Rosie Newmark writes: “When Courtney Waters saw young patrons taking an interest in fantasy and medieval history, she decided to introduce sword fighting at her library. ‘I’m always looking to do programs that are a little bit off the beaten path,’ says Waters, youth services manager at Missouri River Regional Library in Jefferson City, Missouri. Enter centuries-old combat and training techniques, which have seen a boom in recent years, thanks in part to the emergence of historical European martial arts communities, mainly in the US, Australia, and Europe.”