Don’t you just love autumn? It feels like the beginning of the holiday season. People are decorating their homes with beautiful fall colors such as gold, orange and shades of brown. There are pumpkins all over the place. Some people are decorating for Halloween. You feel a certain festive atmosphere in the air.

The library has some events planned to get the children and teens in the festive holiday mood. On Oct. 24, we had the Pumply Dumply Pumpkin Patch Party where children decorated pumpkins to take home for their own yards.

We will have Alien Encounter at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Pembroke Library. I’ve been told to come if you dare! It is recommended for children ages 7 to 12 years.

The library is having a Teen Anime Scream Night from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Osterneck Auditorium. Teens must come in costume. There will be creepy cuisine, mummy wrap races, a costume contest and an alien autopsy. It is recommended for people 13 to 19 years old.

The library also has the story time schedule available from now until Dec. 18.

— 10 a.m. Monday in Pembroke

— 10 a.m. Tuesday in Fairmont

— 11 a.m. Wednesday in Maxton

— 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in Rowland

— 11 a.m. Thursday in Lumberton

— 10 a.m. Friday in St. Pauls.

Stories are appropriate for children 2 to 6 years old. The afternoon story time is geared toward children older than 6 years. Shelly does a great job keeping the children entertained with stories, songs and crafts.

Each week is a different theme. So, please let everyone you know, who has young children, that these story times are free and available each week at the various locations across the county. No sign ups are required. Just show up and be prepared to have some fun!

I would like to thank Two Guys Grille for holding a fund-raiser for the library. And, I would like to thank all of those who braved through the rain to come to Two Guys that evening in support of the library. Every bit helps and we appreciate every bit!

I would like to thank the following people for donating items to the library: Kathy Trimble, Robert Terrell, J.B. Townsend, Philip Cardace and Max Starke.

I would also like to thank Lumber River Trading True Value Hardware and Al Locklear for donating items to the library for children programs.

The following authors generously donated books to the library: Annabelle Corrick Beach; Toni Blake; Karna Small Bodman; James Noles Jr.; Mary Devine; J. Hiller; Robin Lee Hatcher; S. Nienkark; Leanna Renee Hieber; and Eric Carle. The following publishers also sent boxes of books to the library free of charge: Night Shade Books, ABDO Group and Midnight Marquee Press.

— Tina Stepp is the director of the Robeson County Public Library and can be reached at (910) 738-4859 or tstepp@robesoncountylibrary.org