By LAURA DANIEL
Tiger Media Network
On Tuesday, the Hays Public Library welcomed community members to a special Humanities Kansas presentation focused on the history of upcycling. Led by presenter Maria Day, the talk explored the creative reuse of feed, flour, and sugar sacks as raw materials for clothing and household goods during the early to mid-20th century.
Day shared a curated collection of sacks from Kansas mills, chosen to honor a family with deep agricultural and 4-H roots. The presentation underscored both the resourcefulness of past generations and the cultural significance of these repurposed materials.
“Upcycling is still a relevant topic that many people value and participate in, whether that’s by thrifting, repairing or mending, or finding new purposes for items,” said Samantha Gill, HPL adult services manager. “This presentation shows that people have been doing this for a long time—for many reasons, including necessity.”
Sponsored by Humanities Kansas, an organization dedicated to providing high-quality educational programming across the state, the event offered attendees a historical perspective on sustainable living. To complement the presentation, the library set up a mini display of books on thrifting, upcycling, and waste reduction, all available for checkout.
“The goal in hosting an event on this topic is for patrons to learn about past practices—like turning flour sacks into clothing—and maybe reflect on how they reuse everyday items now considered ‘disposable’ or ‘single use,’” Gill said.
Though primarily geared toward adults, the event was open to all ages interested in learning more about sustainable habits and the history of repurposing.
As part of a broader series of sustainability-themed events, the library hosted an upcycled craft activity on Monday, where participants created flower bouquets using magazine clippings. Coming up, a Plant Swap will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday in the Schmidt Community Commons. Attendees are invited to bring unwanted or extra plants to trade with others.
Looking ahead, the Teen Advisory Board (TAB) will hold a Community Threads clothing exchange at the end of summer. HPL will accept clothing donations from July 7 to August 7. Donations should be in good or new condition, with a particular need for youth sizes.
The next Humanities Kansas program at HPL is scheduled for Monday, July 1. Historian Beverly Olson Buller will present a talk on the 1924 Kansas gubernatorial campaign of newspaper editor William Allen White and his fight to drive the Ku Klux Klan out of Kansas through powerful public speeches.
“These programs bring history to life and connect it to how we live today,” Gill said. “We’re proud to offer events that encourage thoughtful reflection, community connection, and sustainability.”