North Carolina author Karen Cecil Smith will speak on her picture book, Old Salem Christmas 1840 on Dec. 3 at Catawba County Library in Newton.

Her 4 p.m. appearance is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

Deftly written by Smith and fully illustrated by Bebe Phipps, An Old Salem Christmas, 1840 is the story of a young girl who attends a Moravian Lovefeast at Christmas that year. The girl attends a candlelight service and afterwards savors a sweet bun and a cup of milky coffee.

A Protestant Christian sect that originated in Central Europe, the Moravians had their own distinctive traditions which Smith has faithfully portrayed, making the book a highly recommended picture book for young readers and a welcome addition to school and community library collections.

Joining the author will be Rev. Adam Spaugh and Valerie Westmoreland of New Hope Moravian Church in Startown. They will appear in traditional clothing to share home-made refreshments and discuss the Old World customs of their community.

For more information about the program, contact Tammy Wilson, public information officer for Catawba County Library System, at 465-8661.

Catawba County Library System will feature several displays next month. The displays are intended for information and education as well as entertainment.

Offerings will include:

Newton- Happy Birthday Barbie (50^th ann. of the doll), Salute to author Rita Mae Brown, Moravian holiday items.  Genealogy: heraldry

Maiden-Lighthouse collection by Debra Hyler

Sherrills Ford-Fall and recycling

Southwest-American Indian photography

St. Stephens-Hooks with Books reading group service project

            The library system operates at seven locations, serving the lion’s share of the county’s residents. ¼/p>

Do you believe in ghosts?

Author Daniel Barefoot may convince you this Thursday evening when he discusses his new book, Spirits of ‘76: Ghost Stories of the American Revolution. The reading begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29 as part of a promotional tour with John F. Blair Publisher.

Barefoot, a Lincolnton author who has published a dozen books on regional history, ghost stories and folklore, will explore reported apparitions of George Washington, Molly Pitcher, Thomas Jefferson and others.

The free program is suitable for elementary-aged children through adults. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Some proceeds will benefit Friends of Catawba County Library.

Many local residents are already familiar with Barefoot, who graduated from Maiden High School in 1969. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he also received his law degree.  He served three terms in the N.C. Senate from the 44^th District and has penned four travel guides as well as the biography of a celebrated Confederate general in General Robert F. Hoke: Lee’s Modest Warrior.

Barefoot’s published ghost stories represent all 100 counties in the state, including Seaside Spectres, Piedmont Phantoms, and Haints of the Hills. His recent books are Haunted Halls of Ivy: Ghosts of Southern Colleges and Universities, Let Us Die Like Brave Men, and Hark the Sound of Tar Heel Voices.

Barefoot serves as the city attorney for Lincolnton and is a frequent speaker to cultural, civic and church groups throughout the Southeast.

Catawba County Library System will offer a variety of learning opportunities to adults next month. The free 90-minute sessions are taught by trained library staff and pre-registration is required.  Classes include:

Beginning Word-Get oriented to this popular Microsoft word processing program to compose letters, reports and other documents. Class begins at 10 a.m.. Wednesday, Nov. 25, at St. Stephens Branch Library.

Intro to Power Point-Learn how to use this integrated software program that will allow you to create slides, handouts, notes and outlines. Offered at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at Southwest.

Intro to Publisher- Discover how your PC can integrate text and graphics to produce brochures, newsletters and other printed pieces including birthday cards and reunion flyers. Offered 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10 at Newton.

Setting Up Email-See how easy it is to establish an electronic mail account on a computer. Offered at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6 at Sherrills Ford and again at 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13 at Maiden.

In addition, General Education Development (GED) classes are offered Thursday evenings at Southwest Branch on Highway127 South in Mountain View. The sessions, designed for adults who lack a high school diploma, are held 6-8 p.m. and are offered through Catawba Valley Community College. For details, contact the branch library at 294-2343.

To register for call the Main library at 465-8665; Conover, 466-5108; St. Stephens, 256-3030 or Sherrills Ford, 478-2729. The Main Library is located at 115 West C Street in Newton. Catawba County Library System has 80 Internet work stations available to the public.

            Programs for all ages continue next month at Catawba County Library.

            Adult computer classes and children’s story times are scheduled at various locations.

            Main Library in Newton will host Knowing Your Credit Score with Dr. Glennie Daniels of the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service on Thursday, Nov. 5. She will discuss the importance of using credit wisely and safeguarding your credit worthiness.

            The St. Stephens crocheters’ book club, Hooks with Books, will continue their discussion of literature and charitable projects at their monthly meetings on Oct. 27 and Nov. 24.  Hand-worked items will be on display at the branch during the month of November. If you wish to attend Hooks with Books, preregister by calling 256-3030.

            To preregister for Hooks with Books, computer classes or to learn more details about any program, contact the appropriate branch.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Library closed Nov. 25 & 26. Please pre-register for computer classes.

Main Library, 465-8664

   · Preschool story time, each Thursday at 10 a.m.

   · Family story time, 6:30 p.m. Mondays

   · Friends of Library, 11 a.m. Nov. 2

   · Know Your Credit Score, 5:30 p.m. Nov. 5

   · Intro to Publisher, 10:30 a.m. Nov. 10

   · Native American program for kids, 4:30 p.m. Nov. 17

   · You & Me Baby parenting program, 10 a.m. Nov. 18

   · Teen Games, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 20

   · Teen Advisory Board, 2 p.m. Nov. 21

Conover Branch, 466-5108

   ·  Story time, 10 a.m. Nov. 4 

Claremont Branch, 459-9311

   · Friends of the Library, 6 p.m.  Nov. 24

Maiden Branch, 428-2712

   · Toddler stories 9:30 a.m. & preschool 10 Wednesdays.

   · Setting Up Email, 9 a.m. Nov. 13

   · Stories & crafts, 3:30 p.m. Nov. 19

St. Stephens Branch, 256-3030

   · Preschool/toddler story time 10 a.m. Thursdays

   · Kids read/tell stories, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 17

   · Music Makers for kids, 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Nov. 19

   · Hooks with Books, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 24. Please pre-register.

   · Beginning Word, 10 a.m. Nov. 25

Sherrills Ford Branch, 478-2729

   · Toddler/preschool stories Wednesdays, 10 a.m.  

   · Toddler/preschool music time, 10 a.m. Thursdays

   · Setting Up Email, 10 a.m. Nov. 6

   · Really Rad Reptiles, 4 p.m. Nov. 10

   · Friends of Library with author Joyce Moyer Hostetter, 7 p.m. Nov. 17

Southwest Branch, 294-2343

   · Toddler/preschool story time, 10 a.m. Wednesdays.

   · Free GED classes, 6-8 p.m. Thursdays. Sign up through CVCC.

   · Intro to PowerPoint, 10 a.m. Nov. 13

Free homework help will be available at Catawba County Library in Newton starting Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Elementary and middle school students may take advantage of  tutoring by teens from Newton Health & Science High School. The program begins after school next Tuesday, at 3:15 p.m. and will run until about 4:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays through mid-December.

The tutors will earn service credit for their volunteer hours while and younger students will receive needed help with their homework.

“The program was successful last spring and we expect it to be so again,” said Richard Griffin, Youth Services librarian. “We want to encourage young people to use the library and to know that we are here to support their education.”

Library staff will provide basic supplies such as paper, calculators, books and other resources.

Griffin noted that the Main Library offers a number of homework help computer programs such as Success Deluxe 2009 for elementary through high school levels to allow students to review lessons in several subjects at their own pace. Snacks will be provided by Friends of Catawba County Library.

Participants will need to bring their own textbooks and related materials. It will also be necessary for youngsters to obtain a library card so the library will have contact information. Library card applications require a parent’s signature.

Parents may register their children for the tutoring program by calling the Main Library at 465-8668.

Catawba County Library System, headquartered in Newton, serves some 70,400 registered users, many of them under 18.

Catawba County Library System is offering seasonal fun for all ages.

North Carolina author Daniel Barefoot will read from his newest book, Spirits of ‘76, at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29 at Main Library in Newton. The free program is co-sponsored by John F. Blair Publisher of Winston-Salem and all ages are invited to hear the accounts of Revolutionary War era ghosts.

 Main Library in Newton hosts Game Day for everyone from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16.

Youth ages 12 and older are invited to dress as their favorite book character at the “monster ball” planned for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20 at Main Library in Newton. The event will include prizes and refreshments. Details are available from Youth Services at 465-8668.

Young children will don their Halloween costumes for story time at the Maiden Branch on Oct. 28. Toddlers will gather at 9:30 a.m. and preschoolers at 10.

Maiden Branch will also sponsor a teen mystery event at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22. Ages 12 and older are encouraged help solve a mystery and act out the characters involved.  Refreshments will be served.  Participants should pre-register by calling 428-2712.

A fall festival with games, crafts and refreshments will be held from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 at St. Stephens. All ages are welcome.

Trick or treat hours are 3-6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30 at Newton as well as branches in Claremont, Maiden, St. Stephens, Sherrills Ford and Southwest (Mountain View).  Newton and St. Stephens will be open for trick-or-treaters again on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 3-6 p.m.

Several library locations have autumn/Halloween book displays to entice readers.

If you rail at Christmas displays before Halloween, you aren’t alone. A growing number of Americans are finding that excess commercialism means a less meaningful holiday with excess waste.

The back-to-basics Christmas movement has been around for several years, but this year’s slimmer wallets may be the best excuse yet to unplug the holiday machine. With more environmental concerns and less money to go around, consumers will be looking for ways to dial back the holiday binge.

If simplicity appeals to you, Catawba County Library System has some materials to help you get started. Brand new on the shelves is I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas: Gifts, Decorations, and Recipes That Use Less and Mean More by Anna Getty. This paperback tackles the problem with ideas for imaginative gifts, craft activities and decorating ideas that won’t bust your budget.

Another guidebook, Simply Christmas: Great Ideas for a Non-Commercial Holiday (394.268282 PAX) was authored by Noel Pax. If you have the time to put extra effort into home-crafted treats, gifts and decorations, this book is for you. Perhaps most useful are suggestions for atypical gifts and where to find them.

No one beats the Amish and Quakers for a simple Christmas which equates to eco-friendly. A book to consider is How to Have a Perfect Christmas: Practical and Inspirational Advice to Simply Your Holiday Season by Helen Isolde (394.2663 ISO). Helpful hints, inspirational advice and practical ideas will help you regain control of your holiday celebration.

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New movies at Catawba County Library System are bound to put you in the Halloween spirit.

Contemporary classics include Jack Nicholson in The Shining, based on the Stephen King novel. And who can beat The Exorcist with Linda Blair? That 1973 horror show set moviegoers on edge.

In the same genre: Stephen King classic, Carrie, starring Sissy Spacek and John Travolta. 

These DVDs are more are just part of the spooky offerings available at the library. To check availability, log on to www.catawbacountync.gov/library/ or call any library branch.

Catawba County Library System is celebrating Teen Read Week this month with special activities for ages 12-18.

Teen Read Week (Oct. 18-24) is an initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association, a division of the American Library Association. The observance is designed to encourage youth to visit their public and school libraries, choose their own reading material and read for pleasure. The theme this year is “Read Beyond Reality.” The observance underscores the library’s mission of fostering life-long learning, the joy of reading, cultural appreciation and creative thinking for all ages.

The county library observance will include a “monster ball” beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, in Newton. Youth are invited to dress as their favorite book character (not necessarily a monster) and join the fun including free pizza.

St. Stephens will sponsor a Teen Read program at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 20 to include information about how to succeed in school. The Southwest Branch invites ages 12 and up to take part in a career journaling session at 4 p. m. on Thursday, Oct. 22.

Newton will sponsor a Game Day from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 16. The monthly Teen Advisory Board, a group of youth who help library staff plan programs and select materials, will meet at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 in Newton.

All of the programs are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Richard Griffin, Youth Services librarian, at 465-8668 or the branch where a particular event will be held.