Happy March to our readers!

With Spring and the change in seasons comes a new Library app that you can try on your smartphone! I think you’ll find that it facilitates library business for the user and makes things a bit easier than the website. I’d strongly recommend downloading this user guide as it is simple and easy to follow.

With the myLIBRO app you can:

• search for items (locally, regionally and through NC Cardinal)
• place & manage holds
• manage multiple cards
• read or listen to eBooks and eAudiobooks
• view library programs on a calendar
• use myLIBRO on an Alexa device or the app voice mode
• add other users and libraries to your account
• Create lists of titles you want to read.

If you’d like to jump right in, be my guest!!!

Download the myLIBRO app:

• iOS
• Android

Open the myLIBRO App and select the Create myLIBRO Account button.

• Choose Appalachian Regional Library and enter your
• Library Card Number
• Library PIN (usually the last four digits of your phone number)

If you have any questions, give Adult Services a call at 828 264 8784 ext. 2

We’d love to hear your feedback, and thank you for your patronage!

~Monica Caruso

County Librarian

Western Watauga Branch Book Club

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Wednesday, March 20

2:30 PM

Wi-Fi printing is now available at the Branch Library! Enjoy the convenience of printing from your device - fast and easy!

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!

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!

Join our Crochet Club!

Wednesdays, March 6 and 20

4:00 PM

For ages 8-18

No experience or supplies needed. Snacks provided!

Small Group Meeting for Crochet Beginners

Monday, March 11

For ages 8-18

Registration required - 8 spots available

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

Celebrate Mario Day at the Library!

Saturday, March 9

3:30 PM

As seasoned Mario fans know, Mar. 10 is Mario Day! We'll be closed that day, so come by on March 9 to kick off your celebration early. We'll have a Nintendo Switch set up so participants ages 5-17 can compete in a Mario Kart tournament!

Registration required; click this link to register.

Interactive Movie: Shrek

Saturday, March 16

2:00 PM

This awards season, come see Shrek, the first movie ever to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature! We'll have some fun ways to interact with the movie as it plays, so look forward to learning a brand-new way to watch Shrek.

Creative Writing Workshop for Teens and Preteens

Thursday, March 21

4:00 PM

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

Email Kristian for RSVPs and questions

Lego Club

Tuesday, March 26

4:00 PM

Come and build with us!

Animanga Club

Wednesday, March 27

3:30 PM

We'll be starting a brand-new Animanga Club, where teens age 13-18 can read manga and watch anime together! Our first meeting is on March 27, but we want to know when people can come and what they would want to watch and read. Fill out our survey at this link so we can make sure the club is right for you!

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 Scavenger Hunt for March!

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 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.

Digital Watauga Exhibit Grand Opening at the Jones House Cultural Center

Friday, March 1

5:00 PM

Digital Watauga's new exhibit, Tourism: Behind The Scenes, officially opens at the Jones House on March 1 at 5:00, with lectures starting at 5:30. Come by for refreshments and speakers about Watauga County's tourism history. Or come by any day in March to check out the exhibit!

Special Showing: Love, Simon

Saturday, March 2

3:00 PM

We'd planned to show this romance movie in February but had to reschedule to March! Come feel the love one last time and check out the queer coming-of-age teen romance Love, Simon!

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: The King's Speech

Monday, March 4

2:00 PM

Come to the library every Monday at 2:00 for a movie! We've got the Oscars on the brain this awards season, so all March we'll be showing Best Picture winners of years past! For our first Monday, we'll be watching the 2010 historical drama, The King's Speech.

NC Medicaid Expansion Assistance

Thursdays in March and April

10:30 AM-4:00 PM

With the expansion of Medicaid in North Carolina, you may now be able to get health coverage through Medicaid even if you did not qualify before. To help explore your health coverage options, apply for coverage, and choose a health plan, come by on most Thursdays in March and April for unbiased information from a Healthcare Navigator! Walk-ins are welcome, but please call 1-855-733-3711 to confirm that a navigator will be in on the day you plan to come by. You can also book an appointment at that number or by emailing ncnavigatornet@gmail.com. Se habla español. Click here for more information in English and en Español.

Monday Matinees: Chicago

Monday, March 11

2:00 PM

Come to the library every Monday at 2:00 for a movie! We've got the Oscars on the brain this awards season, so all March we'll be showing Best Picture winners of years past! For our second Monday, we'll be watching the 2002 musical, Chicago.

Cook the Books Book Club

Tuesday, March 12

3:00 PM

Cook the Books will discuss Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon. Please stop by the circulation desk for a copy of the book.

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, March 14 at 10:00 AM for a lecture from a visiting writer/speaker and Thursday, March 28 at 10:00 AM for a critique session.

Monday Matinees: The Sting

Monday, March 18

2:00 PM

Come to the library every Monday at 2:00 for a movie! We've got the Oscars on the brain this awards season, so all March we'll be showing Best Picture winners of years past! For our third Monday, we'll be watching the 1973 crime comedy, The Sting.

History Talk: Women in the National Park Service

Thursday, March 21

5:30 PM

Join Olivia Burke, Lead Park Ranger for the Highlands District of the Blue Ridge Parkway, as she discusses the history of women working as park rangers and women who impacted the history of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Monday Matinees: An American in Paris

Monday, March 25

2:00 PM

Come to the library every Monday at 2:00 for a movie! We've got the Oscars on the brain this awards season, so all March we'll be showing Best Picture winners of years past! For our last Monday, we'll be watching the 1951 Gene Kelly vehicle, An American in Paris.

Book Bunch Book Club

Tuesday, March 26

1:30 PM

Book Bunch will discuss Hell of a Book by Jason Mott. Please stop by the Adult Services desk for a copy of the book and a list of upcoming books the group plans to read.

Medicaid Enrollment Event at the Wilkes County Public Library

Thursday, March 28

1:30-5:30

Come by the Wilkes County Public Library on March 28th from 1:30pm to 5:30pm for a Medicaid enrollment event! Certified Health Care Navigators will be on site offering free, unbiased assistance to find affordable, quality plans with Medicaid or the Health Insurance Marketplace. Other non-profits in the area will be sharing information on resources available. For Appointments, please call (855)733-3711. Walk-ins are welcome. Se habla español.

For the full press release, click here! En Español.

Tell Us What Movies YOU Want

to Watch!

We're planning to play comedy movies in April, 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!

Spring is on the way, and the Seed Library is bursting with possibilities. Seeds are free, and thanks to the Appalachian Sustainable Development and Research Farm, our seed collection is overflowing! Here are some of the new arrivals: Crackerjack Mix Marigold, Dynamite Popcorn, Yellow Crookneck Squash, Colvard Tommy Toe, Purple Turkey Craw Bean, and more! 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

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. March's session is on Wednesday, March 6 at 2:00 PM. Click here to register for it or any upcoming session!

Events from our partners

AARP Featured Online Events

Discover 20 of History's Greatest Hoaxes

Whether committed for money, notoriety or simply because it was possible, history’s most noteworthy hoaxes - and the minds that created them - continue to fascinate to this day. Indeed, in this era of fake news, Internet fraud and conspiracy theories, our interest in hoaxes seems more prevalent than ever. Please join us in the first of a two-part virtual examination of 20 of the most successful and outlandish hoaxes in history, from the one about the woman delivering rabbits instead of human babies and the one about growing spaghetti. Part 2 will take place on March 12.

Tuesday, March 5 3:00 PM

A Conversation With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Henry Louis Gates Jr. is a globally recognized scholar of race, culture, African American history and African and African American literature. He is the director of the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University and the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor. Over the course of his career, Gates has also held professorships at Yale, Cornell and Duke. He made history as the first African American scholar to receive the National Humanities Medal and is the recipient of the MacArthur Foundation “genius” grant. Gates is also an Emmy and a Peabody Award-winning filmmaker whose groundbreaking series “Find Your Roots,” now in its 10th season on PBS, has become a revered source for people discovering their genealogy. His new book, “The Black Box: Writing the Race,” is being released this month (March). Mark your calendars to hear from one of the most prolific scholars and historians of our time.

Tuesday, March 19 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

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

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.

The Caldwell Community College Small Business Center offers a wide variety of FREE webinars to help your small business succeed.

Engaging with Social Media

Getting more engagement from followers...and learning to engage with other businesses.

Speaker(s): tenBiz, Inc.

Wednesday, March 6

12:00 PM

How to use Instagram Reels

lnstagram is a great way to market your business. But, have you created Reels before? Reels is the new flagship of the platform and they help to increase engagement and gain followers. This lively course will show you:

•Create a Reel from Scratch

•Access Music to Add to Your Reels

•Show you how to find Trending Sounds

•Provide Ideas for an Engaging Series

Speaker(s): Chisa Pennix-Brown, Give it to the People

Thursday, March 21

12:00 PM

How to Livestream for Business

Livestreaming is a popular way to give information, market your brand. and sell products. In this lively course, we will cover platforms such as lnstagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Linkedln. Expect to gain insight on additional livestreaming services, apps, tools and tips to help you rule the internet and stand out from your competition Livestreaming creates customer loyalty and showcases your brand to your customers. Many companies are embracing the idea of selling online and even creating consistent shows to keep customers engaged. This lively course will discuss:

•Various social media platform you can use to livestream

•Ideas for selling products and services with tips for livestreaming

•Apps to manage their livestream

Speaker(s): Chisa Pennix-Brown, Give it to the People

Thursday, March 28

12:00 PM

Register for this and other courses at the CCC&TI Small Business Center Website!

NAMI Family Support Group

Meeting virtually on

Monday, March 11 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, March 26 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

Hoarding Disorder: Hidden Secrets

Have you ever had a secret you were too embarrassed to share? Those who hoard may not disclose

symptoms due to potential embarrassment, judgment, and ridicule. This presentation will explore

causes, symptoms, treatment, and care methods for those managing this condition. The focus is

on the aging population.

Friday, March 8

11:15 AM

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

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

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