This fall, the Healdsburg Library will be hopping with several new free and fun opportunities for the community. During the month of August, as we wind down our summer activities, we prepare for the coming school year and devise a few new ideas for everyone to try.
With the school year starting, we have two related activities of particular note. The Homework Help program will continue on Thursdays, beginning September 6 and running through May. Volunteers will assist children and teens with homework assignments and developing literacy and mathematics skills throughout the school year.
We are looking for a volunteer who can be of particular assistance to upper level math help this year. If you or someone you know is interested in possibly volunteering to help with that, please give Charity a call at 433-3772. We will provide training. A criminal background check, paid for by the library, is required for volunteers age 18 and up.
The Library is offering a series of back to school events for educators county-wide this fall. These open house events are designed to help get the word out about all of the many free resources available to educators, provide an opportunity to meet and network with our children’s and teen services librarians, and pick up or renew the extremely useful library Educator Card. Charity and Allison will be available at our Healdsburg event on September 26. Stay tuned for more information next month on this important opportunity.
Many of you have already come by to take a look at our new Lulzbot Taz 6 3D printer or attended one of our introductory workshops. We’ve helped print a lot of interesting objects and are enjoying seeing your projects take shape. If you haven’t yet, come to one of our free introductory sessions on upcoming Thursdays, Aug. 30 at 4 p.m. or Sept. 13 at 11 a.m.
In addition, we offer two sessions on designing your own creations using the popular tool Tinkercad. Instructor Lindsay Hunter will provide these workshops on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. The beginner workshop on Sept. 12 will provide an introduction to Tinkercad and basic design strategies; the intermediate workshop on Sept. 19 is designed for those already using Tinkercad who are looking for higher-level techniques. Attendees will leave both classes with an understanding of how to create 3D printer designs. All of the sessions are free.
We have been asked many times over the last couple of years when we would start a new book club for adults. We’re ready to take on the task and start another book club for teens as well. Our new book club for adults is a brown bag event on the first Tuesday of each month at noon.
The inaugural session will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 4, at which we will discuss “It Can’t Happen Here” by Sinclair Lewis. If you’d like to participate, please come by the library and pick up a copy of this book. Teens can also get excited about the first session of the Teen Book Club, Wednesday, Sept. 19 at 4 p.m. That club will start with the book “Walk on Earth a Stranger,” by Rae Carson; copies of this book can also be found at the library.
In addition to the new book clubs, we are also offering an opportunity to meet up and play chess with one another for free. Chess in the library will be offered most Mondays from 3:30 to 5 p.m. If you love chess, love to challenge your mind or just feel like trying something new, come by and play with our quality chess sets and meet others interested in the game. The first meeting will be Monday, Sept. 10.
There are even more new programs starting soon that we’ll mention later on, but always keep in mind you can view our calendar of events by finding our library location on the Sonoma County Library website, http://sonomalibrary.org. We hope to see you soon.
Jon Haupt is the branch manager of the Healdsburg Regional Library.
