Local libraries are hoping to ignite creativity and show the fun side of math in a series of free events throughout the month of October.

The Denair Library is counting on fun during the month of October with a number of math-related activities through the Crazy 8s Math Club. Each Crazy 8s Math program is an opportunity for children to learn mathematical concepts in a fun, interactive environment.

"It is just a fun way to make math accessible to young children," said Turlock Children's Librarian Olga Cardenas, who first brought the program to the county.

Cardenas ran across the Crazy 8s Math Club program in a library journal and requested the materials from private nonprofit Bedtime Math. She said the program sounded like a good thing for the county library because she found her own children had an aversion to math.

"When you say anything related to math, they get turned off. If the young get into math in a very playful way, they're more likely to see math in a  different way...Bedtime Math  has wonderful materials, it introduces math in a very hands-on and social way."

The Turlock Library hosted the Crazy 8s Math Club over the summer and the program will soon be coming to the Oakdale Library, said Cardenas.

The next Crazy 8s Math Club program in Denair will be held at 4 p.m. Oct. 16. Children can bring a small stuffed animal to the library to participate in the Zip Line Zoo, in which participants will measure how fast their stuffed animals can go. A Bouncy Dice Explosion program will be available at 4 p.m. Oct. 23, where children can toss rubber dice, play war, and trying a game of human bingo.

The Turlock Library is hoping to inspire creativity through duct tape at a craft event at 4 p.m. Oct. 14. Teens can choose from an assortment of colorful duct tape to make flowers, wallets, or any other creation that sticks in their minds. This three dimensional craft encourages teens to think creatively and use their imaginations.

The Denair Library will spark Halloween creativity with a make and take masquerade mask event from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 21.

Children and their families can practice collaborative and mechanical skills while creating LEGO art at the Turlock Library starting at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 28. All ages are welcome to participate, however children under the age of 4 must have direct parental supervision.

The Turlock Library is located at 550 Minaret Ave. in Turlock. The Denair Library is located at 4801 Kersey Rd. in Denair.