Catawba County News

This Week at Your Library [May 1-7]

Published: April 29, 2021

LIBRARY PROGRAMS
828.465.8665

Contribute to Our Seed Library
Ongoing
We're building a seed library, where the community can exchange seeds for free! We'll accept viable seeds at all locations during their standard business hours, and heirlooms are especially welcome. Please package and label any donations you drop off. Seeds may also be borrowed from the Main Library in Newton. They're subject to availability and cannot be reserved. 

Submissions: Tails & Tales Pet Art Show
Throughout May
To help us celebrate Summer Learning 2021, you're invited to submit photos, drawings, paintings, or stories about your own pet, a shelter friend, or your favorite animal! We'll accept submissions at all library branches, or you can email them to kidshare@catawbacountync.gov. We'll display all the great art and stories we receive at the Main Library in Newton from June 1 through August 8.

SilverArts 2021 Literary, Heritage & Visual Arts Exhibit
May 1-8 at the Southwest Branch's auditorium during regular library hours
The library is partnering with Hickory Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism to host this exhibit, which is the arts component of the 2021 Unifour Senior Games for adults 50 and older in Catawba, Caldwell, Alexander, and Burke Counties. Entries will represent the following categories:

• Literary Arts — essays, poems, short stories, and life experiences
• Heritage Arts — basket-weaving, crocheting, quilting (hand-stitched and machine-stitched), needlework, pottery, knitting, stained glass, tole/decorative painting, jewelry, weaving, and woodworking
• Visual Arts — acrylics, oils , sculpture, photography, pastels, watercolors, mixed media, and drawings

Medicaid/Managed Care Information Fair
Saturday, May 1 from 10 am-2 pm in person at the Newton Library parking lot
Discover the NC Medicaid Plan that's right for you! NC Medicaid Managed Care lets you choose a health plan with the providers and services best for you and your family. You might want to keep your current doctor or find a new one. But whichever plan you select, you’ll get the same access to benefits. Some people won’t need a new plan because of the type of NC Medicaid services they receive, so learn more about your options. Reps from the following health plans will be available so that you can discuss your options in more detail: WellCare, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, Healthy Blue, AmeriHealth Caritas, and Carolina Complete Health.

Garden Volunteer Work Day
Monday, May 3 from 9-11 am at the Main Library in Newton
Our community gardens need to be prepped and planted for the upcoming summer season, and we're excited to ask you for help! If you enjoy being outside and working in the soil, we’d be happy to have you join us. We’ll be mulching, weeding, planting, and getting our hands dirty to prep our space for the new year. Call 828.466.6821 to sign up.

LIVE Zumba with Honey & Jossiah
Mondays, May 3, 10, 17 & 24 at 6 pm (no class on May 31)
This fun dance workout takes place outdoors in the lower parking lot of the Newton Library. It's appropriate for every skill and ability level and open to anyone 14+ (parental signature required for teens under 18). In the event of rain, you may access the virtual session with this Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/i/87120563944?pwd=S09kaEVkd0dydm1VYW14WnVUZG9sUT09 Then enter the meeting ID: 871 2056 3944 and follow it with the passcode: Dance. [Please note that this word is case sensitive. Enter it exactly as shown.] You can also visit www.facebook.com/ZumbaWithHmongSibs/. Meets every Monday.

STEAM: May the Fourth
Tuesday, May 4 at 4 pm
Celebrate Star Wars Day with us by learning how to make your own LED Lightsaber card! This program is for kids 8-14 years old, who are welcome to dress as their favorite Star Wars character! Register at tinyurl.com/ccls-maythe4th and a kit will be sent to your selected library. 

Star Wars: Skywalker Saga Virtual Movie Trivia Night
Tuesday, May 4 at 6 pm
Calling all Jedi and Sith! Join us via Zoom and Kahoot! The trivia questions will be based on all nine films in the Skywalker Saga. We're inviting up to 25 teens or households to join us. Please visit tinyurl.com/cclsstarwarstrivia to register. We'll send a Zoom link out the day before the program. Prizes will be given to the winners. Jedi mind tricks on the presenters is strictly prohibited! May the 4th be with you! (For the best experience, participants should connect two devices, such as a laptop for the Zoom meeting and a phone/tablet to answer multiple-choice questions and have points awarded in real-time using Kahoot! Players can use either the Kahoot! website or download the free Kahoot! app.) 

ESL Class: Intermediate
Tuesdays, May 4, 11 & 18 at 6 pm
Practice speaking English with us on Tuesday evenings! We'll spend the first 20 minutes or so on grammar and usage topics and then start our conversations. If you'd like to register for class or get more information about the weekly series that concludes this month, please call the Newton branch at 828.465.8664.

Virtual Tai Chi
Wednesdays, May 5, 12, 19 & 26 at noon
Our lunchtime tai chi class is led by Cooperative Extension director Dr. George Place. The virtual session is designed to help people relax in their homes or offices during a quick half-hour. It also helps promote balance and alleviate the effects of arthritis. To get the Zoom code, check www.facebook.com/catawbacountylibrarysystem the day of the class.

Mystery Mavens Book Club
Wednesday, May 5 at 6:30 pm
This book club focuses on mysteries of all types and is open to everyone. Join us via Zoom for a lively discussion of House on Fire Hall by Bonnie Kistler, led by Catawba County marketing and communications manager Amy McCauley. Please register at tinyurl.com/CCLS-MysteryMavens. You’ll receive the Zoom link in your email. Please feel free to attend even if you haven’t read this month’s selection.

Live Preschool Storytime via Zoom
Thursdays, May 6, 13, 20 & 27 at 10 am
Gather the kids and join us for a live, interactive preschool storytime! This family-friendly virtual event will include singing, reading, finger plays, and lots of your favorite activities! Please register at https://tinyurl.com/CatawbaThursdayStorytime. You’ll receive the registration confirmation and Zoom link in your email. 

Computer Skills Series
Thursdays, May 6, 13, 20 & 27 at 11 am
Join us for a virtual lunch-and-learn series covering basic computer skills. Session topics are Device & Internet Basics, Communicating Online, Digital Organization, and Finding & Evaluating Information Online. You can sign up for individual sessions or the entire series. For more details and to register, visit tinyurl.com/cclscomputer. We'll send a Zoom link out the morning of the program.

LIBRARY TO GO
828.465.9489

Library to Go in Catawba
Thursdays, May 6 and 20 from 10 am-2 pm
We're making appearances in the Town of Catawba on the first and third Thursdays at Redeemer Lutheran Church, ELCA (200 S Main St). We're asking that anyone who comes to visit make it a brief stop, sanitize your hands as you come in, and wear your mask while in the building. We'll be taking temperatures at the door and will have extra masks and hand sanitizer for everyone to use.

UPCOMING
828.465.8665

Library to Go at Spring Sidewalk Sale
Saturday, May 8 beginning at 9 am
Visit the businesses in downtown Conover for wonderful spring sales just in time for Mother’s Day! The Library to Go will be set up in the midst of the action to share free resources and check out books, so make sure to drop by and visit! 

DROP-IN HELP
828.465.8665

Homework Helpers
Ongoing
The 4-H Youth Council is partnering with the library to offer 20-minute time slots for homework and reading assistance. Elementary and middle school-aged students may drop in on a first-come, first-served basis. Just check in at the circulation desk for guidance when you arrive. Parents must remain in the library during each session. Participating branches include: 

• Newton: Mon & Wed 4-6 pm
• Conover: Sat 10 am-12 noon