Time to make your 2016 Reading Resolutions!

As the new year begins and we think about making resolutions for personal improvement why not pledge to read more books?  Maybe you want to read a certain number of books, or try a new genre.  Maybe there's a specific title you've always meant to read.  The library offers several suggestions that will encourage readers in broadening their literary horizons and inspire everyone to take time to read.    

One great way to find reading motivation in 2016 is with the library’s Ultimate Reading Challenge. Rather than focusing on specific books the challenge offers a wide range of reads, spanning a variety of eras and genres. The challenge is a fun incentive to diversify your reading. You may be surprised by what you find you enjoy! A reading guide and printable checklist are available on the library’s website, or drop in the library for more information.  Last year over 650 challenges were completed by library patrons!  A party to wrap-up for 2015 participants and a kick-off to launch the 2016 Challenges will take place at 5:00 p.m. on January 7. All ages are encouraged to participate!  

Joining a book club is not only a good way to meet interesting people, but also introduces you to books you might not otherwise read.  The Friends of Ashe Library invite you to join them in Reading Around the Clock in 2016.  They will host a unique book club for all ages.  The idea for the club originated with a wall clock designed to tell time using novels.  Books to be discussed during 2016 all have one thing in common ... they will have numbers in the title.   ANY book will work as long as it meets the number requirement! 

The club will meet on different days at various times, and occasionally in different locations throughout the year.  To avoid confusion, and make things fun, the club's meeting day and time will coincide with each month of the year. This will in turn dictate requirements for each book of the month's title. For example, the club's first meeting will be at 1:00 p.m. on January 11. Participants will discuss any book they are currently reading, or have read, that has a number one in its title.  For example, you may choose to read One Flew Over a Cuckoo Nest or Dr. Suess's children's classic One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. The club's second meeting will be at 2:00 p.m. on February 2 for discussions about any book that has a number two in its title.  Mark your calendars for 3:00 p.m. on March 3, 4:00 p.m. on April 4 … you get the idea.  Since meeting times in July and August happen to fall after library hours, meetings will take place at an outside location on those evenings.  In September the club meetings will revert to morning hours, back at the library. 

The library’s mascot, Arly the Library Fox, already has his 2016 “to-read” list ready.  He offers great recommendations for children’s books and entices young readers to join him in new reading adventures.  Check the library’s website for Animal Word Riddles and find a daily book recommendation for an animal to represent each letter of the alphabet! 

We hope to see you in the library and love to hear about what you're reading!

Dates to remember in January:

The library will be closed New Year’s Day and on January 18 for Martin Luther King Day.

          ·           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, grades K-5, meets at 4:00 p.m. on January 21 for monthly challenges.

o   Meet Me at the Moon by Gianna Marino 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 Rebecca Petruck, author of Steering Toward Normal, leads a button art workshop at 4:00 p.m. on January 14.

o   The Teen Advisory Council (TAC) meets at 4:00 p.m. on January 28.

o   Teen Drama Club meets at 4:00 p.m. on January 21.  Join us for improve, script-writing, and laughing with friends!

          ·           Adult Programs

o Book an appointment with our friendly reference librarians, for all your tech troubles.   Call 336.846.2041 x227

o Yoga Club meets in the library’s downstairs meeting room at 5:30 p.m. on Mondays.

o   A special financial literacy program, “All the $ingle Ladies,” is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on January 19, in the library (includes free meal).  Learn how things you value in life may influence your financial decisions.  Resources and discussion will focus on how to deal with unforeseen life events.

o Brouhaha Book Club meets at 5:30 p.m. on January 25 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 January 28 for a feature showing and discussion of the Coen Brothers Canon: Miller’s Crossing.

                      ·           All Ages

o Crochet your way through the ABCs.  You can make an alligator, a bear, a cat, … you get the idea.  Materials are provided, along with hot cinnamon spice tea!  Join us for Get Crafty at 10:00 a.m. on January 9. 

o   Ashe Friends of the Library host the first Read Around the Clock Book Club at 1:00 p.m. on January 11.  Come and discuss ANY book with a number “one” in the title!

o The Community Drum Circle meets at 5:30 p.m. on January 12 and 26.  Join the celebration of drums, while exploring the soul and spirit of music!

o Mountain Music Slow Jam will meet from 5:30-7:00 p.m. on  January 15 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.

o Drop-in all day on January 23 for some make-and-take crafting fun, featuring Paper Flowers.

                      ·           Special Events

o   A party for the 2015 Reading Challenge Wrap-up and 2016 Reading Challenge Kick-off takes place at 5:00 on January 7.  There will be prizes and good conversation about books we’ve read and books we want to read.

o   In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, the library will feature a “Dream Tree.” Stop in the week of January 7-16 and write your dream on a sheet of paper or put your dream on an origami creation to be added to our tree.

o   Let your creativity loose with make and take crafts and drop-in on January 2, 16, or 30 for “Saturday Surprises.”

o   Characters from the Centennial Book Club’s novels will appear at West Jefferson’s Coffee House Live on January 16 at West Jefferson United Methodist Church (an Arts Council event, call 877-ARTS for details) ... come out for this meet and greet! The Centennial Book Club meets for its final discussion at 6:00 p.m. on January 26 at Hotel Tavern.