by Suzanne Moore, Wilkes County Librarian

Wilkes County Public Library is hosting a series of virtual yoga sessions by Dianne Bondy in partnership with Network of the National Library of Medicine.  Dianne is a social justice activist, author, accessible yoga teacher, and the leader of the Yoga For All movement.  Her inclusive approach to yoga empowers anyone to practice—regardless of their shape, size, ethnicity, or level of ability.

Gertrude Stein, the youngest of five children, was born in Philadelphia on February 3, 1874 and grew up in Oakland, California.  Her parents were wealthy German Jews who came to America from Europe, and during her childhood years they often visited Vienna.  Gertrude’s parents died while she was in her teen years, and she went to live with extended family in Baltimore, Maryland.  She graduated from Radcliffe College and later studied medicine at John Hopkins University.  Though noted to be a most brilliant student, she became bored with medical school and dropped out right before completing the program. 

The Children’s Department of Wilkes County Public Library received support for an early literacy program that focuses on the sounds and recognition of alphabet letters.  Every Monday at 11:00 a.m., Elizabeth Lee, Children’s Librarian, interacts on Facebook with an average of 160+ parents and young viewers to share a ‘Monday Mayhem’ arts-and-crafts letter activity.  There have been 43 programs since the series began in November 2020 with an average of 2500+ on-demand views.  

With support from the Flettie Alifair Church Literacy Fund, WCPL will be able to purchase ABC books as give-aways to families of young children.  The books will be used as an incentive for program participation and encourage library usage.  Some of the money will also be used to buy books with an ABC connection for the library’s permanent circulating collection as well.

The impact of these programs and related books will help parents bond with their children as they learn, play, and read together.  Children will have increased success with reading skills once they start school, if they are encouraged to learn their letters early through play and activity.  With support from this grant, many children will be able to have books to keep and read at home as they practice identifying letters and the sounds they make

Move over St Valentine’s because 14 February is also Library Lovers’ Day!  In fact, the whole month of February is nationally recognized as Library Lover’s Month and is a chance for everyone to reconnect with Wilkes County Public Library and show a little library love.

Wilkes County Public Library is excited to announce a new project Wash and Learn at the Wilkes Laundromat in North Wilkesboro.  The library recently received $3500 in state funding through an LSTA (Library Science and Technology Act) grant to provide an early literacy station at the laundromat.  This is an effort to help put an end to ‘book deserts’ in our county and offer fun learning experiences for families who use this laundromat.  Laundry is a necessary chore but not especially exciting or fun for children.  Often children come along and are stuck at the laundromat for two or three hours with their parents while waiting on the wash. 

Leonardo Sciascia, born in Sicily on January 8, 1921 is famous for his crime detective novels, as well as a beloved playwright and poet.  Sciascia served in the House of Deputies as a member of Italy’s Radical Party.  He has always been a political activist and once published a nonfiction investigation about the mysterious disappearance of Ettore Majorana, an Italian scientist.   His novels reflected the corruption of Sicilian politics, under influence of Mafia involvement, and many were made into films.  The scenarios are based on actual crimes and police detective work.  Sciascia remarks on his inspiration, “I am guided by reason, by the enlightened sense of intelligence, the human and Christian meaning of life, the search for truth and the fight against injustice, fraud and deception.”

What are your 2022 reading goals?

We’ve made it through yet another year of these unprecedented times, and it’s hard to believe it’s been close to two years since anything has felt normal. For many people, reading has been a stress reliever and a form of escapism from our current world. With that said, I want to challenge myself and anyone reading this post: read in 2022. Read more if you already read. Read challenging books if you are used to light and easy books. Read diverse books if you aren’t familiar with certain cultures. Read a different genre than you normally do. In this period of reflection and creating new resolutions, make some that you will actually enjoy doing.

A New Year is like a clean slate.  Many follow the tradition of setting resolutions.  Plans are made to diet, exercise, and save money.  While you are busy focusing on your 2022 improvement plan, don’t forget about reading.  Joseph Addison, a 17^th century essayist, is known for the popular quote: “Reading is to the mind, as exercise is to the body.”   In other words, just as exercise stimulates your body to make you stronger … reading stimulates your mind and makes you smarter.  Reading is great exercise for your brain, as you imagine scenarios and follow dialogue.  Another way to compliment a ‘saving money’ resolution is to visit the library, rather than the book or video store.  Remember, the library loans books and movies for free!

Wilkes County Public Library is the place to go if you need a pick-me-up, and a dose of holiday cheer.  The trees are lit and books are on display.  Candy canes for visitors and a winter-scene photo both featuring Santa are popular attractions for children.  Stop by and pick out some good books to read while relaxing at home, by the fire, with a hot beverage.  There are also plenty of holiday movies to borrow for family entertainment.

November 22 came and went without my literary birthday recommendation.  Blame it on the beginning of the holiday rush . . . Since this month’s chosen read celebrates an author born on December 12, this article will recommend two-in-one.  I’ll start with the belated and end with the upcoming.  I am also planning my ‘to-read list’ for the new year.  This is always a hard chore since I want to read everything I hear about, and time never allows for that. I will begin hosting monthly in-person Literary Celebrations at the Roaring River Winery (in Traphill) beginning in January.  Look for more information about this in our library news column, or call 336.838.2818 x 241