Libraries host Every Child Ready to Read carnival

ASHEBORO – A Pre-Literacy Carnival travels to six Randolph County libraries, and the Archdale library offers a “Dino-Mite” time, as fall Every Child Ready to Read events for kids age 0-5 and their parents/caregivers get underway.

The Pre-Literacy Carnival will feature stories, carnival games and snacks. “Join us as we explore the many ways  that getting ready to read can be easy and a lot of fun,” says Head of Children’s Services Amy Matthews.

The carnival will visit the libraries as follows:

· Archdale (10433 S. Main Street): 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30;

· Asheboro (201 Worth Street): 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 5;

· Liberty (239 S. Fayetteville St.): 11  a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9;

· Ramseur (1512 S. Main St.): 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 2

· Randleman (122 Commerce Sq.): 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24;

· Seagrove (530 Old Plank Road): 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25.

The Archdale library will host an Every Child event of its own: a “Dino-Mite Family Night” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 9. Stories, crafts and refreshments will be offered, along with a drawing for four children’s admission tickets to the NC Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame.

All events are free.

Randolph Reads: Invisible Man to feature art exhibit

ASHEBORO – “Revealing the Invisible,” an exhibition of artwork keyed to the theme of invisibility, will be on display in Gallery 101 of the Randolph Arts Guild from September 2 through October 17.

An opening reception will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 2. The opening, which coincides with an exhibit in the Guild’s Sara Smith Self Gallery by artist Cat Collier, is free and the public is invited.

The show is part of Randolph Reads: Invisible Man, a community reading initiative exploring Ralph Ellison’s classic novel. All interested artists, including students in the Asheboro City and Randolph County school systems, were asked to create 2-dimensional, 12”x12” work on the theme.

The work will be displayed as a mosaic to celebrate the community, the individual and the value of diversity.

More Randolph Reads: Invisible Man activities are planned in September, including a jazz band at the Sunset Theatre, a screening of the PBS American Experience documentary on Ralph Ellison, a forum on banned books, a stage presentation based on Chip Womick’s series of articles on invisibility in the community now running in The Courier Tribune, and discussions at libraries throughout the county. For schedules and more information visit www.randolphreads.org.

The Randolph Arts Guild is located at 123 Sunset Avenue in Asheboro.

Senior Advisor Warren Coble to talk about Medicare Part D at library

ASHEBORO – Join local Senior Advisor Warren Coble for "Understanding Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage," 2:30 p.m. Friday, September 12, at the Asheboro Public Library.

Coble will explain options available to local seniors. Topics to be covered will include basic eligibility, how the plans work, choosing the best plan, extra help, and more.

Annual Open Enrollment for Medicare Part D begins on October 15.  Centers for Medicare/Medicaid Services (CMS) and Seniors Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) recommend that every individual eligible for Part D review their options during the upcoming open enrollment period.  Formularies, premiums, deductibles, and co-pays can all change each year, and participants need to understand how those changes affect their coverage.

The program, sponsored by the Friends of the library, is free and the public is invited. The library is located at 201 Worth Street in Asheboro.

Go tech free in Asheboro library event for families

ASHEBORO – Get your family unplugged as the  Asheboro Public Library Children’s Room hosts a “Tech Free Family Night”, 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, September 9. Family-friendly board games and card games will be provided. The event is free and all families are invited.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street.

New children’s book club at library focuses on Battle of Books titles

ASHEBORO – A second book club is coming to the Asheboro Public Library Children’s Room beginning in September.

The BOB (Battle of the Books) Book Club is for fourth and fifth graders who either participate or are interested in the Elementary Battle of the Books. The intent is enjoyment of BOB titles outside of the competition.

The club will meet at 4 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month beginning September 3. Participants at each meeting will consider one of the books from this year’s list, and the meetings will incorporate thematic, engaging activities related to the book.

All interested fourth and fifth graders are invited, and encouraged to bring their own copies of the books or check out an available library copy.

Titles up for discussion are:

· September 3: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen;

· October 1: How Tia Local Came to Stay by Julia Alvarez;

· November 5: Extra Credit by Andrew Clements;

· December 3: Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix.

The Children’s Room’s “Max and Imaginary Friends Book Club” for children in grades 2-5 continues on the third Wednesday of each month.

Contact Head of Children’s Services Amy Matthews at 318-6804 for more information. The library is located at 201 Worth Street in Asheboro.

Friends of the Library bookshop offers deal on King, Cornwell

ASHEBORO – Books by Stephen King and Patricia Cornwell will be 50% off during an end-of-month sale at Friends of the Library bookshop in downtown Asheboro.

Dates of the sale are Tuesday, August 26, Thursday, August 28 and Saturday, August 30.

The bookshop is open 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It’s located at 226 Sunset Avenue.

All proceeds from the sale of used books go to support Randolph County Public Library book budgets.

For further information, contact the bookshop at 629-1536.

ASHEBORO – Randolph Reads: Invisible Man, the community reading initiative exploring Ralph Ellison’s classic novel, culminates in September with art, jazz, a stage presentation about invisibility in the community, discussions of the book, and more.

All events are free and the public is invited. They include:

Discuss-As-You-Read #3, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, August 28, at the Asheboro Public Library, 201 Worth Street. This is the last in a series of discussions that have considered Invisible Man in portions.

“Revealing the Invisible,” an exhibit  of work by local artists on the theme of invisibility, runs September 2-October 17 in Gallery 101 of the Randolph Arts Guild, 123 Sunset Avenue. An opening reception will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 2.

John Brown’s “Little” Big Band will perform an eclectic mix of jazz music that heavily influenced Ralph Ellison’s writing style, 7 p.m. Saturday, September 13, at the Sunset Theatre, 234 Sunset Avenue.  Brown, a Duke University music professor, fronts several jazz combos including this 11-piece ensemble.

“Ralph Ellison: An American Journey,” a PBS American Experience documentary, will screen at 7 p.m. Thursday, September 18, at the Sunset Theatre.

A Forum on Banned Books with author Jerry Bledsoe will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, September 25, at Randolph Community College.

Invisibility in the Community, a stage presentation based on Chip Womick’s series of articles in The Courier-Tribune about individuals in the community who feel invisible, is tentatively scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, September 26-27, at the Sunset Theatre.

Discussions of the book are slated at the Randolph County’s public libraries as follows: Archdale, 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 23; Asheboro, 5 p.m. Thursday, October 9; Liberty, 6 p.m. Tuesday. September 30; Ramseur, 1 p.m. Thursday, September 18; and Randleman, 4 p.m. Thursday, September 25.

All Randolph County has been invited to read and talk about Invisible Man by a partnership of community groups including The Courier-Tribune, the Friends of the Randolph Public Library, the Asheboro City Schools, the City of Asheboro, the George Washington Carver Community Enrichment Center, the Randolph County Public Library and the Randolph County Schools.

The purpose of the project is to allow people from all walks of life to have a common literary and artistic experience around the novel, and to be able to share their views on the themes and issues of being invisible in Randolph County.

For more information, visit www.randolphreads.org or contact Assistant Library Director George Taylor, 318-6814.

Asheboro library offers free Windows 8 class

Confused by Windows 8?

Librarians at the Asheboro Public Library will offer a “Navigating Windows 8” class at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 23 and at 10 a.m. Thursday, August 28.

The class is free but registration is required; call the Reference Desk at 318-6803 to sign up.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street in Asheboro.

Teens invited to join economics simulation at Asheboro library

ASHEBORO – Teens can learn about both sides of the economic coin by joining in one of three Economy, Jr. simulations at the Asheboro Public Library on Saturdays, August 16, 23, and 30.

The simulations, offered by Rebuildup, LLC, will take place from 1-3 p.m. each day. They are free and all teens are invited.

In Economy, Jr., participants choose whether they want to play as customers spending a month’s paycheck from their chosen career on daily necessities such as groceries and child care, or as merchants selling those products to customers to cover daily overhead and perhaps turn a profit. Halfway through the simulation, the groups switch roles, with customers becoming merchants and vice versa.

Can you make it through without going bankrupt?

Based in Greensboro, Rebuildup, LLC, provides programs and services to help startups rebuild economies. The organization offers events to schools, libraries, congregations, Scout troops and youth groups to inform and inspire the current and next generation of entrepreneurs about economics and business.

For more information, visit rebuildup.com/randolph or call the library at 318-6803.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street in Asheboro.

Handbell choir to perform at Asheboro library

ASHEBORO -- The Monarch “Shakers and Movers” Bell Ringers will perform at  1 p.m. Thursday, August 14, at the Asheboro Public Library.

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

The 12-member handbell choir is part of Monarch Vocational Opportunities in the Community (VOC) in Asheboro, which supports adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The choir was started in 2012 and has performed throughout Randolph County. The group also performs a song in sign language.

The group began as a result of a generous donation from a parent who received the “Positive Spirit Award” from Energizer for his enthusiastic and cheerful demeanor.  This donor has a daughter who attends the VOC program and says she is his motivation for his positive attitude. It is with that same positive spirit the handbell choir performs as they continue to show and share optimism with the community.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street in Asheboro.