Catawba County Library System will observe the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, Nov. 26 and Friday, Nov. 27. Library materials may be picked up before or after those dates, but they may be dropped off at any time.

All library facilities will close at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25 and resume regular business hours on Saturday, Nov. 28.

The Main Library is located at 115 West C Street in Newton. Other facilities include Claremont, Conover, Maiden, St. Stephens, Sherrills Ford and Southwest branches. For more information about branches and programming, call Lynne Bolick Reed at 465-8292.

A cultural opportunity is in store at Catawba County Library Dec. 3 when Main Library hosts author Karen Cecil Smith, author of 1840 Old Salem Christmas, a children’s picture book featuring early Moravians. The author will share her work and sign books at 4 p.m.

Appearing with Smith will be costumed guests from New Hope Moravian Church in Startown. They will discuss their church’s cultural history and serve homemade refreshments. The free event is suitable for all ages and is one of several holiday happenings planned at the library next month.

Friends of Sherrills Ford Library will host their annual tree lighting ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 6:30 p.m.

Ornament making will be part of the open house at Conover Branch on Tuesday, Dec. 8, from 4-6 p.m. Maiden Branch plans a jewelry beading workshop for children at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10. Teens will enjoy a game time at Newton from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 18, the same evening that St. Stephens hosts a holiday story time and open house.

Check below for a full roster of activities.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Library closed Dec. 23-25. 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

   · Moravian program, 4 p.m. Dec. 3

   · Kids’ cookie program, 4:30 p.m. Dec. 4

   · Santa visit, 10 a.m. Dec. 10

   · Stranger in the Woods, 4:30 p.m. Dec. 15, kids

   · Teen Games, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Dec. 18

  

Claremont Branch, 459-9311

• Intro to Word, 10 a.m. Dec. 11

  

Conover Branch, 466-5108

   · Open house with Santa visit and ornament making, 4-6 p.m. Dec. 8

 

Maiden Branch, 428-2712

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

   · Jewelry beading for kids, 3:30 p.m. Dec. 10

 

St. Stephens Branch, 256-3030

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

   · DSS Economic Support outreach, 2-4 p.m. Tuesdays

   · DSS Economic Support Workshop, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 15

   · Music Makers for kids, 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Dec. 17

   · Teen crafts, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 8  

   · Story time/party with Santa, 3:30-5 p.m. Dec. 18, all ages

 

Sherrills Ford Branch, 478-2729

   · Toddler/preschool stories Wednesdays, 10 a.m.  Santa visits Dec. 16.

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

   · Friends Tree Lighting, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 5

   · Friends of Library meeting, 7 p.m. Dec. 15

  

Southwest Branch, 294-2343

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

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

   · Santa visit 10 a.m. Dec. 9

   · Intro to Publisher, 10 a.m. Dec. 11

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In case you missed it, Barbie celebrated the big one this year.

Barbie, the ever-youthful fashion doll, reached 50 with commemorative editions and other spin-offs geared to nostalgic Baby Boomers who remember the teen-age model in the zebra-striped swimsuit.

If you own a 1959 version, get yourself a lockbox. The original 1959 doll (with the holes in her feet) may fetch more than $5,000 these days if she’s in mint condition.

If you’re a Barbie fan, or just want to reminisce about this popular toy, Catawba County Library has several books on the subject. Several identification and price guides are available including a 2008 version, Collector’s Encyclopedia (688.7221 AUG).

A biography about the doll’s creator, Ruth Handler, was published by Robin Gerber this year. Barbie & Ruth, tells how Handler revolutionized the toy industry and sparked a 50-year debate about women in society.

Barbie has inspired stories by noted fiction writers as well. A collective of 23 writers penned an anthology, The Barbie Chronicles. Edited by Yona Zeldis McDonough, the 1999 collection includes such notables as Anna Quindlen, Carol Shields and Jane Smiley.

M. G. Lord wrote Forever Barbie, the Unauthorized Biography of a Real Doll (688.7221 LOR) In telling Barbie’s fascinating story, cultural critic and investigative journalist Lord, herself a first-generation Barbie owner, created a provocative look at the toy icon.

No Barbie fan has been more smitten than BillyBoy, who in 1987 owned the world’s largest Barbie collection: then 20,000! His Barbie: Her Life & Times, and the New Theater of Fashion charts the history of this American dream girl in a good-humored retrospective.

Local fans should plan to stop by the Main Library in Newton to view some vintage Barbies and paraphernalia. The display will remain through December

Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol and Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink are the most popular downloaded fiction and nonfiction books, according to OverDrive, the digital book service used by Catawba County Library.

As of Nov. 1, the two next popular novels were The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger and Finger Lickin’ Fifteen by Janet Evanovich.  Most popular non-fiction audiobook downloads were Outliers, also by Gladwell, and Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson.

All of these titles are also available at the county library in print formats and on compact disc.

Portability and availability are the big advantages to downloadable audio books because patrons don’t have to go to the library to check out books.  The download service, free to library patrons, allows individuals to download books to take on a trip or anywhere they’d like to listen to a book. Full instructions are posted on the main web page at http://www.catawbacountync.gov/library .

Since 2006, audio books have been available for downloads onto MP3 players, CDs, personal computers and other listening devices. The book list also includes a wide variety of literary classics, best-sellers, inspirational works and more.

Customers can make selections from OverDrive (North Carolina Digital Library) using their Catawba County Library System card number. Questions about the service should be directed to the Main Library at 465-8663.

Catawba County Library in Newton will host a story and craft time focused on Native Americans at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17.

Elementary-aged children are invited to hear “The White Wolf Woman,” a Cherokee legend, and to make a rain stick. The program is free and open to the public and pre-registration is not necessary. Supplies will be provided.

 Questions about the program should be directed to Youth Services at 465-8668.

In case you missed the celebrated debut of Ken Burns’ series The National Parks this fall, Catawba County Library System has it available for checkout.

The documentary outlines the history of America’s great natural resource from Yosemite to the Great Smoky Mountains.

The educational series is one of several DVDs recently acquired by the library system. Several are based on literary works such as Anne of Avonea, Anna Karenina, Beloved and Life in the Age of Beowulf. Newly acquired biographies include Barack Obama (for children), Muhammad Ali: Through t he Eyes of the World, Kennedy: The Complete Series and Che, parts 1 and 2.

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

Few events of the 20^th century shocked the world more than the fall of the Berlin Wall.

The barrier, cobbled together by the Communists in1961, literally divided families-and even houses-to prevent escapes into democratic West Berlin. The barrier was erected in August 1961 to keep Germans from escaping communist-dominated East Berlin into democratic West Berlin. The twelve-foot concrete wall extended for a hundred miles, surrounding West Berlin, and included electrified fences and guard posts. The wall stood as a stark symbol of the decades-old Cold War between the United States and Soviet Union.

About 5,000 people successfully escaped during the 18-year existence of the wall. As many as 200 died trying to cross. The wall was on the mind of President John F. Kennedy when he visited Berlin in 1963 and spoke, “Ich bin ein Berliner,” and the topic of President Ronald Reagan’s call in 1987: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”

The end finally came the night of Nov. 9, 1989 as euphoric crowds as East and West Germans scrambled atop the 12-foot concrete barrier to beat sledgehammers into the hated divider. Germany was formally reunified less than a year later, on Oct. 3, 1990.

The impact of bringing the former East Bloc into world economies has had a major impact on geopolitics and world economy, not to mention the arts, travel and education.

The Catawba County Library has a number of books about the subject including some recently published tomes. To read about this incredible chapter in history, check out these recent titles:

The Berlin Wall: A World Divided, 1961-1989 by Frederick Taylor (943.1550877 TAY)

Brandenburg Gate by Henry Porter (F POR)

When the Wall Came Down by Serge Schmemann (YA 943.1087 SCH)

Epochs of European Civilization by Geoffrey Hosking (CD 940.2 NW HOS), a sound recording.

For more information about these or other library materials, contact any branch of Catawba County Library or check on-line: http://www.catawbacounty nc.gov/library .

What’s your credit score? Why does it matter?

This will be the topic of discussion this coming Thursday when Dr. Glennie Daniels of the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service presents “Know Your Credit Score” at 5:30 p.m. this Thursday, Nov. 5, at Catawba County Library, Newton. The public is cordially invited to attend the free session to discuss how to get a better handle on personal credit worthiness. Registration is not necessary.

If you would like to read more about credit scores and personal finance, the library system has a number of resources:

Credit Repair Kit for Dummies by Steve Bucci (332.7 BUC),

Your Credit Score 332.743 WES) and Deal With Your Debt (332. 02402 WES), two books by Liz Pulliam Weston,

Help! I Can’t Pay My Bills: Surviving a Financial Crisis by Sally Herigstard (332.024 HER),

Smart Debt: Borrow Wisely, Live Rich by Jason R. Rich (332.743 RIC).

A DVD on the subject is available as well. Maxed Out examines problems stemming from increased consumer debt, corrupt practices within the industry, finance industry ties to the government, and the extreme actions some take when overwhelmed by their debt. Find it at DVD 4690 ST PANEL 13.

For more resources, check the “332″ shelves or browse the library website at

http://www.catawbacountync.gov/library .