WELLSBURG — The Brooke County Public Library has announced its upcoming activities and events for the start of the new year. Anyone interested in attending any of the following activities is asked to contact the library to reserve a seat. Library officials can be reached by calling (304) 737-1551 or visiting the website brookecountylibs.org/events.

• The library will show the film “The Amateur,” at noon on Jan. 9. The movie, rated PG-13, focuses on a decoder whose supervisers at the CIA refuse to take action after his wife is killed in a London terrorist attack. The man decides to take matters into his own hands. Attendees are permitted to bring a lunch. Popcorn and water will be provided.

• Dungeons and Dragons classes are taking place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Tuesday. Library volunteers and game masters Daniel Melching and David Nixon will instruct the classes, which are open to students in middle school and high school. Particpants will discover how to create characters, battle evil creatures and save the day. The class is open to boys and girls, because according to library officials, sometimes the princess needs to save the day, as well. No experience or equipment is necessary. Gaming dice and note paper will be available. Registration is not required for this activity. For information or questions, contact Melching through e-mail at melching745@yahoo.com or through his Facebook page.

• An Evening Explore and Learn Storytime with Miss Kim will be held at 5 p.m. on Thursday. Children can enjoy hearing a story and take part in hands-on activities. Limited spaces are available. Call to register.

• Tai Chi Classes are being offered at 11 a.m. every Monday. Instructor Mike Turrentine will lead the class, which takes place in the library’s River Room. Tai Chi is a moving meditation in the form of a series of gentle exercises that create harmony between the mind and body. The weekly hour-long class is being offered free of charge. Attendees are asked to wear comfortable clothing. Registration is not required and those interested can stop in and participate. A class will not be held on Jan. 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

• Library patrons can receive a free Wowbrary e-mail alert to learn about the newest arrivals each week. Alerts feature the latest bestsellers, along with books, movies, music, audio books, children’s titles and cookbooks, along with other items purchased by the library.

According to library Director Alexandra Schneider, “People are truly amazed when they see in one place just how many great new titles we purchase each week, which they can reserve and borrow at no cost. And we cover all age groups and many diverse interests.”

Schneider said the alerts are a convenient and quick way to see what is new at the library — whether it has been checked out or not– at the Wellsburg and Follansbee locations.

Kim Harless, director of educational programs, stated, “It only takes a mouse click to see the newest arrivals appropriate for your child or teenager. There are separate sections and handy links for finding more items you may find interesting.”

Wowbrary alerts are free of charge and do not require a library card. Visit wowbrary.org to sign up or learn more. Curated lists are available online at brookecountylibs.org/readinglists.

• Family-friendly stories, jokes, music and poems are being offered by the library by calling (800) 581-5119. The phone call is free of charge, with a listing of selections found at brookecountylibs.org/dial-a-story.com. Selections change on a regular basis.

• Children under the age of 5 are eligible to receive a free book every month by mail through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program. The program is supported by Brooke County Public libraries, the Wellsburg Elks Lodge, Brooke-Hancock Family Resource Network, Marshall University’s June Harless Center and Brooke County Schools. Those interested in signing up can visit imaginationlibrary.com/check-availability.

• Parents are invited to enroll their preschool-aged children into the 1,000 Books before Kindergarten reading program. Participants will have parents record the books they read with them for a chance to receive a ready-for-school bag when the time comes for them to enter this chapter in their lives. Each child will be recognized on a wall at the library, with a sticker added each time he or she completes a level. To register for the free program or learn more, visit bcplwv.readsquared.com or call (304) 737-1551, Ext. 106.

• Teenagers and others who are preparing for testing through the state Department of Motor Vehicles for a driver’s permit or license can prepare online by visiting wellsburg.driving-tests.org/west-virginia. The site is unique as it allows users to hear selections read aloud, convert them to MP3, translate pages into other languages, magnify the text and mask portions of the screen for greater visibility.