NEWELL—Creating something unique to pair with your favorite book was the idea behind the leather class offered by the Newell Public Library on April 10.
Newell Public Library partnered with its neighbor, K Bar J Leather Co., to hold a class to make leather bookmarks. K Bar J owner Jay Olson was on hand to guide both kids and adults through the steps needed to make a leather bookmark.
In a meeting of the Library Board there was discussion about programs to offer the public. “I think it was the December board meeting, we were talking and trying to think of some things that we could host out of the library to get people coming in and get them involved in the community. And one of them mentioned the leather shop and talked to him, and they were willing to do it, so I went and talked to him and set it up and everything,” explained Librarian Matt Clausen.
This was the first time the library hosted a leather-making class. “I figured it’d be something easy to get people into it, and then also something that relates to the library,” shared Clausen.
The class was free, sponsored by the library, for anyone that wanted to partake in the educational process.
As for Olson, he is experienced teaching youth how to work with leather and welcomed the opportunity to show people his art. “We have a class for the 4-H club—a 4-H club comes over—so same kind of deal—we do a project. They do a bigger project, just because they’re here for quite a few hours,” explained Olson. “And so, I mean, especially with the youth, leather work is something that needs to be kept alive, we hope we can spark a little interest.”
Olson says he is self-taught and learned how to work with leather out of necessity, growing up on a ranch. He has owned K Bar J for four years. “Jack and Kelly started the company here, brick and mortar, 24 years ago. Gully’s did a good job of building a great company, and we didn’t want to see it leave the country, so that was one of the biggest things for us—we didn’t want to see it go away—the industry that we enjoy,” shared Olson.
If you want to check out the Newell Public Library, they are open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
On April 17 the library will be bringing in a live emu for the public to meet. The event is open to all ages and there will be real emu eggs to see! The birds can grow up to 6 feet tall and weigh up to 120 pounds. This could be an interesting site to see for sure!
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