'Stranger Things' party set Dec. 29 at Hildebran library

It’s the end of the year and BCPLS is ready to go out with a party.

Make plans to join us Monday, Dec. 29, from 5:30-7 p.m. for the “Beginning of the End: A ‘Stranger Things’ New Year Celebration” at the C.B. Hildebrand Public Library

Celebrate the end of the year, and the final episode drop of the beloved “Stranger Things” Netflix series this week, with a pizza, ice cream, and fancy costume party at the library.

Food and games will be available while supplies last. Tonight, we will also be showing the very first episode of “Stranger Things” (TV-14 2016). No pre-registration is required.

Attendees are encouraged to wear their favorite outfit that would make Eleven proud. For more information on these or other Young Adult Services programs, contact Lizzie at 828-764-9273 or by email at lizzie.whisnant@burkenc.org.

Libraries Closed

All locations of the Burke County Public Library will be closed on Thursday, Jan. 1, for New Year’s Day. Libraries will close at 5 p.m. on Dec. 31.

New Books Are Back

With the closure of the library’s primary book vendor, Baker & Taylor, and the transition to a new book vendor, the arrival of new books at the library has been infrequent.

But new books are back. Hundreds of new books have arrived, and hundreds more are on order. So, come by the library to see what’s new.

Senior Tech

The Western Piedmont Council of Governments Planning and Transportation department is offering monthly Digital Literacy for Seniors classes at the Morganton Public Library.

Join us Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 2 p.m. for our Video Chat with Zoom class. We will learn how to navigate the Zoom platform to connect with family, friends, and coworkers. No pre-registration is required, and the class is free of charge.

Digital Literacy for Seniors Drop-In sessions, offered by the Western Piedmont Council of Governments Planning and Transportation department, are available at the Morganton Public Library from 9 a.m. until noon Tuesday, Dec. 30.

These sessions are one-on-one meetings with our Digital Navigator. Pre-registration is required.

If you would like individual help with smartphones and tablets, laptops, apps on your devices, online bill pay, making online appointments, online shopping, and more, stop by the Adult Services circulation desk or call 828-764-9261 to schedule your 30-minute appointment. These sessions are free of charge.

Adult Programming

“Beginning of the End: A Stranger Things New Year Celebration,” will be held on Monday, Dec. 29, from 5:30-7 p.m. at the C.B. Hildebrand Public Library. No registration is required.

Needlework in the Morning will be held Friday, Jan. 2, at 10 a.m. at the Valdese Public Library. No registration is required.

Bookopoly Adult Winter Reading Challenge is from Jan. 1 through Feb. 28. Pick up a game board at any Burke County Public Library location or download at bcpls.org. Read to win!

Children’s Programming

Due to the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, we will not have our regular storytime programs again until the week of Monday, Jan. 5.

We look forward to seeing you back for these groups in the new year. If your child isn’t already registered for a group, give us a call.

After the hustle and bustle of Christmas, swing by the Morganton Public Library on Monday, Dec. 29, for some laid-back time between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

We will have a large variety of puzzles available, and families are invited to drop by anytime to enjoy some puzzle time together.

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 764-9276 or email at jwilson@bcpls.org.

eBooks @ your library

More than 6,000 Burke County Public Library users have registered to use the library’s digital collection available through the e-iNC consortium and N.C. 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 1,125 of these most wanted books.

Current New York Times bestsellers and NC Cardinal Consortium holds:

• “The Widow” by John Grisham – 992 holds
• “The Correspondent” by Virginia Evans – 901 holds
• “The Housemaid” by Freida McFadden – 76 holds
• “The Secret of Secrets” by Dan Brown – 245 holds
• “Brimstone” by Callie Hart – 43 holds
• “Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir – 24 holds
• “Alchemised” by SenLinYu – 60 holds
• “Theo of Golden” by Allen Levi – 669 holds
• “Mona’s Eyes” by Thomas Schlesser – 61 holds
• “Quicksilver” by Callie Hart – 27 holds