Activities at Burke libraries: Beginning Oct. 19

FAMILY HISTORY MONTH

October is Family History Month! Discover your family history at the Morganton Public Library’s "Beginning Genealogy" class on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to noon. Taught by an expert from the Burke County Genealogical Society, this introductory workshop covers the essentials of tracing your ancestry and uncovering your roots. The session is free, but space is limited, and pre-registration is required. Call 828-764-9266 to secure your spot.

COFFEE AT THE MUSEUM

NC Room Curator, Laurie Johnston, will be the speaker at this month's "Coffee at the Museum" at the History Museum of Burke County on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 10 a.m. I will be discussing local history and family history resources at the library, including Ancestry Library Edition and Family Search, Picture Burke, newspaper archives, books, maps, and files in the NC Room.

ADULT PROGRAMMING

The Valdese Plot Hounds Book Discussion Group meets Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 10 a.m., at the Valdese Public Library. This month we will discuss “Every time I Go on Vacation Someone Dies,” by Catherine Mack. Registration is not required.

Local Author Aaron Kohrs, will be at the Morganton Public Library Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m. for an author chat and book signing. No registration is required. Join the chat and stay for the author to sign a copy of his book.

Join us Thursday, Oct. 22, at 6 p.m. at the Valdese Public Library for Crochet Café. This program is for teens and adults. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and show off your finished project or troubleshoot any snags you may encounter. Preregistration is not required. For more information, please call Danielle at 828-764-9269.

Needlework in the Morning meets Friday, Oct. 23, at 10 a.m. at the Morganton Public Library. Preregistration is not required.

Adults and teens are invited to join us to create soups and teas at the Cauldron Boil Me program on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 6 p.m. at the Valdese Public Library. Preregistration is required.

All programs are open to adults only unless otherwise stated. For more information, call Danielle at 828-764-9269, or email danielle.townsend@burkenc.org.

YOUNG ADULT PROGRAMMING

Teens can hop online and join the virtual D&D @ the Library session Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 4:30 p.m. via Discord. Preregistration is required to receive the game link and access. Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 11 a.m. ​is our Homeschool Libratory at the Morganton Public Library featuring DIY Boho Ghost Wreaths. No preregistration is required, and supplies are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Thursday, Oct. 22, at 6 p.m. is Crochet Cafe for adults and teens at the Valdese Public Library. We wrap up this week's activities with a meeting of the Happily Ever Afters Anonymous Book Club Friday, Oct. 23, at 4 p.m. at the C.B. Hildebrand Public Library. This month's featured title is "A Corpse Called Bob," by Benedict Brown. For more information or to preregister for an activity, contact Lizzie at 828-764-9273 or by email at lizzie.whisnant@burkenc.org.

CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING

The C.B. Hildebrand Public Library hosts “Brain Teaser Bonanza” Monday, Oct. 19, from 5:30-7 p.m. All ages are invited to drop in and exercise your brain with some fun puzzles.

KidSenses returns to the C.B. Hildebrand Public Library on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 3:30 p.m. with their “Spooky Science” program. This program is open to all ages and does not require preregistration.

After the “Spooky Science” program, head on down to the Valdese Public Library for their Fall Festival at 5 p.m. for kids in fifth grade and under. There will be local family organizations, face painting, a mini pie-eating contest, a balloon artist, games, crafts and more.

Saturday, Oct. 24, children 3 years old and under are invited to the Morganton Public Library for a “Not-So-Spooky Saturday Storytime” from 10-11 a.m. No preregistration is required.

To celebrate Halloween on Oct. 31, we have two fun drop-in options with Halloween crafts. Drop in to the Valdese Public Library between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. with kids in fifth grade and under for Trick or Read. Your other option this day is at the Morganton Public Library from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for kids 12 and under for our Monster Makers Craft Program.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteers are needed at the Morganton Public Library to assist with landscape maintenance. We need some folks to help us keep our landscaped areas free of weeds and debris. If you would like to help, call Library Director Jim Wilson at 828-764-9276 or email at jwilson@bcpls.org.

eBOOKS @ YOUR LIBRARY

6,624 Burke County Public Library users have registered to use the library’s digital collection available through the e-iNC consortium and NC Kids Digital Library. This digital collection includes eBooks, audiobooks, and streaming video available to Burke County Public Library cardholders. Apps are available for download for a variety of devices, including Kindle, iPhone, and Android phones. Go to http://omc.overdrive.com to see the apps. To access the collection and download items, go to http://e-inc.lib.overdrive.com and follow the instructions to set up an account. You will need to know your library card number and your PIN. Please contact the library if you need any assistance.

LIBRARY ON THE WEB

Go to www.bcpls.org for a list of programs and events. Unless noted otherwise, all library programs are free. Some programs have pre-registration and age requirements.