ST. LUCIE COUNTY – Got a new piece of technology over the holidays? Visit your local St. Lucie County library branch to learn all about it and how to use it to its fullest extent. Don't let that complicated new gadget gather dust. Instead, bring it to the library for personalized assistance designed to demystify the technology and give you the confidence to connect, browse, and create with ease.

Classes for January include:

• iPhone Basics on Tuesday, Jan. 6 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Kilmer Branch. New iPhone for the holiday? Learn some tips and tricks to make your iPhone work for you. This class is for beginner users who have little experience with iPhones and Apple products.
  
  
• Email Basics on Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 2:30 p.m. at the Lewis Branch. Learn about email basics and terms, so you can clean up your mailbox for good.
  
  
• Drop-in Tech Help on Wednesdays, Jan. 7, 14, 21 and 28 at 3 p.m. at the Hurston Branch. Bring your questions and devices for one-on-one help. Learn how to read books online, download audiobooks, navigate your email account or practice with a library computer. No appointment necessary.
  
  
• Library Resources on Friday, Jan. 9 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Lakewood Park Branch. Find out all the fun and free resources available with your library card.
  
  
• Cybersecurity Basics on Friday, Jan. 9 at 2 p.m. at the Pruitt Campus Library. Learn the basics of protecting your identity online.
  
  
• Computer Basics on Friday, Jan. 9 at 3 p.m. at the Hurston Branch. Learn how to turn a computer on/off, use a mouse, what cursor icons mean on the screen and more. Recommended for technology beginners.
  
  
• Virtual Reality Experience on Saturday, Jan. 10 from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Lakewood Park Branch. Immerse yourself in a 3-D world. All ages welcome. Children under 13 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
  
  
• Eight Ways to Sell Stuff Locally on Saturday, Jan. 10 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Morningside Branch. Have unused items that could easily find a new home? Want to generate a little extra cash? This interactive session will explore eight popular methods to sell locally, including online marketplaces, community apps, consignment options, and local events. Please bring a laptop, tablet or smartphone. Leave with the knowledge and confidence to start selling right away.
  
  
• Cable vs. Streaming on Tuesday, Jan. 13 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Kilmer Branch. Want to ditch cable? We’ll talk about some of the streaming services that are popular and can be accessed with your Wi-Fi at home.
  
  
• Introduction to Arduino on Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 2:30 p.m. at the Lewis Branch. Using simple electronics and coding, we’ll use an Arduino microcontroller to make a prototype of a motion detector. All supplies provided. Program recommended for ages 16 and older.
  
  
• Android Basics on Thursday, Jan. 15 at 2:30 p.m. at the Morningside Branch. If you’re new to Android phones, then this class is for you. Learn all about Android’s basic features and functions.
  
  
• Computer Basics on Friday, Jan. 16 at 2 p.m. at the Pruitt Campus Library. Navigate the digital world with confidence. Join us for computer basics, including hardware, software, internet browsing and email management. Ideal for beginners or those looking to refresh their skills.
  
  
• Intro to Computers: A Beginner’s Guide on Saturday, Jan. 17 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Morningside Branch. Participants will learn the fundamentals of computer use, including understanding hardware parts, navigating the desktop, using a mouse and keyboard, opening applications, and safely browsing the internet. The session provides hands-on guidance in a relaxed, supportive environment.
  
  
• Phone Photography on Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 2:30 p.m. at the Lewis Branch. Ditch your dark and blurry photos. Learn your camera photo app inside and out and begin taking better pictures.
  
  
• Internet Basics on Friday, Jan. 23 at 2 p.m. at the Pruitt Campus Library. Learn the basics of internet browsers, searching for information on the web and more.
  
  
• Using the Internet on Friday, Jan. 23 at 3 p.m. at the Hurston Branch. Navigate the online world with confidence. Learn to use internet browsers, search engines, YouTube and quick tips to tell if you’re on a secure website.
  
  
• Virtual Reality on Saturday, Jan. 24 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Morningside Branch. Take this chance to use VR goggles and step into a virtual world. Choose from popular games like “Beat Saber” and “Epic Roller Coasters.” Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
  
  
• Android Basics on Tuesday, Jan. 27 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Kilmer Branch. New devices can be tricky. If you are new to Android or just want to freshen up your skills, this class is for you. This is a beginner class for users who have little experience with Android devices.
  
  
• Microsoft Excel Basics on Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 2:30 p.m. at the Lewis Branch. Learn the fundamentals of Excel’s spreadsheet creation. Let Excel do the math for you.
  
  
• iOS/Apple Basics on Friday, Jan. 30 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Pruitt Campus Library. Learn the ins and outs of your Apple device and discover all it can do.
  
  
• AI Made Easy: Get to Know Siri and Gemini on Saturday, Jan. 31 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Morningside Branch. Beginner-friendly introduction to voice and generative AI tools available on smartphones. Discover how to use Siri and Gemini for reminders, questions, directions, messages and more while learning about safety, privacy and accessibility features.

All of these events are free. St. Lucie County Libraries are located at:

• Susan B. Kilmer Branch, 101 Melody Lane, Fort Pierce / 772-462-1615
• Lakewood Park Branch, 7605 Santa Barbara Drive, Fort Pierce / 772-462-6870
• Zora Neale Hurston Branch, 3008 Avenue D, Fort Pierce / 772-462-2154
• Morningside Branch, 2410 SE Morningside Blvd., Port St. Lucie / 772-337-5632
• Paula A. Lewis Branch, 2950 SW Rosser Blvd., Port St. Lucie / 772-871-5470
• Indian River State College’s Pruitt Campus, 500 NW California Blvd., Port St. Lucie / 772-336-6380

HOLIDAY CLOSURES:

All branches of the library will be closed on Thursday, Jan. 1 and Friday, Jan. 2 for New Year’s Day and Monday, Jan. 19 in observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

Additional information can be found at the St. Lucie County Library site.