June 2, 2020
Dear Patrons,
This summer, reading will be more important than ever due to schools and libraries having been closed the last couple of months. As I write this the library has Curbside Service available. We will continue to offer this service once we open to the public, with restrictions for everyone's safety.

Holds may now be placed on items in our region as well as at some participating libraries via NC Cardinal. We will continue to quarantine books returned and also those coming in from other libraries for three days before checking them in and/or capturing holds. Please be patient with us as we transition to a new way of working. All items checked out while we are closed to the public are due June 30 unless there is a July due date on the slip.

For now, we are preparing for the Summer Reading program which you can read about below. Summer Reading starts on June 15. We are unable to host the Volunteer for Income Tax Assistance program in June. One may file free income tax returns through



T ake care everyone,

Monica Caruso
County Librarian
Curbside Service
Watauga County Public Library in Boone:
Tues Wed Fri & Sat: 10 am - 3 pm
Thursday: 1 pm - 6 pm

Western Watauga Branch in Sugar Grove:
Mon & Wed 10 am - 3 pm

Please do not use this service if you are feeling sick in any way. Thank you!
Summer Reading -- A New Look
Imagine Your Story Starts Monday June 15
Hey Families,
Summer reading is going to look a little different this year, but we are going to do our best to help you and your family engage in reading over the summer, so please be patient with us. For the month of June, we will have no in-house programs at the library, but check us out on the Watauga Library's Facebook page or the Youth Services page for some possible online programs.
We will still have reading logs and prizes!
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Pick up your reading log at the Summer Reading pick up station in front of the library. and remember Imagine Your Story will start on Monday, June 15, but you can come anytime we are open the week of June 15 to pick up your log. Weekly Make and Take craft kits will also be provided at the library for easy pick up. We have really missed you! If you have any questions, please call us at (828) 264-8784 ext. 3.
Summer Reading Programs Start June 15
Check Us Out on Watauga Library & the Youth Service Page on Facebook *
More to Come
Monday: Facebook stories with Ms. Lisa
Wednesday: Facebook stories with Ms. Leena
Thursday: Facebook Tinkering with Zack
Friday: Facebook Baby & Tot Time



Book Scavenger Hunt ~ Look for Directions and Clues on Facebook
   
   Week of June 15th * Once Upon a Time
Take & Make Craft: Popsicle Stick Catapults
Fairies & Dragons Scavenger Hunt on Front Lawn
Twisting Tales with Jeff Robbins on Facebook
June 17th Stories with Aunt Katie on Facebook

Week of June 22nd * Once Upon a Time
Take & Make: Mystery Art Scraps
Story Starters on the Windows of the Library “What Can You Imagine?”

Week of June 29 * Heroes and Villains
Take & Make: Chenille Fairies and Warriors
Squirt Gun Villains on the Library Lawn

Week of July 6th * Timeless Tales
Take & Make: Circle Weavers

Week of July 13 * Witches or Wizards
Take & Make: Magic Wands
Virtual Escape Room: Harry Potter

Week of July 20th * Magical Journeys
Take & Make: Potion Bags
Gems to Go with the Schiele Museum *
Please Sign Up * 1, 1:30 & 2pm
(Limited number of participants.)

Week of July 27th * Enchanted Forest
Take & Make: Owl Craft


Summer Reading Guidelines * June 15 th to August 1st
Read or listen to any books that interests you. The materials can be from any library or your own collection. When you complete 100 minutes you get a prize. When you turn in your finished log you’ll be entered into a raffle for the chance to win a grand prize, so please return your log. The first day to pick up a prize is June 19th. The summer reading program ends August 1st.
KIDS & TEENS: Return your reading log to the Youth Services Department or in the book drop.

For more info call the Youth Department at 828-264-8784 ext. 3
Western Watauga Summer Reading
Western Watauga Library
June 15th to August 1st

Thank you Friends of Western Watauga Library for your financial support!

For more information please call 828-297-5515
Virtual and Outside Programs
We are in the process of working on additional program options- stay tuned!
Weekly themed pick-up-and-go bags! Summer reading info will be added to each bag.

Preschool - 5th grade
For every 2 hours of reading each week, kids can draw a prize! 

6 th grade and up
Read a book, turn in a book review, and be eligible for gift cards to local businesses.

WEEK OF JUNE 15th
For the week of June 15th Western Watauga Library will be hosting Big Bang Boom on Facebook.
Big Bang Boom is a high energy, toe tapping, kid rocking band sure to entertain.

JUNE 15- Insecta- Insects – BUGS- Safari hats, bug nets, insect guide, fun activities for entire family!

JUNE 18 th - Outreach Library Stop- Food Lion Parking Lot in Deep Gap 10:00-11:00am!

JUNE 22- Magic Week Jeff Robbins all week, twisting a mountain tale with song! (Virtual)

JUNE- 25 th - Outreach Library Stop- Bethel Elementary School Park 10:00-11:00am-    Summer Readers can pick up materials and turn in reading logs!

JUNE 29- Create your art!

July at the Western Watauga Library
Gem Mining with Schiele Museum- (OUTSIDE PROGRAM)- July 21 @ 10:00am (Must call to register- limited number of participants.)
Scavenger Hunt
County Wide Book Scavenger Hunt - June and July
Books will be hidden all over the county. Clues will be on Facebook and Instagram. There will be new books and new locations each week throughout the summer.
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Seed Library
Share Seeds, Grow Food, and Spread Knowledge
A big thank you to Debbie and Michael Bauer for their kind donation of seed libraries for Watauga and Western Watauga Library. Look for the Little Free Seed Library at the front of the library on the lawn on the right side as you enter. It's a perfect time to start a garden and stop by the library to pick up some seeds. Seeds include squash, sunflowers, beans and herbs seeds. Many of the seeds have been donated by Appalachian's Sustainable Development Civic Garden Project.
Virtual Book Clubs
Book Bunch and
Cook the Books
Join one or both of our virtual books clubs. Currently we are meeting via Zoom to discuss what we have been reading and projects and hobbies we have been working on since we are unable to continue as we ordinarily would. If you would like to join either club, send an email to wataugareference@gmail.com or call us to give us your email address at (828) 264-8784.
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You can be added to the Zoom list to connect to the meetings. Book Bunch will meet Tuesday,
June 30 at 1:30 pm. Cook the Books will meet on June 2 at 4:00 pm.
Medicare 101 Virtual Seminar
The Lois E. Harrill Senior Center/Watauga County Project on Aging will host a virtual Medicare 101 seminar Thursday, June 25 th at 2pm. If you would like to join the presentation, please email or call Billie Lister to get an emailed invitation to the presentation link. Billie can be reached at billie.lister@watgov.org or 828-265-8095. You will need a computer with Chrome browser and speaker or headphone capability so you can hear the presentation. IT will not available to assist you- but this is a fairly uncomplicated platform. You will also need an email in order to get the invitation to participate. Please call Billie with any questions- you must register by 9 am the morning of the seminar.
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month in May 2020, NAMI High Country (The National Alliance On Mental Illness) began a partnership with Watauga and Ashe County Public Libraries to host an initiative called ‘A Reason to Grow.’ The goal of the initiative is to broaden our communities’ commitment to inclusivity through reading and discussion. Inclusivity is the practice of welcoming people into a community who may otherwise have been excluded or marginalized.

The first author talk, by Dr. Xavier Amador, will take place at 4:00 p.m. on June 16 via Zoom. Dr. Amador is an internationally renowned clinical psychologist, forensic expert, and sought-after speaker. He is also a family caregiver of two close relatives with schizophrenia and another with bipolar disorder. He will be sharing information from his book  I Am Not Sick, I Don’t Need Help!  The primary reason millions of people with serious mental illness refuse treatment is because of anosognosia—a neurological symptom that renders a person unable to understand that they are ill, resulting in conflict, isolation, and treatment refusal. They don't think they're sick, so they don't accept treatment. Without treatment, symptoms can worsen, the mind can deteriorate, and the results can be devastating. Learn how to create trusting relationships with people who have serious mental illness that can lead to treatment and recovery. We welcome you to join this conversation by contacting Karen Gross,  karengross@skybest.com , for a link to this virtual event.
Masks
Free Masks
If you would like a free mask, please use our curbside pickup for requests. Please limit requests to two masks per family. These are available while supplies last.

Thank you to Ala Sue Moretz and Della Jones Pruitt for this generous offer.
VAYA Health
It is with excitement that Vaya Health’s Geriatric and Adult Mental Health Specialty Team introduces its web-based presentation platform. They have been busy since the beginning of the quarantine creating an opportunity for individuals and agencies to have access to curricula focused on mental wellness and aging.
Just as with the in-person presentations, each is accredited through the North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation (DHSR). This accreditation allows for the opportunity of earning 1 contact hour for each hour of education received.
They have established a schedule for June that provides four opportunities to obtain information on related topics. Each week, they will be hosting a web-based learning opportunity for: “Anxiety: Calming the Anxious Mind” and “Coping with Anxiety: Medications and More.” Each learning segment will be one hour in length.
They are requesting that each agency maintain a registration process where they collect names and email addresses of those interested in attending the event(s) and forward those to them at least three business days in advance of the scheduled presentation.
They will send each person a link and instructions for joining the presentation.
Here are the established dates and times for web-based learning opportunities in June:
 
Watauga County Public Library
140 Queen Street
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 264-8784