Learn how to blend epsom salts, herbs, and essential oils to create fragrant bath salts at an Oxford Memorial Library workshop at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 31. (Photo by Sarah Genter)

OXFORD — Learn how to make herbal bath salts at the Oxford Memorial Library, located at 8 Forthill Park in Oxford, at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 31.

Bath salts are a holistic mixture added to bath water, which can have several mental and physical benefits, including aiding relaxation, or easing muscle pain, arthritis, and headaches.

The workshop is open to teens and adults and is free to participate. All supplies will be provided, including epsom salts, Hawaiian salts, organic herbs, essential oils, and a glass jar to store them.

It is recommended to sign up in advance. To register, call the Oxford Memorial Library at 607-843-6146.

The class is taught by an Oxford Memorial Library clerk, and Library Director Nancy Wilcox said the instruction goes beyond just mixing ingredients together.

"She has a really nice page with print out instructions and all the information on the herbs and all that kind of stuff. And she walks you through it, how to put it together step by step so that when you’re done you’ve got this jar of bath salts," she explained.

"She does talk about the different materials she’s using, and in relationship to being earth friendly, green, organic, you know, how these different things are good for your skin, how to use it, and that kind of thing," Wilcox continued. "It covers a pretty broad range other than just putting stuff into a jar. It's really quite educational."

The Oxford Memorial Library will also be hosting Town of Oxford Historian Vicky House at 10 a.m. on February 3, where she will be giving a presentation in the community room on her newly published historical book.

Wilcox said she will do both a book talk and book signing, and copies of the book will be available for purchase.

There will be another presentation on February 10 by local artist and photographer Henry Drexler. He will give a presentation titled "Abandoned in Chenango County," which features his photographs of abandoned structures and locations throughout the county, with a focus on barns and farms.

The presentation will include discussions on research on abandoned farmland conducted by Cornell in the 1920s, how that research led to the creation of state lands, and how farmland abandonment has affected the local culture and economy.

Wilcox said this year she and library staff will be looking into more ways they can bring adult programs to the library.

"One of my goals now this year with my new clerk, who’s really interested in reaching out to the community with this kind of thing, is doing more adult programming. So we’re looking forward to that," said Wilcox. "We’re kind of keeping our eyes open to see who’s out there that can do something."

For more information on the Oxford Memorial Library, visit OxfordMemorialLibrary.org or the Oxford Memorial Library and Youth Services Facebook page.