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People juggle new skills at library's How-To Expert Festival (4 photos)

14 different skills each taught in 10 minutes attracts plenty of interest

Ben Lorimer had some advice for would-be jugglers Saturday at the Guelph Public Library main branch.

"Focus more on catching instead of the throwing," said Lorimer at the library's third-annual How-To Expert Festival.

The event offers the public free 10-minute sessions on how to learn the basics of a variety of skills.

Lorimer, a library staffer, was thrust into the role of juggling instructor when the person supposed to be teaching couldn't make it. But his days in his high school juggling club came handy.

"The timing of the throwing really throws people off. And they shouldn't really be watching their hands, they should be watching the peak of where the balls go up," Lorimer said.

People stopping by for a quick lesson quickly graduated from one ball to three.

"It looks a lot harder than it is," Lorimer said.

So when does it get really hard?

"Fire," he said with a laugh.

In total there were 14 skills offering the basics, ranging from making clay animals for the kids, how to find your blood type, how to brew the perfect cup of tea, how to make nature photographs look better and how to dance the cha-cha.

A steady stream of people made their way past the tables in the informal setting.

"We have individuals and groups offering the skills. Some are organizations and some are businesses," said librarian Marcia Watt.

All were there as volunteers.

"It's a how-to skill. Something people can learn and use," she said.

"It's grown, thanks to social media," she said. "People seem to pass on the message and there's more people all the time because they've been to the one the year before."

June Thornton said she is a repeat visitor.

"It's fun and it's free," Thornton said before learning how to make the perfect cup of tea.


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Tony Saxon

About the Author: Tony Saxon

Tony Saxon has had a rich and varied 30 year career as a journalist, an award winning correspondent, columnist, reporter, feature writer and photographer.
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