Randolph libraries dive into ocean-themed summer reading initiative

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo

ASHEBORO – Dive into “Oceans of Possibilities during a deep-blue themed summer reading adventure for children, with over 100 performances, storytimes, hands-on activities and other events in June and July among the libraries in Asheboro, Archdale, Franklinville, Liberty, Ramseur, Randleman and Seagrove.

Teens can join in too, and adults will have opportunities to enhance their reading experiences with speakers, book clubs and more. Most events this summer will be in-person, although some will be virtual.

Alina Celeste and Mi Amigo Hamlet

Visit www.randolphlibrary.org/summer for all the details, or contact your local library.

“Library summer reading initiatives offer children and teens a no-pressure way to stay engaged with learning while out of school so they are less likely to experience a ‘summer slide’ when they return in the fall,” says Library Director Ross Holt.

In addition to all the activities, children and teens can report minutes or numbers of books read to their local library for rewards and prizes, including an Amazon Kindle Fire HD tablet at each library, provided by the Friends of the Library.

The Friends also are sponsoring a virtual performance each month available at all libraries and on library Facebook pages. During the week of June 20-25, Grammy-winning, internationally-touring, purple-tuxedo-wearing family fun phenomenon Secret Agent 23 Skidoo will host a rhyme writing workshop, offering kids a chance to write and perform their own rhymes.

Parents Choice Award-winning duo Alina Celeste and Mi Amigo Hamlet will appear via library Facebook pages during the week of July 11-15, inviting audiences to sing, dance and learn Spanish and English in a joyful blend of cultures, in “Being Bilingual Rocks.”

In-person performers include Caleb Sigmon as Blackbeard the Pirate in Asheboro and family-friendly rock ‘n’ rollers Big Bang Boom at Randleman.

Also appearing at Randleman will be he Amazing Teacher Steve Somers and magical storyteller Mark Daniel. The North Carolina Zoo and Wild Tails NC will bring live animal ambassadors to several libraries.

Asheboro will host the Shepherd Shakespeare Company with a kid-friendly version of The Tempest, and shadow puppeteer Matt Sandbank. All libraries also will offer an array of storytimes, craft activities, STEAM events and more, and the Mobile Library will be on the move around the county.

For further information, contact the Asheboro Children’s Room at 336-318-6804, or your local library.

Appearances by Secret Agent 23 Skidoo and Alina Celeste & Mi Amigo Hamlet receive support from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Archdale library to host class on growing bearded irises

Learn all about “Bearded Irises for the Home Landscape” with Master Gardener Heather Haley at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 26, at the Archdale Public Library.

The class will cover properly planting and caring for irises in the home landscape. This perennial plant is typically low maintenance, will re-bloom year after year, and comes in many colors and forms making them a rewarding addition to any landscape.

Attendees will receive an invitation to join the American Iris Society at a reduced rate and can pick up a free iris at the Randolph County Cooperative Extension office located at 1003 S Fayetteville Street, Asheboro.

The Archdale library is located at 10433 S. Main St.

Trio to bring Irish and American folk tunes to Asheboro library

Travis Hicks

ASHEBORO – The traditional trio of Travis and Amelia Hicks and Scott Manring will present an evening of Irish and American folk music on a mix of string and wind instruments at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 24, at the Asheboro Public Library.

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

Hicks, a professor of interior architecture at UNCG, will return for an encore performance on the Irish bagpipes and tin whistles, with daughter Amelia on guitar. They will be joined by Scott Manring, a Triad multi-instrumentalist, teacher, and performer on a variety of string instruments. 

In addition to his academic pursuits, Hicks grew up playing piano and singing in church. Inspired by Irish piper Paddy Moloney of The Chieftans, he took up traditional Irish music.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street. For further information, call 336-318-6803.

Randolph library Storywalks debut in Franklinville, Liberty parks

Franklinville/Seagrove library Manager Charity Neave Johnson with a Storywalk panel in Riverside Park along the Deep River in Franklinville.

ASHEBORO – Children visiting parks in Franklinville and Liberty can burnish their early literacy skills with the debut of Randolph County Public Libraries Storywalks in May and June.

“A Storywalk is a unique way to read a book,” says Franklinville/Seagrove Library Manager Charity Neave Johnson, who spearheaded the project. “Two pages of a picture book are posted 20-30 feet apart. Readers walk from one to the next, getting a snippet of the story each time. In this way reading becomes an active experience that is engaging for children and adults.”

The Franklinville installation, winding through Riverside Park along the Deep River, will kick off with a Storywalk Festival from 1-3  p.m. Saturday, May 21, with music, face-painting, activity stations and tasty treats. Magician Fish the Magish will make an appearance at 3 p.m. Each child who completes all the activities can enter to win a scooter.

Liberty will kick off its Storywalk in Paul Henry Smith Park as part of a community Juneteenth celebration from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, June 19, with vendors, food, music, games and prizes. 

The first book in the Franklinville Storywalk will be Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin and James and Kimberly Dean. In Liberty, it’s Hello Ocean by Pamela Muñoz Ryan.

New books will be placed in the Storywalk panels monthly. The panels also will include information about early literacy and resources in Randolph County. All books will be presented in bilingual English/Spanish format.

The project is a partnership between the library, the Randolph County Partnership for Children, and the towns of Franklinville and Liberty, and is funded with a $12,000 Library Services and Technology Act grant.

This grant is made possible by funding from the federal Institute of Library and Museum Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (IMLS grant number LS-250229-OLS-21).