Coloring books – they’re not just for kids anymore.
Coloring books for adults are a major draw nationally and the trend has reached the region.
Whether it is for a hobby or stress reduction, coloring has inspired the Cooperstown Public Library to sponsor an Adult Coloring Club that will meet from 1 to 2:30 p.m. this Tuesday.
The club is open to anyone from ages 18 years old to more than 80 years old, according to library director Jane Beach.
Beach said the idea for the coloring club came from an Internet search where she found that other libraries were incorporating adult coloring into their offerings.
“It seems to have really caught on,” Beach said.
She said eight people have signed up so far.
“They are all excited about it,” she added.
The library will provide some coloring books and pencils, but participants can take their own materials if they wish, Beach said.
There will also be light refreshments.
There is no charge to participate, but Beach urged those interested in the club to register by calling 374-4605 or emailing janecooperstownlibrary.org.
She said registration is not required, but it is helpful.
Beach said she colored a design in one of the books and was surprised at how quickly the time passed.
She voiced some concern that participants may need more than the time allotted to finish a design in one session.
However, she added that the sheets are perforated and participants could take their creations home.
She said the designs are very intricate and feature flowers and other items.
Beach said she was worried about the connotation of the Adult Coloring Club’s name.
And indeed, there are some coloring books available online that focus on adult themes like swear words and other things that are so sketchy that they cannot be mentioned in the newspaper.
In fact, “Swear Word: Adult Coloring Book” was No. 2 on the Publishers Weekly’s best seller book list for trade paperbacks for the end of January.
However, the library’s club will feature G-rated themes and designs.
Once the initial meeting happens it will be up to coloring club members to decide what happens next, Beach said.
The participants will decide whether they wish to meet weekly or monthly, Beach said.
“People have card clubs, but this will be different,” she said.
The Cooperstown library isn’t the first library to host an adult coloring activity.
Franklin Public Library hosted an adult coloring activity as a fundraiser on Jan. 22.
Debbie Oaks, director of the Franklin library, said there were six people who attended. The library provided the materials and refreshments and relaxing music was played.
“It was the quietest program I have ever been to,” she said.
Oaks said there is talk of another adult coloring fundraiser being planned for the spring, but a date has not been set yet.
When asked what the interest was in adult coloring, Oaks said she uses the activity as a stress reliever and saw coloring as a “different way to way to express your creative side.”
“I just love it … you can color inside or outside the lines,” she said.
Retailers, local and national, were quick to feed the growing trend. They offer books featuring various themes and prices that range from around $6 to the $20 mark.
A July article posted on Newyorker.com said the trend was fueled by posts on social media.
Leigh Protivnak, owner of Neverending Stories in Franklin, echoed that sentiment.
She said she first started to notice the books on social media and since then she has seen them everywhere.
“People are interested in them,” Protivnak said.
She said the themes range from nature scenes to those books that let people color their own renditions of Vincent van Gogh’s works or other famous works of art.
She has seen some with 3-D designs that come with 3-D glasses and some that have adhesive backing so the pages can be used stickers.
Protivnak said she has had a few customers asking about starting a club, but she directed them to another Franklin business that hosts a coloring club for a fee.
Susan Clark, manager of Bradley’s Book outlet at the Cranberry Mall, said the books are very popular and they started to take off before Christmas.
She said the themes range from relaxation to flowers, insects, whimsical designs and more.
“It’s become like a hobby for some people,” she said.