Use Your Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library Card To Create Holiday Gifts This Season

Press release from the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library:

November 29, 2021

In need of gift ideas for your friends and family? Check out these suggestions you can create for free with your EVPL library card.

Fill in your family tree

Use our extensive genealogical resources to learn more about the generations of your family. From access to Ancestry Library Edition to several books about researching your family tree, you can unlock your family history.

Where to start:

• Ancestry Library Edition: Here, you can unlock the story of you with sources like censuses, vital records, immigration records, family histories, military records, court and legal documents, directories, photos, maps, and more.
• Browse historic Evansville newspapers: Full-page, fully searchable digitized editions of historical Evansville newspapers from 1871-1991.
• Learn how to research your genealogy: We have several posts about how to use library resources to learn about your family history.

Digitize your memories

You know those old VHS tapes, slides, and 8 mm film taking up space in your storage? You can digitize them, preserving your mementos forever, in the Preservation Studio at EVPL. To access the Preservation Studio, you need to complete an orientation program and sign a release form.

Here are the mediums you can preserve in the studio: photographic prints, slides, negatives, 8 mm film, VHS tapes, audio CDs, photo CDs, audio cassettes, LP records, and DVDs.

Create a craft

Is there a better gift than something created by someone you love? Fortunately, we have lots of resources full of DIYs and How-Tos to create a perfect holiday gift.

Here’s where to start:

• Creativebug: Creativebug offers online video arts and crafts workshops and techniques. Learn how to paint, knit, crochet, sew, screenprint, and more. Classes include:
  • Crocheted Abominable Snowman
  • Simplicity Sewing: Make Furry Animal Hats
  • Sew Modern Christmas Stockings
• DIY and craft books! Whether you want to check one out from our extensive eBook collection or have a physical book to work from, we have you covered. Here are a few to take a look at:
  • Martha Stewart’s Handmade Holiday Crafts: 225 Inspired Projects for Year-Round Celebrations
  • Holiday Crafting and Baking with Kids: Gifts, Sweets, and Treats for the Whole Family by Jessica Strand
  • A Homemade Christmas: Creative Ideas for an Earth-Friendly, Frugal, Festive Holiday by Tina Barseghian
• EVPL’s YouTube channel: We have a full playlist of DIYs and Tutorials. Here are a few to check out:
  • DIY Scrunchies
  • DIY Watercolor Mountainscape
  • DIY Candy Cane Wreath

Read a book together

“There are no faster or firmer friendships than those formed between people who love the same books.” — Irving Stone, Clarence Darrow for the Defense.

For a unique gift experience, read a book together and discuss it. EVPL has book discussion sets of several books if you want to expand your reading group.

Here are some titles to read together:

• Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
• Gold Diggers by Sanjena Sathian
• The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Create memories at an EVPL program

EVPL has a variety of programs for all ages, perfect for bonding with kiddos, parents, or friends. You can check out all of our upcoming programs on our Events Calendar.

Here are some fun ones you’ll want to add to your calendar:

• Hanukkah Craft Kit: Celebrate Hanukkah with a craft kit! Kits will be available starting November 29th and ending on the 6th of December.
  • November 29 – December 6 | All Day | EVPL North Park
• Cinema Crafting: Little Women: Join us for a viewing of the 2019 adaption of the film Little Women and craft holiday decorations featured in the movie! Registration is required for this event.
  • Tuesday, November 30 | 5:30 – 8:00 pm | EVPL West
• Holiday Concert: Listen to the Old Dam Community Band play some favorite holiday tunes.
  • Tuesday, December 7 | 6:30 – 7:30 pm | EVPL Central

This press release was produced by the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.