Watauga County Public Library will close for the holidays:

Saturday, January 1, 2022 ~ New Year's Day

Monday, January 17, 2022 ~ Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Dear Readers,

For the third year, the library is partnering with NAMI High Country on an Inclusion Grant to provide programming and purchase items on the topic of “Gender Fluidity, LGBTQIA+, Story Time and Mental Health." Programming will be based on the Human Library Concept. “Story Time” in the title refers to hearing about a person’s life story through featured programs.

The Human Library is a nonprofit learning platform that has hosted personal conversations designed to challenge stigma and stereotypes since 2000. The first program is titled “The Ins and Outs of Being a Trans Guy." The Inclusion Grant is supported by NAMI- NC, the NC Department of Health and Human Services, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Please see press release.

 "The Ins and Outs of Being a Trans Guy"

Talks with Caleb Robleto 

January 3 at 6:30 p.m.

One hour Unjudge Someone Program

Join Zoom Meeting

When: Jan 3, 2022 6:30 PM Eastern Time

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0pce2tqzwsEtSymObPnCDedI7efcV0lWEh

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining.

~ 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.

(Two chances to catch

the same story)

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 to decode a different riddle each week in January!

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

Bilingual Spanish/ English Story Time with Iris

Spanish/ English Story time includes books, songs and fun!

These Wednesdays at 11:00 am:

January 26

February 23

March 23

For more information, click here.

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

Outdoor Life-Size Candy Land

up until Wednesday, January 5

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 Story Walk®. 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.

Image Courtesy of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

Take It and Make It

Pick up a kit while supplies last.

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.

The Power of Pivot: Navigating Life Transitions

Author Talk: "Flawed Flesh, Perfect Purpose" by Jacqueline Mims

Thursday, January 13

11:00 am

via Zoom

For more information and to register, click here.

Harnessing Tech to Connect - Keeping Loved Ones Safe Using Technology

Tuesday, January 18

2:30 pm

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 January.

Book Bunch Book Club

January and February

The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict

Copies of this book will be available at the Adult Services desk. Meeting date, time, and location to be determined. If you would like to receive updates about Book Bunch, email Deborah at dsluder@arlibrary.org.

Cook the Books Book Club

Join Cook the Books by clicking here to discuss Raven Black by Ann Cleeves. The discussion 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

Tuesday, January 4

Free Criminal Record Expungement Clinic

Thursday, January 6

Free Social Security Disability Clinic

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

Libby Virtual Training

Thursday, January 20

10:00 am

To register, click here.

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.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program

(VITA)

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program will run from February 4 - April 9 on Fridays from 9-4 and Saturdays from 9-1.

Appointments will be taken beginning in mid-January.

We are still

looking for volunteers; they need to 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.

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.

VAYA Health Training at Lois E. Harrill Senior Center

"I'm Covered Up: What You Need to Know About Hoarding"

Tuesday, January 18

Topic 1: 10:00 am

For more information, click here.

"OCD: Supporting People with Obsessions and Compulsions in an Adaptive Way"

Tuesday, January 18

Topic 2: 11:00 am

For more information, click here.

"The Ins and Outs of Being a Trans Guy"

Talks with Caleb Robleto

Monday, January 3

6:30 pm

via Zoom

To register, click here.

For more information, click here.



From Juvy to the Vermont Poetry Society and All the Stops Along the Way with Poet Linda Quinlan

Monday, January 24

6:30 pm

via Zoom

To register, click here.

For more information, click here.

A Post-Christmas Celebration of Stories, Poems, and Music from Wales Including "A Child's Christmas in Wales" by Dylan Thomas

Presented by Mary Gray, Elizabeth Percival, Beckie Ballard and Isani Howell

Sunday, January 30

3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

via Zoom

To register for this free program, click here.

For more information, click here.

Virtual Workshops

Supercharge Your Job Search

Resumes 101

Wednesday, January 5

10:00 am

Interviewing

Tuesday, January 11

2:00 pm

To register and see more workshops, click here.

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Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)

Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining"!

Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)

Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining"!