The Friends of the Burke County Public Library 2025 Author’s Luncheon will be on Thursday, March 20, at noon in the fellowship hall of the Morganton First Baptist Church.
The featured author will be Sarah Loudin Thomas. She grew up on a 100-acre farm in French Creek, W.Va., the seventh generation to live there.
Her historical fiction is often set in West Virginia and celebrates the people, the land, and the heritage of Appalachia.
Sarah is the director of Jan Karon’s Mitford Museum in Hudson. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Coastal Carolina University and is the author of the acclaimed novels “The Right Kind of Fool” — winner of the 2021 Selah Book of the Year — and “Miracle in a Dry Season” — winner of the 2015 Inspy Award.
Sarah has also been a finalist for the Christy Award, ACFW Carol Award, and the Christian Book of the Year Award. She and her husband live in Western North Carolina.
Tickets are $30 and are available at all Burke County Public Library locations and at Thornwell Books.
YOUNG ADULT PROGRAMMING
It’s the first week of March and you know what that means — #YASBox YA Subscription Boxes are available at all library locations.
No pre-registration is required to receive a box and they are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Boxes are limited to middle and high school students only while supplies last.
For more information on all the upcoming programs this month, visit us online at bcpls.org/yas. Have questions? Contact Lizzie at lizzie.whisnant@burkenc.org.
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING
Has your family signed up for the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge yet? 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is a national challenge that encourages adults and children to read 1,000 books together before that child enters Kindergarten.
Being read to from birth has been shown in studies to have a huge impact on the language and brain development of children.
When the goal is achieved, your whole family will be invited to an annual celebration in August to celebrate all the families that completed the challenge that year.
If your child isn’t participating yet, please see the circulation staff at any of our three locations to get registered and start logging your books today!
If you are already enrolled in the program, this would be a great time to check in with your local branch to verify your address and phone number and to turn in any logs that you have finished.
Don’t forget that repeat reads DO count. So, if your child wants to read the same book over and over, that’s okay — each time counts; repetition builds those literacy skills, too.
If the challenge seems a little too daunting, did you know that if you read three books a night, you will reach the goal in less than a year?
So, 4-5 year-olds going to kindergarten next year still have time. Make it two books per night, and you will still reach it within a year and a half!
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
More than 5,000 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.
FIND US 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.
MOST WANTED LIST
Donations of new or gently used copies of any of the best-selling titles are most appreciated. To date, the library has received 1,079 of these most wanted books.
Current New York Times bestsellers and NC Cardinal Consortium holds:
- “Onyx Storm” by Rebecca Yarros – 324 holds
- “Scythe and Sparrow” by Brynne Weaver – 15 holds
- “Deep End” by Ali Hazelwood – 68 holds
- “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros – 100 holds
- “Paranoia” by James Patterson and James O. Born – 252 holds
- “Iron Flame” by Rebecca Yarros – 55 holds
- “The Crash” by Freida McFadden – 325 holds
- “The Housemaid” by Freida McFadden – 95 holds
- “First-Time Caller” by B.K. Borison – 40 holds
- “We All Live Here” by Jojo Moyes – 247 holds
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