We have a highly experienced team working with us this tax season!
Welcome to Andrew Olson, our new Site Coordinator with the Volunteer for Tax Assistance program. Andrew was with us last year and has experience from the VITA program in Buncombe County. Welcome back to Rao Aluri who has over 20 years experience as Site Coordinator between our location and the Senior Center. Rao will act as assistant to Andrew and together they will be a fabulous team. You are in excellent hands with these gentlemen! With their expertise, they can inform you about any tax credits for which you are eligible such as the EITC or Earned Income Tax Credit, CTC or Child Tax Credit, or Education Credit. Millions of credits go unclaimed each year.

Call the Reference Department at (828) 264-8784, Extension 2 to see if you are eligible to have your returns done through VITA.

Thanks to the Friends of the Library  and the IRS for their support!

Join the Rev. Dr. David Mielke for a three part film and lecture series in celebration of African-American History Month. These historic films explore early portrayals of African-Americans in films. Films from famed African-American directors Oscar Micheaux and Spencer Williams will be shown, as well as a film with an all African-American cast. Each program will run from 10am - 12:30pm.

Tuesday, February 7th: Within Our Gates
Tuesday, February 14th: The Blood of Jesus
Tuesday, February 21st: The Green Pastures

The often campy, sometime courageous, and always fun Dr Who series is now available at the Watauga County Public Library. Check out the reboot starting with 2005's Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor and see how long it takes you to get to the most recent regeneration of the Doctor with Peter Capaldi.

Series 1-9 are currently available in the New Adult DVD section of the library.

High Country Writers February Program
Former Boone pharmacist Joe Miller, current owner of Cheap Joe's Art Stuff, will be the featured presenter at the High Country Writers on Thursday, February 9, 2017 at 10am. Miller, a signature member of the American Watercolor Society and recipient of its 2006 coveted Dolphin Award (for his generous philanthropic works on behalf of all water media artists and their societies), will present With a Warm Handshake, a one-man dramatic presentation in which he portrays Theo van Gogh, brother of the celebrated artist Vincent van Gogh.

This month's presentation will take place at Cheap Joe's Art Stuff, 374 Industrial Park Drive, Boone, NC 28607.

Laurie Gill is a reading specialist an Blowing Rock Elementary School. Trained at the university of Illinois and National College of Education, she has worked with children for much of her 30 year career. Laurie was an Early Steps trainer and has partnered with teachers to find ways to assist struggling readers in the classroom.

Join her on Thursday, February 9th at 5:30pm to learn ways parents can help their children learn to read at home. Light refreshments will be served at 5pm.

Thanks to the following for their monetary donations:

• Dorothy Louise Kyler Foundation for a $4000 grant that  will go toward Youth Materials
• IRS for a $3745 grant as well as the Friends for $400 to support VITA
• Blue Ridge Electric for a $1000 grant to support a solar eclipse program this summer.
• Joe Miller of Cheap Joe's Art Stuff for youth craft supplies
• Charles and Adele Dunbar for an amazon gift card to go toward Adult Books.
• Phyllis and Richard Crandall, which will go toward Adult Books
• Rosella L. Bridgeman for her donation in honor of Sandy Kadyk
• The Friends of the Library for Youth Supplies and Educational Assistance.