Catawba County Library Youth Services will salute Jules Verne Feb. 8 with a reading of his work and a craft time for kids. The fun begins that Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Main Library, Newton.

Verne is known as the father of science fiction, writing about modern marvels well before their debut.

Born Feb. 8, 1828, Verne is best known for his novels that have become classic films: Journey to the Center of the Earth, 20,000 Leagues under the Sea and Around the World in Eighty Days. Verne is the second-most translated author of all time behind mystery writer Agatha Christie with more than 4,000 translations.

Kids of all ages are invited to the Sunday afternoon program which is free and open to the public. A craft time will be geared toward elementary-aged children.

For more information about library programming this month, log on to the county library website at http://catawbacounty nc.gov/library or contact any library location: Newton, Conover, Claremont, Maiden, St. Stephens, Sherrills Ford or Southwest.

Friends of Catawba County Library will meet at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 9, at the Main Library in Newton.

Among the topics will be involvement with the 2009 BIG Read literacy project, upcoming book sale on April 30- May 2 and sponsorship of an author appearance by Dr. John Chandler Griffin on Feb. 12. Griffin will discuss his book, Lincoln’s Execution at 7 p.m. that evening.

The Friends group serves as a community liaison and support group for the entire county library system. The group welcomes interested members of the community. For more information call 465-8292.

There are romances and then there are romances.

Readers who enjoy love stories know the genre ranges from sweet young-adult stories to raunchy bodice rippers.

In recent years, Christian authors have tapped into the market. In response to local reader demand, Catawba County Library System keeps a healthy number of them on the shelves.

A brochure was designed recently with these ladies in mind. Inspirational Romance lists recent work by 16 different authors.

“The idea is to help patrons to find new authors they might enjoy” said Diane Jennings, Collection Development Librarian for Catawba County Library System.

As part of her job, Jennings orders hundreds of fiction titles each year. The  popularity of inspirational romances demands representation. These novels range from contemporary church-goers sorting through life’s trials to lovelorn faith-seekers in the Wild West, Nantucket Island and Amish country.

Christian writers in the new library brochure: Judy Baer, Tracy Bateman, Kristine Billerbeck, Anne Dayton, Deeanne Gist, Shelley Gray, Dee Henderson, Karen Kingsbury, Jill Marie Landis, Beverly Lewis, Beth Pattillo, Francine Rivers, Anna Schmidt, Cami Tang, Jacqueline Thomas and Linda Windsor.

If you aren’t sure which writer you want to try, ask a librarian.

“We’re here to help you find the right book,” Jennings said.

For more information about these or other library services, contact any Catawba County Library branch or log on to www.catawbacountync.gov/library.

Lincoln was not assassinated.

He was ordered executed by fellow politicians and military leaders because he wanted to welcome the Southern states back into the Union with their full constitutional rights restored.

Such is the premise of the 2006 book by Dr. John Chandler Griffin who will speak on the subject at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, at Main Library in Newton. The program, which will occur on the 200^th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth, is free and open to the public.

Friends of Catawba County Library is hosting. Griffin will have books available for purchase and signing.

A noted historian and academic, Griffin explores the complexity of the plot which involved then vice president  Andrew Johnson, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, and the U.S. chief of the National Detective Police, Lafayette Baker, took action to ensure that this would not occur. Baker, in fact, worked closely with Booth to carry out the plot. Drawing from Baker’s secret papers, Griffin’s book offers new insights into the events of 1865 which have intrigued historians and the public for generations.

Born in McColl, S.C., Griffin served in the U.S. Army’s 82^nd Airborne Division and later earned his Ph.D. in history. He taught at the University of South Carolina at Lancaster until his retirement in 1998, when he was named Distinguished Professor Emeritus and received the Order of the Silver Crescent by Gov. Jim Hodges.

While teaching, Griffin wrote the weekly sports column for the State newspaper in Columbia and the Observer in Charlotte and wrote six books about college football. His 1996 biography of Thomas Wolfe won the History Book of the Year Award from the North Carolina Historical Society. His biography of noted author Jean Toom won the Adele Mellen Award. Before delving into his interest in Lincoln, Griffin penned A Pictorial History of the Confederacy.

The Griffin program is one of three historical talks offered at Catawba County Library next month. The others are:

Thursday, Feb. 5: CVCC history professor and writer Richard Eller and co-author Jerry Goodnight will update research since their 2002 book, The Tarheel Lincoln, which explored the legend of Lincoln’s birth in Western North Carolina. The program begins at 5 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 23: A third program will feature local writer Mary Ellen Snodgrass who penned a two-set reference set on the Underground Railroad. She will appear at 7 p. m.

For more information about these or other library programs, contact Lynne Bolick Reed, library services coordinator, at 465-8292 or log on to the library website at www.catawbacountync.gov/library     .

Youth Services will explore the world of wild birds on Thursday, Feb. 19 with a talk by a local park ranger.

John Sutton of Bakers Mountain Park in Mountain View will give a PowerPoint presentation featuring local migratory birds and discuss how to attract them with the proper house and food.

The program takes flight at 4 p.m. at the Main Library in Newton. Elementary-age children are invited to take part in a bird-inspired craft session.

Youth Services Librarian Richard Griffin said, “This is a great way to orient youngsters to birds and how they can help these creatures in midwinter. We’ll have bird-themed materials available for all ages.

“Some may not realize that we have several excellent birding trails in our area including three in Catawba County: Bakers Mountain Park, Riverbend Park north of Conover and Glenn Hilton Park in Hickory,” Griffin said. “A walk through one of these parks would be a good family activity this time of year.”

Birds will also be the theme of story times at Maiden Branch on Feb. 18. Toddlers are invited to weekly story time beginning at 9:30 a.m. Preschoolers should come at 10.

Story times offer an excellent way for youngsters to get ready to read and oriented to the library environment. Young children are invited to weekly session at all branches.

An expanded computer class is coming to Main Library in Newton next month.

“Intermediate Introduction to Computers” will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18 for adults who wish to strengthen their computing skills at their own pace. Classes will be scheduled for 90 minutes each week until students complete the course which should take about 15 weeks.

Modules covered will cover such topics as word processing, spreadsheets, information searching and more.

Lynne Bolick Reed, library services coordinator, will lead the sessions.

“Students who complete the class will be eligible to take an assessment test to earn a certificate from Microsoft,” she said.

The class is a non-credit course. Requirements are agility with a computer mouse and familiarity with web site navigation. Students must commit to one 90-minute session weekly and have reading skills adequate to read a newspaper.

Intermediate Introduction to Computers is just one of many computing classes offered by Catawba County Library System throughout the year. For more information about the course, contact Lynne Bolick Reed weekdays at 465-8292.

Catawba County Library locations will offer several intriguing displays during February. Displays are intended for informational and education as well as entertainment.

Offerings will include:

Newton-Wild birds, the BIG Read 2009 (Civil War themed items)

            Genealogy-How to trace your family tree

St. Stephens-The BIG Read promotion

Sherrills Ford - Shapes of War artist books by Sigrid Hice

Maiden-All God’s Children figurines collected by Mae McMullen and BIG Read promotion               

Claremont-Black History Month items

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The rumors have persisted for 200 years. Was Abraham Lincoln actually born in North Carolina to a poor hired girl and her planter employer?

Maybe.

Local authors Richard Eller and Jerry Goodnight were so intrigued with the tale they wrote a book, The Tarheel Lincoln:  North Carolina Origins of “Honest” Abe, back in 2002. Since then, more evidence has come to light.

In fact, Goodnight has re-opened the case with his just-published Searching for Lincoln. In the new book, the author investigates the aftermath of the 16th president, the claims of all those who now want an unwanted child as part of their genealogy.

History buffs won’t want to miss their talk at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, at Main Library in Newton. The program is free and open to the public.

As one of our greatest presidents, the atmosphere surrounding the birth of Abraham Lincoln borders on the messianic. The Great Emancipator came into the world at Knob Creek Farm on a wintry day in 1809. What is presumed to be his cabin is ensconced within a Greek temple designed for the purpose at the national historic site near Hodgenville, KY.

Yet some Kentucky locals at the time claimed to have seen a young boy accompanying the settlers Nancy and Thomas Lincoln. The real birth of Abraham Lincoln occurred much earlier in North Carolina. He was a “son” thrust upon Tom Lincoln who was bribed to take the boy and his mother west to Kentucky-far away from the Enloe family in Western North Carolina.

To skeptics, the suggestion is absurd, even blasphemous. Not so to historians such as Eller.

“So many things about Abraham Lincoln’s birth and childhood do not add up, especially his relationship with his father,” Eller said. “We have been open to the possibility that the accepted story was crafted for political purposes and because of the stature of Mr. Lincoln in American history, this story has not been questioned.”

 The Thursday evening program will explore the legend that has haunted the hills of North Carolina for two centuries. The program is scheduled just a week prior to the 200^th anniversary of Lincoln’s traditional birth date.

For more information about this or other library programming, contact Lynne Bolick Reed at 465-8292 or log on to http://catawbacountync.gov/library .

Senior citizens may have their tax returns prepared free starting Feb. 3 at Catawba County Library.

AARP volunteers will be available every Tuesday from Feb. 3 through April 14 as a community service.

Appointments may be made by calling the Main Library at 465-8292 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Library personnel will not be involved in tax preparation. They will be taking appointments only.

Residents are reminded to bring the following items to their appointments:

1 Social Security cards for themselves and all their dependents,

2. A picture ID,

3. All W2 and 1099 forms pertaining to tax year 2008,

4. 1099 forms received for Social Security benefits,

5. Unemployment compensation forms, and

6. A copy of last year’s income tax return.

Catawba County Library is located at 115 W. C Street in Newton.

If the conversion to digital TV has you baffled, help is on the way at Catawba County Library in Newton.

Rick McCall of Radio Shack will discuss the process and how it will affect you at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, at the Main Library. The program is free and open to the public.

Those who have older non-digital sets will not be able to receive a broadcast signal without a converter box.

Congress established Feb. 17, 2009 as the date when all full-power television broadcast stations stop broadcasting in analog format and broadcast only in digital format. All-digital broadcasting will free up frequencies for public safety communications (such as police, fire, and emergency rescue). Also, digital is a more efficient transmission technology that allows broadcast stations to offer improved picture and sound quality, as well as offer more programming options through multiple broadcast streams (multicasting). In addition, some of the freed up frequencies will be used for advanced commercial wireless services.

Catawba County Library System serves the lion’s share of the county’s residents with locations in Newton, Conover, Maiden, Claremont, St. Stephens, Sherrills Ford and Southwest (Mountain View).