Special events to launch Summer Reading
A simulated “prairie dog village” and a pyramid party are two events marking the start of Summer Reading at Catawba County Library System.
The annual literacy initiative aims to keep young people reading when school is not in session.

Signups begin Tuesday, May 21. Kickoff celebrations are scheduled that week with the themes Dig into Reading for age 0-11and Beneath the Surface for age 12-18. Kickoff events include:

Tuesday, May 21—
Southwest Branch: 4 p.m. Kickoff Celebration
Conover Branch: 6:30 p.m. Simulated prairie dog village for kids to explore.

Thursday, May 23—
Newton, 4 p.m. Grow plants. Kids will plant seeds in a cup to take home.
Sherrills Ford, 4 p.m. Grassy Faces and Hairstyles program.

Friday, May 24
Claremont, 3:30 p.m. Simulated Prairie Dog Village to explore.
St. Stephens, 4 p.m. “Egyptian Family Party, “Wrap Your Mummy”

Saturday, May 25
Conover, 11 a.m. Stories, music and prairie dog village.
Thursday, May 30
Maiden, 3:30 p.m. Coil pottery workshop. Please pre-register.

Summer Reading participants will complete a reading log to document accomplishments over the summer. Sign up in person at any or on-line at http://www.catawbacountync.gov/library. You can download a reading log sheet.

For more detail, contact any branch or Librarian Richard Griffin in Youth Services at 465-8668.

County library tells holiday schedule
Catawba County Library System will be closed on Monday, May 27 in observance of Memorial Day. Materials checked out from the library system may be returned to book drops at any time over that weekend.

Regular business hours will resume at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 28, when signups will continue for Summer Reading. Summer Reading encourages young people to continue reading and/or being read-to during summer vacation.

The Main Library is located at 115 West C Street in Newton. The system also includes the Claremont, Conover, Maiden, Sherrills Ford, Southwest and St. Stephens branches.

DNA topic of June 8 workshop
Newton’s genealogy series concludes this month with a talk on DNA Saturday, June 8 at Catawba County Library in Newton.
Cliff Grimsley, a biology instructor at Gaston College will discuss how DNA information can enhance family research at 10 a.m. that Saturday. The program is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is not necessary.
Grimsley’s presentation is designed for the layman with little or no background in genetics but who would like to submit a DNA test for genealogical purposes.

Grimsley holds an M.A. degree in education and B.S. in biology with extended graduate education in biology and pharmacology. He has taught at Gaston College in Dallas since 1998.

The free workshop is sponsored by Friends of Catawba County Library. Attendees should come with general questions and materials to take notes. Light refreshments will be served at no charge. The Main Library is located at 115 W. C Street, Newton.

Claremont Branch to host quartet
Kontras Quartet will appear free and in concert at Claremont Branch Library on Wednesday, May 22. The public is cordially invited to a Rug Concert for young children at 10 a.m. and an Afterwork Masterworks concert for teens and adults at 5 p.m.
The appearances are made possible through a collaboration of Catawba County Library System through support from the North Carolina Arts Council and United Arts Council of Catawba County through the Grassroots Arts/Project Pools Program.

Summer Reading signups start soon
It’s about time for Summer Reading at Catawba County Library.

Signups begin Tuesday, May 21, at all locations: Newton, Conover, Claremont, Maiden, St. Stephens, Sherrills Ford and Southwest (Mountain View). Kickoff celebrations are scheduled that week. Themes this year are Dig into Reading for ages 0-11and Beneath the Surface for ages 12-18.
Participants will complete a reading log as a way of documenting what was accomplished over the summer. Sign up in person at any or on-line at http://www.catawbacountync.gov/library. You can download the reading record sheet and learn about upcoming events.

Summer Reading, by the way, is an annual literacy initiative to keep children and youth reading when school is not in session. The idea is to maintain reading skill levels.

Perennial favorite Ronald McDonald will appear at each library location starting Tuesday, June 5 at Southwest and Conover. This and other programs will help pique curiosity, foster learning and enhance skills.

On the June calendar are visits by Lincoln County archaeologist January Porter on June 4 at both Southwest and Conover locations. Worm farming will be the topic of sessions the week of June 10 at both Conover and Claremont. St. Stephens will host a session on ants June 14. Don’t worry about the cost: all of the programs are free. “Dinosaur digging” is planned at Maiden, St. Stephens and Claremont. Sherrills Ford will make “dinosaur fossils.” Newton will host a series of family movies on Saturday afternoons, among other activities.

For more details, contact any branch or Youth Services at 465-8668.

Local author at St. Stephens
Elizabeth Powe of Taylorsville will sign copies of her novel, Restoration, from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 1 at St. Stephens Branch.

The Christian fantasy novel focuses on Emmalyne Keene, who is entrusted to keep a rare family jewel.

Powe, a former teacher, has written her book “as inspirational story of true hope that allows readers an opportunity to wrestle through the struggles that may hold them back from reaching their true potential.”

Powe, a native of New Orleans, moved to the area in 2000 with her husband Rodney, worship pastor at Sandy Ridge Baptist Church. She will have copies available for sale and signing. St. Stephens Branch is located at 3225 Springs Road NE, Hickory.

‘Battle’ books encourage summer reading
Catawba County Library’s Summer Reading signups begin May 21. The Battle of the Books reading list is a great place for kids to begin.
Battle of the Books challenges kids to test their knowledge of literature and help instill a love of reading. Students in grades 5-8 prepare for the contest by reading from a pre-selected book list released by the N.C. School Library Media Association. The reading list offers highly regarded children’s literature representing a cross-section of subjects and genres with attention to diversity of themes and authors.

Catawba County Library System has multiple copies available on specially marked shelves. If you cannot find a title, be sure to ask a librarian.
Elementary

A Long Walk to Water, Linda Sue Park
Belly Up, Stuart Gibbs
Greetings from Nowhere, Barbara O’Connor
The Homework Machine, Dan Gutman
Inside Out & Back Again, Thanhha Lai
Island of the Blue Dolphins, Scott O’Dell
Jake, Audrey Couloumbis
Julie of the Wolves, Jean Craighead George
Love, Ruby Lavender, Deborah Wiles
Savvy, Ingrid Law
Smells Like Dog, Suzanne Selfors
The Tale of Despereaux, Kate DiCamillo
The Trouble with Chickens, Doreen Cronin
Tuesdays at the Castle, Jessica Day George
Ungifted, Gordon Korman
Woods Runner, Gary Paulsen
The Year of the Dog, Grace Lin
Zora and Me, Victoria Bond

Middle School

Return to Sender, Julia Alvarez
The Underneath, Kathi Appelt
Iron Thunder: The Battle
Between the Monitor and the Merrimac, Avi
The Boy Who Dared, Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Island of the Unknowns; A Mystery*, Benedict Carey
That Summer, Sarah Dessen
Gym Candy, Carl Deuker
Forged by Fire, Sharon M. Draper
Under a War-Torn Sky, Laura Elliott
The Brooklyn Nine, Alan Gratz
Out of the Dust, Karen Hesse
Red Scarf Girl, Ji-Li Jiang
Heaven, Angela Johnson
Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam, Cynthia Kadohata
Schooled, Gordon Korman
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
Legend, Marie Lu
A Monster Calls , Patrick Ness
Wonder, R.J. Palacio
Ghosts in the Fog, Samantha Seiple
Bomb: the Race to Build and Steal the
World’s Most Dangerous Weapon, Steve Sheinkin
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Betty Smith
The Emerald Atlas, John Stephens
The Mysterious Benedict Society, Trenton Lee Stewart
The Land, Mildred D. Taylor
Three Times Lucky, Sheila Turnage
Crow, Barbara Wright

*This book was previously published under the title “The Unknowns: a Mystery.”

Library to observe Children’s Book Week

Children’s Book Week will be observed at Catawba County Library with free activities next week.

Kids of all ages are invited to design a bookmark at 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 14 at St. Stephens Branch
Fancy Nancy Party is planned on Thursday, May 16 at Main Library in Newton. The event will begin in Youth Services at 4 p.m. with a costume contest and refreshments. Kids are invited to come as their favorite story character.

A game time featuring Wii and board games will be available for kids to enjoy at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 18 in Newton.

Ready-to-Learn story times for preschoolers will continue at each library location along with Thursday music time for young children at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 16, at Sherrills Ford. Check the library website at http://www.catawbacountync.gov/library for details.

Children’s Book Week is an annual observance administered by Every Child a Reader, the philanthropic arm of the children’s publishing industry in the United States. For more information about Children’s Books Week or recommended books to share with youngsters, contact Richard Griffin, Youth Services librarian in Newton, at 465-8668.

Summer Reading calendars available
The May -June Summer Reading schedule for ages 0-18 will soon be available through the county library website and all library locations. Signups begin Tuesday, May 21 followed by a host of kickoff activities. Questions about the program should be referred to Youth Services, 465-8668 or any library branch.

Learn parenting secrets May 11
Parenting Coach Ann Miller will lead a discussion on how to raise a successful teen at 12:30 p.m. May 11 at Conover Branch Library. “The Secret to Raising Successful Teens” is an hour-long presentation will help parents prepare a teen to live independently once he or she leaves for college. The session is free and open to the public.

Miller is an ADD coach who helps students reach their peak academic success. She will discuss three parenting styles and one step parents can take to help their son or daughter transition to adulthood.

Miller holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from UCLA and has many years of experience in the neurosciences and education fields. As a former CPA with an MBA from University of Kentucky, she is well-versed in money management and real life. For more information, contact librarian Siobhan Loendorf at 466-5108. More information about Miller is at www.add2success.com .

Friends to meet May 13
Friends of Catawba County Library will hold their monthly meeting at11 a.m. Monday, May 13, at the Main Library in Newton. Members will discuss their annual membership drive and plans for the big book sale in August. For details, call Lynne Bolick Reed at 465-8692.

Moms highlighted in these books
With Mother’s Day fast approaching, Catawba County Library System has a number of new titles about mothers and motherhood.
You may have heard that Maya Angelou has a new memoir out. The celebrated author says she had to write Mom & Me & Mom (2013) because she feels an obligation to share what she knows,–not sheer facts but human truths. Her straightforward style dives deeply into the complex relationship between her and Vivian Baxter Johnson, her mother who owned gambling business and boarding houses—a mother she came to live with only after becoming a teenager. Find it on the biography shelves.

What would it be like to be the daughter of Shirley MacLaine? Daughter Sachi Parker tells all in a just-released memoir, Lucky Me. Bounced about between her celebrity parents, Parker eventually attended boarding school in Europe, became a flight attendant and became involved in a series of abusive relationships. In this book, she tries to unravel the mysteries of her childhood and her parents’ unconventional marriage.

Mom: A Celebration of Mothers from StoryCorps, is a 2010 compilation of stories from everyday Americans. Since 2003, StoryCorps has collected oral histories from more than 50,000 Americans in all 50 states. Savor the wisdom of everyday sages.

A fictional look at Mom comes from the incomparable Joyce Carol Oates, who released Missing Mom: The Lady Vanishes, a few years ago. This story is set in fictional Mount Ephriam, NY, the same place that spawned her unforgettable novel, We Were the Mulvaneys. Knowing Oates, don’t expect a cheery read.

Best-selling author Jane Green has a new novel out. Family Pictures, the story of two women on opposite coasts whose lives are intertwined. Now, about to become empty nesters, these mid-life mothers are about to endure exposure of a shocking secret.

Mothers also figure into the plot of Jill McCorkle’s long-awaited novel, Life After Life. Set in a small North Carolina town, McCorkle captures the pulse of every character’s strengths, weaknesses, and secrets in her celebrated style. See why she has been called one of the South’s greatest writers.

New DVDs on order
Catawba County Library has a number of new DVDs on order. Soon to be available for free checkout are such recent releases as:

The Last Ride—Drama concerning the death of country great Hank Williams.
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone—A comedy about the world of magicians.
Into the White—World War II drama involving British and German pilots.
Betty and Coretta—Biographical film about Coretta Scott King, wife of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Dr. Betty Shabazz, wife of Malcolm X.
11 Flowers, a Chinese coming-of-age story set during the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s.

Check availability of these and other films at http://www.catawbacountync.gov/library or visit any county library location.

Paws to Read comes to Newton
How would your child like to read to a Pomeranian?

A trained therapy dog is available Tuesday evenings to hear a young person read aloud at the Main Library in Newton.

Richard Griffin, Youth Services librarian, said the sessions are designed to help young people gain reading confidence by reading stories aloud.

Parents should make an appointment at the library any Tuesday evening. Thirty-minute time slots will be available on a first-come basis. The dog handler who is voluntarily offering the service, will be nearby during the sessions. For more information, contact Griffin at 465-8668 or stop by the Main Library.

May events listed for county library
Catawba County Library will begin signups for the annual Summer Reading literacy project starting May 21 at all seven locations. Patrons are invited to kickoff events at various branches.

Dramatist Barbara Bates Smith will present a “Ron Rash Roundup” based on the popular North Carolina writer’s works at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 14. The show is free and open to the public, thanks to Friends of the Library.

A beginners’ genealogy workshop will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 18 in Newton. Tammy Wilson of the library staff will offer Genealogy 101 for adults interested in tracing their family history. The session is free and open to the public.

The Kontras Quartet will present chamber music concerts for kids and adults on Wednesday, May 22 at Claremont. A Rug Concert for young children is slated at 10 a.m. The Afterwork Masterworks concert for teens and adults is at 5.

For up-to-the minute library information, check the on-line calendar at http://www.catawbacountync.gov/library

COMING ATTRACTIONS
Please pre-register for computer programs and events at Maiden.

Main Library, 465-8664
• Ready to Learn Story Time, Wednesdays & Thursdays at 10 a.m. (preschool)
• Ready to Learn Story Time 5 p.m. Tuesdays (preschool) and 10 a.m. May 4
• NC LIVE Resources, 10 a.m. May 7 (adults)
• Create/Update Resume, 10 a.m. May 9 (adults)
• Mother’s Day Book Craft, 4 p.m. May 9 (school age)
• Movie “Mars Needs Moms,” 10 a.m. May 11 (kids)
• Southern Pens, 10 am. May 11, Raney discussion. (adults)
• Friends of Library 11 a.m. May 13 (adults)
• On-line Job Searching, 10 a.m. May 16 (adults)
• Teens Read with Kids, 4 p.m. May 16
• Kids games, 10 a.m. May 18
• Genealogy 101 workshop, 10 a.m. May 18 (adults) Pre-registration not needed.
• Intro to Word, 10 a.m. May 21 (adults)
• Summer Reading kickoff 4 p.m. May 23 (all)
• Software Multimedia, 10 a.m. May 24 (adults)
• “The Never Ending Story” movie, 2 p.m. May 25 (all)
• Genealogy Society, 7 p.m. May 28 (adults)
• Worm farm demo, 4 p.m. May 30 (all ages)

Claremont Branch, 466-6817
• Ready to Learn Story Time, 11 a.m. Fridays (preschool)
• Kontras Rug Concert, 10 a.m. May 22 (preschool)
• Kontras Afterwork Masterworks, 5 p.m. May 22
• Summer Reading Kickoff Party, 3:30 p.m. May 24 (all)
• Summer Reading plant program, 11 a.m. May 31 (preschool)
• Summer Reading garden program, 2 p.m. May 31 (school age)
• Rising Hope Farms, 4 p.m. May 31 (teens)

Conover Branch, 466-5108
• Ready to Learn Story Time 11 am Tuesdays & Saturdays (preschool)
• Learn about Instagram, 6:30 p.m. May 7 (teens)
• Raise a Successful Teen, 12:30 p.m. May 11 (adults)
• Ron Rash Roundup, 6:30 p.m. May 14 (teens & adults)
• Summer Reading kickoff, 6:30 p.m. May 21 & 11 a.m. May 25 (all)
• “Rise of the Guardians” movie, 6 p.m. May 28 (families)
• Gardening program, 2 p.m. May 29 (school age)

Maiden Branch, 428-2712
• Ready to Learn Story Time 9:30 am Thursdays (preschool)
• Make coil pottery, 3:30 p.m. May 30 (school age)

St. Stephens Branch, 466-6821
• Ready to Learn Story Time Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 am (preschool)
• Ready to Learn Story Time 6 pm Tuesdays (preschool)
• Photo Story Workshop, 10 a.m. May 1 (adults)
• Facebook Workshop, 10 a.m. May 8 (adults)
• Internet Job Searching, 10 a.m. May 22 (adults)
• Facebook Workshop, 10 a.m. May 8 (adults)
• Warp Your Mummy Party, 4 p.m. May 24 (all)
• Root Vegetable Painting, 4 p.m. May 31 (kids)

Sherrills Ford Branch, 466-6827
• Ready to Learn, Story Time 10 am Wednesdays (preschool)
• Ready to Learn Music, 10 am Thursdays (preschool)
• Connie Company performance, 10:30 a.m. May 18 (all ages)
•. Friends of the Library, 6:30 p.m. May 21 (adults)
• Summer Reading kickoff, 4 p.m. May 23 (all)
•. Gem Mining, 6:30 p.m. May 28 (teens & adults)
•. Gardening & garden bingo, 4 p.m. May 30 (all ages)

Southwest, 466-6818
• Ready to Learn Story Time, 10 a.m. Wednesdays & 11 a.m. Thursdays (preschool)
• Learning Express, 10 a.m. May 10 (adult)
• Summer Reading kickoff, 4 p.m. May 21

Catawba County Library System will host several adult computer workshops in May as the library continues life-long learning outreach. Each session is 90 minutes long and free to the public.

Next month’s offerings:

Photo Story—See how to create a Windows Media Video with your own digital images using “Ken Burns effect” dissolves, narration, music and so on. Session will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 1 at St. Stephens.

NC LIVE Resources—Explore the many data bases accessed through the NC LIVE website. This helpful session begins at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 7 at Newton.

Facebook—Enter the world of social media and find out how to best use this popular social media application. Workshop starts at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 8 at St. Stephens.

Create/Update Your Resume—A must for job hunters who want to showcase their skills and experience to prospective employers. This workshop commences at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 9 at Newton.

Learn with LearningExpress—Become acquainted with amazing educational and career tools available free through LearningExpress Library offered through our library website. Offered at 10 a.m. Friday, May 10 at Southwest.

Intro to Excel—Familiarize yourself with the basics of this popular spreadsheet software. Offered at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 14 at Newton.

On-Line Job Searching—Learn how to best navigate the web to find suitable employment. Session will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 16 at Newton and again at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 22 at St. Stephens.

Intro to Word—Learn this basic word processing program used for letters, reports and other text documents. Class begins at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 21 at Newton.

Software/Multimedia Workshop—Learn the tricks of integrating sound and visuals to create your own videos. This workshop is scheduled at 10 a.m. Friday, May 24 at Newton.

Space is limited. To sign up for a workshop, contact the appropriate location: Newton, 465-7938, Southwest, 466-6181, or St. Stephens, 466-6821.

Parent workshop May 11 at Conover
Parenting Coach Ann Miller will lead a discussion on how to raise a successful teen-ager at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 11, at Conover Branch Library, 403 Conover Station.

The public is cordially invited to the hour-long session geared toward preparing a teen to live independently once he or she leaves for college. Miller, will discuss how parents can best prepare teens for entry into the adult world by acting as a guide/mentor.

While she specializes in helping parent of teens with attention deficit disorder (ADD), her talk can apply to all parents of teens. For more information, contact Librarian Siobhan Loendorf at 466-5108.

Conover announces Tuesday fare
Conover Branch Library has some free treats in store on Tuesday evenings in May.

Teens are invited to a session on Instagram, the popular photo-sharing and social networking service at 6:30 p.m. May 7.

Adults and teens alike will want to be on hand for the Ron Rash Roundup at 6:30 p.m. May 14. Actress Barbara Bates Smith and accompanist Jeff Sebens will present a rendition of stories by revered North Carolina author Ron Rash. The performance is a test drive of the new show, with audience feedback welcome. The program starts at 6:30 p.m.

Summer Reading officially starts on May 21 with a kickoff event to highlight this year’s theme, “Dig into Reading.” Families with children aged 0-18 are invited to preview upcoming programs with stories, music and a depiction of a prairie dog village.

Family movie night is planned May 28 with a showing of “Rise of the Guardians,” a 2102 animated feature. Everyone should be seated by 6 p.m.

Rhodes Room acquires more materials
Want to browse old photos of Catawba? How about Lincoln County land grants or silver items made in North Carolina?

These are just some of the topics covered by materials acquired recently for the Rhodes Room history collection. The Rhodes Room, located at the Main Library in Newton, is a repository of local history, genealogical materials and references for North Carolina and other states. It’s a treasure trove for history buffs and family researchers made ever more valuable as the collection is expanded and upgraded.

Heartbeat of Catawba Volume 2 is an historical overview of the town of Catawba by Jan Brown, a ’58 graduate of Bunker Hill High School. This book is a montage of people, events and places—both narrative and photos.

Real Estate and Legal Notices from Charlotte, NC Newspapers 1835-1847 and the second volume covering 1848-1862 offers a wide-angled view of Piedmont life at mid-century. Here are valuable mentions of families through estate sales, court proceedings and land transfers plus some unexpected information about runaway slaves and apprentices, sales of gold mines, retails stores and lost livestock. Such rare mentions can be invaluable to researchers in determining whereabouts of elusive ancestors.

If you have roots in Lincoln County (including Catawba County) into the Revolutionary War period, you’ll want to browse both volumes of Lincoln County Land Grants (1779-1802) by Dr. A. B. Pruitt. The book published last year includes maps to help locate parcels mentioned in the records.

To browse all library holdings, log on to www.catawbacountync.gov/library/ . The Rhodes Room hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Amazing digital sources for the curious

How much do you know about North Carolina?

You can quickly boost your state IQ with NCpedia.org . This website, sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources and managed by the State Library of North Carolina, is the go-to place for all things North Carolina.

Be sure to bookmark this site if you’re in school. If you’re not, it might make you wish you had an assignment on a Tar Heel topic. As of last month, NCpedia included more than 3,300 entries and 4,000 images.

There are local connections to the encyclopedia. Lenoir-Rhyne, Catawba County, Piedmont Wagon Company, Miracle of Hickory and Stoneman’s Raid are listed. There’s even a 1908 photo of a Newton cotton mill.

NCpedia is just one of many digital resources available to the public. The largest repository of reference material for North Carolina library patrons is NCLIVE, the mammoth data base available through your library website. Local customers can access it through the library website, http://www.catawbacountync.gov/library. Your library card number is your password. Here you’ll find material covering aardvarks to zygotes.

Still another excellent resource is everyoneon.org. This site, accessible to all internet users, was launched March 21. Collaborating with the American Library Association and many more partners, everyone is an on-line learning tool to help Americans become more digitally literate. Check the website for basic learning information and free training sessions.

For more information, contact your local library branch or Information Services staff in Newton at 465-7938 or 465-8663.

Genealogy how-to session May 18 in Newton
The popular Genealogy 101 session at Catawba County Library will be offered Saturday, May 18 at Main Library in Newton.

Anyone interested in starting a family research project—including first-timers—are invited to the two-hour session to begin at 10 a.m. Tammy Wilson of the library staff will present an illustrated talk based on more than 30 years of her own genealogical pursuits.

Reservations are not required for the workshop. Participants should bring note-taking materials and general questions. Light refreshments will be served, compliments of Friends of Catawba County Library.

Another free genealogy workshop will be offered at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 8 at Main Library, Newton. The topic will be DNA research.

Learn gardening tips at library
Whether you’re a new sprout or a seasoned gardener, Catawba County Library System has two free gardening programs you won’t want to miss.
Kelly Groves of the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service will share her expertise Tuesday evening, April 23 with a 6:30 p.m. talk on rain gardens at Conover Branch.

Her workshop on container gardens is scheduled at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 27 at Maiden Branch. Both sessions are free. Pre-registration is not required at either program. Simply “turn up” with your questions.

A rain garden is a shallow depression planted with deep-rooted native plants and grasses designed to capture runoff before it reaches the sewer system. The garden is a perfect way to beautify a soggy spot on your property while conserving water.

Ron Rash Roundup May 14
A Ron Rash Roundup of selected short stories will be previewed by actress Barbara Bates Smith and accompanist Jeff Sebens at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 14 at Conover Branch Library. The program, sponsored by Friends of Catawba County Library, is free and open to the public.

Featured stories are “Nothing Gold Can Stay,” “Burning Bright,” “Chemistry and Other Stories,” and “The Night the New Jesus Fell to Earth.” The performance will be presented as work-in-progress, inviting audience feedback.

Some of the stories are contained within the collections, Nothing Gold Can Stay and Burning Bright available through the Catawba County Library System. Rash, who teaches at Western Carolina University, is also a notable poet and novelist. Two of his novels are being made into films—The World Made Straight, and his New York Times bestseller Serena starring Jennifer Lawrence. His stories have won the coveted Frank O’Connor International Award, two O. Henry prizes, and recognition as a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner award.

Actress Smith appeared at the Main Library in Newton in 2010 with a rendition of Lee Smith’s The Christmas Letters. Sebens accompanies her shows with a variety of hammered dulcimer, lap dulcimer, guitar and banjo music.

Friends welcome gently used materials
If you have some spare books, CDs or DVDs in good condition, Friends of Catawba County Library wants to hear from you. The library support group is seeking new or gently used materials to replenish book sale racks at Main Library in Newton as well as the Conover branch. Donations from the public may be used for ongoing book sales as well as the “big” book sale scheduled Aug. 1-3 at Newton.

Ongoing book sale racks are also operated by Friends of Claremont Library and Friends of Sherrills Ford Library at those locations.

New or gently used paperback and hardback books are accepted in addition to audiobooks and movies on DVD. However, Friends does not accept video tapes (VHS), magazines, encyclopedias, Reader’s Digest collections or textbooks. Badly worn, soiled or outdated materials should not be donated. Items may be brought to any branch of the county library system during regular business hours.

Funds raised by the book sales enable Friends to purchase new items for the library system as well as underwrite expenses associated with adult programs, Summer Reading and other literacy projects.

The county Friends group serves as a community liaison and support organization for the entire county library system. The group welcomes interested members of the community. The next meeting is 11 a.m. Monday, May 13 in Newton.

Container gardens are the perfect solution for apartment dwellers and others who want to get in touch with nature but have little space to grow plants. Clay pots, boxes, buckets and even old boots can be used to grow small plants. Those may include any number of flowers, herbs and vegetables such as tomatoes, lettuce and spinach. Container gardens are a delightful, doable way to bring a bit of spring and fresh edibles into your life.

Groves will be happy to answer questions about plant and seed selection, soil preparation, proper fertilizers and watering techniques to maximize your efforts. You’ll receive free handouts with gardening tips and several library books will be on display for browsing and checkout.

For more inspiration, you may wish to peruse the library collection for books, videos and magazines about gardeners and their plants. Visit the “635” shelves for a bounty of growing tips, design inspiration and more. Check availability at http://www.catawbacountync.gov/library