Dear Readers,

Happy March to all!

In partnership with Appalachian State University's Belk Library, we are promoting the NC Reads’ State Wide Book Club.

North Carolina Reads features five books that explore issues of racial, social, and gender equality and the history and culture of North Carolina.

Click here for more information.



By clicking on the QR code from the page linked above, you can participate in the program and learn about virtual author talks and possibly receive a free copy of one or more of the titles. The Watauga County Public Library will also have copies, and holds can be placed through NC Cardinal.

The upcoming Banff festival at Appstate will feature a literary event with author Katie Ives, who will speak on Apr 1 at 2 pm at the Schaefer Center for free. Ives is the author of “Imaginary Peaks:The Riesenstein Hoax and Other Mountain Dreams"; reserve a copy to check out from Watauga County Public Library here.



On another note, we are still looking for people to advocate for a Library expansion. There are a number of ways to do this. If you are interested, please feel free to call me at 264-8784, X 4.

~ Monica Caruso

County Librarian

Story times include songs, books, and activities!

Check out the Appalachian Regional Library Literacy Resources YouTube channel for virtual library story times.

Enjoy Storywalk® at the Tot Lot!

Storywalk® is an outdoor reading experience.

Located at the Watauga County Recreation Complex

141 Complex Drive, Boone, NC 28607

LEGO Club

Tuesday, March 28

3:30-4:30 OR 4:30-5:30 PM

For Grades K-5

Come build a LEGO creation!

Choose one of our two available time slots for your LEGO visit!

Read Across America Day

Thursday, March 2

11:00 AM

Story time with a Dr. Seuss twist!

Family Button Tree

Saturday, March 25 3:00-5:00 PM

Make a family tree together--with buttons!

This is a drop-in family craft. Come by any time between 3-5 PM to make your tree!

Registration Required

Call (828) 264-8784, ext. 3, or email acombs@arlibrary.org to register!

STEM Stories: An Unusual Un-Apple Pie

Wednesday, March 18 3:30-4:30 PM

We'll read Marjorie Priceman's How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World before we make apple pie moon sand!

For Grades K-5

Registration Required

Call (828) 264-8784, ext. 3, or email acombs@arlibrary.org to register!

Teen Action Group will not be meeting this month.

More Adult Programs

North Carolina Legal Aid

Free Social Security Disability Clinic

Thursday, March 2

Free Criminal Record Expungement Clinic

Tuesday, March 7

All clinics are online! For a full list of clinics and to register, click here.

NC Reads' State-Wide Book Club

In partnership with Appstate, join NC Humanities for an interactive panel discussion examining themes from the North Carolina Reads selection, Game Changers: Dean Smith, Charlie Scott, and the Era that Transformed a Southern College Town. This panel will explore how Dean Smith and Charlie Scott transformed a university, a community, and the racial landscape of the sports in the South. This event features author Art Chansky and Dr. Matt Andrews in a conversation moderated by NC Humanities Board Trustee Brian Kahn.

Monday, March 27th,

6:30 pm

To register for this event, click here. For more information, click here.

The Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series

 Novelist Jessie van Eerden and Poet Thorpe Moeckel

Thursday, March 2

Reading 6-7:30 pm

     Craft Talk TBD

Plemmons Student Union 201B Table Rock Room

For more information, click here.

AARP Featured Online Events

~all times are Eastern Time~

Daily Ways to Save

Wednesday, March 8th

10:30 AM

Celeste Collins, from OnTrack Financial Education and Counseling will join Gretchen Batra, AARP NC volunteer, to reveal tips for some simple - and some not so simple - ways to save.

Living Successfully with Hearing Loss: Tools to be Successful in My Daily Roles

Thursday, March 16th

10:00 AM

Join hearing-loss experts and others who are experiencing hearing loss to learn about various levels of hearing loss and the tools available to help us to succeed.

Never Too Old to Publish

Thursday, March 16th

2:00 PM

Have you had a dream of becoming a writer for years, perhaps decades? TEDx presenter and western North Carolina author Maggie Wallem Rowe believes the years behind you have been preparing you for the best work ahead of you.

Living Successfully with Hearing Loss: Tips to Manage Your Healthcare

Thursday, March 30th

10:00 AM

Participants will learn about the correlation between aging and hearing loss, the ADA regulations that support people with hearing loss, and the types of accommodations available including programs to support effective communication in healthcare settings.

More AARP Mountain Region events available here.

Join Donna Breitenstein's

Spring Wreath Workshop and construct a beautiful spring wreath to take home just in time for the season!

Wednesday, March 8th

3:00-5:00 PM.

Call Adult Services at 828 264 8784 ext. 2 to register, or just stop by the Adult Service Desk.

Limit of 12 participants, so hurry and register now!

(Suggested $10.00 donation for supplies.)

The Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series, the The Schaefer Center Presents, and Appalachian Journal present the Spring 2023 Season

Thursday, March 2: Novelist Jessie van Eerden and Poet Thorpe Moeckel

Reading: 6-7:30 pm

Craft Talk: 2-3:15 pm

Plemmons Student Union 201B Table Rock Room

Thursday, March 23: Poet Ricardo Nazario-Colón 

2023 Juanita Tobin Memorial Reading

Reading: 6-7:15 pm

Craft Talk: 3:30-4:45 pm

Plemmons Student Union 201B Table Rock Room

Thursday, April 20: Past US Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey 

Co-Sponsored by The Schaefer Center Presents

Reading and Book Signing: 6-7:30 pm

Plemmons Student Union 201 AB Blue Ridge Ballroom

Thursday, April 27: Poets Nickole Brown and Jessica Jacobs

Reading: 6-7:30 pm

Craft Talk: 3:30-4:45 pm

Plemmons Student Union 201B Table Rock Room

English as a Second Language Classes

February 1 - April 5 (Wednesdays)

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Alliance Bible Fellowship

1035 NC Highway 105 Bypass

To register and for more information, write or call:

(828) 278-9302

info@ichighcountry.org

Meet Justin Daly!

Hey folks, I'm Justin Daly, the new Adult Services specialist at the public library. As a Boone native and longtime library patron, I'm excited to give back to the library and community. My favorite novel is A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court and my favorite film is Blindspotting. I'm a huge history nerd and also love video games and superhero comics. Come and see me at the Adult Services desk if you need a hand, or if you just want my opinion on anything - be it tangible or silly.

The Next Chapter Book Club is for adults and young adults with developmental disabilities. The discussion group provides a connection to books, friends, and community. We are currently reading The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner. To attend via Zoom, please contact Adult Services at (828) 264-8784 ext. 2.

With the exception of the second Wednesday of the month, the group meets Wednesdays at 2:30 pm

Book Bunch Book Club

Book Bunch will discuss Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout on

Tuesday, March 28th at 1:30 pm.

Please stop by the Adult Services desk for a copy of the book and a list of upcoming books the group plans to read.

Cook the Books Book Club

Cook the Books will discuss A Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler on Tuesday, March 14

at 3:00 pm.

Family Support Group

meeting virtually on

Monday, March 13 at 7:00 pm.

Please contact Mike Tanner if you would like to join this meeting. For more information click here.

FREE Language Acquisition Classes

"Spanish for Medical Professionals" online and self-paced. For more information or to register, contact Ariana Williamson with Wilkes Recovery Revolution, Inc.

VAYA Health Training

Facing the Emotional Challenges of Chronic Illness

Receiving a chronic illness diagnosis can produce a range of emotional responses. In this training, we will explore the physical and mental impact of these conditions. Understanding can help us remain proactive, be resilient and promote better outcomes.

Thursday, March 2

10:00 am

To register, click here.

Enriching Mental Health with Complementary Treatments: Color, Music, and Nutrition

This course covers a variety of complementary treatments for overall mental health that can support managing everyday stressors and improving wellness. These treatments can create opportunities for balance, stability, and stress reduction. The main topics of this course will be Color, Music, and Nutrition.

Thursday, March 16

10:00 am

To register, click here.

Bilingual Introduction to Homeownership Series

This bilingual homeownership series will take place on Thursdays at 5:30 pm in the Library's meeting room at 140 Queen Street in Boone. Dinner will be provided. Please RSVP with Monica Caruso at mcaruso@arlibrary.org or 828-264-8784, ext. 4. Zoom option is available. Iris Straube will translate.

Esta serie bilingüe sobre la compra de vivienda se llevará a cabo los jueves a las 5:30 pm en la sala de reuniones de la Biblioteca en 140 Queen Street en Boone. Se servirá la cena. Confirme su asistencia con Monica Caruso en mcaruso@arlibrary.org o 828-264-8784, X 4. Se puede asistir por zoom. Iris Straube traducirá.

For more information, click here.

Free Webinars

Resumes and Job Applications

Wednesday, March 8

10:00 AM

Interviewing

Thursday, March 16

10:00 AM

Expungement

Tuesday, March 21

10:00 AM

Call your local NC Works Center to register (828) 265-5385 

Address: 130 Poplar Grove Road Connector, Boone, NC 28607

COVID-19 Tests Available at Library

Thanks to AppHealthCare, we now have COVID-19 home tests available for the public at both locations..

Limit of 10 tests per family, please. Each box has two tests.

Please do not come in to pick up tests if you have COVID-19 symptoms and/or are not feeling well. Just give us a call, and we will bring tests to the bench outside the library doors for you to pick up. Thank you!

Save the Date!

After a short hiatus, Repair Hub will be returning to the library on Tuesday, April 4th from 4:00 to 6:00 PM! If you have broken or torn items around your house, bring them to the Repair Hub pop-up rather than throwing them out!

Do you want to write an email, use a tablet, or have another tech question on your mind? The reference department is here to help. Library & Information Science graduate student Troy Brooks will be providing assistance with technology Thursdays & Saturdays

9:30 am - 1:30 am

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Surviving and Thriving Caregiver Support Group

Blue Cross NC Institute for Health and Human Services Leon Levine Hall, 1179 State Farm Road

Mondays (February 6 - April 24)

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

RSVP (828) 262-6628

RSVP strongme@appstate.edu

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The Mind Body Connection

Thursdays (February 9 - April 13)

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

IHHS Interprofessional Clinic

Leon Levine Hall

1179 State Farm Road

RSVP (828) 262-6628

RSVP strongme@appstate.edu

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Stroke and TBI Support Group

First Wednesday of every month

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Leon Levine Hall, 1179 State Farm Road IHHS Interprofessional Clinic

For more information call/ email

(828) 262-6628

strongme@appstate.edu

High Country Writers

Hey Writers!

High Country Writers will be meeting in-person once again in the Watauga County Library meeting room with a virtual option available! Join us on Thursday, March 9 at 10:00 AM for a visiting writer speaker.

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