Dear Readers,

While preparing an annual report for 2023, I came across a couple of astounding figures. We created 1800 library cards last year and for those who borrowed items, you saved a whopping $3,682,772!

February 3 is "Take Your Child to the Library Day" and a great opportunity to get your card and learn just how much your Library has to offer which in turn saves you money! So spread the word and pay us a visit February 3 or any day.

Click here for more details.

We hope to see you soon.

~Monica Caruso

County Librarian

Chocolate BINGO

Wednesday, February 14

9:45 AM

We're celebrating Valentine’s Day with Chocolate BINGO for Seniors!

Western Watauga Branch Book Club

The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

Wednesday, February 21

2:30 PM

Children's Programs

Story times include songs, books, and activities!

Join us for after-school story time, Tuesdays at 3:30 PM!

Get reading and collect some Reading Dragon trading cards!

Take Your Child to the Library Day

Saturday, February 3

Join us for an all-day celebration of Take Your Child to the Library Day!

Stop by any time for our open art book-making station. At 10:00 AM, we will have coffee and pastries. At 11:00 AM, we will have an extended story time. At 2:00 PM, we will have a special meeting of the Try It Club. At 3:00 PM, we will hold a teen craft workshop.

Registration is required for Try-It Club and the teen craft workshop. For more details or to register, contact Jennifer or call (828) 264-8784 extension 3.

Join our Crochet Club!

Wednesdays, February 14 and 21

4:00 PM

No experience or supplies needed. Snacks provided!

NEW Small Group Meeting for Crochet Beginners

Monday, February 12

Registration required - 8 spots available

Email Jennifer with questions about either program or to register for the Crochet Beginners group

Creative Writing Workshop for Teens and Preteens

Thursday, February 22

4:00 PM

Stretch your writing muscles, eat some snacks, and meet other creative writers!

Email Kristian for RSVPs and questions

Lego Club

Tuesday, February 27

4:00 PM

Come and build with us!

We're starting a Youth

Literary Arts Magazine!

Youth ages 3-18 are invited to submit their writing and visual artworks for our NEW Youth Literary Arts Magazine, WatCo Youth! Access our submission form here!

Try out our New Outdoor Scavenger Hunt for February!

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!

Click here to see new books made possible by a generous grant from AARP Mountain Region!

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.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA)

Fridays, 3:00-7:00 PM

Saturdays, 9:00 AM-2:00 PM

We are now taking appointments for the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA), offered in partnership with students and professors from Appalachian State University’s Department of Accounting and the Walker College of Business The VITA program will run from February 2nd through April 13th, with appointments available on Fridays from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM and Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. To schedule an appointment, call our VITA hotlines at (828) 434-8904 or (828) 406-0732.

Two Other Area VITA Programs Available This Year:

The Accounting Department at ASU will offer a Free Tax Help Lab for Appalachian State University students, staff and faculty, February 6th through April 10th. This service will operate on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Drop-in assistance as well as virtual assistance will be offered at Peacock Hall 3015. For more information, contact Zach Lachance.

Generations Ashe, 180 Chattyrob Lane, West Jefferson, will also be offering tax assistance from January 29 through April 15 on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. To make an appointment, please call (336) 246-4347.

Some Online Options

Because appointments at these VITA locations are limited, we encourage tax filers who are comfortable with computers to consider these online options:

My Free Taxes in conjunction with United Way offers free online software to help filers prepare their tax returns on their own. The income limit for using this service is $60,000.

IRS Free File provides additional options for preparing and filing federal income taxes online. Eligibility for IRS Free File services is income based, and some partner companies may charge a fee for filing state taxes.

Seated Tai Chi Classes

Mondays, January 22-May 20

10:00-10:45 AM

Seated Tai Chi for Arthritis is led by a TCHI Board certified instructor, with each session including warm-up and cool-down exercises, one or two movements per lesson, breathing techniques, and Tai Chi principles. Movements can be modified to accommodate mobility issues for any participant. This course will be offered once a week through May 20th, 2024. Participants are encouraged to attend at least 11 sessions in order to maximize the program benefits.

Class will meet both in-person at the Watauga County Public Library and virtually via Zoom. Please register online here.

You will receive follow-up class information via email after registering for this program. Class is limited to 18 in-person participants. For this event, a staff member may need to reach out for more information before you are confirmed to attend. Watch for an email!

Monday Matinees: Crazy Rich Asians

Monday, February 5

2:00 PM

Come to the library every Monday at 2:00 for a movie! We're celebrating Valentine's Day all February long with romance movies, so come over and feel the love! For our first Monday, we'll be watching the 2018 comedy Crazy Rich Asians.

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, February 8 at 10:00 AM for a lecture from visiting writer/speaker Dr. Benjamin Gilmer and Thursday, February 29 at 10:00 AM for a critique session.

Monday Matinees: Casablanca

Monday, February 12

2:00 PM

Come to the library every Monday at 2:00 for a movie! We're celebrating Valentine's Day all February long with romance movies, so come over and feel the love! For our second Monday, we'll be watching the timeless classic Casablanca.

Cook the Books Book Club

Tuesday, February 13

3:00 PM

Cook the Books will discuss Long Bright River by Liz Moore. Please stop by the circulation desk for a copy of the book.

Special Showing: Love, Simon

Saturday, February 17

3:00 PM

It's not a Monday, but we'll be showing a romance movie anyway! Come check out the queer coming-of-age teen romance Love, Simon!

Monday Matinees: Sense and Sensibility

Monday, February 19

2:00 PM

Come to the library every Monday at 2:00 for a movie! We're celebrating Valentine's Day all February long with romance movies, so come over and feel the love! For our third Monday, we'll be watching Emma Thompson's Jane Austen adaptation Sense and Sensibility.

Monday Matinees: The Way We Were

Monday, February 26

2:00 PM

Come to the library every Monday at 2:00 for a movie! We're celebrating Valentine's Day all February long with romance movies, so come over and feel the love! For our last Monday, we'll be watching the 1973 drama The Way We Were.

Book Bunch Book Club

Tuesday, February 27

1:30 PM

Book Bunch will discuss Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult. Please stop by the Adult Services desk for a copy of the book and a list of upcoming books the group plans to read.

Tell Us What Movies YOU Want

to Watch!

We're planning to play Best Picture Oscar-Winners in March, 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!

Check Out a Memory Kit!

The Watauga County Public Library's Adult Services department has eight themed memory kits available for patron use. Each kit contains activities, sensory items, books, and music based around a theme for use in reminiscence therapy for people with dementia or dementia-related diseases. For more information, read this American Library Association blog post on the subject. Come by and check one out today!

COVID-19 Tests Available at Library

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

Overdrive is offering free monthly webinars on using Libby, their library reading app. Learn how to access our library’s digital collection of ebooks, audiobooks and more. These webinars are great for new digital users or those making the switch from OverDrive to Libby. January's session is on Wednesday, February 7 at 2:00 PM. Click here to register for it or any upcoming session!

Events from our partners

AARP Featured Online Events

A Virtual Demonstration of Glassblowing

Ignite your brain with a class in the art of glassblowing! This virtual demonstration will feature renowned Peoria, Illinois, artist J. Draper of J. Draper Glass, LLC, and her team - with over 38 years of experience creating colorful glass art. Learn how glassblowers work, rolling the glass into vibrant color with heat and using centripetal force to spin it into works of beauty. Watch J. Draper and team use gaffer’s tools to apply frilled texture and unique characteristics to the artwork. The experience will be narrated by a fellow artist who will walk viewers through glassblowing’s rich history.

Monday, February 5, 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM

Real Conversations with AARP ft. Ruth Carter

In 2019, Ruth Carter broke glass ceilings by becoming the first African American woman to receive the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for her exceptional work on the film "Black Panther." In 2023, after winning her second Academy Award for Best Costume Design for "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," Ruth Carter made history as the first African American woman to win two Oscars. Winning her Academy Awards at age 59 and 63 respectively, Ruth reflects on the remarkable career she’s built over the decades. Hear how she continues to thrive in her craft and how she balances work and wellness in this chapter of life.

Thursday, February 22, 7:00 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

Free Aging Well Assessments

are screenings for aging adults and are available for any community member in the High Country. Screenings include balance and fall risk, cognition, dementia, and nutrition. They take approximately 60 minutes to complete and results can be sent to the primary care provider. To schedule an appointment call the Interprofessional Clinic front desk at 828-262-8658 or email ipc@appstate.edu

Aging Academy Fridays Free Workshops for Healthy Living

Please mark your calendars and join us for our upcoming Aging Academy 2023-2024 series. All presentations will be held in Leon Levine Hall of Health Sciences room 103, from 3:00-4:15 pm unless otherwise noted. Kindly confirm your registration here for all events.

Understanding Dementia and Adapting for Positive Outcomes: Caregiver Support Series

Sponsored by Appalachian State University and Blue Cross NC Institute for Health and Human Services

Alternating Wednesdays, February 7-April 17

9:30 AM-11:00 AM

All sessions in this 6-part educational series will be held at the Blue Cross NC Institute for Health and Human Services Clinic on the first floor of Leon Levine Hall at 1179 State Farm Rd. Families are encouraged to come to this event together. While caregivers attend sessions in Group Room A, fun and social activities will be offered for their partners with dementia in Group Room B, facilitated by Mary Strong, LCSW, LCAS and students in App State’s Department of Social Work.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED ASAP! SPACE IS LIMITED TO 10 FAMILIES

CALL 828-262-8658 OR EMAIL strongme@appstate.edu

What's Dementia and What's Not?

Wednesday, February 7

Recognizing Changes Associated with Dementia

Wednesday, February 21

Communicating When Words Don't Work -- It Starts With Your Approach

Wednesday, March 6

Easing Distress and Other Challenging Behavioral Symptoms of Dementia

Wednesday, March 20

Adapting Along the Timeline of Dementia: Early and Middle Stages

Wednesday, April 3

Providing the Right Care at the Right Time in Late-Stage Dementia and Maintaining Your Brain

Wednesday, April 17

Click here for more information.

To register, email strongme@appstate.edu or call 828-262-8658.

NAMI Family Support Group

Meeting virtually on

Monday, February 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, February 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 New Normal Stroke, TBI, & Movement Disorders Support Group

First Wednesday of every month

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

The New Normal, a stroke, TBI, and movement disorder support group hosted by App State's Interprofessional Clinic, meets over Zoom at this link.

For more information call/email

(828) 262-6628

strongme@appstate.edu

Surviving to Thriving Caregiver Support Group

Leon Levine Hall, 1179 State Farm Road, Rooms 208 & 210

Meeting on the first and third Monday of every Month, or on Zoom (Meeting ID 946 3674 2526, Passcode 213158).

12:00-1:30 PM

For more information call (828) 262-6628 or email strongme@appstate.edu

"Movin' & Groovin' Walking Group"

On Mondays from 8:30-11:30 at the Greenway, community members can sign up for 30 or 60-minute walks. They will traverse the Greenway from Leon Levine with students. The goal is to improve physical and social health outcomes. Register at 828-262-6628 or strongme@appstate.edu

Conversation Connection with Immigrant Connection of the High Country

Wednesdays, February 21-May 8

6:00-7:30 PM

We're a conversational English class at Alliance Bible Fellowship in Boone. Come join us for one or all of the weeks. All levels of English speakers are welcome. We look forward to practicing English and learning some of your language too! Childcare is available for all ages.

Te invitamos a clases de inglés en Alliance Bible Fellowship en Boone. Puedes asistir a una o a todas las clases. Todos los niveles de ingles son bienvenidos. Te esperamos a Practicar y aprender juntos! Cuidado para niños disponible.

Caregivers of Neurodivergent Individuals Brown-Bag Lunch

Caregivers of Neurodivergent Individuals Brown Bag Lunch every third Thursday 12:30-1:30 PM 400 University Hall Drive, Boone Room 168 For more information call 828-262-7690

VAYA Health Training

Facing the Emotional Challenges of Chronic Illness

Receiving a chronic illness diagnosis can produce a range of emotional responses. In this training,

we will explore the physical and mental impact of these conditions. Understanding can help us

remain proactive, be resilient and promote better outcomes.

Friday, February 9

10:00 AM

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

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