Pictured from left are Nolanie McKinney, Aurora Faust and Braelyn McKinney as they learn through STEM inspired projects at the Warsaw Community Public Library. Photo provided by Robin Fosnaugh.

By Dana McAfee
WCPL Community Outreach Services

WARSAW — September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month and the Warsaw Community Public Library is ready to celebrate with events for the whole family.

Our theme for the month is Passport to Reading, and you can join us for the kickoff from 10:30–5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sep. 1, to make your own passport.

Throughout the month there will be challenges to complete including: a word search, bingo card, library trivia challenge, fairy scavenger hunt and a musical scavenger hunt. Complete any, or all of these challenges by 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sep. 30, to be entered into a drawing for a chance to win prizes. Winners will be drawn Oct. 4.

National spokespersons for this year’s event are Idina Menzel, actress (Rent, Wicked, Enchanted, Glee), singer-songwriter and philanthropist, and her sister Cara Mentzel, educator and author of the book “Voice Lessons, A Sister’s Story.”

Sep. 19–23 is National Banned Books Week, and the library will also have a few activities to draw attention to this important subject. According to the American Library Association in 2021, 1,597 books were affected by censorship attempts, and 37% of those challenges took place in public libraries.

We continue to offer fun and informative workshops for the family:

• Medicare 101 — 1 p.m. Sep. 8
• Seed Collection with Purdue Extension — 6 p.m. Sep. 12
• Starting Kids Saving with 1st Source Bank — 11 a.m. Sep. 14
• Intro to Teen Budgeting with 1st Source Bank — 3:30 p.m. Sep. 14
• Kid’s Yoga — 10:30 a.m. Sep. 15
• Family Safety Day with Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory — 11 a.m. Sep. 17
• Kid’s Minecraft (Register in advance) — 4:30 p.m. Sep. 20
• Teen Panel Discussion on Banning Books — 3:30 p.m. Sep. 21
• Starting Kid’s Saving with 1st Source Bank — 4:30 p.m. Sep. 21
• Making a Healthy Change — 1 p.m. Sep. 22
• Lego Club — 10:30 a.m. Sep. 24
• Book Improv — 6 p.m. Sep. 26
• Beginning Yoga for Adults — 6:30 p.m. Sep. 27
• Teen Budgeting Review Party, with Prizes — 3:30 p.m. Sep. 28
• Harry Potter Day — All day Sep. 29

As always, check warsawlibrary.org for details to these events. You can also see our favorite monthly activities: Toddler Storytime, Preschool Storytime, Greyt Readers, Online Bedtime Story and Story Emporium Bookstore.