Items filtered by date: November 2024

A New Year is like a clean slate.  Many follow the tradition of setting resolutions.  Plans are made to diet, exercise, and save money.  While you are busy focusing on your 2022 improvement plan, don’t forget about reading.  Joseph Addison, a 17^th century essayist, is known for the popular quote: “Reading is to the mind, as exercise is to the body.”   In other words, just as exercise stimulates your body to make you stronger … reading stimulates your mind and makes you smarter.  Reading is great exercise for your brain, as you imagine scenarios and follow dialogue.  Another way to compliment a ‘saving money’ resolution is to visit the library, rather than the book or video store.  Remember, the library loans books and movies for free!

Wilkes County Public Library is the place to go if you need a pick-me-up, and a dose of holiday cheer.  The trees are lit and books are on display.  Candy canes for visitors and a winter-scene photo both featuring Santa are popular attractions for children.  Stop by and pick out some good books to read while relaxing at home, by the fire, with a hot beverage.  There are also plenty of holiday movies to borrow for family entertainment.

November 22 came and went without my literary birthday recommendation.  Blame it on the beginning of the holiday rush . . . Since this month’s chosen read celebrates an author born on December 12, this article will recommend two-in-one.  I’ll start with the belated and end with the upcoming.  I am also planning my ‘to-read list’ for the new year.  This is always a hard chore since I want to read everything I hear about, and time never allows for that. I will begin hosting monthly in-person Literary Celebrations at the Roaring River Winery (in Traphill) beginning in January.  Look for more information about this in our library news column, or call 336.838.2818 x 241  

Here's 5 YA fantasy releases in November 2021

Why do we read YA books? 

Young adult literature is one of the most exciting and diverse genres of literature out there. Although they are published with young people in mind, YA books are for everyone, young and old alike.

Young adult literature is incredibly popular among—you guessed it—young adults (teens, tweens, and anyone else who identifies as young). In fact, YA is so popular, that many avid book lovers keep reading these popular titles well on into adulthood.

“We have so much to be thankful for.  One day a year hardly seems adequate…” - Anonymous

This quote means so much and is a special reminder for me when celebrating Thanksgiving.  And on behalf of Wilkes County Public Library staff, we are especially grateful for all the community partners and Library Friends who contribute to making our library a place where everyone can be empowered and inspired. 

We would also like to recognize all the veterans in our community and extend a special thank-you for their service.  In honor of Veterans Day, the library’s community room is showcasing a photography exhibit by Martin Tucker, Vietnam veteran and photojournalist.  Stop in the library through the month of November and see Vietnam photographs brought home by North Carolina Veterans. 

by Suzanne Moore, Wilkes County Librarian

Coincidently, the month of October began with an observance of Banned Books Week and later, recognition of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos (b. October 18, 1741) whose literary worth is noted by his famous epistolary novel, Dangerous Liaisions.  A banned book in its own time (1782).

Wilkes County Public Library is recognizing Banned Books Week September 26 – October 2.  This time of year reminds us that ‘freedom to read’ is supported by the Bill of Rights’ First Amendment. 

The American Library Association (ALA) actively advocates and educates in defense of intellectual freedom—the rights of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Intellectual freedom is a core value of the library profession, and a basic right in our democratic society. A publicly supported library provides free, equitable, and confidential access to information for all people of its community.

Noel Perrin, born on September 18, 1927, is September's celebrated author.  He was most known for publishing essays in the New Yorker about life on his farm in Vermont and environmental issues.  As the magazine series developed, Perrin complied his work in a book entitled, First Person Rural.  These essays inspired other writers in what became known as a 'rural-writing' genre.  He was also a pioneer user of solar energy, and developed the first solar-powered generating system in Vermont tied in with the power grid of a public utility.

By Suzanne Moore, Wilkes County Librarian

Every day an average of twenty-two veterans die by suicide.  This is a sad fact that Mission 22 hopes to lower and one day eradicate by raising awareness. Mission 22 is a non-profit organization dedicated to healing with treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Injury and promoting mental wellness. 

DAR – Constitution Day

The Rendezvous Mountain Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) are observing Constitution Day, September 17, with an informative display at Wilkes County Public Library.  DAR is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization that strives to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism.   

Wilkes County Public Library has a new display of informative posters to commemorate the 20^th Anniversary of 9/11 in its meeting room. There is a whole generation born after 9/11 who are learning about what happened on this tragic day that set the war on terrorism in motion.   The 9/11 Memorial Museum provided these posters and is also screening, on-demand, a short webinar (35 min) on September 10 and 11.   Visitors to the library will be able to view this program throughout the day.     

by, Suzanne Moore, Wilkes County Librarian

My month is ending with the pages of Blue Highways: A Journey into America, a book by William Least Heat-Moon.  Heat-Moon turned 81 years old on August 27.   This book, published in 1982, actually began in 1978, when he was 38 years old, as he set off on a cross-country journey using only back roads; ‘blue lines’ on the old-style Rand McNally road atlas.   Over a period of three months, Heat-Moon covered 13,000 miles in his customized van, a home on wheels.  Some say his travel memoir is a cross between Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley and Kerouac’s On the Road.  Forbes magazine included Blue Highways on their list of ‘15 travel books that will make you change the way you see the world.’ 

September is Library Card Sign-up Month, a time when Wilkes County Public Library (WCPL) joins the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries nationwide to remind parents, caregivers and students that signing up for a library card is the first step on the path to academic achievement and lifelong learning. 

For Children and Parents:

• Wilkes Fresh Story Time & Mobile Market is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at the Traphill Branch and for 2:00 p.m. at Ronda Town Hall on August 5, 12, and 19.
• Join the Art Party and create a new art project each week, outdoors at Wilkes Library, 4:00 p.m. on August 3, 10, and 17.
• Baby’s Easy Safe Sleep Training will be held at the library, in partnership with Wilkes Health Department; 10:00 a.m. on August 11 and 5:30 p.m. on August 23. This 1-hour class teaches families the safest sleep practices for babies to reduce SIDS. To attend, you must be at least 30 weeks pregnant or a parent of an infant under 1-year-old. You will receive a free Pack 'n' Play for attending (one per infant). For more info, call the Health Department at 336-651-7469.

There’s a new book club in town, or should we say in the region.  Talking Service Book Club started at Ashe County Public Library the summer of 2019.   This book club will be going hybrid to connect with Wilkes County Veterans.  The group meets to get together and reflect on short, powerful writings about military service by some of the world’s greatest authors. Participants are encouraged to share their insights, build on each other’s comments, and challenge their assumptions through lively, informal conversations.  

A StoryWalk consists of pages that have been removed from a picture book and glued onto posters, which are then staged outside the library, in a park, or other walkable public space. Presently they are located at Blowing Rock Memorial Park, the Tot Lot Playground near the Greenway (across from the Armory) and at the Cove Creek Walking Trail (near the Western Watauga Branch Library) See here for more information.

This reading challenge is open to all ages but is particularly suitable for teens and adults. We sponsor this challenge for two very important reasons: to promote literacy in our community and to have fun doing it. Each year, our librarians select 50 new challenges and participants are invited to complete as many challenges as they want. Each accepted entry earns one ticket for an end-of-year drawing for books and other prizes. Click the image above to get started!