School has started back and fall is in the air. Polk County Public Library would like to express appreciation everyone who attended Summer Reading Program events and participated by turning in reading logs and BINGO cards. Winners of the grand prizes this year were: Lliam Hix, Joseph Corda, Lirah Wiggen, Allison Kennedy, Aiden Hix, Ciera Weathers, Macie Siegfried and Ivana Carlson. Pre-School Story time and Afternoon Adventures return from summer break in September at the Columbus and Saluda libraries.
Do you know a child or teen who doesn’t have a library card? September is Library Card Sign-Up Month, a time when Polk County Public Library joins with the American Library Association to make sure that every student has the most important school supply of all – a free library card. All youth (up to age 18) who sign up for a new Polk County Public Library card during the month of September will get to choose a small prize and be entered into the grand prize drawing for a $75 gift certificate to The Book Shelf in Tryon.
Pre-school story time features books, songs and rhymes followed by a craft or activity. The 30-minute program is designed for children ages three to five but open to all who wish to attend. Pre-school story time occurs Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. at the Main Library in Columbus and on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. at the Saluda Community Library.
Children in grades kindergarten through fifth are invited to explore new ideas and activities during Afternoon Adventures. September activities include board games, a movie matinee, a martial arts demonstration and lesson, a hike behind the Main Library with Pacolet Area Conservancy and a sea life program led by Team ECCO Ocean Center. Afternoon Adventures takes place on Tuesdays at 4 p.m. at the Main Library in Columbus and on alternating Mondays at 4 p.m. at the Saluda Community Library. The program is made possible through a grant from the Polk County Community Foundation.
On alternating Mondays at 4 p.m., Sam the therapy dog will visit the Saluda Community Library for Sam’s Reading Buddies. Sam loves to listen to stories, and will be at the library with his owner, Nancy Weinhagen, for children to read to him. Kids can have fun and improve their reading skills at the same time.
Teen Book Club now meets on the third Wednesday of the month at 4 p.m. Join the group on Sept. 17 to discuss “Sold” by Patricia McCormick. We will also vote on October’s read and one lucky member will win a free copy of that book. After book club, we will have movie night at 5 p.m. We’ll watch “The Fault In Our Stars,” based on the best-selling young adult novel by John Green. Free popcorn and drinks will be served.
Polk County Public Library has a Main Library in Columbus and a branch in Saluda, as well as a bookmobile that travels throughout Polk County. PCPL offers books, movies, music, audiobooks and downloadable eBooks and audiobooks, as well as public computers and wireless Internet access. To learn more, and to see a complete calendar of library events, visit www.polklibrary.org.

— article submitted Jen Pace