“It was a beautiful bright autumn day, with air like cider and a sky so blue you could drown in it.” ~ Diana Gabaldon, Outlander

For most of us, September is our favorite time of the year, cooler weather, a time of transition, the fall equinox and the start of the harvest months. It may be a time to clean up and get organized for the holidays.

Do you have family photos, keepsakes, and treasures that you would like to organize but don't know where to start? The Waterford Public Library welcomes Sandra Wheeler, a professional organizer, on Thursday Sept. 5, at 6 p.m.; registration required.

On Thursday, Sept. 12, at 6:30 p.m. we welcome back local author and artist Pat Procko (formerly Kelbaugh). Pat eventually ran out of things to say in watercolor so her recent work became a contemporary, stylized figurative series called "REDHEADS!" and will be exhibited at the library during the month of September. We decided that a talk would be nice to go along with her exhibit so Pat will discuss her writing process and how her art and writing have melded over the years.

Join us for another presentation on artificial intelligence Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 6:30 p.m. AI Essentials: 2.0 will go deeper in what AI can do for you in your everyday life. Various apps and new technologies will be discussed. This is a virtual presentation so registration is required.

We are honored to have Dr. Peter Greenwald speak on “Cancer Prevention: From Research to Public Benefit,” on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 6:30 p.m. Dr. Greenwald was the first cancer prevention director at the National Cancer Institute who came in with an attitude that “prevention means doing something.” He attained the rank of rear admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and served as Assistant Surgeon General. Registration is required.

Robyn Mortiboys of Sono Kimono, and member of the Japan Society of Fairfield County, will be here to talk about “A Year in Kimono: The History of Kimono from its Origins to Modern Day Fashion” on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 2:30 p.m. Registration is required for this fun and interactive presentation.

All are invited to join us for an informal conversational group where you can practice speaking English in a supportive community of new language learners. Sessions continue through September on Thursdays beginning Sept. 12, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Virtual Author Talks are held starting Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 2 p.m. with bestselling author Garrett Graff, who will focus on his oral histories, “The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11” and “When the Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day”

On Wednesday, Sept. 18, at 2 p.m., author and philosopher Nate Klemp helps us explore pathways back to open minded living when he talks to us about the core tenets in his new book “Open: Living with an Expansive Mind in a Distracted World”; and Saturday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. we have mega-bestselling author Liane Moriarty talking about her newest novel “Here One Moment.”

Our Mystery Book and Friday Afternoon Book Clubs start up again in person in September and the Speculative Fiction Book Club continues virtually. Check our online calendar of events for dates, times and titles.

For the young ones: It's the start of another school year, and Ms. Janine is back with our first session of Sign and Sing on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 10:30 am. This program is recommended for ages birth through 5 to learn some basic signs with their caregiver; no registration required.

The library has gone to the dogs! All ages are welcome to come to the Children’s Room and read to Hodges on Tuesday, Sept. 10, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and read to Scout on Saturday, Sept. 14 from 10 to 11 a.m.; no registration required.

Sensory Saturdays are returning on Saturday, Sept. 21 from 1 to 3 p.m. This program creates an inclusive and welcoming environment for neurodivergent youth and their families. Stop by the meeting room for various activities and sensory stations led by Building Bridges Through Play. All ages are welcome; no registration required.

For tweens and teens: Join us in the Teen Area for a Drop-In Craft Night Thursday, Sept. 26 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and make air dry clay pumpkins to start off the fall season. For ages 12 to 18; no registration required.

Events are free and open to all. All programs, activities and details can be found on our website at www.waterfordpubliclibrary.org.

Jill Adams is director of adult services at Waterford Public Library.