Asheboro library fills up February with fun for kids

ASHEBORO – From Arts and Crafts at the beginning of the month to two theatrical performances in one day at the end, the Asheboro Public library is full of fun for kids in February.

All the events are free.

Children of all ages are invited to make a Valentine-themed craft during the monthly Arts & Crafts event at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, February 2. All supplies are provided.

It’s “Take Your Child to the Library Day” from  11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, February 4, featuring an open house in the Children’s Room with ongoing storytimes and other activities, appearances by Pete the Cat, and interaction with library therapy dogs.

During a Homeschool Meet & Greet at 2 p.m. Tuesday, February 7, parents can discover the library’s local history and genealogy services while tweens and teens learn about TeenZone activities and events, and younger children join in a craft and a storytime.

The P.A.L. (Play and Learn) Club, for children ages 0-5 and their parents/caregivers, will play and sing about love, and make wax paper hearts, at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 8.

Catch a movie – and a wave – at 4 p.m. Thursday, February 16 as the library screens Surf’s Up 2: Wavemania. Celebrate National Canned Food Month by bringing a canned food item for the CUOC food pantry.

This month’s Maker Series, at 4 p.m. Thursday, February 23, for ages 8-12, features a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) project.

Asheville’s Bright Star Touring Theatre will present two plays in celebration of Black History Month on Monday, February 27: Meet Dr. King at 10:30 a.m.; and Black History Heroes, Soldiers and Spies at 4 p.m.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street. For further information, call 336-318-6804.

Celebrate ‘Take Your Child to the Library Day’ February 4 at Asheboro library

ASHEBORO – Join in an international event and celebrate “Take Your Child to the Library Day” (TYCLD), an open house from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, February 4, at the Asheboro Public Library showcasing the library’s children’s services and ongoing activities for kids.

Special guest will be Pete the Cat, who will pose for pictures (bring your camera!). Pete also will host storytimes at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., and Music and Movement events at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m.

Throughout the day, drop in at Play and Learn Centers, an Arts & Crafts station, a children’s DIY project, and a lifesize Snakes and Ladders game. Meet therapy dogs from the library’s Tails to Read initiative — Olive, Alley Oop and Suzie — and spend a few minutes reading to one of the pups.

The Friends of the Library will provide refreshments.

Now in its sixth year, TYCLD is an international initiative that encourages families everywhere to take their children to their local library. Launched in Connecticut in 2011, TYCLD raises awareness about the importance of the library in the life of a child, and promotes library services and programs for children and families.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street. For more information, call 336-318-6804.

Library’s Randolph Room adjusts hours

ASHEBORO – The Randolph Room, local history and genealogy department of the Randolph County Public Library located at the Asheboro library, will be open Monday and Tuesday evenings effective January 3.

The change enables the room to be available on nights when the library is busiest. The new schedule also extends hours to 6 p.m. on weekdays when the room is not open at night.

The new hours will be Monday-Tuesday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Wednesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

The changes result in a net increase of one hour open per week.

The Randolph Room’s hours differ from the hours of the rest of the Asheboro library, which is open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday; and 9 a..m-5 p.m. Saturday.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street. For further information, call 336-318-6815 or visit www.randolphlibrary.org/randolphroom.htm.

Authors Thomas Rush, Mark Kemp to share Asheboro perspectives in library talk

ASHEBORO -- Both Mark Kemp and Thomas Rush grew up in Asheboro in the 1970s, on either side of Salisbury Street: Kemp in mainly white Greystone Terrace, and Rush in the mainly African-American Eastside.

And both, in recent years, have penned memoirs reflecting on their experiences.

The two will come together to share “Perspectives: Growing up in Post-Civil Rights Asheboro,” at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 14, at the Asheboro library. Their talk is free and the public is invited.

Rush, a freelance writer who has lived in several states throughout the U.S, is author of Reality’s Pen: Reflections on Family, History and Culture, published in 2012. He holds a B.A. in history from Haverford College.

Kemp is author of Dixie Lullaby: A story of Music, Race and New Beginnings in a New South, published in 2004. He is a journalist who has worked for Rolling Stone and MTV, and has served as editor of magazines including Option, Acoustic Guitar, Charlotte’s Creative Loafing and most recently SF Weekly.

He received a Grammy nomination in 1997 for his liner notes to a retrospective album of music by protest singer Phil Ochs.

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

Learn about online genealogy resources in Asheboro library classes

ASHEBORO -- Learn how to use two of the library’s online genealogy resources in January classes at the Asheboro Public Library.

“Genealogy with HeritageQuest,” 6:30-8 p.m. Monday, January 9, will demonstrate how to use the HeritageQuest database.

“Genealogy with Ancestry Library Edition, 6:30-8 p.m. Monday, January 23, will explore the library version of the popular Ancestry.com resource.

Heritage Quest is available both inside the library and via the library’s website, www.randolphlibrary.org. Ancestry Library Edition is available for use at the library only.

The classes are free; call 336-318-6803 to sign up or for further information.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street in Asheboro. 

Learn about cloud storage in Asheboro library computer class

Find out how to save your computer files to the “cloud” in “What is Cloud Storage?” at 2 p.m. Monday, January 9, and 10 a.m. Wednesday, January 25, at the Asheboro library.

The cloud is simply a network of computers. Learn the pros and cons of storing information this way, and how to choose a cloud storage service and get started using it.

The both meetings of the class are free; call 336-318-6803 to sign up or for further information.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street in Asheboro. 

Health educator to offer tips for easy New Year’s resolutions at Asheboro library

ASHEBORO -- New Year’s resolutions can be overwhelming, especially if they are about your health. Join Kendall Phillips, a health educator with the Randolph County Health Department at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, January 12, at the Asheboro library, and learn some tips and tricks for making easy New Year’s resolutions for healthy eating —and successfully keeping them.

It’s free and the public is invited.

The library is located at 201 Worth Street. Call 336-318-6803 for further information.