Dear Readers,

Happy May to all!

We have created a web page for all things related to the Library expansion.

See the page here.

The county budget will be approved in June.

If you would like to advocate for county support for the expansion and/or the Library in general, the public hearing will be Tuesday, May 16 at 5:30 pm at the County Admin Building located at 814 West King Street in downtown Boone.

It would be great to have the community support!

Click here to sign a petition in support of expansion

~ Monica Caruso

County Librarian

Western Watauga Branch Summer Reading Program begins June 5!

Story times include songs, books, and activities!

Free Comic Book Day at the Library

Saturday, May 6th

Come by the library all day Saturday to pick up some free comics and prizes while supplies last! First come, first served. One comic per child.

LEGO Club

Tuesday, May 16

4:00 PM

Come and build with us!

A Visit from the Children's Council

Thursday, May 11

12:30 PM

Join us after Storytime to learn more about what the Children's Council is up to, including their Parents As Teachers program!

Pizza Party Poetry Workshop for Teens and Preteens

Thursday, May 25

4:00 PM

Join us for pizza and poetry writing! Learn how to write poetry and get your creative juices flowing!

We've prepared a new scavenger hunt at the library!

Make your mark! Contribute to our new collaborative bulletin board!

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

News from the Circulation Desk

Watch this space each month for new statistics on book loans from the folks at the circulation desk!

More Adult Programs

North Carolina Legal Aid

Free Social Security Disability Listen & Learn

Thursday, May 4

2:30 PM

Free Child Custody Listen & Learn

Tuesday, May 9

2:30 PM

Free Medicaid Rights Listen & Learn

Friday, May 26

12:00 PM

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

NC Reads' State-Wide Book Club

Join NC Humanities for an interactive panel discussion examining themes from the North Carolina Reads selection, Under a Gilded Moon by Joy Jordan-Lake. This panel will explore themes of wealth, poverty, corruption, and family obligations during the Gilded Age. This event features author Joy Jordan-Lake and Dr. Jennifer Le Zotte in a conversation moderated by NC Humanities Board Trustee Mike Wakeford.

Tuesday, May 23rd,

6:30 pm

Register for the free book club event here.

For more information, click here.

AARP Featured Online Events

~all times are Eastern Time~

Rainbow Inspirations: Meet Ron Watson

Wednesday, May 3

12:00 PM

During this series of chats from the LGBTQ community, we’ve heard from local leaders and influencers who have left us feeling inspired. This May, meet Ron Watson, a lending partner who helps transform the dream of home ownership into a reality. Ron has a second career as a volunteer! He enjoys making the community a brighter place by sharing his good vibes volunteering with the YMCA, Haywood Street Respite, AARP and several other community organizations. Meet Ron and be inspired to be your best self!

Series: Profiles in Creative Aging: Art for Personal Reflection

Wednesdays, May 3, May 10, May 17, May 24, May 31, and June 7

11:00 AM

In this series, you'll learn about the works of influential American artists and reflect on your own life, sparked by their art. A fresh and fun lens through which to conduct a "life review," the life and works of these artists serve as a vehicle for learning about ourselves and inspiration for our own creative choices as elders.

Recognize & Guard Against New Scams

Thursday, May 18

7:00 PM

Fraud is on the rise, and today's criminals are more sophisticated than ever. They continue to hone their tactics for stealing identities, money, and more. Being aware of how criminals operate is your most effective defense. In this free webinar from AARP, we'll help get you up to speed on some common scams and how to detect them before it's too late. Some are new, some have evolved, but all can cause significant financial and emotional hardship for victims and their families.

Year of the Trail event: "Take a Hike!" at the Middle Fork Greenway

Friday, June 2

5:00 PM

We mean it! Come celebrate NC's Year of the Trail and take a walk with your fellow AARP members in the High Country. We will take an easy two mile walk on the Middle Fork Greenway led by The Greenway Director, Wendy Patoprsty, of the Blue Ridge Conservancy. Get some exercise, learn about the Greenway, and re-convene afterwards to socialize at a local brewery. Limited to first 20 registrants.

More AARP Mountain Region events available here.

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The New Normal Stroke, TBI, & Movement Disorders 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

Third Thursday Job Fair

Come by the Watauga NCWorks Career Center at 130 Poplar Grove Connector to meet with prospective employers! Come dressed appropriately and bring your resume.

11:00 AM-2:00 PM

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

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

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: Mystery Ranch 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 1 pm

Book Bunch Book Club

Book Bunch will discuss The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz on

Tuesday, May 30th 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 The Lost Man by Jane Harper on Tuesday, May 9 at 3:00 pm.

Photo courtesy of Digital Watauga, Paul Armfield Coffey Collection.

Animals of Digital Watauga

Digital Watauga will have an exhibit for the month of May in the Mazie Jones Gallery at the Jones House, starting May 5th. To celebrate National Pet Month, the exhibit will feature local historical photographs of animals. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Watauga County Humane Society. Digital Watauga will host a talk about the exhibit at its opening on Friday, May 5th at 5:00 PM.

Yoga for Every Body

On the first four Wednesdays in May, the library will offer a chair yoga class taught by certified yoga instructor Catherine Fannon. This accessible and inclusive yoga instruction will focus on improving mobility, reducing stress, and finding more connection to oneself. These classes are designed for adults and young adults over the age of 11. The first class in the series will meet on Wednesday, May 3rd from 10 AM to 12 PM, with the following three classes meeting for one hour, from 10 AM to 11 AM. The class is limited to 15 participants, so please call the library Adult Services Desk at 828 264 8784 ext. 2 to sign up.

Diagnostic Days

In partnership with the High Country Council of Governments, Appalachian State University’s Technology Support Center will be providing tech support and consulting regarding software, viruses, PCs and Macs, tablets, and reformatting.

Monday, May 22 and Tuesday, May 23 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM at the Watauga County Public Library

The Seed Library is seeking volunteers! We desperately need help packing seeds for the Seed Library. No gardening experience is needed. For more information, stop by the library or email Jenna at jkissel@arlibrary.org.

Friends of the Library Book Sale

The Friends of the Library will be holding their annual book sale in early June. Stop by to buy some books for your collection and to support the library!

Friends members only:

Thursday, June 1 4:00 PM-6:00 PM

Open to the public:

Friday, June 2 1:00 PM-7:00 PM and Saturday, June 3 10:00 AM-3:00 PM

Repair Hub

will be returning to the library on Saturday, May 13th from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM! If you have broken or torn items around your house, bring them to the Repair Hub pop-up rather than throwing them out!

The American Red Cross will be holding a Blood Drive in the library meeting room

Friday, May 5

10:00 AM-2:30 PM



To make an appointment, please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code: Watauga County Library.

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, May 11 at 10:00 AM for a visiting writer speaker and on Thursday, May 25 at 10:00 AM for a critique session.

Save the Date!

Summer Wreath Workshop

Construct a beautiful summer wreath for the coming season or for Independence Day!

Saturday, June 10

10:00 AM

Call Adult Services at (828)264-8784 ext. 2 to register! Limit of 12 participants!

Adult Services Expo

The Adult Services Coalition of Watauga County has organized an expo at the Watauga Community Rec Center to inform attendees about services available in our community. The Watauga County Public Library's Adult Services department will have a booth! Door prizes will be awarded.

Big Brose Family BBQ and Little Wing Ice Cream will be there.

Thursday, May 4

9:00 AM-2:00 PM

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!

Overdrive is offering free monthly webinars on using Libby, their library reading app. Learn how to access our library’s digital collection of ebooks, audiobooks and more. These webinars are great for new digital users or those making the switch from OverDrive to Libby. May's session is on Wednesday, May 17, at 2:00 PM. Click here to register for it or any upcoming session!

NAMI Family Support Group

Meeting virtually on

Monday, May 8 at 7:00 pm.

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

NAMI Connection Recovery Support Groups

Meeting virtually on Tuesday, May 23 at 6:00 PM. For zoom link please contact Caleb Robleto.

For a full list of online programs from NAMI affiliates, please visit NAMI's North Carolina calendar.

VAYA Health Training

Facing Substance Use and Misuse in Your World

Substance use is a reality in every community. Possibly you or someone in your life has been impacted by the challenges of substance use and addiction. This course identifies common substances, addiction development, and their impact on families and communities. The focus is on the older adult population regarding identification, safety, treatment, and recovery.

Thursday, May 4

10:00 AM

To register, click here.

Living with Anxiety: Medications that Help

Everyone experiences anxiety at some point. When excessive, it can negatively impact one's quality of life. This course will explore medications used to treat anxiety, specifically in the aging population. Also explored will be effective therapies and potential medication side effects.

Friday, May 12

10:00 AM

To register, click here.

PTSD: Healing the Emotional Wound

When trauma occurs, it can have lasting effects on the person who experiences it and their caregiver. This presentation defines PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and reviews the impact of trauma. Highlighted are treatment options and self-care strategies related to older adults.

Thursday, May 18

10:00 AM

To register, click here.

OCD: Thought-Behavior Cycle

When intrusive thoughts create increased anxiety and overwhelming emotion, it can lead to compulsive behavior. This thought-behavior cycle can be overpowering to individuals, negatively affecting one's ability to function in daily life. This class focuses on obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms and evidence-based treatment options.

Saturday, May 27

1:30 PM

To register, click here.

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