By Rose Hernandez

Fall is a refreshing time of the year, a time to get back into school routines and enjoy all the fun cooler weather activities that fall has to offer. The Greene County Public Library (GCPL) is excited to share its calendar of September special programs and the new fall recurring events schedule for youth and adults, including programming never offered before! We would like residents of Greene County to know we are the best place to visit in the county, not just this fall but all year long! 

The Greene County Public Library is excited to announce a new weekly recurring afterschool program for ages 5-12 that allows participants to enjoy a different STEM, cooking, gaming, or art adventure each week - Discovery Lab! Discovery Lab will be offered each week on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. We will begin our lab adventures in carnival style with weekly themes of: September 17 -  Chocolate Covered Caramel Apple Slices (Cooking), September 24 - Epic Roller Coasters (VR)  and Classic Board Games (Gaming). 

The popular MasterChef Jr. program will be back this fall, kicking off the season with Fair Fun inspired recipes. For those not familiar with MasterChef Jr., it is a fun afterschool cooking program for children ages 8 and up to learn about new foods, healthy nutrition and learn kitchen life skills. MasterChef Jr. will be offered each week on Monday at 5:30 p.m. Dates and themes for September are: September 9 - Cotton Candy Lemonade Slushie, September 16 - Corn Dog Muffins, and September 23 -  Carnival Confetti Pie. This is a highly anticipated program, please call in advance to reserve your spot. The Greene County Public Library will continue to offer weekly storytimes each Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. year round. Storytime is geared for preschool age children and includes engaging story readings, songs, activities, and crafts that follow a weekly theme. The September theme is Community Helpers and the dates are: September 17 -  Firefighters, and September 24 - Police Officers. 

Teens are invited  to enjoy VR Days weekly on Thursdays at a new time, 5:30 p.m. During VR days teens interact with each other through virtual reality gaming and cheering each other on in games such as Sports Scramble, Clash of the Chiefs, Arcade Classics, and Cooking Simulator. Adults are now invited to get in on the virtual fun too! Beginning Wednesday, September 18 at 6 p.m. the Greene County Public Library will begin offering monthly adult VR demonstrations to give adults the opportunity to explore and master fun and different technologies. We would also like to extend a helping hand to adults in the form of computer tutoring by appointment. Adults can schedule an appointment to complete assessments and tailored lessons through NorthStar Digital Literacy learning platform. This program defines the basic skills needed to use a computer and the internet in daily life, employment, and higher education.

Looking for a fun and relaxing lunchtime activity? Join us at the Greene County Public Library for the newest weekly recurring event for adults- Jigsaw Lunch Club. Jigsaw Lunch Club will meet Thursdays floating from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., beginning September 12. Enjoy a quiet time exercising your brain in a fun way or fellowship with friends, old and new alike while creating beautiful puzzles and memories. 

The Greene County Public Library will  also offer a Libby app demonstration and a Photography Workshop in September. The Libby app allows users to borrow ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and more from your local library for free! On Tuesday, September 24 at 6:30 p.m. we will demonstrate how to download, log in, and begin using Libby’s features and resources. Join us for a two-part photography workshop taught by Casey Mozingo and learn to capture the fall fun at all the fairs and pumpkin patches by expanding your photography skills. In part one held on Tuesday, September 10 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. participants will learn about various aspects of photography and how to capture a good photo with a cell phone. Then, during part two on Tuesday, September 17 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. participants will learn how to edit those good photos and put what they’ve learned into practice with photo challenges. Don’t forget to bring your phone! Share your photos online during the month of September and be sure to tag Greene County Public Library NC to be entered into giveaways for gift cards to local businesses! For more information on any of these programs or to sign up, please contactRose Hernandezat 252-747-3437.