Adult colouring books help lure patrons to Gambo's library

Adult colouring is a growing trend across the country, and in Gambo, it's become a way to bring people into the local library.

Central Morning7:01Colouring for Adults

We drop by Gambo Public Library for a public colouring party.

Gambo PublicLibrary technicianDesiree Hopkins told CBC Radio's Central Morning that she wanted to offer somethingdifferent to make a visit to the library more attractive.

"It'sdifficultto get people in here sometimes, and you really need to stretch it to the limits. We're on a budget," she said, adding that the library relies on public funds and volunteer members of the board who "work tirelessly" to keep things going.

"So I was thinking, what's cheap, and what's interesting?" she said.

"And of course on social media I saw a lot about colouring, and a lot of my friends were doing adult colouring,so I thought that it was perfect."

Hopkins said she findscolouring to be very relaxing.

It's enjoyable. And not easy as you think.- Charlotte Parsons

"One claim says that it can actually extend your mind and help with memory, and that kind of thing. I don't know if those claims are necessarily true, but I do know that it's relaxing," she said.

Participant Charlotte Parsons said she finds colouring fun, bringing her back to a time when her children were in school.

A 'time out' for grown-ups

Parsons said she considers it to be a "time out"for adults.

"It's enjoyable. And not easy as you think. It's a lot of lines," said Parsons.

"You need to just gobackto the basics, because colouring is something we took up when we were young. Itbrings you back to your childhood," she said.

Desiree Hopkins said she thinks the adult colouring trend will continue to grow; and with Christmas around the corner, she's expecting colouring books at the top of their shopping lists.

"It's something that I think a lot of people are interested in, but don't necessarily want to take the leap," Hopkins said.

"I think a lot of people are intimidated by it ...they think it's more of an artistic thing. You're taking something that's printed by someone else and turning it into your own."