20. “We provide the dice and everything needed for the game,” says Karen. “Our team of librarians runs the session, their focus is on showing people how to develop their own imaginary world. Or, if you are an experienced player, you can jump straight into our games and join the adventure – there’s lots of laughter and chat.”

Network Library and Council Services Assistant Ally Monaghan says the Northcote event started with mainly boys attending. “By now it’s almost an even split between boys and girls. The groups are mostly teenagers around 15 years old, but we’ve had kids as young as eight and people in their late teens. Anyone can enjoy it,” she says. “If people are new, we go through character creation and help them create their own. We’ve noticed so many people start out quiet, too shy to join in, and slowly they come out of their shell. Every fortnight there are new people, it’s great that it keeps growing.”

Dungeons & Dragons in the Library
Every second Sunday at Northcote Library Register your interest at the front desk or by emailing: northcote.library@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Northcote Library
Te Whare Mātauranga o Te Onewa Norman King Square
2 Ernie Mays St facebook.com/Northcote.Library 

You can read more about what is happening in Northcote in the latest issue of Everyday Northcote here.