Group tech courses, National Video Games Day, line dancing, fall book sale, Banned Books Week...and more are on the September calendar at the Bluffton Public Library.

Here's the schedule:

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month. This year, Disney Pixar’s superhero family from The Incredibles remind us that libraries are “incredible” and that getting a library card is the first step to a really “super lifestyle.” Fill your life with fun and learning so you may “pursue your passions and succeed” (ala.org).

The library is closed on Sept. 3 for Labor Day.  All due dates are adjusted accordingly.

The Dulcimers @ the Library continue to meet at the library on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. on the lower level.

Chill Zone continue in September every Tuesday after school, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Chill Zone is a safe space for tweens and teens to hang out and relax at the library. Anyone in 6th through 12th grade is welcome to join. Activities include gaming, socializing, themed events, and crafting. Snacks are provided.

The library’s Adult Book Discussion group will meet on Wed., Sept. 5 at noon to discuss September’s book Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple. This monthly discussion group is open to new members, and registration is requested. Copies of each month’s book are available for checkout the month prior to each discussion, and you may register when you check out. Need more time? October’s discussion book is The Indifferent Stars Above by Daniel James Brown and take places on Oct. 3. Call us or email [email protected] for more information.

The SciFi/Fantasy Writers Group (for ages 18 and up) will meet again on Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. For more information or to register/be put on the group’s email list, email [email protected]. Registration is required.

Ongoing Playgroup sessions continue at 10 a.m. on Fridays. Make a playdate and the library will provide the space and toys!

Farmers Market Storytime continues at 10 a.m. on Sept. 8. All ages are welcome!  Meet us at Bluffton’s annual Farmer’s Market in the Citizens National Bank parking lot on South Main. Join us for a fun time of stories and more!

Jammin’ at the Library continues at 6 p.m. on Sept. 10 and 24. This is a song-circle style jam session to which anyone is welcome to join. Bring your acoustic instrument, voice, or listening ears! For more information, email [email protected].

Fall Storytime for preschool children ages 3-5 begins on Sept. 10 at 6:30 p.m. or Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. (sign up for Monday evening OR Tuesday morning sessions). Registration is required for these sessions full of stories, games, crafts, and lots of fun while developing early literacy skills! Please specify if your child has any food allergies when registering, as snacks are often provided. Please notice: during the last week of September, a Storytime Dance Party will take place on the lower level of the library on Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. (with no Monday session on the evening of the 24th). For more information, check out our website or facebook or email [email protected].

Join Matt Motes, Information Technologist for the SEO Library Center, as he returns for another round of Group Tech Courses on Sept. 11 starting at 4:30 p.m. Registration is required, and participants are welcomed to bring along their questions. Register for one, two or all of the session(s) you will attend. The offerings are as follows:

• 4:30 p.m., Microsoft Word: Learn Microsoft Word with this hands-on training. Learn about toolbars, the ruler, table of contents creation, inserting pictures and clipart, and much more.

• 5:30 p.m., Cyber Security: Learn what to do and look for when determining if you are being exposed to an attack.  We will look at example attacks in Vishing, Malware, and Ransomware and how to improve the safety of the environment we compute in.

• 6:30 p.m., Cloud Computing: This course introduces the conceptual understanding of Cloud storage technology, and defines Cloud computing using historical examples to show the progression.

National Video Games Day is on Sept. 12, and to celebrate, our library will host a free gaming get-together from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Bring your console and games to share in the video gaming fun with others, and make sure to register at our front desk or by calling 419-358-5016.  All games must be rated “E for Everyone,” and children ages 8 and under require an adult to be present with them at the program. Check out our display of video game related materials on the main floor, including books, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, and even actual video games borrowed from other libraries in our consortium and available for you to check out using your Bluffton Public Library card!

Babies Love Books continues at 10 a.m. on Sept. 13. Join us for a time of fun, stories, and song for babies and toddlers (birth-3 years). Activities promote language and motor development. No prior registration is necessary, but all children must be accompanied by a parent or child care provider who will participate in the program.

Join us for the return of Line Dancing with Dancing Barb on Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. This program is for teens and adults only, but please register in advance as space is limited. Please note: because the library’s floor is carpeted, participants will dance in socks. Please be sure to bring a pair of clean socks to the program.

Calling all homeschoolers! The library will debut a new program, Homeschoolers Learning Libratory on Sept. 19 at 1 p.m. Homeschooled children ages 4-11 (children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult) will participate in a STEAM program once a month into December, starting with “Color Fun” for the month of September. Registration is required for each session. Email [email protected] for more information.

Jonah Agner of The Food Store will present his experience utilizing Restoration Agriculture techniques on his own property. Come to this program on Thursday, Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. to hear about what is working well, what’s not, and tips on how to use this on your own property! Register is required.

Banned Books Week is Sept. 24-29. Check out our display and be sure to post your favorite banned book on social media (tag us!) This year’s theme is “Speak Out! Banning Books Silences Stories,” and challenges us to stand up for our right to read without censorship. Books on display at our library will include materials that have been banned or challenged in libraries, booksellers, and schools across the globe. This list is compiled by the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (ala.org).

The Gluten Free and Food Allergy Support Group meets at the library on Sept. 24 at 6:30 p.m. Please notice: this group will meet in the Local History Room on the library’s main level.

National Voter Registration Day is Sept. 25. Don't forget that you can register to vote at our library! The deadline for voter registration for the Nov. 6 general election is Oct. 9, and all mail registrations (including those completed at our library) must be postmarked by Oct. 9. Absentee Ballot Applications are also available and must be mailed by Nov. 3. Check out our display of materials for all ages that discuss the history of American voting rights, our Constitution, and why your vote matters.

The annual Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale is here again, and is held on the lower level of the library. Have a free cup of coffee and a cookie to enjoy while you browse our large collection of materials available for purchase. All proceeds go to library programs and services, so with every purchase, you’re giving back to your community! The schedule is as follows:
• Wednesday, Sept. 26, 5-7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Sept. 27, 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
• Friday, Sept. 28, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 29, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Join us for an Introduction to 3d Printing with Chris Gott (Part 1) on Sept. 29 at 11 a.m. Registration is required. Learn what goes into the creation of 3d prints, how to find premade models or design your own, and the innovative ways the world is using this technology. Then, on Oct. 6, watch a 3d printer in action and enjoy a continuation of discussion from the first session. Please notice: the library will provide public access to a 3d printer again during the month of October 2018 thanks to The Northwest Regional Library System (NORWELD). Speaker Chris Gott is a local technology educator and not affiliated with NORWELD. For more information, email [email protected].