The Polk County Public Library is starting several new youth programs in 2015. Regular programming in the new year will include a baby story time, LEGO club, and Nintendo Wii U gaming. There will also be special events such as a Frozen sing-a-long and costume contest on Jan. 16 at 6 p.m. at the Main Library in Columbus.

“We are so excited to offer these new activities,” said Library Director Rishara Finsel. “They support literacy development, STEM skills and social growth, but most importantly, they are a lot of fun.”

Children of all ages can learn and create with a set of more than 10,000 LEGO bricks. LEGO Junior Makers club meetings start with a literacy-based building activity, followed by free play. Playing with LEGOs develops physical and mechanical skills and telling stories about the things created is a building block of literacy. LEGO Junior Makers will meet at the Main Library on second Wednesdays at 4 p.m. and at the Saluda Community Library on second Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m.

Baby Bookworms is a new story time program for ages birth to 2 years old. This event will be at the Main Library on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. Stories help develop imagination, listening abilities and vocabulary. Story time also encourages a love of reading and libraries and provides a social opportunity for parents and caregivers.

Pre-School Story Time will continue at the Main Library on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. and at the Saluda Library on first and third Mondays at 10:30 a.m.

Middle and high school students now have more opportunities for fun in the library. The library is continuing Teen Book Club, which meets on the fourth Monday of the month at the Main Library at 4 p.m. Each month the club discusses books from a different genre (fantasy books will be discussed at the January meeting). Following book club, teens are invited to participate in a craft activity.

A new Teen Nintendo Wii U Gaming Program will be on first and third Wednesdays at 6 p.m. The library will kick off this new program with a pizza party on Jan. 7. Video games can improve motor skills, social skills, hand-eye coordination, problem solving, and decision- making.

The Polk County Public Library was recently awarded three grants that will be used to fund these new programs. The library received a Lego Junior Maker Kit from the Association for Library Service to Children and LEGO Systems, Inc. as well as two Free Community Events grants from Polk County Community Foundation. The Free Community Events grants will be used for Baby Bookworms as well as the teen video gaming and craft programs. In addition, the children’s area of the Main Library has been revamped with new rugs and toys, thanks to a donation from the Friends of the Polk County Public Library.

–Submitted by Jen Pace