Reading & Feeding

Ashe Library promotes “Food for Fines” during the week of November 28 – December 3.  During this period, library patrons are encouraged to bring undamaged and unexpired, boxed or canned, non-perishable food items to the library. Each single food item will be applied as a $1 credit toward the reduction of existing overdue fines.  Please note, only fines will be waived and not the replacement costs of lost or damaged items. Food collected will be donated to local area food banks. 

Last year the library collected 1166 items, equaling $1166 in waived fines (which will hopefully mean more circulation on those clean cards). This was almost three times more than the previous year.  A lot of patrons brought extra food, which allowed us to apply their donations to patrons who did not bring anything. Notes were left to patrons with forgiven fines explaining that their account had been cleared through the donations of other patrons. 

This program benefits the library by getting back some late and lost books. Plus, we get our delinquent patrons to come back. Many of them feel bad about owing money to the library that they can't pay back—others are stubborn and refuse to pay fines above a certain amount. Whatever their reason, they do come back, and they feel good about doing something meaningful for their community in the process. We also gain respect from other community entities, which are continually amazed at the countless ways that the library contributes to the public good. Our local nonprofits and charities are very grateful for the help they receive from us. Staff morale improves, and circulation staff receives far fewer complaints about fines.

Finally, the positive public relations response that the library receives far exceeds the amount of money and staff time that the program requires. Food for Fines reinforces the image of the library as a learning place that reaches out to all of the members of its community, regardless of income.

Dates to remember in November:

The Library will be closed on November 11 for Veterans Day and November 24 – 26 for Thanksgiving.

Children’s Programs

•  Baby Bounce is every Monday at 10:00 a.m. for birth to two year-olds.  Bring your young ones for stories, rhymes, bounces, and songs with “stay and play” social time afterwards. 
• Tot Time is a fun-filled time for 2 & 3 year-olds, featuring stories, art and music at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays.
• Story time for 4 & 5 year olds feature ABC Adventures at 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays. 
• A special story time for daycare classes takes place at 9:30 a.m. on November 4.  Call 336.846.2041 x223 to register. 
• Build, create, and make new friends at a Lego Block Party at 4:00 p.m. on November 22.

Tween Programs  

•  Tween Takeover! Hangout, eat, laugh, and play games at 4:00 p.m. every Tuesday.

Teen Programs 

• What’s your geek? What’s your game? Meet, hang out, game, and eat every Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. with the Geeks & Gamers.  
• Help plan upcoming events at the library with the Teen Advisory Council at 5:00 p.m. on November 15.

Adult Programs 

• For all your tech troubles, book an appointment with our friendly reference librarians.  Call 336.846.2041 x227 
• Visit the Poetry Café at 3:30 p.m. on November 10 and share original or favorite poems over coffee. 
• Yoga Club meets in the library’s downstairs meeting room at 5:30 p.m. on Mondays. 
• The Deep Focus Film Club meets at 5:00 p.m. on November 17.  In the words of Roger Ebert, My Left Foot (1989), is the story of a “stubborn, difficult, blessed, and gifted man who was dealt a bad hand, who played it brilliantly, and who left us some good books, some good paintings and the example of his courage.” 
• Brouhaha Book Club meets at 5:30 p.m. on November 28 in Boondocks Restaurant for “Books, Beer and Bookworm Babble.”  Come and find out what everyone has been reading lately! Try the new Ashe Bookworm Porter! 
• The Coloring “Book” Club celebrates reading (and coloring) as a group experience at 5:30 p.m. on November 29. Relax with adult coloring books while listening and discussing a different short story audiobook each month.

 All Ages 

• NEW family program, Book and a Bite, takes place from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on the first Saturday every month. Explore a new theme each month and create a centerpiece for the table.  Pick up a recipe and browse selected books for dinner table conversation starters. 
• There will be a reception for artist Joy Braverman- Smith at 3:30 p.m. on November 9 in the library’s upstairs art gallery. 
• Get Crafty and learn to “Crochet Your Way Through the ABCs” at 10:00 a.m. on November 11. You can make an alligator, a bear, a cat, ...you get the idea. Project materials are provided.
•  The Community Drum Circle meets at 5:30 p.m. on November 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 November 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. 
• The Read Around the Clock Book Club meets at 11:10 a.m. on November 10 to discuss any book with the number “eleven” or “ten” in the title.  Skype with author Wendy Wax, author of Ten Beach Road.
• International Game Day is on November 19.  Try different board games, chess, checkers, Apples to Apples, and some GIANT games while waiting for the Christmas parade to start (between 1 – 4 p.m.)