Dear Readers,

Happy August and Back to School Season!

Join us this month for an evening with New York Times bestselling local author Ron Rash on Wednesday, August 7 at 6 pm at the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country. Thanks to the Friends of the Watauga County Public Library, Appstate University Libraries, and 828 Real Estate for their support.

The Library plans to be at the Back 2 School Festival on Saturday, August 10 at Watauga High School. Stop by to say hello and learn about August and Fall programming, expansion efforts, and how the Library can help you with your information needs. They are still looking for volunteers and support so check out their website to see how you can help with this wonderful annual event that helps so many families each year.

Lastly, did you know the Library now has an App called myLIBRO? This facilitates placing holds, renewing and keeping track of your family’s items. You can see your account balance at a glance, create a wishlist, and even check out items by using a barcode scanner. If you don’t have this app yet, now is a great time to get it. Let us know what you think!

Thank you.

~Monica Caruso

County Librarian

Disaster Preparedness Training with the American Red Cross

Wednesday, August 21

10:00-11:00 AM

This free training will teach you how to best prepare yourself and protect your home in the event of a natural disaster. It will also discuss how to prevent home fires.

Western Watauga Branch Book Club

The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

Wednesday, August 21

2:30 PM

Kids of all ages had a blast at our foam party last month!

Children's Programs

Story times include songs, books, and activities!

Join us for afternoon story time, Tuesdays at 3:30 PM!

Open S.T.E.A.M. Table

Tuesday Afternoons

Come by every Tuesday afternoon for an open S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) activity for elementary schoolers! You can follow the suggested challenge or use the materials to make your own!

Visits from Mac the Therapy Dog

Tuesdays at 3:00 PM

Mac, a sweet and personable therapy dog, visits the library on Tuesday afternoons to spend time with any children who want to be his friend. Come by and see him!

Sensory-Friendly Family Movie: Despicable Me

Saturday, August 10

1:00 PM

Come on down and let your villainous side out at a sensory-friendly showing of Despicable Me!

Lego Club

Tuesday, August 27

4:00 PM

Come and build with us!

Animanga Club

Wednesday, August 28

3:30 PM

Join our Animanga Club, where teens age 13-18 can read manga and watch anime together! Come by to watch some anime and discuss manga you've been reading.

Here's two programs we're putting on hold this month. Don't worry, they'll be back soon!

Try-it Club

Crochet Club

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

Check out a Launchpad with your library card to play games and read books!

Click here to see the new books coming to our collection soon!

Monday Matinees: A Place in the Sun

Monday, August 5

3:00 PM

Come to the library every Monday at 3:00 for a movie. This August we're getting all up in our feels with a series of dramas! For our first Monday, we're being swept up in a story of love and death in A Place in the Sun!

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. 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 1:00 PM.

An Evening with Ron Rash at the Appalachian Theatre

Wednesday, August 7

6:00 PM

Come to the Appalachian Theatre on King Street to listen to Ron Rash talk about The Caretaker, his most recent novel, which is set in Blowing Rock! Copies of his most popular books will be available for purchase in the lobby thanks to the App State Bookstore, and Ron Rash will be around to sign his books after the event. Don't miss this opportunity to see a master author and Watauga County native discuss his craft!

High Country Writers

Hey Writers!

High Country Writers meet in the Watauga County Library meeting room with a virtual option available! Join us on Thursday, August 8 at 10:00 AM for a lecture from guest speaker Sharyn McCrumb and Thursday, August 22 at 10:00 AM for a critique session.

Sensory-Friendly Family Movie: Despicable Me

Saturday, August 10

1:00 PM

Come on down and let your villainous side out at a sensory-friendly showing of Despicable Me!

Monday Matinees: 1917

Monday, August 12

3:00 PM

Come to the library every Monday at 3:00 for a movie. This August we're getting all up in our feels with a series of dramas! For our second Monday, we're persevering through the war to end all wars in 1917!

Cook the Books Book Club

Tuesday, August 13

3:00 PM

Cook the Books will discuss The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger. Please stop by the circulation desk for a copy of the book.

Library Expansion Capital Campaign Committee Meeting

Thursday, August 15

10:00 AM

Want to help us raise money for a library expansion, or learn more about our expansion plans? Come to our library expansion committee meeting to learn what we're cooking up!

American Red Cross Blood Drive

Friday, August 16

10:00 AM-2:30 PM

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

Monday Matinees: Third Movie

Monday, August 19

3:00 PM

Come to the library every Monday at 3:00 for a movie. This August we're getting all up in our feels with a series of dramas! For our third Monday, we're making magic with The Prestige!

Sensory-Friendly Family Movie: Despicable Me

Saturday, July 20

1:00 PM

Come on down and let your villainous side out at a sensory-friendly showing of Despicable Me!

Monday Matinees: Fourth Movie

Monday, August 26

3:00 PM

Come to the library every Monday at 3:00 for a movie. This August we're getting all up in our feels with a series of dramas! For our fourth Monday, we're celebrating Women's Equality Day with Suffragette!

Parkinson's Support Group of the High Country

Tuesday, August 27

10:00 AM

Come by to meet other folks living with Parkinson's Disease. For more information, contact John Padgett at john@livinghopenc.org or (828)773-2864

Book Bunch Book Club

Tuesday, August 27

1:30 PM

Book Bunch will discuss West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. Please stop by the Adult Services desk for a copy of the book and a list of upcoming books the group plans to read.

Save the Date!

Cheers for 50 Years! Friends of the Watauga County Public Library 50th Anniversary Party

Saturday, September 21

11:00 AM-4:00 PM

Stop by the library for our celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Friends of the Watauga County Public Library! It's free and family friendly, and we'll have refreshments and entertainment galore, so come celebrate the community that has worked tirelessly to keep our library going for half a century!

Tell Us What Movies YOU Want

to Watch!

We're planning to play action and adventure movies in September, but we want to know which ones will draw a crowd! Swing by the Adult Services desk to vote for your favorites or click on this link to vote online!

Attention, Libby Users!

On July 1, Appalachian Regional Library joined forces with Northwestern Regional Library, which gave you access to a larger digital catalog in Libby! As a result, though, you may have to re-enter your library card details on the site or in the app. Now, our Libby collection is under Appalachian and Northwestern Regional Libraries; your same library card information will still allow you to access the new collection. Call the adult services desk at (828) 264-8784 extension 2 with any questions!

The Seed Library is ready to help your garden be the best it can be this summer. Seeds are free, and our seed collection is overflowing! We do accept donations, so if you have extra seeds, please stop on by the Adult Services desk to drop them off. If you would like to volunteer to help maintain the Seed Library, please contact Monica Gowan at agnesminifarm@gmail.com

COVID-19 Tests Available at Library

Thanks to AppHealthCare, COVID-19 home tests are available to the public at both locations. Limit of 4 boxes per family. Each box has 2 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!

Events from our partners

AARP Featured Online Events

Beyond the Basics of Chess, Part 1

AARP members and guests are invited to connect with us for a four-part virtual series, Beyond the Basics of Chess. National Master John Michael Silvederio will guide players through the complex game, with lessons designed to help participants build new chess skills in an easy-to-follow format. Playing chess can help combat social isolation and promote brain health. Players of all ability levels are encouraged to sign up for Part 1: Checkmate Patterns, which will review how to recognize possible checkmates faster.

Monday, August 5 6:00-7:00 PM

Scam Chat Wednesdays: Investment + Payment Method Scams

Join AARP California, the California Department of Financial Protection & Innovation, and guest speakers throughout the month of August for Scam Chat Wednesdays - weekly virtual presentations that cover the latest scams and offer guidance on keeping your personal and financial information secure and protected.   

The third presentation in our Scam Chat series focuses on how to protect yourself against investment and payment method scams. We will also explore scammers preferred methods of payments.

Wednesday, August 21 3:00-4:00 PM

More AARP Mountain Region events available here.

Virtual Workshops:

For more information, click here!

Call your local NC Works Center to register (828) 265-5385 or go to www.ncworks.gov

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

NAMI Family Support Group

Meeting virtually on

Monday, August 12 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, August 27 at 6:00 PM. For zoom link please contact Pam Thomas.

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

The Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness in Leon Levine Hall offers many fantastic services and programs to the community, including a caregiver support group, a walking group, age-based health assessments, and more! For more information, contact the interprofessional clinic at (828) 262-8658 or ipc@appstate.edu.

VAYA Health Training

Mood Stabilizing Medications: Reclaiming the Balance

Managing mood disorders can be a balancing act. This course provides information about the role medications play in maintaining equilibrium. It also teaches the importance of observing medication responses and monitoring for side effects. A review of alternative evidence-based strategies to support mood stabilization is also covered.

Thursday, August 22

1:00 PM

For a full list of events, visit our events calendar.

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