Piece Offerings: Washington County Public Library starts puzzle exchange

Washington County Public Library Marietta Branch Manager Melanie Singer, left, and Judy Baker, right, talk about a puzzle in the branch’s new puzzle exchange program. Singer and Baker started the program this month. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

MARIETTA — The Washington County Public Library Marietta Branch this month started a puzzle exchange program.

The puzzle exchange program was announced in August, according to Washington County Public Library Marietta Branch Manager Melanie Singer.

Singer and resident Judy Baker started talking about starting the program in June, according to Baker.

“Part of the year we’re in Florida, my husband and I, and at the local library in Venice, Fla. and at the condo library, they had jigsaw puzzle exchanges and I thought it was a great idea because you don’t have to pay $15, $20 for a puzzle,” Baker said.

When Baker returned to Marietta, she went to the Marietta Branch and spoke with Singer about starting a puzzle exchange.

A puzzle lays partially completed on a table at the Washington County Public Library Marietta Branch. The puzzle is part of the branch’s new puzzle exchange program that started this month. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

“She kind of jump started it,” Singer said of Baker.

“I was really excited because I didn’t expect to come in here and give my idea and have somebody say ‘Yes, let’s do that!” Baker said. “She did.”

She had been thinking about trying to do a puzzle exchange at the Marietta Branch but she couldn’t find the area to put it, Singer said.

“And then luckily we were playing with our YA section and I was like ‘That would be the perfect place for it,’” Singer said.

How the puzzle exchange works is a person brings in a puzzle and leaves it and then takes a different puzzle home and returns it. People are encouraged to bring a puzzle, but they are not required to bring one to be able to take one home, according to Singer.

A new puzzle exchange program started at the Washington County Public Library Marietta Branch this month. Pictured are some of the puzzles available in the program. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

All the puzzles were donated for the puzzle exchange program, according to Singer, and though the program has just started they have already had people come in to participate.

“Puzzles seem to be gaining more speed … I think COVID kind of boosted it and things like that,” Singer said.

According to Singer, she likes puzzles because they pass the time and you are not on a screen all the time when doing one.

“It actually helps you with thinking if I remember correctly,” she said.

Baker likes puzzles, too.

“For me, I’m always so active that it feels good just to sit for a half an hour and use your brain instead of every other part of your body,” she said.

Both Singer and Baker said puzzles are therapeutic.

Those interested in the puzzle exchange can contact the Marietta Branch at 740-373-1057.

Michelle Dillon can be reached at mdillon@newsandsentinel.com