Randolph County Public Library NEWS

Get creative, make Valentine’s Day cards at the library

2012-01-24T12:00:00.000-08:00

Bring the whole family and make creative cards for Valentine’s Day at 4 p.m. Thursday, February 9, at the Asheboro library.

Children, teens and parents can get in on the act. You supply the labor and creativity, and library staff members Amy Keith Barney and Margee Jones will provide all the supplies needed and instructions on how to make a variety of cards.

Get creative with paper, markers, glitter and more!

The program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library and is free. Children under age 10 must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information contact Amy Keith Barney, 336-318-6824 or akeith@randolphlibrary.org.

Story times, computer classes for Spanish-speakers to get underway at library

2012-01-18T06:45:00.000-08:00

Bilingual family story times and computer classes for Spanish-speakers will begin at the library in February.

At the Asheboro library, family story times will take place at 6 p.m. every other Wednesday beginning February 1, and computer classes will be offered from 6:30-7:30 p.m. every other Wednesday beginning February 8. Computer classes at the Franklinville library are being developed; a schedule will be announced soon.

Both the story times and the computer classes are free and the public is invited.

The programs are part of the American Dream Starts @ Your Library project to help promote both reading literacy and computer literacy among native Spanish-speakers, for which the library received a $5,000 grant from the American Library Association funded by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.

For further information contact Claudia Alemán de Toomes, 318-6802 or catoomes@randolphlibrary.org.

Asheboro library introduces ‘Men In Black’ sci-fi book club

2012-01-04T06:34:00.000-08:00

The Asheboro Public Library’s Men In Black Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book club is ready to go where no book club has gone before.

Submitted for your approval: library staff members Dave Bare and George Taylor will launch a book club that caters to the Martian, Hobbit, space explorer, zombie, adventurer and wizard in all of us.

The discussion group will meet at noon on the third Thursday of each month at the Asheboro Public Library, 201 Worth Street in Asheboro, with its first meeting on January 19. The club is free and open to anyone; participants are welcome to bring a lunch.

The first book up for consideration is World War Z by Max Brooks, a tale about a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a zombie plague in which the intrepid narrator interviews people from around the world about their experiences during the zombie war.

Copies of the book are available for checkout and an ebook is available from the Digital Depot (via randquest.org).

At the first meeting, participants will plan titles for the rest of the year. For more information, call 318-6814.

Library to host special Friday screening of The Help

2012-01-04T06:32:00.000-08:00

An aspiring writer upends her traditional Southern world when she helps give voice to the African American women who have spent their lives serving wealthy families in The Help, a Friday Evening Film at 7 p.m. January 13, at the Asheboro Public Library, 201 Worth St.

Set in Mississippi during the 1960s, the film follows Skeeter (Emma Stone), a southern society girl returned from college, as she interviews her friends’ housekeepers. Aibileen (Viola Davis) is the first to open up, to the dismay of her friends in the tight-knit black community. Despite Skeeter's life-long friendships hanging in the balance, she and Aibileen continue their collaboration and soon more women come forward to tell their stories –and as it turns out, they have a lot to say.

The movie is free and the public is invited; refreshments will be served. Find our more at www.randolphlibrary.org/asheboromovies.html or call 318-6819.

Library’s ‘E-Readers 101’ workshops continue in Asheboro, Randleman, Liberty

2012-01-04T06:30:00.000-08:00

Popular E-Readers 101 workshops will continue at three Randolph County libraries.

The free introductions to e-readers and ebooks will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 14 at the Asheboro library, 201 Worth Street; 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 18 at the Randleman library, 122 Commerce Square; and 10 a.m. Saturday, January 21 at the Liberty library, 239 S. Fayetteville St.

Included are a how-to on using the library’s Digital Depot ebook website (via randquest.org), tips for purchasing e-readers and hands-on experiences with Kindles and Nooks. For more information, call 318-6808.

Cedar Falls history group to present library program

2011-12-28T06:33:00.000-08:00

Members of the Cedar Falls Historical Society will talk about the history of their community, and their efforts to preserve it, at 7 p.m. Thursday, January 12, at the Asheboro Public Library, 201 Worth St.

The program, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, is free and the public is invited.

Cedar Falls native Henry Bowers will present a brief history of the community, and of the Cedar Falls Community Association/Historical Society.

He also will highlight restoration of the Cedar Falls Chapel, a 20-year project to preserve the state’s oldest antebellum cotton mill village church, and plans for restoration of the Old Post Office.

Copies of the three volumes of Water Under the Bridge: Cedar Falls Memories will be available for purchase. The first two books in the set recently received the Willie Parker Peace History Book Award from the North Carolina Society of Historians.

Barbershop quartet The Adequates to perform at Asheboro library

2011-11-29T06:29:00.000-08:00

Asheboro’s celebrated barbershop quartet The Adequates, joined by pianist Joy Menius, will perform a holiday concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, December 15, at the Asheboro Public Library.

The performance, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, is free and the public is invited.

The Adequates are Allen Holt, baritone; Don Monroe, bass; Philip Shore III, lead; and Tom White, first tenor. The quartet, which formed in the spring of 2010, has won top honors in the Randolph County Senior Games talent show for two years running, and is much in demand for local performances.

The group will perform holiday tunes as well as barbershop standards, with a healthy dose of humorous commentary.

Menius, a performer and music teacher, began studying piano at age 4. She is organist for Central United Methodist Church and pianist for the Asheboro Rotary Club.

She will perform seasonal solo piano selections

The library is located at 201 Worth Street in Asheboro.

Cartoonist Powell to bring ‘Aporkalypse’ to library

2011-11-22T06:03:00.001-08:00

Observations about everything from regional gastronomic habits to “the sandwich that broke all the rules” can be found in Home of the Aporkalypse!!!, a collection of Rich Powell’s Dixie Drive cartoons.

Powell will talk about his book at 7 p.m. Thursday, December 8, at the Asheboro Public Library, and will have copies on hand to sell and sign.

The program, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, is free and the public is invited.

Powell, an artist and illustrator, lives in Asheboro with his wife Frankie and daughter Bailey. His illustration work has appeared in magazines as crazy as MAD Magazine and as classy as Our State, on board games, in computer games and apps, on t-shirts and ball caps, in ads and anywhere else that can hold ink (or pixels).

Dixie Drive appears in Get This!, the weekly entertainment supplement of The Courier Tribune. Home of the Aporkalypse!!! covers roughly the first year-and-a-half of the cartoon in an 88-page soft-cover book.

Citizens of Randolph County will particularly enjoy familiar names and places mentioned in these cartoons.

Library to offer E-Reader 101 workshops in Asheboro, Archdale

2011-11-22T06:01:00.000-08:00

Thinking of stuffing a stocking with a Kindle, Nook or other e-reader this Christmas?

Get the lowdown on e-readers and ebooks in “E-Readers 101” at the Asheboro and Archdale libraries.

The sessions will take place at 10 a.m. Tuesday, December 6, at the Asheboro library, and 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 7, at the Archdale library. They are free and open to the public.

Library staff will demonstrate how to use the Digital Depot, the Randolph County Public Library’s new ebook lending service, and provide an overview of the considerations involved in buying an e-reader. There will be time after the presentation to try out a Nook or a Kindle with assistance from library staff.

For further information, call 318-6808.

Teens, 'tweens invited to trim library Christmas tree

2011-11-17T10:17:00.000-08:00

Teens and 'tweens ages 10-18 are invited to make Christmas ornaments for themselves and for the Asheboro library Christmas tree from 4-6 p.m.

Thursday, December 1, at the library.

The workshop is sponsored by the Friends of the Library, and is free.

The ornaments will be on display for the month of December on the Library's main Christmas tree. Participants will have an opportunity to handcraft a variety of ornaments from various patterns.

This year's Christmas tree theme will be "Why I Love the Library — Let Me Count the Ways." Ornaments will be made from felt and variety of papers.

Library Friends to hold giant inventory clearance book sale

2011-10-25T05:39:00.000-07:00

The Friends of the Randolph Public Library Bookshop stock room is stuffed to the gills, and construction on the adjoining Sunset Theatre is expected to start early next year.

So from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, November 5, the Friends will hold a “Big Book Sale” at the Asheboro Public Library, 201 Worth Street. Admission to the sale is free.

There will be a preview sale from 6-9 p.m. Friday, November 4, also at the Asheboro library. Admission to the preview is $5.

The sale will feature over 3,000 used books. Hardbacks will go for $1 and buyers can get two paperbacks for $1 – half the usual prices.

Proceeds go to the library's book budget.

Business at the bookshop, at 226 Sunset Avenue, will go on as usual. Hours are 10-2 Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

But the library sale will help prepare for the Sunset renovation, which will claim a portion of the bookshop’s sorting space and require some remodeling of the bookshop itself.

The bookshop will remain open as long as possible when construction begins, and reopen as soon as possible after it is complete.

The Lost Boys to descend on library’s Movie Monday

2011-10-19T11:18:00.000-07:00

Long before the teen vampire heartthrobs of Twilight, there were The Lost Boys, the Asheboro Public Library’s monster Movie Monday at 2 p.m. October 24.

After moving to a small coastal town, 1980s icon Corey Haim discovers he must defend his family from a clutch of young vampires led by a pre-Jack Bauer Kiefer Sutherland.

The star-studded cast also includes Jason Patric, Diane Wiest, Edward Hermann, Jamie Gertz and that other 1980s icon, Corey Feldman.

The movie is free and the public is invited; refreshments will be served. Find our more at www.randolphlibrary.org/asheboromovies.html

Archdale Author Breakfast to feature seven writers

2011-10-19T11:16:00.000-07:00

Meet celebrated area writers and shop for books at the Archdale Library Friends Author Breakfast, 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, October 29 at the Archdale Public Library.

Breakfast will be served at the event, which is free. Call 431-3811 to reserve a spot.

Participants, whose work spans genres from ranging from children’s books to novels and nonfiction, include:

Carol Andrews, author of Speckled Angels and The Giggle Wind;
Micki Bare, author of Thurston T. Turtle Moves to Hubbleville and Relative Expressions;
Martha Crotty, author of Hong Kong Kitty;
Roger Crotty, author of Billy Goodman – Neighborhood PI and Rode to Glory;
Jonathan Farlow, author of Stuck in the Middle, Brouhaha and Holy War;
Gail Gurley, author of Old Southern Comfort Food and Red Dirt Tracks
Clay Harvey, author of A Whisper of Black, Dwelling in the Gray and A Flash of Red.

Survey shows impact of Randolph library computers, Internet access

2011-10-13T06:16:00.000-07:00

Access to computers and the Internet at the Randolph County Public Library enables county residents to get jobs, get healthy and get into school, according to local results of a national survey.

The library asked users of its computers and online resources to take the U.S. Impact Survey during a three-week period in September. The survey measured how people used free computer services at the library in the past year, and the impact the services had on their lives.

“There’s an old slogan, ‘libraries change lives.’ The survey results prove that this is definitely the case in Randolph County,” said Library Director Ross Holt.

Jobseeking was a top concern of the 135 survey respondents. Sixty percent used library computers to search for jobs; 47 percent applied online or sent out resumes, and 22 percent were granted interviews.

Ten percent were hired for new positions.

Health and wellness also was a hot topic, with 43 percent of respondents using library computers to find out about diet and nutrition. Of those, 81 percent made changes to their diet.

Similarly, 38 percent sought information about exercise and fitness, and 87 percent of those who did so made changes in their exercise habits.

People also logged on to meet educational needs, with 33 percent saying they looked up information about a degree or certificate program. Twelve percent used library computers to apply online, and half of those were admitted to degree or certificate programs.

Fourteen percent applied for financial aid on library computers, with just under half of those saying they received it.

Other survey highlight

40 percent of respondents used library computers to pursue a hobby;
38 percent to find recipes;
42 percent to find movie, book or music reviews;
30 percent to meet new friends;
26 percent for help with a do-it-yourself project;
24 percent to find support for a personal issue;
19 percent to research genealogy.

Overall, 83 percent of respondents used library computers for searching online; 82 percent for email ; 70 percent for printing; 52 percent for social networking; and 37 percent for streaming video.

The survey also inquired about library computer use for business, e-government, e-commerce and civic engagement purposes.

Of the respondents, 95 percent said they were satisfied with public access technology at the library, and over 90 percent said that access at the library is important or very important themselves and to the community.

Holt said the library is working to address one of the most frequent suggestions for improvement expressed by respondents: more time online. The standard time limit of one hour per day is necessary to ensure fair access during busy times, Holt said, but automatic time-limit extensions allow as much as two and one-half hours, depending on the library branch, if no one is waiting for a computer.

The survey was created by the University of Washington School of Information with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It was offered to libraries nationally and is part of the first large-scale study of how people use computers in public libraries.

Holt said that though the survey measures the use of relatively recent technology, the results reaffirm a traditional role of the public library. “The founders of the public library movement in the United States, way back in the late 1800s, saw the library as ‘the people’s university’ – a place in the community where everyone could freely and continually educate and improve themselves and their lives. Clearly, this holds true today,” Holt said.

View all the survey results at www.randolphlibrary.org/impactsurvey.pdf.

Vampirologist, author Theresa Bane to speak at Asheboro library

2011-10-12T06:36:00.000-07:00

Author Theresa Bane, whose expertise on all things vampire has landed her on national television programs, will talk about her work at 7 p.m. Thursday, October 27 at the Asheboro library.

The Halloween event, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, is free and the public is invited. Bane will sell and sign copies of her work.

Bane is author of Encyclopedia of Demons in World Religions and Cultures, The Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology, Actual Factual: Dracula, Haunted Historic Greensboro, Folktales and Ghost Stories of North Carolina’s Piedmont, and more.

She has been featured on Discovery Channels’ “Twisted History: Vampires” as well as E!’s “10 Sexiest Vampires” for her knowledge and expertise on the undead.

She also recently published the darkly humorous The Bloodthirsty Weasels: On the Loose and Buck Wild, and is associate producer of audiobooks for Buzzy Multimedia.

When not writing, Bane travels to educate audiences about the differences between traditional mythology and horror fiction. A diehard gamer originally from the New York/New Jersey area, she resides in North Carolina with her husband, T. Glenn Bane. For more information, visit www.theresabane.net.

Friends event to host 3rd Marjorie Memory Pottery Auction

2011-09-19T06:38:00.000-07:00

Vintage pottery donated by two collectors will be sold during the Third Annual Marjorie W. Memory Pottery Auction at “A Taste of the South,” a fundraiser for the Friends of the Randolph Public Library, 7-10 p.m. Friday, October 14, at Pinewood Country Club.

Online bidding is also available at www.randolphlibrary.org/memory.htm, up to the time of the silent auction.

Memory, of Randleman, died in 2009. She was a librarian at UNC-Greensboro, and penned the definitive history of the Randolph County Public Library (to 1967) as her master of library science thesis at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Her good friend and colleague Stanley Hicks, now of Enid, OK, established the auction, which this year includes 10 pottery pieces or groups of pieces donated by Hicks and Asheboro collector William Ivey.

Proceeds go to support Friends of the Library programs and activities. The pieces are on view at the Asheboro Public Library, and on the website.

Items in the auction include: a Burlon Craig swirlware butter dish; four miniature jugs by Dorothy Auman; a capped salt and pepper set by Charlie Moore of Jugtown; an M.L. Owens face jug; a 12-piece child’s tea set by Neolia and Cecilia Cole; an early Jugtown pitcher; a J.B. Cole candle dish in a watermelon glaze; a Westmoore pitcher and lid with cobalt decoration made by David Farrell; a salt glaze bowl by R.E. Albright; and pitcher with blue bird decoration and lid by Marvin Bailey.

The auction will take place at “A Taste of the South” featuring Sheri Castle, author of The New Southern Garden Cookbook. Tickets for the demonstration and gourmet dinner are $50 per person, and are available at the Asheboro Public Library, 318-6801.

Highest bids received online will be base bids for the silent auction.

Friends fundraiser to feature cookbook author Sheri Castle, gourmet dinner

2011-09-19T06:37:00.001-07:00

Appetizers prepared on the spot and a gourmet dinner will highlight “A Taste of the South,” a fundraiser for the Friends of the Randolph Public Library, 7-10 p.m. Friday, October 14 at Pinewood Country Club.

The menu will feature recipes from The New Southern Garden Cookbook: Recipes for Enjoying the Best from Homegrown Gardens, Farmers' Markets, Roadside Stands and CSA Farm Boxes by Sheri Castle, who will talk about her book and, in a demonstration for attendees, prepare appetizers that will be served before the meal.

Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased at the Asheboro Public Library Circulation Desk. All proceeds go to support Friends activities and programs.

Castle is a food writer and cooking instructor based in Chapel Hill. Her recipes and essays have appeared over many years in magazines including Southern Living and Better Homes and Gardens.

She teaches classes at markets including Whole Foods and A Southern Season, as well as private classes, and assists with recipe testing and development.

The New Southern Garden Cookbook focuses on the pleasures of fresh, local, seasonal food. It offers over 300 recipes for delicious, healthy, home-cooked meals made possible by the diverse array of fruits and vegetables grown in the South, and most of the rest of the nation as well. It was named a notable cookbook by The New York Times, and an editor’s pick by Southern Living.

Jewelry expert to present identification event at library

2011-09-08T07:25:00.000-07:00

Antique expert Pat Holder will present a jewelry identification event at 7 p.m. Thursday, September 22, at the Asheboro Public Library.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Library, it’s free and the public is invited.

Holder invites attendees to bring jewelry heirlooms and hand-me-downs. She will not appraise the items, but will assess what types of metal and stones they contain, and provide any additional history.

Holder is an antique dealer with 24 years experience. Her specialties include oriental porcelains and estate jewelry.

She previously conducted a jewelry ID event at the library in 2007.

Randolph library to join national survey of library computer, Internet users

2011-09-07T11:59:00.001-07:00

Users of the Randolph County Public Library’s online resources will be able to share their opinions in a national survey from September 12-30.

The U.S. Impact Study, sponsored by the University of Washington Information School and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, will collect data about the impact on people’s lives of free access to computers and the Internet in public libraries

Library patrons can respond to the survey on the library’s websites, randolphlibrary.org and randquest.org, or when logging into a computer at the library. During the survey period, the library will add 10 minutes to in-house Internet time limits to assist patrons in both completing the survey and getting their online work done.

The survey takes 10-15 minutes, and is voluntary and confidential. It seeks information on how people use library computers for jobseeking, education, health, e-commerce, social inclusion and other activities.

Survey results will help local libraries evaluate and tailor their online services, and provide a national snapshot of computer use in libraries.

Asheboro library Movie Monday goes sci-fi

2011-09-01T13:37:00.002-07:00

The Asheboro library’s Movie Monday goes sci-fi in September with screenings of The Adjustment Bureau on September 12 and Sucker Punch on September 26. Showtime for both films is 2 p.m.

Based on a short story by Philip K. Dick, The Adjustment Bureau stars Matt Damon as a political candidate whose destiny seems controlled by a shadowy organization that threatens to thwart his romance with a ballerina played by Emily Blunt.

Sucker Punch focuses on a falsely-institutionalized young woman’s efforts to escape her imprisonment through her mental creation of an alternate reality. The cast includes Vanessa Hudgens, Scott Glenn and John Hamm

The movies are free and the public is invited; refreshments will be served. Find our more at www.randolphlibrary.org/asheboromovies.html or call 318-6819.

Archdale library to host Family Movie Nights in September and October

2011-09-01T13:37:00.001-07:00

The Archdale Public Library will host Family Movie Nights at 7 p.m. Fridays in September and October.

Films screened will be: The Original Shaggy Dog, September 9; Tangled, September 23; How to Train Your Dragon, October 7; Soul Surfer, October 14; and a Halloween Party with Disney’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow (October 28).

The movie nights are free and the public is invited. For further information, contact Jonathan Farlow, 431-3811.

Archdale library offers fitness, Medicare programs for seniors in September

2011-09-01T13:36:00.000-07:00

Medicare and fitness will be the topics of two programs for seniors at the Archdale Public Library in early September.

JoEllen Needham, Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) coordinator with the Randolph County Senior Adults Association, will cover current changes in the Medicare program at 3 p.m. Thursday, September 8.

On Wednesday, September 14 at 3 p.m., Meredith Morgan, wellness director for the Grubb Family YMCA in Trinity, will provide an introduction to the YMCA’s Silver Sneakers program. The leading exercise program for seniors, Silver Sneakers is covered by Medicare and Medicare supplement providers, and includes a complimentary fitness membership to the Trinity YMCA, low-impact classes taught by certified instructors, social events and health education.

The programs are free and the public is invited. For further information, contact Jonathan Farlow, 431-3811.

Downloadable ebooks go live at Randolph library’s Digital Depot

2011-08-18T06:42:00.000-07:00

Much in demand downloadable ebooks will be available from the Randolph County Public Library’ Digital Depot starting Monday, August 22, but the library’s Facebook fans are getting a sneak preview.

The initial ebook collection contains more than 360 popular titles ranging from Stieg Larsson’s Millenium Trilogy to the 2012 edition of the job hunting classic What Color is Your Parachute.

Ebooks currently are available for all e-readers except Amazon.com’s Kindle. Kindle ebooks will be available soon, possibly as early as September.

Borrowers will check out ebooks from the Digital Depot, a website provided by the library’s ebook vendor OverDrive. A library card will be required to check out.

The website will be reachable from the library’s own websites, randolphlibrary.org and randquest.org, and directly from a web address that will be released Monday.

OverDrive mobile apps are available for iPad, tablet PC and smartphone users.

The ebooks also will be added to the library catalog. A simple title search will indicate whether a copy in ebook format is available, and a keyword search solely for ebooks also will be available.

Ebook borrowers will have to download and install a small program from the Digital Depot website. Then, they will be able to check out ebooks, download them and transfer them to an e-reader.

They also can place holds on titles that are checked out.

A step-by-step guide is available on the website, and users can call the Asheboro library Reference Desk at 318-6803 for further assistance.

To obtain a library card, which is free, visit any of the seven libraries. Adults must provide a valid photo ID and proof of address; a parent or guardian must co-sign for children 15 years old and younger.

The library on Wednesday provided access to the Digital Depot for its Facebook fans. To become a fan, visit facebook.com/randolphlibrary.

Friends of the Library to host education advocate Marisol Romero

2011-08-10T05:37:00.000-07:00

Barriers that young people face in obtaining a higher education due to their immigration status will be the focus of a talk by Marisol Romero at 7 p.m. Thursday, August 18, at the Asheboro library.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Library, the talk is free and the public is invited.

A rising senior at Harvard studying human development and regenerative biology, Romero graduated from Asheboro High School in 2008.

She is spending the summer volunteering with the Latino Coalition of Randolph County to help educate the public on access to higher education for young people who are immigrants but have already-substantial ties to the United States.

Asheboro library to hold 3rd annual “Lego Mania!” competition

2011-07-13T06:47:00.000-07:00

“Lego Mania!” returns to the Asheboro Public Library at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 27, as teens and tweens ages 10-18 are invited to compete in a Lego building contest.

The third annual competition is free and the Legos will be provided. Prizes will be awarded in multiple categories, such as tallest and most creative, and for younger and older age groups.

Refreshments also will be provided. Registration is required; call 318-6803 or visit the library to sign up.

The event is part of “You Are Here,” the library’s Teen Summer Reading Program, and is supported by the Friends of the Library.

Coupon guru Angela Newsom to present class at Asheboro library

2011-07-07T06:09:00.000-07:00

Want to learn an easy and fun way to save on groceries?

Join coupon expert Angela Newsom for a “Coupon Makeover,” 6 p.m. Monday, July 11, at the Asheboro Public Library.

The program, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, is free and the public is invited; call 336-318-6808 to register.

Newsom, creator of the Coupon Makeover website (www.coupon-makeover.com), will show participants how to use coupons effectively to buy groceries for pennies on the dollar. Super-couponing combines the best techniques for following sales and using Internet and newspaper coupons to their fullest savings potential.

The workshop is part of “Novel Destinations,” the library’s Adult Summer Reading Program. For more information, go here.

Teens can paint, plant in library program

2011-07-06T07:06:00.000-07:00

Pick your favorite paint color, decorate a terracotta pot, learn how to plant flower containers, then finish your masterpiece with a flowering plant to take home, in “Colorful Creations” at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 20, at the Asheboro Public Library.

The workshop, open to anyone ages 10 to 18, is free. Registration is required; to register, visit the library or call 318-6824.

Master Gardeners Peggy Heath and Barbara Luther of North Carolina Agricultural Extension of Randolph County will lead the program. Instructions and all supplies to paint and plant will be provided.

“Colorful Creations” is part of “You Are Here,” the library’s Teen Summer Reading Program. For further information, contact Teen Services Librarian Amy Keith Barney at 318-6824 or akeith@randolphlibrary.org.

Library invites teens to express themselves in visual journaling workshop

2011-07-06T07:02:00.000-07:00

Join art teacher Melissa Walker for a class of experimentation and artistic exploration using the visual journal as a medium for self-revelation and expression, at 10 a.m. Friday, July 15, at the Asheboro Public Library.

The workshop, open to anyone ages 10 to 18, is free. Registration is required; to register, visit the Asheboro library or call 318-6824.

Instruction and all supplies to get started with journaling will be provided. Each participant will get a journal to take home.

Walker will explore a variety of painting techniques along with collage, wax resist, stencils, stamping and embellishing. Many examples of visual journals and altered books will be available to show technique and for finding inspiration for journal pages.

Handouts, including 100 journal prompts, are included. Start expressing yourself today and let the creativity begin!

The workshop is part of “You Are Here,” the library’s Teen Summer Reading Program. For further information, contact Teen Services Librarian Amy Keith Barney at 318-6824 or akeith@randolphlibrary.org.

Magical storyteller Mark Daniel returns to Randolph libraries

2011-06-30T08:21:00.000-07:00

Magical Storyteller Mark Daniel will return to Randolph County’s public libraries this summer with his unique blend of magic, puppetry and stories. He will appear at all seven libraries, beginning in Randleman at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 21, and at the other libraries as follows:

Archdale, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 27;
Asheboro, 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 27 (at the Sunset Theatre);
Franklinville, 2 p.m. Thursday, July 28;
Liberty, 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 26;
Ramseur, 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 28;
Seagrove, 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 26.

Daniel’s performances, part of “One World, Many Stories,” the Randolph County Public Library’s Summer Reading Program, are free and the public is invited.

Daniel has been a mainstay of summer reading programs for more than 20 years. His programs have inspired over three million children in thousands of schools and libraries, celebrating the joy of reading and great books.

For more information about Daniel, visit www.magicalstoryteller.com. For a complete schedule of summer events at the libraries, visit www.randolphlibrary.org/summerreading.html.

Library invites teens to build terrariums

2011-06-09T10:34:00.001-07:00

Learn how to create a garden in a Mason jar in “Terrarium Building for Teens,” 10 a.m. Saturday, June 23, at the Asheboro Public Library.

The program, open to anyone ages 10 to 18, is free. Registration is required; to register, contact Teen Services Librarian Amy Keith Barney at 318-6824 or akeith@randolphlibrary.org.

Instructions and supplies will be provided. Each participant will be able to complete a terrarium to take home.

A terrarium is a small enclosure or closed container in which small plants and animals may be kept as ornament or for educational purposes.

The program is part of “You Are Here,” the library’s Teen Summer Reading Program. For

Travel writer to suggest close-to-home getaways in library program

2011-06-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

Looking for cheap, fun things to do in the surrounding area this summer?

Join travel writer Amber Nimocks for “Destination Triad,” a talk about the best daytrips for couples and families who are on a budget or are looking for something to do close to home, at 7p.m. Thursday, June 23, at the Asheboro Public Library.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Library, the travelogue is free and the public is invited.

Nimocks is a contributing producer of WUNC’s “The State of Things” and author of several author of several travel guides includingThe Insiders’ Guide to North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad.

The event is part of “Novel Destinations,” the library’s Adult Summer Reading Program. Between now and August 2, anyone 18 or over can submit a form for each book read, and be entered in drawings for weekly prizes from local merchants and restaurants.

For further information call 318-6808.

Library invites teens on a Geocaching adventure

2011-06-08T06:56:00.000-07:00

Learn how to find messages and treasures hidden in public places in Geocaching for Teens, 10 a.m. Saturday, June 18, at the Asheboro Public Library.

Local geocacher Ray Betts will lead participants on a geocaching adventure in the vicinity of the library, explaining how to get started with the hobby. Betts will set up three geocaches on library property for participants to seek, and include a fourth long ago established on the grounds.

The program, open to anyone ages 10 to 18, is free.

Geocaching is an outdoor activity in which GPS devices are use to track down messages concealed in publicly accessible places by other geocachers. Betts, an artist, musician and 34-year Klaussner Home Furnishings employee, began geocaching in 2009 and has found 325 geocaches to date, including at least one in each of 75 North Carolina counties.

The geocaching event is part of “You Are Here,” the teen Summer Reading Program. For further information, contact Teen Services Librarian Amy Keith Barney at 318-6824 or akeith@randolphlibrary.org.

“Didgeridoo Down Under” to kick off library Summer Reading Program

2011-05-31T06:51:00.000-07:00

The Australian-themed, educational and entertaining musical presentation “Didgeridoo Down Under” will kick of “One World, Many Stories,” the Randolph County Public Library’s 2011 Summer Reading Program, with performances at all seven libraries June 13-16.

The high-energy show uses books, maps, artifacts, art work, puppets and musical instruments to engage the audience in a program that promotes cultural harmony and ignites excitement about reading, writing, exploring and creating.

The performances are free and the public is invited.

Showtimes are:

Asheboro Public Library, 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 1
Archdale Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 15
John W. Clark (Franklinville) Public Library: 2 p.m. Thursday, June 16
Liberty Public Library: 7 p.m. Thursday, June 1
Ramseur Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 1
Randleman Public Library, 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 15
Seagrove Public Library, 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 14.

For more information about “Didgeridoo Down Under”, visit www.didgrevolution.com. For more information about the library’s Summer Reading Program, visit www.randolphlibrary.org/summerreading.html or call 318-6804.

Library invites children, teens and adults to explore “One World, Many Stories” this summer

2011-05-31T06:48:00.000-07:00

The seven branches of the Randolph County Public Library will offer over 150 storytimes, performances, movies, hands-on projects, author appearances and other special events now through early August for children, teens and adults as part of “One World, Many Stories,” the 2011 Summer Reading Program.

And all for free.

Originally intended to keep children reading while out of school, the Summer Reading Program has expanded to includes teens and adults. The theme for teens is “You Are Here,” and for adults it’s “Novel Destinations.”

Participants who sign up at any library and report the number of hours, pages or books they have read and will be eligible for reading rewards. Rewards and requirements vary from library to library; for complete details and schedules, visit www.randolphlibrary.org/summerreading.html, call 318-6804 or call your local library.

“One World, Many Stories” kicks off with performances at each library of “Didgeridoo Down Under”, and Australian-themed, audience participation musical event, June 13-16. In July, magical storyteller Mark Daniel, a crowd-pleaser every year, returns.

Each library will host one or more weekly programs. The Asheboro library will hold five weekly storytimes – for school age children, families, toddlers, all ages and Spanish-speakers – along with two special events each Wednesday for school-age children.

The Archdale library also will host three weekly storytimes – for all ages, toddlers and twos-plus.

Movies will include Family Movie Fridays at the Asheboro library; Movie & Popcorn on Thursday afternoons at the Randleman library; and a Harry Potter film festival each Wednesday at the Asheboro library, featuring all the movies in order leading up to the July 16 theatrical release of the final installment in the saga.

A sampling of the internationally-themed programs for children includes: “Foods of the World” and the African play “Leopard’s Drum” at Asheboro; Caribbean steel drum music at Archdale; “Local Legends with a Local Lady” at Randleman; “Going on Safari” at Franklinville; “The Gullions, a Chinese Treasure” at the Ramseur library; “Fairy Tales from Denmark” at the Seagrove library; and “Travel Back in Time” at the Liberty library.

Other programs feature origami, animal rescue, fossils, martial arts, reptiles and more.

Meanwhile, teens at the Asheboro library can go geocaching, build terrariums, learn about journaling or container gardening, and compete in Legomania III. At Randleman, teens can track their summer reading and earn a chance to win Books-A-Million gift cards.

For details on teen programs, visit www.randolphlibrary.org/summereadingteens.html or call 318-6824.

For adults, the Asheboro library is offering weekly drawings and prizes, including gift certificates to local merchants and restaurants, as well as three author appearances. Randleman readers can earn a chance for Books-A-Million gift cards for each book read.

For details on the adults program, visit www.randolphlibrary.org/summerreadingadults.html or call 318-6808.

The Summer Reading Program is made possible by the Friends of the Library and by a North Carolina Arts Council Grassroots Arts Grant via the Randolph Arts Guild.

Stoneman’s Raid author Chris Hartley to appear at Asheboro library

2011-05-18T11:34:00.000-07:00

Author and historian Chris Hartley will talk about his new book, Stoneman’s Raid, 1865, during a Friends of the Library program at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 2, at the Asheboro Public Library.

The event, part of “Novel Destinations,” the library’s Adult Summer Reading Program, is free and the public is invited.

Stoneman’s Raid, 1865 recounts the massive cavalry offensive led by Union Maj. Gen. George Stoneman through six Southern states, including the North Carolina foothills. Stoneman’s troopers fought fierce skirmishes and destroyed supplies and facilities during the two-month attack.

Hartley’s book covers the planning, day-to-day execution and far-reaching after-effects of the raid. It also tells the story of the citizens in its path, and of the soldiers who covered more than 1,000 miles on horseback.

Wilkesboro native Hartley, who also has written several historical articles and is a frequent speaker on Civil War history, grew up in the shadow of historical markers denoting the largely-forgotten events, and has been chasing its history ever since. He has worked in marketing and communications, and now lives in Pfafftown.

Research for the book took him to 34 repositories in 12 states, and incorporated more than 200 books and newspapers.

“Novel Destinations” continues through the summer and invites readers 18 and over to explore the world through reading. Upcoming programs include Amber Nimocks, author of The Insider’s Guide to North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad (June 23) and coupon guru Angela Newsom (July 11).

Readers also are invited to fill out a form for each book they complete to be eligible in weekly drawings for prizes donated by local businesses. For more information, go here.

Library Movie Monday to screen "You Again"

2011-05-18T11:07:00.000-07:00

“What doesn’t kill you… is going to marry your brother” in You Again, the Asheboro Public Library’s Movie Monday, 2 p.m. May 23.

When a young woman realizes her brother is about to marry the girl who bullied her in high school, she sets out to expose the fiancée's true colors in this comedy. The all-star cast includes Kristen Bell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sigourney Weaver and Betty White.

The movie is free and the public is invited; refreshments will be served. Find our more here or call 318-6819.

Library of Congress "Gateway to Knowledge" exhibit to open Friday at Asheboro library

2011-04-26T06:59:00.001-07:00

“Gateway to Knowledge,” an exhibit about the services, history and artifacts of the Library of Congress, will open at 9 a.m. Friday, April 29, at the Asheboro Public Library and remain on display through Saturday.

Housed in an 18-wheel truck semi-trailer that expands to three times its normal road width, the exhibit is free and the public is invited.

An opening ceremony with Congressman Howard Coble will take place at 10:30 a.m. Friday. Hours of the exhibit, which will be located on the Worth Street side of the library, are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. each day.

Visitors can also sign up for Randolph County Public library cards on the spot and browse items in a Friends of the Library Bookshop tent. The Asheboro library itself will be open for business-as-usual.

“Gateway to Knowledge” is making 60 stops across the South and Midwest in small or rural communities to spread the word about the Library of Congress and the millions of resources in its unparalleled collections. In addition to computer kiosks demonstrating current Library resources, the exhibit traces the Library’s history, focusing especially on Thomas Jefferson’s influence.

It also offers facsimiles of the library’s top treasures, including the first map to use the word “America”; a draft of the Declaration of Independence in Jefferson’s hand with notations by John Adams and Benjamin Franklin; the 1962 drawings for the comic book that introduced Spider Man to the world; and Walt Whitman’s poem “Leaves of Grass.” Two docent well-versed in the Library and its top collections will guide visitors through the displays.

The exhibit is well-suited for school groups fourth grade and above, with special emphasis on middle school students; contact the Asheboro library at 318-6806 for a referral to the docents, who will schedule group visits.

The tour is made possible with the generous support of the Bernie and Audre Rapoport family. The Rapoports are founding members of the James Madison Council, the Library of Congress’s private sector advisory council.

Founded in 1800, the Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution. Its collection of more than 144 million items includes more than 33 million cataloged books and other print materials in 460 languages; more than 63 million manuscripts; the largest rare book collection in North America; and the world's largest collection of legal materials, films, maps, sheet music and sound recordings.

Lane Ragsdale to sing for Arlene Smith, Friends in library cabaret

2011-04-19T10:22:00.000-07:00

A spring cabaret presented by vocalist Lane Ragsdale and accompanist Tom Liles at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 5, at the Asheboro library, will be a unique departure from previous shows.

"Lane and Tom: An Evening Where Memories Are Made” is a gift from Ragsdale to the Friends of the Library for their many years of support and for bringing the concept of a cabaret to Asheboro, and a specific tribute to Arlene Smith, who championed the cause.

The show is free and the public is invited.

“Arlene has been the heart of my performances,” Ragsdale says of Smith, who passed away April 7. “She may be small in stature but she is a ‘suffer no fools, this is how it is’ kind of lady and a greater lady has never walked the planet! This is my chance to say thank you to her.”

The show itself will feature an eclectic blend of music and stories from standards to modern and quirky ballads. “This is a show for everyone but in my heart, I will be singing just for Arlene.”

The performance will take place upstairs in the library. Seating is first-come first-served.

For more information call the library at 318-6801.

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2011-04-01T10:29:00.001-07:00

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Pulitzer-nominated poet to headline poetry reading, open mic at library

2011-03-29T13:48:00.000-07:00

Acclaimed poet Anthony S. Abbott will join local poets for a reading to celebrate National Poetry Month at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 14, at the Asheboro Public Library.

The reading also will feature an “open mic” organized by the Randolph Writers Group. The event, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, is free and the public is invited.

Abbott, a professor emeritus of English at Davison College, is author of five books of poetry, two novels and two nonfiction works on modern drama. His first book of poetry, The Girl in the Yellow Raincoat, earned him a nomination for the Pulitzer Prize in 1989, among a slew of other awards.

“He is an artist who paints with words. The reader is swept into the canvas with the beauty and power of his written words,” says Sue Farlow, Asheboro High School English teacher and Abbott’s predecessor as president of the North Carolina Poetry Society.

As part of a society program, Abbott mentors aspiring poets. Abbott and a group of his mentees, which included two local students, read in a program at the library in 2009.

Find out more about Abbott at www.thegirlintheyellowraincoat.com.

To participate in the event as a reader, contact Randolph Writers Group President Robin Emerson, randolphwriters@aol.com, or 336-736-3496.

"Annie" star Rory to appear at Friends dog obedience program

2011-03-11T08:27:00.000-08:00

Does your dog need a bit of refinement?

Join the Friends of the Library for a dog obedience demonstration at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, on the Asheboro Public Library lawn.

The event is free and all dogs are invited. Rain date is March 29.

Ally Thomas, owner of Southern Tails Dog School, will present the program. Bring your dog on a short, cloth leash (no

retractable leashes, please), and also bring a lawn chair.

With Thomas will be Rory, her Belgian hunting dog who starred in the 2009 RSVP Community Theatre production of Annie. For more information, call the library at 318-6801.

Movie Monday to screen "Life As We Know It"

2011-03-11T08:25:00.000-08:00

A couple must put aside their differences to raise their goddaughter in Life as We Know It, the Asheboro Public Library’s Movie Monday, 2 p.m. March 21.

After a disastrous first date, the only things Holly Berenson and Eric Messer have in common is their love for their goddaughter, Sophie – and their dislike for each other. But when they suddenly become all Sophie has in the world, Holly and Eric are forced to put their differences aside, juggling career ambitions and social calendars while trying to get along under one roof.

The romantic comedy stars Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel and Josh Lucas.

The movie is free and the public is invited; refreshments will be served. Find our more here, or call 318-6824.

Warner Williams arrowhead show to return to Asheboro library March 5

2011-02-22T12:37:00.000-08:00

Warner Williams will bring his famous arrowhead collection back to the Asheboro Public Library on Saturday, March 5.

On display will be Williams’ 64-year collection of Indian arrowheads, considered to be one of the finest on the east coast.

The popular annual event, which is free, has drawn almost 9,000 attendees over the past 14 years. The show will be open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Williams will be on hand to talk with attendees.

Most of the arrowheads in the collection are from the Randolph County area. The collection has been featured on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Now, in Our State Magazine and in Prehistoric American, the official publication of the Genuine Indian Relic Society.

The Overstreet Indian Arrowheads Identification and Price Guide contains over 200 exemplars from Williams’ collection.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street in Asheboro. Call 318-6801 for more information.

Asheboro library to screen Eat, Pray, Love on Valentine’s Day

2011-02-09T08:04:00.000-08:00

A woman’s journey of to find her true self is the focus of Eat, Pray Love, the Asheboro library’s Movie Monday at 2 p.m. February 14.

Newly divorced and at a crossroads, Liz Gilbert steps out of her comfort zone, risking everything to change her life, embarking on a journey around the world that becomes a quest for self-discovery. In her travels, she discovers the true pleasure of nourishment by eating in Italy; the power of prayer in India and finally and unexpectedly, the inner peace and balance of true love in Bali.

The film stars Julia Roberts, James Franco and Billy Crudup.

The movie is free and the public is invited; refreshments will be served. Find our more here, at or call 318-6824.

Friends to celebrate Asheboro library birthday with cupcake party

2011-02-09T07:25:00.000-08:00

The Friends of the Library will say “Happy 75^th Birthday” to the Asheboro Public Library with a cupcake party from 3-6 p.m. Thursday, February 10, in the library lobby and meeting room.

The Friends will offer free cupcakes and refreshments to all library visitors while supplies last.

The Asheboro library opened its doors on February 10, 1936, in two rooms above the Standard Drug Store in downtown Asheboro after a year-long effort by a group of local women to organize, fund and collect books for it. Although eight inches of snow had fallen four days previously, a huge crowd turned out and almost all the 384 titles were checked out on the first day.

The library later moved to the Asheboro Armory, then to the new Municipal Building, and to the Randolph County Courthouse before establishing its current location on the corner of Worth and Cox streets in 1964.

In January, the Asheboro Public Library Foundation, which traces its origins to the group that founded the library, hosted the UNC Clef Hangers at the Sunset Theatre to celebrate the anniversary; the Friends party will recognize the actual birth date.

Ivey to debut longrifle book at Asheboro library

2011-02-03T06:06:00.000-08:00

Asheboro attorney and antique collector William Ivey will debut his new book North Carolina Schools of Longrifles 1765-1865 with a talk, slide show and signing at 7 p.m. Monday, February 21, at the Asheboro library.

The event, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, is free and the public is invited.

Ivey collects North Carolina furniture, pottery and textiles, but his favorite art object is the longrifle. “I am interested in the North Carolina longrifle as an art form with its added historical significance that should be studied, collected and preserved,” he says.

The authoritative, 392-page book – a 27-year labor of love for Ivey – depicts 213 rifles in over 1,200 photographs by Trinity photographer Kenneth Orr. It differentiates the rifles by schools, or characteristics that place them in a common location.

For example, Ivey notes that most rifles made in the Salem area are decorated with an engraved eagle on the patch box, an ornamental compartment on the stock where oil and tallow were stored.

Ivey approaches the guns from their artistic aspect, but he says his book also will appeal to anyone interested in history, long guns or decorative arts of the mid-18th to mid-19th centuries. For more information about the book, visit www.northcarolinalongrifles.com.

Friends of the Library to host author Susan S. Kelly

2011-02-03T05:56:00.001-08:00

Novelist Susan S. Kelly will speak at a Friends of the Library luncheon, Noon Thursday, February 24, at Pinewood Country Club.

Tickets cost $15 and can be reserved at the Asheboro library Circulation Desk until February 17.

Kelly, a native of Rutherfordton, is the author of the novels By Accident, Now You Know, The Last of Something, Even Now and How Close We Come, which won the Carolina Novel Award and was a Book-of-the-Month Club alternate selection.

After a career doing legal research and summarizing depositions, Kelly took up the pen as a creative writer at age 40, and earned a master of fine arts degree from Warren Wilson College.

How Close We Come, her first novel, explores a lifelong friendship between two women. Her most recent, By Accident, looks at a suburban mother’s grief at the loss of her teenage son.

Kelly, also a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, lives in Greensboro.

For further information, call 318-6801

Teens, ‘tweens invited to make stitched hearts in library program

2011-01-31T07:05:00.000-08:00

Teens and ‘tweens ages 10 to 18 are invited to learn how to make stitched hearts from 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, February 9, at the Asheboro Public Library.

The program, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, is free and all teens and ‘tweens are invited. It will take place in the library Meeting Room downstairs.

Amy Keith Barney, Teen Services Librarian, will demonstrate different techniques for making stitched hearts for your loved one just in time for Valentine’s Day. A variety of felt, fabric, buttons and all the necessary supplies will be available for a hands-on learning experience.

For more information call 336-318-6824.

UNC Clef Hangers to usher in Asheboro library’s 75th anniversary

2010-12-21T05:42:00.000-08:00

The UNC Clef Hangers a cappella ensemble will perform as the Asheboro Public Library celebrates its 75th anniversary at 7 p.m. Saturday, January 8, at the Sunset Theatre.

Vocalist/accompanist duo Lane Ragsdale and Tom Liles will open for the 15-member Tar Heel student singing group.

The concert, sponsored by the Asheboro Public Library Foundation, is free and the public is invited. The theatre is located at 234 Sunset Ave.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

Founded in 1977, the Clef Hangers first performed in the Pit in April, 1978. Since then, “the Clefs” have released 23 professionally-produced studio albums and have toured worldwide. During a tour in New York, the group performed for the nation on Good Morning America.

In 2004, the Clef Hangers won a Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award for best soloist. Alumni include American Idol finalist Anoop Desai.

The concert kicks off the Asheboro Public Library’s 75th anniversary year. The library opened its doors on February 10, 1936, in two rooms above the Standard Drug Store in downtown Asheboro.

The idea for the library originated with a local bridge club in 1935. The group organized itself as the Randolph Library Club, and since has become the Asheboro Public Library Foundation.

The Foundation manages donations and bequests for improvement of the Asheboro library. As recipient of a bequest from Louise Swaim, longtime local music teacher, the Foundation over many years has provided music-related material and performances for the community through the library.

December newsletter...

2010-12-10T06:26:00.001-08:00

...posted!

"Deck the Halls with Lane and Friends", Thursday December 16

2010-12-01T07:12:00.000-08:00

A group of talented performers will join vocalist Lane Ragsdale as he brings his very popular Christmas cabaret back to the Asheboro Public Library at 7 p.m. Thursday, December16.

“Deck the Halls with Lane and Friends: A Christmas Cabaret” is sponsored by the Friends of the Library. It is free and the public is invited.

Joining Ragsdale will be accompanist/arranger Tom Liles and vocalists Amanda Broach, Derek Jackson, Patrick Osteen, Ben Peddycord, Alan Pugh and Ashley Wicker.

Broach is a frequent actress in Greensboro Community theatre productions. Jackson, a UNC-Charlotte student, starred in the RSVP production of OKLAHOMA.

Osteen is a senior acting major at UNC-School of the Arts. Peddycord starred in Les Miserables at Asheboro High School and has just returned from Africa.

Alan Pugh is a frequent musical star for RSVP. Wicker is a sophomore at UNC-Greensboro studying education and music.

Liles will sing as well as accompany, and Robert Dove, a UNCG student, will play saxophone.

The group will perform seasonal tunes together and individually, and as always, the show will include Lane’s unique blend of reminiscences and stories. He also promises some new twists and turns.

"Personally, I am more excited about this show than ever before," Ragsdale says.

Asheboro library breakfast program for kids to feature “Amazing Teacher” Steve Somers

2010-11-29T08:21:00.000-08:00

Children are invited to take a ride on the Arctic Express – but have breakfast first – as Steve Somers, the Amazing Teacher, visits the Asheboro Public Library on Saturday, December 4.

After a light breakfast at 9:30 a.m. in the library meeting room,Conductor Steve will use books on his Arctic Express reading list to take kids on a magical train ride for an entertaining look at winter festivals around the world, including Diwali, Kwanzaa, Solstice, Lunar New Year, Ramadan, Hanukkah and, of course, Christmas.

The program is free. All children and their parents are invited.

Somers, based in High Point, is an educator and performer whose “Amazing Teacher” programs have engaged students, parents and teachers in some 3,100 performances over 30 years. Find out more about him at here.

Library wins statewide award for mural project

2010-11-24T05:48:00.000-08:00

The Randolph County Public Library’s summer 2009 downtown Asheboro mural project has won an Outstanding Library Promotional Project award from the North Carolina Public Library Directors Association (NCPLDA).

Conceived by Teen Services Librarian Amy Keith Barney as part of “Express Yourself @ your library,” the library’s teen Summer Reading Program, and created by local painter and art teacher Cori Cagle, the mural casts a dawn-to-dusk vision of downtown Asheboro landmarks and attractions on the concrete retaining wall at the intersection of Church and Academy streets.

Painted primarily by teen volunteers from the library and kids from the Central Boys and Girls Clubs, it encompasses some 900 square feet on the 220-foot-long by seven-foot-high arced wall. Some 15-20 painters worked each day for two weeks in July to complete the project, and adult volunteers chipped in on two evenings.

The project, which had the backing of the Asheboro Appearance Commission and the Asheboro City Council, was funded by Trees Asheboro (now Trees NC) through a Grassroots Arts Grant from the North Carolina Arts Council via the Randolph Arts Guild. Trees Asheboro and the City of Asheboro provided logistical support for the painters.

View photos of the project.

Ghosts of Christmases past, present and yet-to-come visit library on Movie Monday

2010-11-24T05:45:00.000-08:00

It’s a tour de force performance for Jim Carrey as he tackles multiple roles in A Christmas Carol, the Asheboro Public Library’s Movie Monday, 2 p.m. December 6.

Carrey plays Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmases past, present and yet-to-come in this updated, animated version of the Charles Dickens’ classic. The old miser Scrooge must face the three spirits, who bring kindness to his otherwise cold heart and remind him of the man he used to be.

The movie is free and the public is invited; refreshments will be served. Find our more here, or call 318-6824.

November newsletter...

2010-11-19T06:48:00.001-08:00

...posted!

Ornament workshop invites teens, ‘tweens to decorate library Christmas tree

2010-11-16T05:42:00.001-08:00

Teens and ‘tweens ages 10-18 are invited to make Christmas ornaments for themselves and for the Asheboro Public Library Christmas tree from 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, December 1, in the library meeting room.

The ornaments will be on display for the month of December on the library’s main tree. Participants will have an opportunity to handcraft a variety of ornaments from various patterns.

This year’s Christmas tree will be book-themed. Ornaments will be made from recycled books and a variety of papers.

The workshop is sponsored by the Friends of the Randolph Public Library, and is free. For further information, contact Teen Services Librarian Amy Keith Barney, akeith@randolphlibrary.org or 318-6824.

Asheboro library Movie Monday to feature "Charlie St. Cloud"

2010-11-12T05:23:00.001-08:00

A young man who must make a choice between the past and the future is the subject of Charlie St. Cloud, the Asheboro Public Library’s Movie Monday at 2 p.m. November 22.

Zac Efron plays the title character, a young man so overcome by grief at the death of his younger brother, Sam, that he takes a job as caretaker of the cemetery in which his brother is buried. Charlie meets up with Sam’s spirit each night to play catch and talk -- until a girl comes into Charlie's life and he must choose between keeping a promise he made to his brother, or going after the girl he loves.

The film also stars Amanda Crew and Ray Liotta.

The movie is free and the public is invited; refreshments will be served. Find our more at here, or call 318-6824.

Saxophone quartet 'Saxology' to perform at Asheboro library

2010-11-03T06:17:00.000-07:00

Saxology, a saxophone quartet, will perform American popular songs and Broadway tunes at the Asheboro Public Library, 7 p.m. Thursday, November 18.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Library, the program is free and the public is invited.

Saxology is comprised of four veteran musicians: Lanny Cox, Dave Howard, Max Sharpe and Gary Lewis. Instrumentally, the group features soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxes.

The group has a repertoire of 100 specially-written arrangements, most created by area arranging legend Keith Lydick. Lydick will emcee the concert.

Asheboro library Movie Monday to feature Robin Hood

2010-11-01T06:01:00.000-07:00

Return to Sherwood Forest with Russell Crowe in Robin Hood, the Asheboro Public Library’s Movie Monday at 2 p.m. November 8.

In 13th Century England, Robin and his band of marauders confront corruption in a local village and lead an uprising against the crown that will forever alter the balance of world power. Whether thief or hero, one man from humble beginnings will become an eternal symbol of freedom for his people.

The film, directed by Ridley Scott, also features Cate Blanchett as Marion.

The movie is free and the public is invited; refreshments will be served. Find our more here, or call 318-6824.

October newsletter

2010-10-15T11:09:00.001-07:00

posted!

Theme Parkeologists to share secrets of Disney travel

2010-10-01T06:31:00.000-07:00

Planning a trip to Disney World?

Let brothers, Disney enthusiasts and Theme Parkeologists George and Andrew Taylor give you the highlights and lowdown on visiting the massive theme park in a Friends of the Library program at 7 p.m. Thursday, October 14 at the Asheboro library.

It’s free and the public is invited.George is manager of the Archdale Public Library, and Andrew is an investment banker in Greensboro. Together, they publish Imaginerding (imaginerding.com), a blog about all things Disney that has gained an international following.

Their presentation will focus on planning your trip, getting excited about the visit, resources available for trip planning, secret details that Disney’s “Imagineers” built into the theme park and other tips to help you get the most out your adventure.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street in Asheboro.

Library’s ‘American Dream’ programs get underway for English language learners

2010-09-21T12:00:00.000-07:00

“Lenguaje y Lectura @ your library,” a series of free programs to help low literacy, Spanish-speaking English language learners build reading skills, starts next week with English as a Second Language (ESL) and computer classes at two Randolph County Public Library branches.

Every other Wednesday beginning September 29, computer classes will be offered at 7 p.m. at the John W. Clark (Franklinville) Public Library. English as a Second Language classes begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 28 at the Asheboro Public Library and will continue on biweekly schedule to be determined.

Computer classes will start in Asheboro in October.

No registration is required; anyone who wants to participate can attend the classes.

ESL classes will focus on basic life skills, and participants will receive workbooks to keep. Computer classes will cover basic skills and getting started with the library’s Mango Languages online language learning resource (www.randquest.org).

The programs are funded by a $5,000 “The American Dream Starts @ your library” grant from the American Library Association, funded by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.

For further information, contact Veronica Gutierrrez at 318-6843, or vgutierrez@randolphlibrary.org.

September newsletter

2010-09-17T08:48:00.000-07:00

posted!

Happy Birthday to... us!

2010-08-31T13:37:00.000-07:00

September 1, 2010, marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Randolph County Public Library system. On that day in 1940, the Randolph County Commissioners appropriated funding for the first time to support the libraries in Asheboro (founded in 1935 and opened in 1936), Franklinville (1924) and Ramseur (1936).

At that time, Randolph was one of 52 counties in the state without county-wide library service. The Commissioners acted on the offer of state aid, which was made available to library systems that submitted a plan to use the funds.

The commissioners also approved a board of trustees for the system, which was composed of Charles W. McCrary, W.P. Rogers, Dr. C.D. Kistler, T.F. Bulla, G.G. Gilmore and M.E. Johnson.

The Randleman and Liberty libraries opened in 1941. The Archdale and Seagrove libraries were established in 1972, completing the county system.

In 2011, the Asheboro library will celebrate its 75th anniversary; more on that later!

Jerry Neal's one-man show to explore wireless pioneer Marconi

2010-08-26T06:26:00.000-07:00

In the early years of the 20th Century, the Titanic got the Carpathia rushing to the rescue and Scotland Yard got its man thanks to a new invention: the wireless telegraph.

This fascinating history comes to life as RF Micro Devices co-founder Jerry Neal performs a one-man show as Guglielmo Marconi, the father of all wireless communication, in "Marconi Speaks," at 7 p.m. Thursday, September 16, at the Sunset Theatre.

The performance, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, is free and the public is invited.

Neal promises to keep his audience on the edge of their seats as he steps back in time to delve into the invention and inventor that changed the world.

The multimedia show, which includes a full set, period costume and a demonstration of wireless technology, focuses on two key events in the histories of both Marconi and wireless: the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 and the “North London Cellar Murder” in 1910 — the first case in which transatlantic wireless led to the capture of a fugitive.

Neal also brings along fascinating displays, including a reproduction of Marconi’s radio transmitters and receivers and reproductions of artifacts from the Titanic.

Neal, who lives in northwestern Randolph County, is executive vice-president of strategic development for RF Micro Devices, the company he helped found.

As a young boy, Neal replicated many of Marconi’s early experiments and has done exhaustive research on Marconi from a business and personal point of view. As part of his research, he traveled to London and stood at the podium of the 200 year old Royal Institution, where Marconi demonstrated the results of his improvements and advancement in wireless communication.

Neal will be introduced by Jerry Bledsoe, co-author of with Neal of Fire in the Belly: Building a World-leading High Tech Company from Scratch in Tumultuous Times, and Built on a Rock: A Memoir of Family, Faith and Place.

Get a library card, get a Chick-fil-A coupon!

2010-08-25T08:34:00.001-07:00

Anyone who registers for their first Randolph County Public Library card at the Asheboro Public Library during September will receive a coupon good for ice cream at Chick-fil-A. The coupons will be available while supplies last

Asheboro library staff also will spend two evenings at local Chick-fil-A restaurants to promote library card registration, and to sign up anyone who wants a card.

Librarians will be at the Center Point Plaza (Dixie Drive) location from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, September 9, and at the Randolph Mall store from 5-8 p.m. Friday, September 10. Coupons will be available to anyone who registers during these events, also.

To get a library card, adults need a valid picture ID and proof of address if the ID is not current. Parents can sign for their children to get cards.

The coupons and sign-up nights are part of the statewide “Smartest Card: Get it. Use it. @ your library” campaign that takes place each September.

Asheboro to host statewide library card campaign kickoff featuring NC poet laureate

2010-08-25T08:31:00.001-07:00

North Carolina Poet Laureate Cathy Smith Bowers (pictured) will join local poets for a reading at the Asheboro Public Library to kick off the annual statewide “Smartest Card” library card sign-up campaign.

The reading by Bowers and an “open mike” organized by the Randolph Writers Group will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 8. It’s free and the public is invited.

The event also will include a press conference hosted by the State Library of North Carolina to promote the library card campaign, which takes place each September. During the campaign, libraries across the state spread the message that a library card is the “smartest card” and encourage state residents to visit their libraries and sign up for a card.

Along with Bowers and the other poets, the reading will feature a tribute to the campaign by Philip Shore III.

Bowers, this year’s statewide spokesperson for the Smartest Card campaign, is the state’s sixth poet laureate, a position from which she serves as an ambassador of North Carolina literature and seeks to raise the state’s consciousness to a greater appreciation of the reading and writing of poetry.

The Tryon resident encourages all North Carolinians to take time from their busy lives to explore the rich literature and many wonderful resources available at their libraries.

Over five million state residents are card-carrying library users and during the last fiscal year over 37 million visited their libraries. Nine million used library Internet computers.

North Carolina’s “Smartest Card” initiative is part of The Campaign for America’s Libraries, a multi-year public awareness and advocacy effort by the American Library Association. Begun in 2004, the campaign promotes the value of public libraries nationwide.

The Asheboro library is located at 201 Worth Street.

August newsletter

2010-08-19T08:15:00.000-07:00

...posted!

Asheboro library Movie Monday to travel The Road

2010-08-12T06:35:00.000-07:00

The post-apocalyptic vision of author Cormac McCarthy comes to life in The Road, the Asheboro Public Library’s Movie Monday for Adults, 2 p.m. August 23.

Based on McCarthy’s best selling novel, The Road is the story of a man and his young son trying to find a new life in a burned and desolate America. With only a pistol to defend themselves, they must fight their way through the lawless bands that stalk the road.

The film stars Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron and Guy Pearce.

The movie is free and the public is invited; refreshments will be served. Find our more here, or call 318-6801.

Friends, Seagrove Potters for Peace to host Three Cups of Tea discussion

2010-08-11T08:12:00.000-07:00

The Friends of the Library and Seagrove Potters for Peace invite the community to read Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson, and join a discussion that will promote education in central Asia

A community discussion will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 17, at the Sarah Smith Self Gallery of the Randolph Arts Guild. The discussion is free and all ages are invited — versions of the book for children and teens as well as for adults are available at the library.

Three Cups of Tea recounts mountaineer Mortenson’s campaign to pay back Pakistani villagers who came to his aid by building them a school. The project mushroomed into an international effort to combat extremism and terrorism through education.Today, his Central Asia Institute promotes community-based education, especially for girls, in remote regions of northern Pakistan and Afghanistan.

In August 2009, 13 potters organized themselves as Seagrove Potters for Peace and produced 150 tea vessels to raise money for the institute. All the items sold out in the one-day sale.

This year’s sale, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, August 14, will include 24 potteries; for a list and more information, go here.

A selection of the vessels will be held back and made available for purchase at the community discussion, which will be led by Dr. Jeff Jones, associate professor of Russian/Soviet and world history at UNC-Greensboro.

Copies of the book also will be for sale, and attendees can drop small change into a “Pennies for Peace” jar. Raffle tickets also will be on sale for $1 for the giveaway of two sets of two tickets to an appearance by Mortenson at Wake Forest University in November.

Library to offer weatherization workshop

2010-08-11T08:11:00.001-07:00

Weatherization to reduce energy bills by making houses more energy efficient will be the topic of a presentation at 3 p.m. Wednesday, August 18, at the Asheboro library.

The workshop is free and the public is invited.

Joleen Hartis, weatherization program assistant at Regional Consolidated Services, will talk about how to take advantage of the federal program, which offers the elderly, persons with disabilities and low-income families weatherization services at no cost.

Typical work may include caulking, insulating, sealing air leaks, installing vapor barriers, installing smoke/carbon monoxide detectors and replacing light bulbs with CFL bulbs.

Eligibility for weatherization is based on combined household income.

Library to host Wii Wednesdays for teens, tweens on August 4

2010-07-21T06:40:00.000-07:00

The Asheboro library will host a Wii Wednesday for teens and tweens ages 10 to 18 at 3 p.m. August 4.

The free gaming event is last Wii Wednesday of the summer, but the popular series may continue as the school year gets underway.

Games will include Wii Sports, Wii Resort Sports, Band Hero, and Super Mario Brothers. Board games will also be available.

Registration is required; please visit the Asheboro Reference Desk to sign-up or call 318-6803. The Wii, games and other equipment are provided by the Friends of the Library.

Go "Where the Wild Things Are" on library’s Teen Movie Monday, August 2

2010-07-21T06:37:00.000-07:00

Find out what happens then you’re sent to bed without your supper in Where the Wild Things Are, the Asheboro Public Library’s Teen Movie Monday at 2 p.m. August 2.

Director Spike Jonze’s vision of the classic children’s story by Maurice Sendak follows disobedient Max as he creates an imaginary forest world populated by the wild things, exotic monsters and ferocious creatures who embrace Max as their ruler.

The movie is free and anyone ages 12-18 is invited; refreshments will be served. Find our more here, or call 318-6824.

Asheboro library Movie Monday to feature "When in Rome"

2010-07-14T08:07:00.001-07:00

An amorous group of suitors pursues a surprised American woman in When in Rome, the Asheboro Public Library’s Movie Monday for Adults, 2 p.m. July 26.

Beth Harper (Kristen Bell) is a young, successful real estate agent in New York who’s completely unlucky in love. When she travels to Rome to see her newlywed sister, she impulsively steals some coins from a reputed fountain of love.

She then finds herself sought after by a band of wannabe lovers in this romantic comedy.

The movie is free and the public is invited; refreshments will be served. Find our more here, or call 318-6801.

Go "Up" at the Asheboro library's Family Movie Friday

2010-07-14T08:04:00.000-07:00

A 78-year-old man, his balloon-powered house, and an eight-year-old stow-away take a hilarious, adventurous journey in Up, the Asheboro Public Library’s Family Movie Friday, 7 p.m. July 23.

In Pixar’s modern animated classic, Carl Fredricksen (voice of Ed Asner) has spent a lifetime dreaming of exploring the globe, and launches his house into the sky via thousands of balloons. After liftoff he discovers he has a stowaway in the form of an over-optimistic 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer named Russell

The movie is free and the public is invited. Refreshments will be served.

Family Movie Fridays are part of “Make A Splash: Read!”, The Randolph County Public Library’s Summer Reading Program. Visit here for the full schedule of summer movies, and here for all the Summer Reading Program events.

Return to Wonderland at Asheboro library’s Teen Movie Monday, July 19

2010-07-07T11:34:00.000-07:00

Return to Wonderland with a grown-up Alice in director Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, the Asheboro Public Library’s Teen Movie Monday at 2 p.m. July 19.

In Burton’s unique take on the classic Lewis Carroll story, 19-year-old Alice falls back into the fantasy realm populated by talking playing cards, the raging Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) and a stark raving Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp).

The movie is free and anyone ages 12-18 is invited; refreshments will be served. Find our more at here, or call 318-6824.

Magical storyteller Mark Daniel returns to Randolph libraries

2010-07-07T08:24:00.000-07:00

Magical Storyteller Mark Daniel will return to Randolph County’s public libraries this summer with his unique blend of magic, puppetry and stories.

He will appear at all seven libraries, beginning in Liberty at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 20, and at the other libraries as follows:

Archdale, 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 27;

Asheboro, 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 28 (at the Sunset Theatre);

Franklinville, 2 p.m. Thursday, July 29;

Ramseur, 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 29;

Randleman, 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 22;

Seagrove, 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 27.

Daniel’s performances, part of “Make a Splash: Read!”, the Randolph County Public Library’s Summer Reading Program, are free and the public is invited.

For more information about Daniel, go here. For a complete schedule of summer events at the libraries, go here.

Asheboro to host another Wii Wednesday, July 21

2010-07-07T08:22:00.000-07:00

The Asheboro library will host a Wii Wednesday for teens and tweens ages 10 to 18 at 3 p.m. July 21.

The free gaming event is next in a series of Wii Wednesdays, with another one scheduled for August 4.

Games will include Wii Sports, Wii Resort Sports, Band Hero, and Super Mario Brothers. Board games will also be available.

Registration is required; please visit the Asheboro Reference Desk to sign-up or call 318-6803. The Wii, games and other equipment are provided by the Friends of the Library.

Movie Monday, July 12, to feature Dear John

2010-06-30T08:07:00.000-07:00

Sparks fly between a soldier home on leave and a conservative college woman in Dear John, the Asheboro Public Library’s Movie Monday for Adults, 2 p.m. July 12.

Channing Tatum play the soldier, who reenlists after the September 11 attacks instead of returning home to his new girlfriend, played by Amanda Seyfried. Time and distance begin to take a toll on the young lovers.

The romantic drama is based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks.

The movie is free and the public is invited; refreshments will be served. Find out more here, or call 318-6801.

Grant to help library promote literacy for English language learners

2010-06-30T06:44:00.000-07:00

The Randolph County Public Library will expand services for low-literacy English language learners with a $5,000 grant from the American Library Association funded by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.

The library was one of 70 in the nation and seven in North Carolina to receive an American Dream Starts @ your library grant. The funding will support an initiative focusing on Spanish speaking adults who have a low literacy level in their native language, and seek to help them learn English while increasing literacy in both languages.

The effort, called Lenguaje y Lectura @ your library, gets underway this summer. The aim is to provide a sustained, hands-on, verbal and visual learning experience for participants.

Participants will practice English using the ESL/Spanish module of the library’s Mango Languages online resource, and in doing so build computer literacy skills along with language and reading skills.

In addition to online learning, participants will join with volunteers and each other in conversation and learning games, and will be provided workbooks and picture dictionaries to keep.

Activities for children also will be provided so that families can participate without worrying about child care, and some activities will include the whole family. One emphasis of the program will be assisting parents to help their children succeed in school.

Community partners assisting with advice, volunteers and material selection include the Latino Coalition of Randolph County, Asheboro Parents as Teachers, Franklinville-Ramseur Parents as Teachers, Randolph Community College Basic Skills/ESL, Asheboro City Schools ELL Department and the Randolph County Schools ESL Parent Advocate.

For further information about the program, or to join or volunteer, contact Veronica Gutierrez, vgutierrez@randolphlibrary.org or 318-6843.

“Set Sail” with Amazing Teacher Steve Somers at Randleman library

2010-06-23T08:35:00.000-07:00

Ahoy, mates! “Set Sail” for high seas adventure with Captain Steve Somers and his friends as they take kids on an amazing voyage in search of good character at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 1, at the Randleman Public Library.

The adventure is free, and all children and their parents are invited.

Somers, a.k.a. Amazing Teacher, will help kids discover the importance of making wise choices while learning about values such as trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. Participants enjoy magic tricks, drama, puppets, stories, and music while connecting with good character traits.

By the end of the programs, kids discover one "real" benefit to positive character development:friendship.

Based in High Point, Somers’ Amazing Teacher project creates and delivers educationally significant assembly and library programs that motivate children to read.

His appearance at the Randleman library is part of “Make a Splash: Read!”, the Randolph County Public Library’s Summer Reading Program. For more information, call the library at 498-3141.

The library also will show the movie Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs at 4 p.m. the same day. The movie is free and the public is invited.

Find about more about Somers at here.

July newsletter

2010-06-23T07:05:00.000-07:00

Posted! Summer Reading schedule for July and information about upcoming community reading of Three Cups of Tea.

It's "Lego Mania!" for teens, tweens at Asheboro library

2010-06-16T11:12:00.001-07:00

“Lego Mania!” returns to the Asheboro Public Library at 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 30, as teens and tweens ages 10-18 are invited to compete in a Lego building contest.

The competition is free and the Legos will be provided. Prizes will be awarded in multiple categories, such as tallest and most creative, and for younger and older age groups.

Refreshments also will be provided. Registration is required; call 318-6803 or visit the library to sign up.

The event is part of the library’s Teen Summer Reading Program “Make Waves at your library,” and is supported by the Friends of the Library.

For all the Summer Reading program events, go here.

Asheboro library’s Family Movie Friday features princess, frog

2010-06-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

A modern twist on The Princess and the Frog highlights Family Movie Friday, 7 p.m. June 25, at the Asheboro Public Library.

Set in New Orleans’ French Quarter, Disney’s hand-drawn animated version of the classic tale involves a beautiful girl named Tina who finds a frog prince desperately wanting to be human again, and with a fateful kiss, leads them on a hilarious adventure through the mystical bayous of Louisiana.

The movie is free and the public is invited. Refreshments will be served.

Family Movie Fridays are part of “Make A Splash: Read!”, The Randolph County Public Library’s Summer Reading Program. Go here for the full schedule of summer movies, and here for all the Summer Reading Program events.

Things get complicated on Asheboro library’s Movie Monday

2010-06-16T11:04:00.000-07:00

A romantic triangle is at the heart of the star-studded It’s Complicated, the Asheboro Public Library’s Movie Monday for Adults, 2 p.m. June 28.

The comedy stars Meryl Streep as a woman who rekindles her relationship with her now-remarried ex-husband (Alec Baldwin), becoming the “other woman.” When another man (Steve Martin) also falls for her, things get very complicated indeed.

The movie is free and the public is invited; refreshments will be served. Find our more here, or call 318-6801.

Asheboro library to host Wii Wednesdays for teens, tweens

2010-06-11T08:19:00.001-07:00

Tweens and teens ages 10 to 18 are invited to play Wii games and compete against their peers for a fun afternoon of video gaming on Wii Wednesday, 3 p.m. June 23 at the Asheboro Public Library.

The free gaming event is first in a series of Wii Wednesdays, also scheduled for July 21 and August 4.

Games will include: Wii Sports, Wii Resort Sports, Band Hero and Super Mario Brothers. Board games will also be available.

Registration is required; please visit the Asheboro Reference Desk to sign-up or call 318-6803. The Wii, games and other equipment are provided by the Friends of the Library.

Libraries screen feature films as summer gets underway

2010-06-04T08:17:00.000-07:00

Four libraries will screen movies as “Make A Splash: Read!”, the Randolph County Public Library Summer Reading Program, gets underway.

The movies are free and the public is invited; refreshments are served.

The Archdale Public Library will show Flipper, the classic tale of a boy who befriends a dolphin, at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, June 10.

It’s raining food as the Asheboro Public Library’s Family Movie Friday features Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, 7 p.m. June 11.

Sherlock Holmes investigates during the Asheboro library’s Teen Movie Monday at 2 p.m. June 14. Robert Downey Jr. plays the famous sleuth and Jude Law his sidekick, Dr. Watson.

Free Willy: Escape to Pirate’s Cove comes to two libraries, with showings at Seagrove at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 15, and Randleman at 4 p.m. Thursday, June 17.

Go here for the full schedule of summer movies, and here for all the Summer Reading Program events.

Blackbeard the Pirate to kick off library Summer Reading Program, “Make a Splash: Read!”

2010-06-02T10:49:00.000-07:00

Avast! Heave to as Blackbeard the Pirate – a.k.a. performer Ben Cherry – kicks off “Make a Splash: Read!”, the Randolph County Public Library’s Summer Reading Program, with visits to all seven libraries during the week of June 14.

The performances are free and the public is invited.

Veteran actor Cherry gives a well researched, spellbinding rendition of the infamous pirate’s life featuring costumes and authentic props. His able First Mate Dee Gee shares information about famous female pirates.

They have brought Blackbeard to life for over 400 schools, museums and youth groups and have become mainstays at nautical festivals such as Seafair in Seattle, Harborfest in Norfolk and Pirate Week in Grand Cayman.

Blackbeard will appear at the libraries as follows:

Asheboro: 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 15.
Archdale: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 16.
Franklinville: 2 p.m. Thursday, June 17.
Liberty: 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 15.
Ramseur: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 17 (at the Ramseur Municipal Building).
Randleman: 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 16.
Seagrove: 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 15.

Blackbeard’s appearances are the first of some 130 summer events at the libraries including storytimes, performances, movies, hands-on activities and more. All are designed to inspire kids to keep reading over the summer.

There are programs and opportunities for teens and adults, too. For complete Summer Reading schedules and details, go here or visit any of the libraries.

For more information, call 318-6804.

The Summer Reading Program is made possible by the Friends of the Library and by a North Carolina Arts Council Grassroots Arts Grant via the Randolph Arts Guild.

Library invites children, teens and adults to “Make A Splash: Read!” this summer

2010-06-02T10:36:00.000-07:00

The seven branches of the Randolph County Public Library will offer almost 130 storytimes, performances, movies, hands-on projects and other special events June 14 through August 7 for children, teens and adults as part of “Make a Splash: Read!”, the 2010 Summer Reading Program.

And all for free.

Originally intended to keep children reading while out of school (studies show that kids who read over the summer do better in school the next year), the Summer Reading Program has expanded to include teens, who can “Makes Waves at Your Library,” and adults, who are invited to “Water Your Mind.” Children who sign up to participate at any library will receive reading rewards based on the number of books, hours or pages they read.

“Make a Splash” kicks off during the week of June 14 with appearances at each library by Blackbeard the Pirate, a.k.a. performer Ben Cherry. In July, magical storyteller Mark Daniel, a crowd-pleaser every year, returns.

The summer culminates with a pool party on July 30.

Each library will host one or more weekly programs. The Asheboro library will hold four weekly storytimes – for school age children, families, toddlers and all ages – along with Wednesday morning and afternoon programs for school age children, and a film time for children on Tuesdays.

The Archdale, Asheboro, Randleman and Seagrove libraries will screen popular movies for families, and the Archdale and Asheboro libraries also will show movies for teens.

Special visitors will include Ronald McDonald at Asheboro, Asheboro, Liberty, Randleman and Seagrove; martial artists at Asheboro, Randleman and Seagrove; mad scientist Dr. K Boom at Archdale, Asheboro Copperheads at Liberty and storytellers everywhere.

Other programs will include Deep River Pipes and Drums at Archdale, “Ocean Adventures” at Ramseur, “Discover the Mystery of the Coral Reef” in Randleman, and “Dive into a Story” in Liberty. Also on tap: hands-on activities such as outdoor safe cooking, “stained glass” and “octopus” crafts, and water conservation sessions.

While kids are making a splash, teens can make waves at the Asheboro library during Wii Wednesdays, Lego Mania, Bottle Cap Art and Teen Movie Mondays. At the Archdale library, they can take babysitting and self defense courses, learn jewelry craft, and register to be eligible in drawings for two Walmart gift certificates.

Randleman teens can enter checkout receipts showing books they have read into two drawings for Books-A-Million gift certificates.

Adults can enter drawings of their own in Randleman. In Asheboro, they can turn in a form for each book they read or audiobook to which they listen, and stand a chance in drawings for prizes, and also submit brief reviews that might make it into the library’s newspaper column.

The library also offers three reading and discussion groups that will continue to meet over the summer: Asheboro Reads (afternoon), the Luna Book Club (evening), and the Liberty Book Club.

For complete Summer Reading schedules and details, go here, or visit any of the libraries. For more information, call 318-6804.

The Summer Reading Program is made possible by the Friends of the Library and by a North Carolina Arts Council Grassroots Arts Grant via the Randolph Arts Guild.

May-June (Summer Reading) newsletter...

2010-05-26T08:54:00.000-07:00

...posted!

Asheboro library Movie Monday goes Up in the Air

2010-05-26T08:37:00.000-07:00

Up in the Air, an acclaimed take on modern life, is the Asheboro Public Library’s Movie Monday feature, 2 p.m. June 7.

George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, a corporate downsizing expert whose cherished life on the road is threatened just as he is on the cusp of reaching ten million frequent flyer miles. Leading an empty life lived out of a suitcase he thinks he may have finally met the frequent-traveler woman of his dreams in this quirky comedy.

The film was nominated for six Oscars, including best picture, best actor and best actress. Vera Farmiga and Jason Bateman also star.

The movie is free and the public is invited; refreshments will be served. Find our more here, or call 318-6824.

Movie Monday to feature The Blind Side

2010-04-22T07:02:00.001-07:00

Sandra Bullock’s Academy Award-winning performance distinguishes The Blind Side, the Asheboro Public Library’s Movie Monday at 2 p.m., May 10.

The film is the remarkable true story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American youngster from a broken home, taken in by wealthy white family who helped him fulfill his potential as a person and as an athlete. He worked hard on the field and in the classroom and became an All-American in college and was picked in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft, changing his life and the lives of the loving family who were there to watch him succeed.

The movie is free and the public is invited; refreshments will be served. Find our more here, or call 318-6801.

Ragsdale, Liles put new spin on library cabaret shows

2010-04-21T08:30:00.000-07:00

In a twist on his popular cabaret shows for the Friends of the Library, Lane Ragsdale will honor the Friends with a brand new show called “Hits and Misters: An Evening With Lane Ragsdale and Tom Liles” at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 6, at the Asheboro library.

The program is free and the public is invited.

The two-man show will focus on stories from Lane’s travels to New York; Asheboro in 2010; and his love for jazz, of which Tom is a master. With these stories woven among songs like “St. Louis Blues, “ “Summertime, “ “Laura” and “After You’ve Gone,” the show is a departure from past shows that have included multiple cast members and varied genres of music.

“We are in tough economic times and this show offers a threefold opportunity,” says Ragsdale. “It will be a vivid and relaxing escape into the world of jazz and blues with some funny and poignant stories for the audience. For me, it will be an opportunity to honor the Friends of the Library, Arlene Smith and Ross Holt for their loving support over the past five years, and an opportunity to work with the brilliant Tom Liles on the style of music he has mastered, not merely at UNC-Greensboro but in travels and performances all over the world. I’m excited!”

Auction of Owen/Owens pottery to benefit library Friends

2010-04-15T10:29:00.000-07:00

The Randolph County Public Library’s second annual Marjorie W. Memory Pottery Auction will take place during a Friends of the Library program featuring Holly George-Warren at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 29, at the Sara Smith Self Gallery of the Randolph Arts Guild, 123 Sunset Ave., Asheboro.

The program is free and the public is invited.

The silent auction will feature nine Owen/Owens family pottery pieces dating from the 1920s to the 2000s. Proceeds will benefit the Friends of the Library.

Pieces available include a dishpan (1920s), a pie dish in tobacco spit glaze (1950s) and two Chinese white rice bowls (1960s) by Ben Wade Owen; a pitcher from M.L. Owens (1990s); a Vernon Owens blue vase (1998); a Pam Owens teapot (2003); and a bowl and vase from Ben Owen III (1999).

Anyone who wants to bid but cannot attend the silent auction can submit a bid in advance. Bids received in advance will be entered as the first bids in the silent auction.

For information about how to bid, go here or call the Asheboro library at 318-6801. The pottery can be viewed at the library.

Memory was a longtime librarian at UNC-Greensboro and author of A History of the Randolph Public Library, 1935-1967. Following her death, colleague and good friend Stanley Hicks, now of Enid, OK, established the auction by donating two pieces of Jugtown pottery.

This year, Stanley arranged for Earl Senger and his wife Frances Freeman Senger (formerly of Asheboro) to donate the pottery to be auctioned. The Sengers are premier pottery collectors in the Southeast.

Love Happens at Asheboro library Movie Monday

2010-04-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

Love Happens at 2 p.m. April 26 at the Asheboro library – the cinematic kind, anyway, on Movie Monday.

The film stars Aaron Eckhart as author Burke Ryan, whose book about coping with loss becomes a best-seller and turns him into a self-help guru. While headlining a grief seminar in Seattle during his national tour, he encounters a charming hotel florist, Eloise, played by Jennifer Anniston, and learns some unexpected lessons about rediscovering love and happiness.

Martin Sheen also stars.

The movie is free and the public is invited; refreshments will be served. Find our more at here, or call 318-6824.

Music journalist Holly George-Warren returns for Friends of the Library event

2010-04-14T08:38:00.001-07:00

Asheboro native Holly George-Warren, one of the nation’s preeminent music journalists, returns home for a talk entitled “From Gene Autry to Woodstock to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: A Writer’s Musical Journey,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 29, at the Sara Smith Self Gallery of the Randolph Arts Guild, 123 Sunset Ave., Asheboro.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Library, the program is free and the public is invited.

George-Warren will discuss her journey as a writer, which has led her to a variety of music-related topics. She penned Public Cowboy No. 1, the authoritative biography of singing cowboy star Gene Autry, and recently co-authored the best-selling The Road to Woodstock, an insider account of the1969 festival with its producer Michael Lang.

She served as editor of the annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction program and a subsequent book commemorating the hall's silver anniversary. She has edited books with the founders of Farm Aid and Martin Scorsese and other filmmakers; curated 2,000 photographs for the new Grammy Museum in Los Angeles; and written a book on the history of cowgirls, The Cowgirl Way, due out this summer.

Other titles from George-Warren’s prolific pen include Honky Tonk Heroes and Hillbilly Angels: The Pioneers of Country Music; Cowboy: How Hollywood Invented the West; How the West Was Worn, the definitive book of western wear; and two recent photography books, The Grateful Dead 365 and Punk 365.

She was also a 2001 Grammy Award nominee as co-producer of the Rhino Records five-CD boxed set R-E-S-P-E-C-T: A Century of Women in Music.

A resident of New York for the past 31 years, she's spent most of the past decade in the small Catskills village of Phoenicia with her husband musician/writer Robert Burke Warren and their son Jack

April newsletter

2010-04-13T08:29:00.000-07:00

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Tazewell shares world’s beauty

2010-04-07T08:23:00.000-07:00

Illustrator, author and educator Barbara Tazewell strives to present the world in a way that encourages others to see in new and exciting ways.

Tazewell will share her vision in a Friends of the Library program at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 13 at the Asheboro library. The program is free and the public is invited.

An Akron, OH, native and 20-year Asheboro resident, Tazewell taught French and English at Akron University, the Akron public schools, St. Augustine College, Bennett College and Randolph Community College.

She’s author and illustrator of the children’s flip book Ola, the Water Bearer, and illustrator of the Jamaican-themed Jelly Bread and Water Juice, written by her daughter-in-law Lora Tazewell. Many of her illustrations use origami paper or fabric printed on paper to form pictures.

Asheboro library’s Movie Monday to feature Brothers

2010-03-31T08:41:00.000-07:00

A free-spirited young man must take on family responsibility when his Marine brother goes missing in Afghanistan in Brothers, the Asheboro library’s Movie Monday, 2 p.m. April 12.

Sam (Tobey Maguire) and Tommy (Jake Gyllenhall) are polar opposites. On his fourth tour of duty, Sam is a steadfast family man married to his high school sweetheart, Grace (Natalie Portman).

Tommy, his charismatic younger brother, is a drifter just out of jail who’s always gotten by on wit and charm. Shot down in Afghanistan, Sam is presumed dead and Tommy tries to fill in for his brother by assuming newfound responsibility.

Brothers is an emotional drama that contains some adult situations and language.
The movie is free and the public is invited; refreshments will be served. Find our more at here, or call 318-6824.

Asheboro library’s Movie Monday features The Time Traveler’s Wife

2010-03-15T13:04:00.000-07:00

How would you carry on a romance if you were routinely transported into another era? The Time Traveler’s Wife finds out in the Asheboro library’s Movie Monday, 2 p.m. March 22.

Eric Bana plays a Chicago librarian who suffers from a rare genetic disorder that sends him hurtling through time whenever he is under extreme duress. Nonetheless, he attempts to build a future with a beautiful young heiress played by Rachel McAdams.

Ron Livingston costars in the romantic comedy, which shows that love knows no boundaries and transcends time and death.

The movie is free and the public is invited; refreshments will be served. Find our more here, or call 318-6824.