Dear Readers,

In partnership with Appalachian State University's Science and Math Center and the National Center for Atmospheric Research, we are excited to announce the arrival of a traveling climate change exhibit at the Library that will be here from June 5 - August 18.

Through this exhibit, the National Center for Atmospheric Research is sharing what is known about this topic, including stories from across the United States about how people are being affected by climate change impacts such as rising seas, droughts, and severe storms

The exhibit consists of 9 panels and two tables, one of which is an interactive "talking table". The majority of the exhibit will be in the back of the library near the windows. We are working on a scavenger hunt for children on the theme of climate change.

A big thank you to Appalachian State University's Science and Math Center,

the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the Friends of the Watauga County Public Library for their sponsorship.

~ Monica Caruso

County Librarian

UPCOMING CLOSURE

Western Watauga Branch Summer Reading Program begins June 5!

On June 14 at 10:30am, Big Bang Boom will perform at the Picnic Area at Old Cove Creek School. In the event of rainy weather, we will be in the Old Cove Creek Gym!

Story times include songs, books, and activities!

Here's Our Summer Reading Activities for June!

Summer Reading “All Together Now” Kick-Off

Friday, June 2

1:00-3:00 PM

Join us in celebrating the beginning of our Summer Reading Program with Little Wing Ice Cream, face painting, and more!

Magic with Amazing Al

Wednesday, June 7

3:00 PM

Come see Amazing Al as he demonstrates the magic of reading and other magic in this interactive show.

Big Bang Boom

Thursday, June 15

1:00 PM

Join us as Big Bang Boom kicks off Boonerang with a BANG with their high-energy, funky, and kid-friendly tunes!

Boonerang Kid’s Zone

Saturday, June 17

12:00-4:00 PM

Come out to the Kid’s Zone on the library lawn during Boonerang! The Kid’s Zone will feature musical instrument craft stations, Twist the Balloon Man, Fake-a-Face Painting, music from Tommy Smith and Pickin' Thistles, and more! The Friends will give out popcorn and lemonade.

Virtual Program with Natalia Reagan, Biologist & Comedian – Wednesday, June 21

Time TBD

Visit the library for a funny and educational virtual show about monkeys and their communities! Host Natalia Reagan has worked with Neil deGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye the Science Guy!

Gem Mining with Schiele Museum

Tuesday, June 27

1:00 PM & 2:00 PM

Geology Rocks! Join us for gem mining in one of two afternoon sessions at the library! Participants keep the treasure they find!

**REGISTRATION REQUIRED**

Musical Instrument Creation Station

Saturday, June 17th

12:00-4:00 PM

While the Boonerang festival's Kids Zone is on the Watauga County Public Library's lawn, we will also host musical instrument creation stations in the Meeting Room. Stop in to get out of the sun, make some musical instruments, and then use them to participate in the concerts on the lawn! Hope to see you there!

LEGO Club

Tuesday, June 27

4:00 PM

Come and build with us!

Creative Writing Workshop for Teens and Preteens

Friday, June 30

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

News from the Circulation Desk

Watch this space each month for new statistics on book loans from the folks at the circulation desk!

More Adult Programs

North Carolina Legal Aid

Free Medicaid Eligibility Listen & Learn

Monday, June 5

2:30 PM

Free Child Custody Listen & Learn

Tuesday, June 13

2:30 PM

Free Medicaid Rights Listen & Learn

Thursday, June 22

2:30 PM

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

NC Reads' State-Wide Book Club

Join NC Humanities for an interactive panel discussion examining themes from the North Carolina Reads selection, Step It Up & Go: The Story of North Carolina Popular Music, from Blind Boy Fuller and Doc Watson to Nina Simone and Superchunk by David Menconi. This panel will explore how working-class roots and rebellion tie blues, jazz, and bluegrass to beach music, hip-hop, and a celebration of North Carolina popular music. This event features author David Menconi and founder of Ramseur independent label and North Carolina Music Hall of Fame Trustee Dolphus Ramseur in a conversation moderated by NC Humanities’ Board Trustee Elizabeth Carlson.

Tuesday, June 27

6:30 pm

Register for the free book club event here.

For more information, click here.

AARP Featured Online Events

~all times are Eastern Time~

Year of the Trail event: "Take a Hike!" at the Middle Fork Greenway

We mean it! Come celebrate NC's Year of the Trail and take a walk with your fellow AARP members in the High Country. We will take an easy two mile walk on the Middle Fork Greenway led by The Greenway Director, Wendy Patoprsty, of the Blue Ridge Conservancy. Get some exercise, learn about the Greenway, and re-convene afterwards to socialize at a local brewery. Limited to first 20 registrants.

Friday, June 2

5:00 PM

Health: Ask the Doc - DreamZzz: Reclaim the Night

Unlock the secrets to a revitalizing night’s sleep during “DreamZzz: Reclaim the Night,” in which we’ll delve into the science of sleep, sleep cycles and the crucial role of REM sleep. Hosted by Dr. Octavia Cannon with health and medical professionals, who will reveal common sleep disruptors that may be hindering your ability to achieve restful sleep and learn practical strategies to overcome them.

Tuesday, June 6

12:00-12:45 PM

A Trip Into the History of Music - Elvis Presley's Impact on the Decade

During this session, Professor Armstrong will analyze the impact of Elvis Presley on 1950s culture and how Elvis helped shape a generation of young adults as he altered the music of the decade. John Lennon of the Beatles stated that "before Elvis, there was nothing." We’ll evaluate the meaning of that statement and examine what people listened to before, during and after the decade.

Wednesday, June 7

7:00 PM

Brain Health Book Club - The Mind-Gut Connection: How the Hidden Conversation Within Our Bodies Impacts Our Mood, Our Choices, and Our Overall Health

This book club will meet over 4 consecutive Saturdays. Our gastrointestinal tract serves as a habitat for billions upon billions of live bacteria, and this collection of microorganisms plays a pivotal role in our mental health, our physical health, and even our ability to fight disease. In “The Mind-Gut Connection,” gastroenterologist Emeran Mayer describes the critical link between our gut health and our overall health, and how to lead a healthier life by strengthening the gut microbiome. In this book club led by Michael Friedman, an AARP volunteer and a neuroscience major at Washington University in St. Louis, we will discuss Mayer’s findings and outline a series of steps that can be taken to establish a strong connection between our gut and our mind.

Saturday, June 17

11:00 AM

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. We are currently reading The Boxcar Children: Mystery Ranch by Gertrude Chandler Warner. 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 The Book Woman's Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson on

Tuesday, June 27th 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 The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley on Tuesday, June 13th at 3:00 pm.

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

Friends of the Library Book Sale

The Friends of the Library will be holding their annual book sale. Stop by to buy some books for your collection and to support the library!

Friends members only:

Thursday, June 1 4:00 PM-6:00 PM

Open to the public:

Friday, June 2 1:00 PM-7:00 PM and Saturday, June 3 10:00 AM-3:00 PM

High Country Writers

Hey Writers!

High Country Writers will be meeting in-person once again in the Watauga County Library meeting room with a virtual option available! Join us on Thursday, June 8 at 10:00 AM for a visiting writer speaker and on Thursday, June 22 at 10:00 AM for a critique session.

Watercolor class

Thursday, June 8

3:00-5:00 PM

Please join multimedia artist Mark Anderson to explore your artistic abilities with watercolor paints and make a Father's Day card. This class is for adults and young adults ages 11 and up. We ask that those under the age of 12 please be accompanied by an adult. Participants will take home their artwork on two 5"x7" cards with envelopes, their unused supplies, and some fond memories. Beginners encouraged!

Please sign up for the class with the Adult Services desk at (828)264-8784 X 2.

(A $7.00 charge for supplies, to be made on the day of the workshop at the circulation desk, is suggested but optional.)

The library will be CLOSED

Saturday, June 17

for the Boonerang Music and Arts Festival. The library restrooms will still be accessible for festival attendees, and the meeting room will be open for our musical instrument creation station children's activity

COVID-19 Tests Available at Library

Thanks to AppHealthCare, we now have COVID-19 home tests available for the public at both locations..

Limit of 10 tests per family, please. 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, June 7, at 11:00 AM. Click here to register for it or any upcoming session!

Kiwanis Club Open House

Tuesday, June 6

5:00-6:30 PM

The Kiwanis Club of Boone is 50 years old this year and ready to make an even bigger positive impact on our community. At their upcoming open house they will hold an open discussion to further clarify what the group believes the top three needs of children are in Watauga County with the intention of creating a plan at future Kiwanis Club Meetings to work toward alleviating those needs.

NAMI Family Support Group

Meeting virtually on

Monday, June 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, June 27 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

OCD: Thought-Behavior Cycle

When intrusive thoughts create increased anxiety and overwhelming emotion, it can lead to compulsive behavior. This thought-behavior cycle can be overpowering to individuals, negatively affecting one’s ability to function in daily life. This class focuses on obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms and evidence-based treatment options.

Friday, June 9

10:00 AM

To register, click here.

Permanent Supportive Housing Training

This online training will support CST and ACTT providers by improving their understanding and practice of the Permanent Supportive Housing model. This free training will be held virtually from 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. on June 15th, 16th, 22nd, and 23rd 2023. In order to receive credit for the training, you must attend all four days. Participants are required to have their camera on and audio capability for this training.

Thursday, June 15

Friday, June 16

Thursday, June 22

Friday, June 23

9:00 AM-1:30 PM

To register, click here.

Neurocognitive Disorders and the Basics of Dementia: Symptoms and Interventions

Did you know that dementia is an umbrella term including a variety of different symptoms? Caring for someone with dementia can present unique challenges. This curriculum will examine, in detail, associated symptoms and behavioral changes. It will also explore best practices for care delivery.

Wednesday, June 21

1:00 PM

To register, click here.

PTSD: Healing the Emotional Wound

When trauma occurs, it can have lasting effects on the person who experiences it and their caregiver. This presentation defines PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and reviews the impact of trauma. Highlighted are treatment options and self-care strategies related to older adults.

Tuesday, June 27

2:45 PM

To register, click here.

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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