March 2020
PELHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY NEWS & EVENTS
 Renewals Made Easy!
Auto-Renewal Coming to Shelby County Libraries
Busy library members now have one less thing to worry about thanks to a new renewal policy. Shelby County Library System is pleased to announce that as of March 1, 2020, all Shelby County Libraries will automatically renew eligible materials checked out to library cardholders. All patrons are automatically enrolled and there is no need to sign up for this new service. For more information, please click here .
THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 5:45 PM
Silent Book Club
Join the us at Buck Creek Coffee House for a different kind of book club. No required reading, no awkward discussions of plot or the author's intentions. Just bring any book you want for 45 minutes to an hour of silent reading!  No registration is needed; call 205-620-6418 for more information. Second Thursday monthly.
Schedule for each event:
  • 5:45-6:15 PM: Order a drink, introduce yourself, chat with like-minded book nerds. Maybe tell everyone what you are reading or a book you just loved (or hated).
  • 6:15-7:00 PM: Read quietly while enjoying a drink and or snack from Buck Creek Coffee. 
MONDAY, MARCH 2, 6:30 PM
Pelham ASL Meetup
This group is a social designed to bring together people from the deaf and hearing worlds together and for all of us to make new friends. Anyone is welcome who has an interest in sign language from beginner to expert. We especially encourage people to come who want to HAVE FUN while socializing with all sorts of different people! Refreshments will be served. First Monday monthly.
Pelham Parks & Recreation
The Pelham Parks & Recreation Department has asked us to share a brief survey with you. This survey will help to identify and prioritize the needs for new, improved, additional, and expanded recreational programs, facilities, and services provided by Pelham Parks and Recreation for the next 5-to-10 years. It should take less than 15-minutes to complete and your participation is anonymous. Please click here to complete the survey.
New Adult Fiction Books for March
Children's Corner
After School Movie
Join us after school each Monday for a G or PG movie. Call us at 620-6465 to find out what movie will be shown on a particular day.

 March 2, 3:30 PM
March 9, 3:30 PM
March 16, 3:30 PM
March 23, 3:30 PM
March 30, 3:30 PM
Wednesday Story Times
March 4, 9:15 AM & 10:30 AM
March 11, 9:15 AM & 10:30 AM
March 18, 9:15 AM & 10:30 AM
March 25, 9:15 AM & 10:30 AM

Thursday PJ Story Times 
March 5, 6:30 PM
March 12, 6:30 PM
March 19, 6:30 PM
March 26, 6:30 PM
Teen Events for March
Open Games in the Maker Space
Tuesday, March 7, 10 AM - 2 PM
Co-ed Self-Defense Class
Saturday, March 21, 10:30 AM
 Impact Martial Arts will provide a co-ed
self-defense class. Anyone aged 13-23 is welcome, but participation is limited.
Please call 205-620-6418 to register.
In the Maker Space
Tech Time Lego Robots: Monday, March 2, 5:15 PM. Participants will be introduced to the Lego Mindstorm kit. Where instructions will be given in order to build the robot and program the robot. No experience is required. For ages 10 and up.
Open Games in the Maker Space Saturday, March 7. 10 AM - 1 PM
Tech Time Python Programming Language: Monday, March 9, 5:15 PM. Participants will be introduced to the Programming Language Python 3. This class does build on itself but new comers are always welcome. General computer knowledge preferred. For ages 10 and up.
Star Trek Group Meeting Thursday, March 12, 6:30 PM
USS Hephaestus, NCC-2004 is the oldest and largest STARFLEET chapter in Alabama. We also have members in other parts of the South including Georgia and Texas. We are fans of Star Trek and science fiction. We have socials and discussion groups to bring other fans together in the pursuit of Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations.
Pest Control Program: Friday, March 13th, 8 AM - 5 PM
The Pelham Public Library and the Alabama Urban Forestry Association are providing Pelham residents and Pelham employees a chance to learn from the pros about pesticide safety and their use. This is THE class the pros use for their certification process. Space is limited; please call for registration.
Tech Time Lego Robots: March 16, 5:15 PM. Partic ipants will be introduced to the Lego Mindstorm kit. Where instructions will be given in order to build the robot and program the robot. No experience is required. For ages 10 and up.
Homeschool 4-H Club: March 17, 10 AM. Details here .
Tech Time Python Programming Language: March 23, 5:15 PM. Participants will be introduced to the Programming Language Python 3. This class does build on itself but new comers are always welcome. General computer knowledge preferred. For ages 10 and up.
Backyard Vegetable Gardening: Thursday, March 26, 6:30 PM
The Shelby County Extension Office and the Pelham Public Library are going to host a free program on Backyard Vegetable Gardening. The program will cover site selection & planning, lime & fertilizer, seed & plants, cultivation, irrigation, and harvesting. There will also be a sign language interpreter available for the program.
Please contact Matthew Griffin to reserve your spot, 205-620-6471.
Beyond Trek: Thursday, March 26, 6:30 PM
Shin Godzilla 
Tech Time Lego Robots: March 30, 5:15 PM. Participants will be introduced to the Lego Mindstorm kit. Where instructions will be given in order to build the robot and program the robot. No experience is required. For ages 10 and up.

Pelham Public Library One on One sessions – The Pelham Public Library offers computer classes that are flexible for your needs. Call the library to make an appointment.
We offer learning opportunities in: 
  • Keyboarding
  • Internet Searches
  • Learn Python Programming Language
  • Basic Internet
  • Microsoft Office Basic, including Excel & Word
  • Microsoft Office Advanced, including Excel & Word
  • Basic Computer
  • New Smartphones
  • Library E-Resources

Call Matt at 620-6471 for more information on these and other Maker Space events!
Click here to join us on Goodreads
Click here to see what new adult fiction titles come out in March
Ongoing Adult Events
Understanding Medicare Seminar
Tuesday, March 17, 10:30 AM
Tuesday, March 17, 6 PM

Free Morning ESL Classes
Every Tuesday 9:30 AM
Free Evening ESOL Classes
Every Thursday 6 PM
¡Aprende Inglés!
De La Mañana
La clase de ESL progresa a la clase de GED todos los martes de 9:30-12:30 PM. Esta clase está diseñada para todos los niveles de estudiantes del idioma inglés, desde principiantes hasta avanzados y preparación para el examen de GED. La clase es gratis. Administrado a través de Central Alabama Community College, llame al 256-378-2017 para obtener más información.
De La Noche
Los estudiantes adultos que buscanaprender inglés están invitados a estas clases que se llevarán acabo todos losjueves por la noche en la Biblioteca Pública de Pelham. Las clases serán impartidas por un tutor capacitado y apoyado por el LiteracyCouncil. 
Para obtener más información o reservar un asiento, llame al LiteracyCouncil al 326-1925. No se proporciona cuidado de niños.
Staff Spotlight: Meet Russ
Hello.
I'm Russ. Maybe you knew that. If not, maybe you know me as "the bald guy" or "the guy in the hoodie."
I'm an elite librarian by day and a superhero-level dad by night. (That's how I SEE myself anyway.) My toddler agrees with me about how great I am, but she doesn't really understand what a librarian is just yet. She does love to read though.
I've been serving Pelham for 13 years, and I have been the adult fiction librarian since 2016. That is quite fortunate for you if you like fiction because I LOVE FICTION and I take my job as the curator of this collection very serially. Pun intended.

I especially love sci-fi and fantasy books but I also read other genres. I don't have a "favorite book ever," but Pachinko by Min Jin Lee is the best book I've read in the last several years. If doing so floats your boat, you can take a look at what I read by clicking here . Warning: I am really into putting my books into categories.
I think the following things totally rule: my family, taco trucks, and punk & indie rock.