Monday, November 23, 2015

Food for Fines and Feed Your Mind



Ashe Library is blessed to be part of an amazing community and library staff would like to thank everyone for their support during the year. In the spirit of Christmas, a “Food for Fines” program is scheduled for the week of November 30 - December 5. This is an opportunity for those who have accumulated fines for late fees to clear the slate before the New Year begins. Each food item (unopened, unexpired, non-perishable) can clear up to one dollar of late fees. The collected food will be donated to Ashe Sharing Center.


 As Christmas nears, both old and young alike anxiously mark the Christmas countdown.  Young children become more and more excited. Babies and toddlers may not understand exactly what to expect, but their senses are aware of bright lights, jingling bells, and the delicious scent of Christmas cookies all contributing to an anticipation of celebration. Secrets are kept and presents hid. To children it seems like time has slowed to a crawl as they await the arrival of Christmas Day. A fun, free way to pass December days with children is to surprise them with library books. Instead of buying, borrow! First, visit the library and find twenty-four books or movies to wrap individually. The library has scores of holiday books, and many other topics to match the interest of girls or boys. Once December 1 rolls around the fun begins! Allow your children to open one book for a surprise every night, and enjoy time together reading. At the end of the month bring the books back to the library and get new ones! This is a wonderful way to encourage reading with reluctant readers, and the gift of literacy doesn’t cost a penny. Sharing stories, telling tales, and spending time together does require a time investment but the benefits are endless. Reading to and with youngsters helps to fuel one’s creative side and develops a love for the written word. Literacy begins at birth as babies listen to speech around them, and oral language development builds a foundation for later reading success. Solid evidence from research findings show that the more children ages 0-5 hear books read aloud, the more prepared they will be for learning to read upon reaching kindergarten.

The library has an extensive collection of books for adults too. While wrapping presents for loved ones this holiday season, take time to wrap yourself up in a good book! Reading is a gift that never grows old and is always full of new discoveries. 

Dates to remember in December:
The library will be closed for staff training in the morning on December 11 and reopen at 1:00 p.m.  The library is also closed December 24-26 for Christmas holidays.
          ·           Children’s Programs
o   Tot Time is at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays for 2 and 3 year-olds with stories, songs, and crafts.
o   Story Time is at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday and offers stories, songs and crafts for 4-5 year-olds.
o   The Lego Club meets at 4:00 p.m. on December 22 for grades K-5 for monthly challenges.
o   Who Would Like a Christmas Tree? by Ellen Bryan Obed is the featured Story Walk, on display at Ashe County Park throughout the month.
          ·           Teen Programs
o   Geek out at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesdays with Otaku’s United, an Anime/Manga Club.
o   Deck the teen area for the holidays at 4:00 p.m. on December 8.
o   The Teen Advisory Council (TAC) meets at 4:00 p.m. on December 17.
o   Teen Christmas Party is from 2:00 – 4:30 p.m. on December 18.  Come out for food games and fun!
          ·           Adult Programs
Book an appointment with our friendly reference librarians, for all your tech troubles.   Call 336.846.2041 x227
Yoga Club meets in the library’s downstairs meeting room at 5:30 p.m. on Mondays.
o   A special program on Financing the Future is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on December 14, at Smokey Mountain BBQ (includes free meal).  Learn strategies and discover tools to help you achieve two important long-term financial goals: saving for college or technical education and planning for retirement.  
Brouhaha Book Club meets at 5:30 p.m. on December 28 in Boondocks Restaurant for “Books, Beer and Bookworm Babble.”  Come and find out what everyone has been reading lately!
o   The Deep Focus Film Club meets at 5:30 on December 31 for a feature showing and discussion of Charles Portis’s True Grit.
                      ·           All Ages
Bring your PhD (Project Half-Done) to the next Get Crafty at 10:00 a.m. on December 12 and gather together to finish 2015 charity projects.  Find out about “Feel Better Friends.”
The Community Drum Circle meets at 5:30 p.m. on December 8 and 22.  Join the celebration of drums, while exploring the soul and spirit of music!
Mountain Music Slow Jam will meet from 5:30-7:00 p.m. on December 4 and 18 in the downstairs meeting room (after-hours access through side door on lower parking lot).  Get together with other musicians and jam.  Songs are explained as to timing, breaks, etc… and played in slow time.  Designed for beginners, all skill levels are welcome.
Drop-in all day on December 12 for some make-and-take crafting fun, featuring Sugar Soap Scrub with Laura. 
o   Share your favorite recipe or find a new one on the library’s “Recipe Swap” display board throughout the month of December.
                      ·           Special Events
  Make an ornament and card for residents of local assisted living facilities, mini-book wreaths, and a special Centennial Ornament at the library’s annual Ornamentality workshop from 3:00-5:00 p.m. on December 1.
  Stop in at 10:00 on December 5 for the opening reception of James “Dawg” Wood’s Where Do the Birds Sleep? Art Exhibit.  Meet the artist and see original illustrations for this picture book, nominated for a Caldecott Award. Light refreshments will be provided.
o   Stop in for a featured video of Ron Hall sharing his amazing story about the memoir Same Kind of Different as Me, at 2:00 p.m. on December 5 in the library’s downstairs meeting room.  
o   Don’t miss a special holiday story with Arly the Library Fox and the Gingerbread Man.  Join us for Singing with Santa and enjoy milk and cookies from 3:30-5:00 p.m. on December 10.
o   Listen to Summit Strings, classically-trained musicians, at 2:00 on December 12 on the library’s main floor.
o   Come dressed in your pajamas for a special story time in the dark.  Our books will light up the evening at 5:00 p.m. on December 17.
o   Listen to Rod Thompson, author of The Adventures of Connor the Courageous Cutter, as he reads his story about a brave little ship who helps a friend in need.  Make a boat craft after the story at 1:00 p.m. on December 19.

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