“A goal without a plan is just a wish,” said the French writer, Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Do you dream of starting a business, improving your employable skills or learning a new language? Maybe you want to spend more meaningful time with loved ones or volunteer for a worthy cause.

If you’ve dreamt of enriching your life in some way, what is stopping you?

If time, money, experience or just the overwhelming feeling of not knowing where to start is keeping you from taking a step toward your goal, start your journey at the library. That’s right, just come on in and tell whoever is working at the Information Desk what you want to do. Sometimes it helps just to tell someone about your goal or to have someone to bounce ideas off of. Library staff can do that and so much more. As soon as you tell them what you hope to accomplish, they will reach into the big bag of library tricks and pull out resources to get you on your way. Now, I am not saying that library resources will necessarily provide everything you need to achieve your goals, but they can play a pivotal role in helping you to decide if and how you will proceed. In many instances, you may be surprised to learn that the library does have everything you need.

For example, 3D printing classes and Microsoft Imagine Academy courses can help you to determine if your budding interest in coding or administration is worth pursuing. If you like what you are learning, you can become proficient enough to add the skills to your resume, even becoming certified as is the case with Microsoft Imagine Academy. Due to space constraints, the library is currently limited in what we can offer in the way of experience-based learning opportunities and certification programs, but the remodel and expansion of the Sandpoint branch will allow us to add more equipment and opportunities. Library trustees are visiting local companies to identify skills needed for jobs in demand so that we can potentially include them in our experience-based learning programs when the remodel and expansion is complete.

That is just one area that the library may be able to help you attain your personal goals. If you are dreaming of attaining some of the other items mentioned at the outset, stop in and chat with our knowledgeable reference staff to find out how library resources can help you turn a wish into a goal.

Visit the Sandpoint and Clark Fork branch libraries, the Bookmobile and ebonnerlibrary.org for resources that inform and inspire. The following classes and events take place at the Sandpoint Branch, 1407 Cedar, unless otherwise indicated.

• Saturday, Aug. 13 — Computer class on library’s online educational resources, 8:15 a.m. sharp. Learn more about online resources available through the library’s website. Preregistration required; call 263-6930.

• Saturday, Aug. 13 — Live Farm Animals for Kids, 2 p.m. Meet and learn about life on the farm. Event held at the East Bonner County Library District’s Clark Fork branch, 601 Main St.

• Monday, Aug. 15 — Fifties Fun, 10:30 a.m.. Kids and families get moving with Summer Reading at the East Bonner County Library District’s Sandpoint branch, 1407 Cedar St. For more information contact Suzanne at 263-6930, ext. 1211.

• Tuesday, Aug. 16 — Mother Goose; canceled.

• Tuesday, Aug. 16 — Preschool Storytime; canceled.

• Tuesday, Aug. 16 — Make it at the Library, 2 p.m. Teens, kids and families create with robotics, Arduinos, needlework, Legos and other projects.

• Wednesday, Aug. 17 — Clark Fork Stories and More, 10:30 a.m., East Bonner County Library Clark Fork branch. Stories, crafts, prizes and snacks for kids ages 3-8.

• Wednesday, Aug. 17 — Make it at the Library (CF), 2 p.m. East Bonner County Library Clark Fork branch, 601 Main St. Kids make a variety of age appropriate crafts.

• Wednesday, Aug. 17 — Escape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, 2 p.m. A fun book club discussion for fourth- through sixth-graders and their parents.

• Wednesday, Aug. 17 — End of teen summer reading party, 7 p.m. Games, pizza and prizes for teens who participated in the Summer Reading challenge. At the East Bonner County Library District’s Clark Fork branch, 601 Main St.

• Thursday, Aug. 18 — Extreme science/ final drawing, 2:30 p.m. Radical Rick does awesome science. Explosions? Yes … if you’re lucky! Followed by the end of Summer Reading grand prize drawing. At the East Bonner County Library District’s Clark Fork branch, 601 Main St.

• Thursday, Aug. 18 — Radical Rick, 6 p.m.; super fun science show for kids and families. For more information, contact Suzanne at 263-6930, ext. 1211.

• Thursday, Aug. 18 — End of teen summer reading pizza party, 8 p.m. Party is for teens who turned in reading logs over the summer. Come see if you won that shiny set of books you’ve been eyeing all summer long! Info: Morgan, 263-6930, ext. 1245.

• Saturday, Aug. 20 — Beginner computer class on Microsoft Word basics, 8:15 a.m. sharp. Learn to create professional looking resumes, letters and other documents. Preregistration required; call 263-6930.

• Saturday, Aug. 20 — Finally Home! workshop, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Understand the home buying process from start to finish. Workshop conducted by the Bonner Community Housing Agency. Pre-registration required; call 263-6930.

• StoryWalk — Visit Farmin, Kootenai and Northside elementary schools and Clark Fork Jr./Sr. High for family friendly fun with literacy and health benefits. StoryWalk is a community partnership between the East Bonner County Library District and Kaniksu Land Trust.