Join in the fun for an exciting teen and adult program from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm on Saturday, August 8, at the Marion Music Hall. Emma Williamson will share her journey from casual puzzle enthusiast to World Championship competitor, while demonstrating the techniques and strategies that help speed puzzlers complete jigsaw puzzles in astonishing times. She’ll explain how ordinary puzzle lovers become competitive puzzlers and offer practical tips and tricks that anyone can use.
Visitors can also experience the excitement firsthand by signing up to try their hand in a Mini Pairs Speed Puzzling Competition, sponsored by Bits & Pieces. Six teams of two will race to complete identical 300-piece puzzles. Pairs competitions are fast-paced, fun to watch, and a great way to introduce newcomers to the sport.
Emma began speed puzzling in 2023 and has since competed in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and Valladolid, Spain. At the 2025 World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship, she became the only American to win a semifinal match. Emma typically completes a 1,000-piece puzzle in about 2½ hours, with a personal best of just 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Whether you’re a lifelong puzzle enthusiast or simply curious about this unique and rapidly growing competitive hobby, this engaging presentation offers a chance to meet one of Marion’s own world-class competitors and learn how you, too, can become part of the speed puzzling community.
This presentation is free and open to the public as part of the library’s annual Summer Book Sale fundraiser. To compete in the mini pairs event, a signup is available via the Elizabeth Taber Library’s website. Plenty of gently used Puzzles will be available for purchase, along with Books, Games, Movies and Music.
The Friends of the ETL book sale runs Friday, August 7 and Saturday, August 8, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and Sunday 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Marion Music Hall, 164 Front Street Marion.