The Book Flood of Christmas

Jólabókaflóð – which translated means “The Book Flood of Christmas” – has been getting a lot of hype recently.  In Iceland, the winter months see a large influx of new books from publishers (hence the flood). Why is this? Because books are one of the most popular gifts to give.   Folks in Iceland celebrate Christmas Eve by exchanging books, then spending the evening reading in bed and eating chocolate.  Sounds like a Christmas tradition we should adopt!

Thanks to a generous gift Ms. Ida Marsh bequeathed Ashe Library a type of “book flood” has kept staff busy ordering, processing and adding new books for young and old to its collection.   

With rising costs of library materials and decline of state support, the acquisition budget is an expense area that is harder and harder to fund from year to year.  This year’s spending plan of the library’s Marsh donation included significant funding to collection development.

American Library Association reports that among patrons ages 16 years and older, 80% say borrowing books is a "very important" service libraries provide.  Over the last decade there have been strong increases in both visits to the library and the number of books borrowed. 

New book club programs are also being developed and added to the library’s calendar for the year 2018. 

• For grades 3 – 5; The Illustrator Book Club explores the art of different children’s book illustrators. Each month a new artistic technique will be demonstrated and children can create their own masterpiece with materials supplied by the library. 
• For tweens and teens; The Graphic Novel Book Club will feature selections of a similar theme.  Participants will meet at 4:00 p.m. every third Thursday of the month in the library’s community room for discussion. 
• A regional read group has also been developed on Facebook for online discussion about books by North Carolina authors.  Books to read and comment on each month are those featured on D.G. Martin’s UNCTV Bookwatch Show, where he has lively conversations with different authors each week.
• Read and Craft Around the World was developed around an existing program: Get Crafty.  The Get Crafty program is a knitting and crocheting group that meets every third Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  All ages and skill levels are invited to participate, and instruction is offered for beginners.  Each month new stitch patterns are highlighted from a different country, and books set in those countries are suggested as reading material.  The concept is that at these monthly “book and hook” get-togethers crafters will engage in conversation about a book (or movie) they read while working on projects together.

Other ongoing book club programs include: Vickie’s Book Club, which meets at 1:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month to discuss a common read, and New River Book Club (NWBC), meeting at 9:30 a.m.  every first Saturday of the month.  NWBC does not require a common read, but is a read-as-you-like type of gathering where readers meet-up in the library to talk about their latest book discoveries and have coffee.  Outside the library, Brouhaha meets at 5:30 p.m. on the last Monday night of each month in Boon Docks to talk about whatever everyone has read lately. 

Last but not least, everyone is invited to participate in the library’s annual reading challenge.  Be sure to check out the new incentives for reading a variety of books this year and join us at 5:00 p.m. for the 2018 Reading Challenge Kick-off party on January 4.

Dates to remember in January: 

The library will be closed for New Year’s Day on January 1and Martin Luther King Day on January 15.

Children’s Programs

• Baby Bounce meets every Friday at 10:30 a.m. for ages birth to 2 years.  Enjoy stories, rhymes, bounces, and songs with a stay-and-play social time afterwards. 
• Tot Time takes place at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays for ages 2 and 3.  Wiggle, giggle, laugh, sing, and create.  A fun-filled time featuring stories, music, and a craft.
• Storytime for ages 4 and 5 is at 10:30 a.m. every Thursday.  Join us for ABC adventures with stories, art, and music.
• The Illustrator Book Club, grades 3-5, meets at 3:30 p.m. on January 4. Observe an artistic style and attempt to re-create it.  Our focus this month is the artistic style of Ezra Jack Keats.
• Lego Block Party for grades 1 – 5 takes place at 1:00 p.m. on January 27.  Come out to build, create, and make new friends (Legos provided).

Tween Programs

·         TWEENS & TEENS (ages 10 – 18) Graphic Novel Book Club meets at 4:00 p.m. on January 18.  This month the theme will be Superheroes!

·         Tween Takeover! “Game On Minecraft” will meet at 4:00 p.m. on January 25.

“Geeks and Gamers” (ages 13-18)

•  “T for Teen” meets at 4:00 p.m. on January 2.
• Board Game Café/Teen Advisory Council begins at 4:00 p.m. on January 9.
• Come out for STEAM at 4:00 p.m. on January 16.
• Anime Club begins at 4:00 p.m. on January 23. 

Adult Programs

• For all your tech troubles, book and appointment with our friendly reference librarians.  Call 336.846.2041 x227
• Special Computer Classes will meet at 10:00 a.m. on Thursdays. Topics this month are: Using the Internet on January 11, Office Hours (Ask us Anything!) on January 18, Email on January 25
• The Reading Challenge Wrap-up/Kick-off Party will take place at 5:00 p.m. on January 4.  If you participated in our 2017 Reading Challenge, or if you want to learn about what we have planned for the 2018 challenge, please join us! Play games for the literary-minded, check out recommendations from this year’s challenge, and get a guided virtual tour of the new challenge. Participants in the 2017 Reading Challenge are eligible to win prizes. You do not have to be present to win, but your attendance is strongly encouraged!
• A NEW group is forming for those working on PhDs (Projects half-Done).  Join us from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on January 6 to talk about New Year’s Resolutions and create a Vision Board.  Get inspired and be motivated!
• Yoga Club meets in the library’s downstairs meeting room at 5:30 p.m. on Mondays.

All Ages

• Read & Craft “travels” to France in January with Très Chic – Easy Knitting Projects for the European Fashionista from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on January 20.  Choose a book or movie set in France to discuss at this “book and hook” get together. All ages and skill levels are invited to join the group!

• Mountain Music Slow Jam will meet from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. on January 6 and 20 in the downstairs meeting room.  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 Community Drum Circle meets at 5:30 p.m. on January 9 and 23.  Join the celebration of drums, while exploring the soul and spirit of music!

The library extends gratitude for donations given by The New River Book Club and Pauline Hughes.