By FRANCES SMITH / Community Columnist

We, at the library, love providing books, materials and programs around particular themes, and February gives us several to get excited about. In February we’ll have a potpourri of programs inspired by Chinese or Lunar New Year celebrating the Year of the Dog, Valentine’s Day, and Black History Month with an emphasis on science rocketry and freedom. We hope that one of these topics interests you and that you’ll attend a program or two and check out materials of interest.

Youth Programs

Story Times are Tunes & Tales Wednesdays 3:30 p.m. and Toddler Tales Fridays 10:30 a.m.

Feb. 6 Lego League 6 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.

Feb. 9 Fractured Fairy Tales 4 p.m. It’s Jack and the Beanstalk with a twist. Kids in grades 1 and above can sign up.

Feb. 12 Homeschool Happening: Chinese New Year & More! 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Learn about Chinese New Year, China’s history and customs. Students in grades 1-12 can sign up.

Feb. 13 Pete the Cat Book Club: Valentines 6 p.m. Children 5 years old and older can read and make Valentine’s cards. Sign up.

Feb. 16 Magic Tree House Passport to Adventure: Happy Chinese New Year! 4 p.m. We’ll explore the book Day of the Dragon King and more. Kids in grades 1 and above can sign up.

Feb. 20 Rocketry and Black History 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Science educators Winfield and Elinor Burks conduct this hands-on approach to science and history. Students in third grade and above can sign up for this session inspired by the true story behind the film Hidden Figures.

Feb. 23 American Girls Club 4 p.m. Enter Addy’s world by taking part in a reader’s theater. Girls who aren’t actors can be in the audience – and so can their dolls and family, but all children in the audience must be with an adult. Girls 7 years old and older can sign up.

Feb. 27 Family Time Tasty Tales: Chinese New Year 6 p.m. Families can listen and learn about Chinese New Year through stories and food. Sign up by Feb. 26. All kids must be with an adult.

Adult Programs

Free AARP Tax Help for seniors by appointment Tuesdays and Thursdays February through April. Sign up at the library or call 664-6822.

Computer Classes at 10 a.m. Feb. 5 Microsoft Publisher 2013; Feb. 10 Microsoft PowerPoint 2013; Feb. 19 Computer Basics. Sign up.

ABC & Ds of Medicare Feb. 12, 1 p.m. With Karen Haiflich of the Medicare Information Source

Book Group Feb. 15, 7 p.m. The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas

Medicare 101 Feb. 22, 6 p.m. With Eric Smith of Medicare Advisors of Alabama

Ya Ya Yarners Mondays 5:30 p.m. starting Jan. 29. Interested in knitting or crocheting? Learn how. All materials are supplied. Questions? Email Carol Smith at csmith@shelbycounty-al.org.

Programs are in the meeting room. Children age 6 and younger must be with an adult unless otherwise indicated. Sign up for programs at the circulation desk or call 664-6822.