COEUR d'ALENE - High school student and library teen volunteer Caitlin Klaeui has a passion for creative writing. So much so, that she has decided to develop a series of creative writing programs for middle-school students as part of a leadership and service component required by her school.

And what better place to introduce the ideas of creative writing than at the library, where the great literary works of the world are gathered in one place?

Klaeui will be working with Young Adult Coordinator Laura Jenkins to bring the program series to the Coeur d'Alene Public Library in January.

Four sessions will be offered, and will give children ages 10 to 14 the chance to learn about the elements of short-story writing through fun activities, to share their writing, and to peer edit one another's stories, all with the goal of creating a final short story project to be printed out for each participant at the end of the program series.

Aspiring young authors are welcome to use their writing projects in the 26th annual Coeur d'Alene Library Writers Competition, which will begin accepting submissions in February.

Creative Writing Club sessions will begin Jan. 10, from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Gozzer Room of the library, and will take place every following Friday in January. Registration is not required.

For more information, contact Jenkins at ljenkins@cdalibrary.org, or by phone 208-769-2315, ext. 469.

Other January Young Adult programs will include:

* Teen Book Club: Jan. 13 and 27, 4 p.m., Gozzer Room.

* What's Next? Night: College 101 Jan. 9, 6-7 p.m., Gozzer Room.

* Teens Craft: PostSecret Cards Jan. 16, 4 p.m., Gozzer Room.

* Teen Movie Matinee: "The Help," PG-13 Jan. 18, 1 p.m., Gozzer Room.

* Teen Video Game: Free play Jan. 23, 4 p.m., Gozzer Room.

* Board Game Bonanza: Jan. 30, 4 p.m., Gozzer Room.