Located at 6 Falconer St. in Frewsburg, Myers Memorial Library has recently started a winter baking challenge, which is set to run from Jan. 15 to Feb. 23. The idea for the competition came about because the library recently started a baking library.

“We had the idea because we started a baking library a few months ago, with items that people can check out, use, clean and then bring back,” library assistant Rachel Roushey said. “We thought it would be fun to have people use the items, take a picture and post it online, or we can post it online for them. It also raises awareness that the library has more than just books.”

In order to participate in the competition, people can come and check out either an item from the baking library or a cookbook. Once they bake the item, they take a picture and submit it by either emailing it to the library or posting it to Facebook and tagging the library. Roushey said one winner will be chosen to win a gift card to a local bakery and that submissions are being accepted until the end of the competition on Feb. 23.

Roushey said that kids, teens and adults can participate, along with any library patron. If anyone has checked something out from the library in the past, they can enter. Roushey said they can also sign up for a library card if they do not have one when they come in to check out something for the contest.

Participants can choose any cookbook or item in the baking library, bring it home and use it and then submit a photo to participate in the winter baking challenge.

Roushey encouraged the community to participate, saying it is something fun to do and a way to get out of the house during the winter.

“If you have kids it’s a way to get them involved in the community and have fun,” Roushey said. “We love to see what people bake and we have kids that like to check out cookbooks and come back and tell us what they made. This is a different way for them to share what they are doing.”

Cookbooks in the baking library are able to be checked out for three weeks at a time, but baking items are only available for one week at a time.

While this is a new competition inspired by the new baking library, Roushey said it is something the library is very excited for and will most likely do again. There is also a possibility of doing it again in the summer as well, to include summer recipes and use summer items such as popsicle makers.

Myers Memorial Library is hosting two other events in February. The first is the tiny art show, which is accepting tiny art showcasing a lovable pet until Jan. 31. The second February event is the blind date with a book, which allows people to come into the library in February and pick a book, which is wrapped in paper and showing nothing but the first line. Roushey said people pick the book based on the first line.

A few examples of cookbooks available to check out of the Myers Memorial Library baking library to use in the baking challenge. Submitted photos

For more information on the baking contest or upcoming events, stop in to the library — open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday — or contact them at 716-569-5515, info@myerslibrary.org or on Facebook.