The staff and volunteers of the Pine Island Public Library have made it through the summer and are gearing up for fall. We do have two changes we want everyone to know about. New library hours for the Lee County Library System begin the week of Oct. 19. The only change we have at Pine Island is our new hours on Fridays. We will shift from a 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. schedule to 9 a.m – 5 p.m.. So our Friday and Saturday hours will match. Please get here before 5 p.m. Friday for those weekend DVDs! And beginning on Oct. 12 the library’s telephone number will change to 533-4350.

This is the time of year that our activities increase. On Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 6 p.m., Waterways Program Coordinator, Betsy Clayton, will present information on the Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival. Learn about this exciting 10-day festival on and around our local waters. The next day, Thursday, Oct. 22 at 1:30 p.m., Lillian Bradley will lead a book discussion on “The Heretic’s Daughter” by Kathleen Kent. And after this, at 3 p.m. the Friends of the Pine Island Library will hold their first meeting of the season. Everyone is welcome to join us for these events.

We haven’t forgotten the children. On Saturday, Oct. 24 at 11 a.m., Bobbi and Karen will be presenting “Spine-Tingling Tales & Hair-Raising Fun.” This annual event always promises a good time. Come on out for some laughs and thrills. At 6 p.m. on Oct. 28, the Wacky Wednesday program features the Count and Countess of Hauntsville with a “Spooktacular” show for school-age children. This is a comedy magic show sure to please our young patrons.

Don’t look for Miss Tonya at the library mid-day on Halloween. She always looks her most attractive self at the Kiwanis Club’s Fall Festival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Catholic Church north of Pine Island Center. She will be reading stories to the little ghouls and goblins and will have good books to check out. So bring your library card and be sure to compliment Miss Tonya on her looks and fashion sense!

If you haven’t reserved your copy of Dan Brown’s “The Lost Symbol” now is the time. It is a popular book so the hold list will get longer as our winter visitors arrive. We have it in regular and large print as well as the CD book. New novels coming out in December include Sue Grafton’s “U is for Undertow” and W.E.B. Griffin’s “Honor of Spies.” You can reserve these books now by computer, by phone, or by seeing a staff member next time you visit the library.

New books and DVDs arrive weekly. We have wireless Internet access as well as public-use computers. You can even sign up for a free one hour session with a computer coach who will get you started.

The library is located at 10700 Russell Road NW in Pine Island Center. Swing by and see us when you can.