Last week, I had the opportunity to attend a program at the Albuquerque Juan Tabo library branch, where we made snowflakes. I expected the usual activity of cutting shapes out of a folded plain sheet of white paper to create a classic snowflake, but this event was much more involved and fun than I anticipated!
There were different stations, each offering a unique snowflake making experience. I chose to decorate a 6” foam snowflake with an assortment of colorful and festive stickers, poms, and sequins. It was a great way to express creativity and add my personal touch to a traditional holiday symbol.
Other stations offered a variety of activities, such as painting a sun catcher snowflake, making bead snowflakes, decorating a wooden snowflake or pre-made popsicle snowflakes, and, of course, creating the classic paper snowflake using scissors.
A heartwarming moment of the program was when an attendee shared that it had taken her 50 years to make her very first paper snowflake. She mentioned how much fun she had, and took the time to walk around, admiring everyone else’s beautiful creations. It was amazing to see people of all ages—from toddlers to people in their 80s—enjoying the activity together. It truly felt like an event for all generations. Many participants even took the opportunity to make multiple snowflakes.
Before leaving, I had the chance to chat briefly with the branch manager. I asked about the “Light Up the Season” table, which encourages visitors to write down an act of kindness on a holiday bulb and attach it to one of the decorated trees. The table also featured books on kindness, as well as stories of famous figures known for their acts of compassion. I thought this was a wonderful way to raise awareness about the power of kindness and how small acts can make a big difference. I added two holiday bulbs to the trees, each representing my own thoughts on kindness.
It was a fantastic event that brought people together to celebrate creativity and kindness, and I’m glad I was able to participate.
Article submitted by Carmelita Aragon, NMSL, Library Development Bureau Chief.