By FRANCES SMITH / Community Columnist

Computer classes, book clubs, Medicare tips – we offer many opportunities for all ages to sharpen skills this month at our library.

Children who love stories, crafts and music are in for a treat.

We are launching the Wonder Kids’ Book Club after receiving the 2018 Virginia Hamilton and Arnold Adoff Creative Outreach Grant from the Advisory Board of the Virginia Hamilton Conference at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio.

The $1,000 grant will fund the monthly club which will showcase the works of the named award winning authors. The congratulatory letter stated, “Your project titled ‘Wonder Kids’ Book Club’ is an excellent example of a multicultural program that will raise awareness of the need to respect and honor human diversity.” We’ll read together and talk and strive to improve reading, vocabulary, and social skills and more. The first session’s theme is Terrific Talents, details are below.

September is National Library Card Sign up Month, and kids age 5 and older who get their first library card at our library will also get a gift bag.

They must be with their parent or legal guardian who must bring their proof of Shelby County residency identification. This does not apply to replacement cards.

Beginning Sept. 1, Tune & Tales will be on Saturdays at 1 p.m. instead of Wednesdays. Toddler Tales remains on Fridays at 10:30 a.m.

Kids Programs:

• Sept. 4 Lego League® 4-4:45 p.m.
• Sept. 10 Homeschool Happening: Science of Ice Cream with Charity Waldrep of Shelby County 4-H 10-11 a.m. Students in grades 1 through 12 can sign up.
• Sept. 11 Wonder Kids’ Book Club: Terrific Talents 6-7 p.m. Kids age 6 and older can join our new book club. The library was awarded the 2018 Virginia Hamilton and Arnold Adoff Creative Outreach Grant and will showcase books of Hamilton and Adoff and those of other authors. (See details above.) In this session a guest will share her balloon sculpting talent. Sign up.
• Sept. 14 American Girls Club 4 p.m. Girls age 7 and older can learn about nature-loving Lanie. They can come with or without a doll and meet a guest who will help them create something special. Sign up.
• Sept. 25 Pete the Cat Book Club 4 p.m. What is Pete up to now? Kids 6 and older can sign up to find out.

Adult Programs:

• Mobile Device Workshop Sept. 6, 6 p.m. Speaker: Bob Fitzgerald of Personal Computer Consulting in Alabaster.
• Computer Classes at 10 a.m., Sept. 8 Microsoft Word 2013 Crash Course; Sept. 18 Beginning Computers; Sept. 25 Microsoft Publisher 2013. Sign up.
• ABC & Ds of Medicare Sept. 10, 1 p.m. Speaker: Karen Haiflich of the Medicare Information Source.
• Ya Ya Yarners Sept. 10, 17, and 24, 5:30-7:30 p.m. For information, email Carol Smith at csmith@shelbycounty-al.org.
• Suicide Prevention Sept. 13, 6:30 p.m. Speaker: Ashley Foster of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: Alabama Chapter.
• Library Book Group Sept. 20, 7 p.m. Britt Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman.
• Medicare 101 Sept. 25, 6 p.m. Speaker: Eric Smith of Medicare Advisors of Alabama.

Programs are in the meeting room and 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.