Watauga County Public Library will close for the holidays:

Friday, December 24

Saturday, December 25

Monday, December 27

Saturday, January 1, 2022

Dear Readers,

We have received lots of inquiries about Food for Fines and the time has nearly come! Amnesty week starts December 6 and runs until Saturday, December 11.

For each nonperishable food item brought to the library, $1 will be taken off your fines. This would not be applied to lost or damaged items, just overdue fines.

Happy Holidays to all and may the new year bring happiness, health, and gratitude for all that we have.

~ Monica Caruso

County Librarian

Friends of Western Watauga Branch received a Schwab Charitable Fund grant to transform the existing back deck into usable, appealing space that will expand the current Library's footprint, creating an alternative space for outdoor programming, relaxation, or quiet reading. Changes are happening now and will continue through Spring of 2022.

The branch library is open, but for your convenience curbside service will continue. To place a hold, call (828) 297-5515.

No in-house programming

Take it & Make It kits are available each Monday.

Wednesdays and Thursdays

11:00 am

(Two chances to catch

the same story)

Outdoor on the front lawn or indoor in the meeting room depending on the weather

complete with songs, books, activities, and a take-and-make craft!

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

Visit the library garden to decode a different riddle each week in December!

Grab a decoder sheet from the brochure holder in the garden. Once you have the answer to the riddle, turn in your worksheet for a small prize at the Youth Services Desk.

Must RSVP with Youth Services at (828) 264-8784 ext. 3.

The Watauga County Public Library, Blowing Rock Parks and Recreation, and BRAHM are teaming up in honor of early literacy!

The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum is hosting a traveling exhibit through January 22, entitled "Storyland".

Play a Hide and Seek game based on Eric Hill's beloved dog, Spot, at the Blowing Rock Parks and Recreation playground. For more information, click here.

Story Walk® at the Tot Lot

Look for the new Story Walk® mid-December. It's one of our favorites!

Thank you Friends of the Library! North Carolina Zoo passes are available! Contact the Youth Services department for more information (828) 264-8784 ext. 3. NC Zoo passes are available at Western Watauga Branch too.

Adult Programs

Get published! How? Click here for details.

For events information, click here.

Members of the Digital Watauga team are working to capture history in the making.

We would like to ask the community to help write this important chapter in the story of Watauga County by sending in photos, journal entries, letters, artwork, etc. pertaining to your time in Watauga County during this pandemic. As we continue to look back and learn, help us also look forward by making history together.

Click here to submit! For more information, click here.

Blood Drive

Friday, December 3

10:00 am - 2:30 pm

To donate, click here.

Connections Support Group

Thursday, December 2

4:00 pm

Currently meeting via Zoom

For more information, click here.

High Country Lifelong Learners

For Zoom link and future programs, visit our new HCLL website.

Join Appalachian State Cyber-Seniors!

Are you 50 or older? Wanting to connect with your community? Do you have technology-based questions? Join this free program. For more information, click here.

Getting there: Transportation Solutions

Friday, December 3

10:00 am

via Zoom

For more information and to register, click here.

For additional programming, click here.

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. The book we are using is The Swiss Family Robinson Retold by Johann David Wyss. To attend via Zoom, please contact Adult Services at (828) 264-8784 ext. 2.

The group meets at 2:30 pm every Wednesday in December.

Book Bunch Book Club

Create a free account with Goodreads.com to participate.

Join the discussion of Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens by clicking here for Book Bunch. This book will be the topic of discussion until the end of November.

Join a discussion of this book in person on Wednesday, December 1 at 2:00 pm.

Cook the Books Book Club

Join Cook the Books by clicking here to discuss Raven Black by Ann Cleeves. The discussion begins on December 1 and continues through the end of January in Goodreads.

Appalachian State Common Reading announces Belonging by Nora Krug as the 2021- 2022 book selection. For more information, click here.

Read and share copies are available at the library.

North Carolina Legal Aid

Thursday, December 2

Free Social Security Disability Clinic

Tuesday, December 7

Free Criminal Expungement Webinar

For additional programs or to register, click here. All programs are at 2:30 pm via Zoom.

Take It and Make It

Pick up a kit while supplies last.

Hi! I am Scott, an employment Specialist with Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina.

Do you know a youth (16-24 years of age) who isn’t sure what they want to do next? NCWorks can help! Currently, there are funds in Watauga county to help young people get a jump start on their careers. If you know a young adult who is not enrolled in school, who wants to start exploring career options, the local NCWorks Career Center can help. We have Job Training Programs for those who have decided on a career pathway. We also have paid work experience programs to help folks explore their options. Now is a great time to connect with the staff at NCWorks at (828) 265-5410 and figure out your next move.

Third Thursday Job Fairs Return to the NCWorks Career Center in Boone

Join us every third Thursday

11:00 am – 2:00 pm for

multi-employer job fairs.  We always have at least four employers with an immediate hiring need from various industries.

Dress appropriately for an interview and bring your resume. Don’t have a resume? No problem! Schedule an appointment to meet with a career advisor at the NCWorks center and be ready to land that job. 

Call 828-265-5385 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

For more information, click here.

Get ready to participate in the 2022 Reading Challenge Part 1! The goal is to complete a reading challenge for each category on the Bingo card. Each time you win Bingo and submit a form, your name will be entered for a chance to win a prize.

Names will be drawn December 31 for Reading Challenge Part 2 for 2021.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program

(VITA)

During the 2021 tax filing season, our volunteers at the library prepared 129 tax returns. For this coming tax season, we are looking for volunteers to work on Fridays and Saturdays during the tax season. Volunteers pass a certification test and do not need to have accounting experience.



Contact Monica Caruso

at 264-8784 X 4 to learn more.

Watch this short 1 min. video to learn about VITA.

Films on Demand

Direct Link: click here.

Thousands of high quality videos on academic subjects, travel, and fitness programming, indie films, historical footage, documentaries, and popular music performances. For more information, click here.

Due to the many generous donations of books and other items, we find we need to ask you to HOLD your large donations until JANUARY 24. We are still accepting smaller donations (not more than 15 items per person) at the library circulation desk. Thank you for your generosity and cooperation.

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