All libraries in the Appalachian Regional Library system, except for the Western Watauga Branch Library, are currently open to the public. Masks are required to enter, and building capacities and length of visits will be reduced for the time being.
Children's Services
Welcome to the Watauga County Library Children's Services page. Come in anytime we are open to do research, check out materials, use our computers and literary station, or play video games on our television in Youth Services.
Programs
ReadSquared and Page Turners: Summer Reading Sign Up begins Monday, June 7th
How it Works:
· Register Online – Parents you can create an account first to easily monitor your children's activity.
· Track Your Reading – Log in and track your reading to earn points for summer reading prizes..
· Keep Reading! – Earn a completion certificate once you've completed the program.
Click Here to Sign up for Readsquared: http://wataugacountylibrary.readsquared.com
Page Turners
Watauga Library is thrilled to announce its partnership with Page Turner. Starting June 7th, the library will give patrons access to a Virtual Tails & Tales Summer Reading Program geared towards children in grades K-3, that includes comedy shows, crafts, recipes, children’s book author interviews, guest performers, contests, games, and much more. Look for it on Readsquared.
Facebook Alphabet Ready By 5 and Phonemic Awareness Videos on Mondays
We have a special storytime geared toward children working on their letters and sounds. This program is designed around a single letter of the alphabet, and focuses on pre-reading and early literacy skills while keeping kids entertained.
Awesome Alphabet Activities (No in-house prgrams untill further notice)
Drop in during those hours in the Evelyn Johnson Meeting Room to interact with your children around a half dozen learning stations set up to foster conversation about alphabetic knowledge and phonemic awareness (the letters and sounds of the alphabet).
“Research has repeatedly proven that two skills in particular serve as the best predictors of early reading success. Those two skills are phonemic awareness and alphabet recognition.”
(Adams, 1990; Share, Jorm, Maclean, and Matthews, 1984; National Reading Panel, 2000)
2021-2022 Elementary School Battle of the Books
At the Bottom of the World by Bill Nye & Gregory Mone
Ban This Book by Alan Gratz
Blood on the River by Elisa Carbone
Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix
The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm
From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina
The Old Willis Place by Mary Downing Hahn
The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson
Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin
Runaway Twin by Peg Kehret
Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks & Gita Varadarajan
Shouting at the Rain by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd
Stella by Starlight by Sharon M. Draper
2021- 2022 Middle School Battle of the Books
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
I Will Always Write Back by Caitlin Alifirenka & Martin Ganda
Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger
Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee
Ashes to Asheville by Sarah Dooley
Paper Things by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba & Bryan Mealer **
Alexander Hamilton: The Making of America by Teri Kanefield
Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly
Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Bloom by Kenneth Oppel
All of the Above by Shelley Pearsall
A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramée
Ghost by Jason Reynolds
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Undefeated by Steve Sheinkin
Counting By 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman
Deathwatch by Robb White
Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk
**Young Reader’s Edition
Lego Club (No in-house programs until further notice)
The 1st Wedneday of the full week each month at 3:30 p.m.
The word Lego comes from the Danish phrase, leg godt, meaning play well. Kids are encouraged to bring their imagination to life, one block at a time.
Beginning Coding Club (No in-house programs until further notice)
Call for more information, 828 264-8784 ext 3.
Services
ABCMouse.com Early Learing Academy
ABCmouse.com is a high quality online educational resource for young children now available on our computers at the library. ABCmouse.com has won numerous awards and features over 5,000 learning activities, including online books, interactive learning activities, games, puzzles, songs, art activities, and more. It is designed to both fun and educational.
NC Digital Library * NC Digital Kids
The NC Digital Library is now available. Here's how it works!
- A beginning collection of 3029 eBooks, 689 audiobooks and 37 streaming videos on a custom website, http://nckids.overdrive.com or through the OverDrive app.
- 300 titles are available with simultaneous access, available anytime with no wait lists.
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All titles can be accessed via the app on all major computers and devices, including iOS®, Android™, Chromebook™ and Kindle® (U.S. only).
Easy, secure access. All that's needed to get started is a library card. Select Appalachian Regional Library as your sign in library.
Reference Assistance
Staff members at the Youth Services desk are always ready and willing to help you locate an item, get started on an assignment or find out more about a topic.
Computers
Computers for children under the age of thirteen and for parents accompanied by children are available in the Youth Services department. Children can use their own library card to log on or parents may request a guest pass for their child. Parents must keep their child(ren) in view when using the computer lab.
Story Walks in Watauga County
Look for Watauga County Story Walks at the Tot Lot Park in Boone and Blowing Rock Memorial Park. The StoryWalk Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont and was provided by a grant through the Library Services and Technology ACT EZ Literacy and Life Long Learning.
Monthly Scavenger Hunts
Scavenger hunts are a fun way to promote the library and engaged youth in the learning process. Pick up a marker and scavenger form at the Easy book section near Big Bird.
Library Tours
Classes and formal organizations are welcome to visit the library for a tour. Please make requests for visits at least two weeks in advance. You may call (828) 264-8784 to request a tour.
A Little Free Library is a “take a book, return a book” free book exchange. They come in many shapes and sizes, but the most common version is a small wooden box of books. Anyone may take a book or bring a book to share. Little Free Libraries encourage literacy friendly neighborhoods. Look for a Little Free Libraries near you.
Valle Crucis Community Park
2892 Broadstone Road
2892 Broadstone Road
Banner Elk, NC 28604
Mabel Methodist Church
5932 Old US Hwy. 421
Zionville, NC 28698
Stone Mountain Store
1880 Bethel Road
1880 Bethel Road
Sugar Grove, NC 28679
Leola Gardens
207 Leola Street
Boone, NC 28607
Plan B
116 Meat Camp Road
Boone, NC 28607
White Laurel Apartments
White Laurel Lane
Boone, NC 28607
Resources
On Line Reading
Read a book a day with Tumblebooks!
Take a look at our Libguide to see what is available for kids. Someone in the family need homework help?
Check out Learning Express Library for help with Math, English, and more!
Does your child need to research a topic? Check out NCLive for a multitude of sources and Great Websites for Kids for a wonderful selection of websites geared to kids birth to age 14.