The vacation season is winding down but we have lots of events coming up at the library. The Lumberton Library will begin hosting a Chess Club Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. Players of every skill level are welcome. Playing chess improves your memory, helps you concentrate, trains your brain — and is a cool skill to have in life.

Play “Guess the Author” every week throughout the month of August. Come by the library and pick up an entry. Competitors can guess the New York Times bestselling author based on the first sentence they recognize from five of his or her books. Correct entries will be included in a weekly prize drawing. While you are visiting, check out a book by an author you have not read before.

Lisa Matthews will continue with craft programs on Thursdays at 4 p.m. She will be crafting bookmarks, bird nests and ribbon hangers this month. If you have an idea for a craft you would like to learn, send me an email and we will plan a session on your topic.

This year, the State Library has launched a statewide Community Needs Assessment pilot project funded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services. The Robeson County Public Library is one of eight libraries selected as a lead participant. The activities planned for this project will help us form a clear picture of current library use, the value people place on the library’s services, and steps the library can take to better meet our mission and goals. I am excited to be embarking on this process. Look for more information coming soon and ways that you can participate to strengthen our libraries throughout the county.

Catie Roche is the director of the Robeson County Public Library. You can reach her at croche@robesoncountylibrary.org. Catie is reading “The Snow Child” by Eowyn Ivey.