Now that school is back in session and all the area kiddos are going to be learning new things, maybe the rest of us can follow suit too.

Since I was a kiddo myself, I have always been curious; I always want to know the “why, why, why” of everything and how it works.

Perhaps you were the kind of kid who pored over science and nature books, and grew up watching that clip on Mister Rogers where they show how crayons are made – many of us on staff certainly were. Maybe you practiced magic tricks, did complex crafts, or liked to take apart and tinker with old machines to figure out how they worked inside.

Let me ask you this: are you still that curious kid at heart? Do you still like to learn the ins and outs, the whys and whynots of things? This is what we refer to as being a lifelong learner.

According to Indeed.com, a lifelong learner is “a person who continues to learn new skills and competencies long after they have completed their formal education.” It involves nurturing a curious mind about the world and a willingness to pursue knowledge about whatever areas or subjects that interest you. To me, being a lifelong learner is mostly about staying curious about the world around you.

Lifelong learning can be formal education (i.e., finishing that degree you started years ago, the dream you never pursued, etc.) or informal learning like starting a new hobby or being a voracious consumer of podcasts or documentaries.

From books about crochet to a kit for making dumplings, DVDs about how the human body works, and a yoga kit to keep your own body fit, the library can help with resources for learning:

Languages

• Check out the new Community Languages collection on our 1^st floor!
• Transparent Language (you will need your library card to access this)

Hobbies, Skills, and Interests

• Our Catalog – you can find all kinds of materials on your area of curiosity – see suggestions below!
• Documentaries (on all kinds of things, like…DINOSAURS!)

Professional Skills

• LinkedIn Learning (requires an Eau Claire library card)

From Our Catalog