We will be CLOSED on Tuesday, July 4 for Independence Day

Dear Readers,

July is Disability Pride Month. The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990, a landmark law that prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities. In that same year, Boston held the first Disability Pride Day. Today, some cities hold parades to celebrate and honor those with differences. According to the National Council on Independent Living, disability pride is necessary to combat the ableism that is rampant in this country which can include stigma against people with disabilities and barriers to access.

The American Bar Association has an ABA Wide 21-Day Disability Equity Habit-Building Challenge © Give it a try and I bet you'll be amazed at how much you become enlightened.

The Library has put up a display with a variety of related titles so check them out.

Happy Independence Day!

~ Monica Caruso

County Librarian

Our Summer Reading participants had a blast ringing in Summer Reading 2023 with Amazing Al's magic show on June 7th! Come to some of our upcoming July events and see what all the fuss is about!

Western Watauga Branch Summer Reading Program Continues Through July!

Farmer Minor & Daisy Pig

Wednesday, July 12

10:00 AM

Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute - Lees McRae College

Tuesday, July 18

11:00 AM

Can You Hear Me?- Hands on Discovery Center

Wednesday, July 26

1:00 PM

Story times include songs, books, and activities!

Summer Reading Activities for July:

Bubble Brigade Foam Party

Wednesday, July 5

3:00-4:00 PM

Come out to the library lawn for an hour of bubbles and fun!

Fairy Day At Daniel Boone Native Gardens

Saturday, July 8

1:00-5:00 PM

Fairy Day in the Daniel Boone Native Gardens is back Saturday July 8, 2023 from 1-5 pm. The Watauga County Public Library, Watauga County Arts Council and the Blue Ridge Chapter of NC Native Plant Society will be throughout the gardens providing hands-on activities. Enhance your fairy flare with Fake a Face painting, Fairy hair, and jewelry by Upcycled Everything, Incredible Toy Company, Faeriefoots’ Doors and Gifts, printmaking by Andi Dandelion and Peace of Green Succulents. Enjoy Stickboy Bread Company cookies, Lou Lou’s Cotton Candy, Big Brose's Family BBQ and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.

Storytime with Farmer Minor

Tuesday, July 11

2:00 PM

Farmer Minor is bringing the farm to the library with Daisy the Pig for an oink-tastic story time!

Lees McRae Wildlife Rehab

Tuesday, July 18

2:00 PM

Learn all about Lees McRae Wildlife Rehab and how they rescue injured or orphaned wild animals!

NC Symphony Story Time

Thursday, July 20

11:00 AM

Join the North Carolina Symphony for a 30-minute music and literacy program with bass trombonist, Matthew Neff

Click here for more info!

Escape Room

Thursday, July 20-Saturday, July 22

various times

The Chess tournament is about to start but the chess pieces are missing! Maybe there is a spare set in the shed with broken equipment? Can you find them before it is too late? Call or stop by to sign up for a time slot on Thursday July 20th, Friday July 21st, or Saturday July 22nd! Recommended for ages 8-15 and groups of at least 4, but all are welcome!

Hands On Discovery Center and Museum Jr. Paleontologist Program

Wednesday, July 26

10:30 AM

Become junior paleontologists with the Hands On Discovery Center all the way from the Gray Fossil Site in Tennessee! Registration is required. There will also be Take-and-Make kits provided by the ASU Math and Science Education Center!

Sports and Games Summer Escape Room

Thursday, July 20 - Saturday, July 22

The Chess tournament is about to start but the chess pieces are missing! Maybe there is a spare set in the shed with broken equipment? Can you find them before it is too late? Call or stop by to sign up for a time slot on Thursday July 20th, Friday July 21st, or Saturday July 22nd! Recommended for ages 8-15 and groups of at least 4, but all are welcome!

LEGO Club

Tuesday, July 25

4:00 PM

Come and build with us!

Creative Writing Workshop for Teens and Preteens

Friday, July 28

4:00-5:00 PM

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

Email Kristian for RSVPs, questions, and pizza requests

We've prepared a new scavenger hunt at the library!

Make your mark! Contribute to our collaborative bulletin board!

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

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

More Adult Programs

North Carolina Legal Aid

Free Social Security Disability Listen & Learn

Thursday, July 6

2:30 PM

Free Child Custody Listen & Learn

Tuesday, July 11

2:30 PM

Free HCPOA & Wills Listen & Learn

Tuesday, July 25

2:30 PM

All clinics are online! For a full list of clinics and to register, click here.

AARP Featured Online Events

~all times are Eastern Time~

An 'Awake in the Wild' Meditation

Nature-based mindfulness meditation practices can help attune your senses to the simple delights and serenity of the natural world. This class will teach you various sensory awareness practices and offer guided mindfulness-based meditations. While these meditations are best experienced outdoors, practicing them near a window with a view of nature or even some houseplants is fine too!

Thursday, July 6

1:00 PM

The American Revolution: There's More to the Story

Most Americans are familiar with key events of the American Revolution, such as the Boston Massacre, the Declaration of Independence and Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River. However, there are many fascinating details, less well-knownpersonalities and misconceptions related to these events that can alter our perception of them. Blane Ampthor, a retired government employee with a lifelong interest in American history, will examine these key events to enhance our view of our country’s founding.

Tuesday, July 11

10:00-11:30 AM

NC "Year of the Trail" at Elk Knob State Park

Located in Watauga County, 11 miles north of Boone, off Meat Camp Road, Elk Knob State Park was established in 2003 to protect the mountain and the headwaters of the North Fork of the New River. Enjoy this four-mile out-and-back trail. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of a little over two hours to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking, and running, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring.

Friday, July 14

11:00 AM-1:00 PM

More AARP Mountain Region events available 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. 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 pm

Book Bunch Book Club

Book Bunch will discuss Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead on

Tuesday, July 25 at 1:30 pm.

Please stop by the Adult Services desk for a copy of the book and a list of upcoming books the group plans to read.

Cook the Books Book Club

Cook the Books will discuss Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt on Tuesday, July 11 at 3:00 pm. Please stop by the Circulation desk for a copy of the book.

The Seed Library is seeking volunteers! No gardening experience is needed. For more information, stop by the library or email Jenna at jkissel@arlibrary.org.

Repair Hub

will be returning to the library on Saturday, July 29 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM! If you have broken or torn items around your house, bring them to the Repair Hub pop-up rather than throwing them out!

Get Involved with Repair Hub!

Repair Hub is looking for volunteers for their pop-up event at the Watauga County Public Library on July 29th. They need someone with sewing skills, an electrician, a person who can repair jewelry, and someone to be a greeter.

Please email Andy at repairhuborg@gmail.com with questions or to offer your volunteer expertise!

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, July 13 at 10:00 AM for a visiting writer speaker and on Thursday, July 27 at 10:00 AM for a critique session.

Introducing Memory Kits!

After the Western Watauga Branch Library introduced their wildly popular memory kits, the Watauga County Public Library's Adult Services department has constructed eight themed memory kits of our own 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!

Real People, Real Climate, Real Changes Exhibit

Take a journey through climate change with a visit to the traveling exhibit, sponsored by the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Appalachian State's Math and Science Education Center, and the Friends of the Watauga County Public Library. Youth Services created a scavenger hunt to help school-age children engage and have fun! Complete the scavenger hunt and get a prize in Youth Services. The exhibit is here in the back of the Library until August 18, so catch it before it melts away!

COVID-19 Tests Available at Library

Thanks to AppHealthCare, COVID-19 home tests are available to the public at both locations. Limit of 10 tests per family. Each box has two 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. June's session is on Wednesday, July 12, at 2:00 PM. Click here to register for it or any upcoming session!

NAMI Family Support Group

Meeting virtually on

Monday, July 10 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, July 25 at 6:00 PM. For zoom link please contact Caleb Robleto.

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, ONLY meets online for June, July, and August. Their Zoom Meeting ID is 956 3282 9303 with the passcode 209696

For more information call/ email

(828) 262-6628

strongme@appstate.edu

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

VAYA Health Training

Anxiety: Managing Nervous Energy

A growing number of individuals report experiencing anxiety symptoms in recent years. This course examines anxiety as it disproportionately affects the aging population. Traditional and alternative treatments will be the focus of symptom management.

Friday, June 9

10:00 AM

To register, click here.

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

Third Thursday Job Fair

Come by the Watauga NCWorks Career Center at 130 Poplar Grove Connector to meet with prospective employers! Come dressed appropriately and bring your resume.

11:00 AM-2:00 PM

Call your local NC Works Center to register (828) 265-5385 

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

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