Catawba County News
This Week @ Your Library December 7-14
Published: December 05, 2025
We've got storytimes!
Ready to Learn Storytime: Preschool
Preschool story time with reading
readiness. Join us for songs, sensory play, crafts, and stories designed to prepare your preschooler to learn.
Wednesdays at 10 am
Sherrills Ford-Terrell Branch Library
St. Stephens Branch Library
Main Library in Newton
Wednesdays at 11 am
Southwest Branch Library
Ready to Learn Storytime: Tiny to Two
This sweet, simple, 20-minute story time features rhymes, bounces, sensory play, and singing for our youngest learners. Playtime follows.
Mondays at 10 am
Main Library in Newton
Sensory-Friendly: Ready to Learn Storytime
Tuesdays at 10 am
Main Library in Newton
Join us for a fun, sensory-friendly storytime for neurodivergent children and their siblings! Enjoy songs, sensory play, crafts, and stories designed for a small group of 10, creating a calm, welcoming space. Afterward, stay for free play to encourage socialization & motor skills. To register, please visit the library or call 828-465-8665.
Programs for children, ages 0-5!
Santa Visit
Monday, December 8 from 5 - 8 pm
Sherrills Ford-Terrell Branch Library
Celebrate the season with pictures and telling Santa about your wish list. Fun for the whole family. To register for your time slot, please visit tinyurl.com/SFTSanta2025. Sponsored by the Friends of the Sherrills Ford-Terrell Branch Library.
Pre-K STEAM
Friday, December 12 at 11 am
St. Stephens Branch Library
Children and their grownups are invited to explore interactive play stations to build confidence in learning.
Programs for children, ages 6-11!
Paws to Read
Tuesday, December 9 by appointment
St. Stephens Branch Library
Read with a certified therapy dog. To schedule an appointment, please call 828-466-6821.
Homeschool Holiday DIY
Tuesday, December 9 at 1 pm
Southwest Branch Library
Get creative this season with our Homeschool Holiday DIY program! School-age participants are invited to craft festive, seasonal projects that are perfect to keep or give as gifts. This fun and hands-on program will help everyone get into the holiday spirit all month long!
Christmas Cheer! Ozobots Are Here!
Tuesday, December 9 at 4 pm
Main Library in Newton
Screen-free beginner coding meets Christmas fun in this festive robotics challenge!
Stuffed Animal Sleepover
Friday, December 12 at 4:30 pm
Through Saturday, December 13 at 10 am
Maiden Branch Library
Your stuffed animal is invited to sleepover at the library!
Bring your bravest stuffed animal (that you can be apart from for a whole night) to the library for a sleepover at 4:30 pm on Friday, December 12! Read books and fill out the permission slip before leaving your stuffed animal for a night of fun. Join your library friends and stuffed animals for snacks and a video of the night’s adventures at 10 am the next morning on Saturday, December 13th. If your stuffed animal needs to stay later on Saturday, please let staff know.
Candy Cane Ornaments
Saturday, December 13 from 9:30 am - 1:30 pm
Conover Branch Library
Join us for a touch of holiday fun as kids create colorful candy cane ornaments with beads! It’s a cheerful craft to celebrate the season together.
Programs for teens, ages 12-18!
Santa’s Workshop: Teen DIY Edition
Monday, December 8 at 5:30 pm
Southwest Branch Library
Get creative at our hands-on DIY night. From crafting with epoxy and molds to making your own painted glass ornaments using fun techniques, it’s the perfect way to chill, create, and have fun. To register, please call 828-466-6818.
Teen Open Studio
Thursday, December 11 from 3:30 - 5:30 pm
Main Library in Newton
Whatever your creative outlet – writing, art, or something else entirely – we know you’ll enjoy this opportunity to create in a laid-back, welcoming studio atmosphere.
Programs for adults!
Zumba Mondays!
Mondays at 6 pm
Main Library in Newton
Enjoy a dance and movement class that’s too much fun to call exercise.
NC Works
Wednesdays from 1:30 - 4:30 pm
Sherrills Ford-Terrell Branch Library
Work one-on-one with an NC Works representative who can help you find work, improve your skills, and connect you to other resources to make a good impression on employers.
Mindful Movement
Wednesdays & Fridays at 3 pm
St. Stephens Branch Library
Low impact exercise and gentle stretching for adults of all ages.
Blood Drive: Give the Gift of Life
Tuesday, December 9 from 12 pm to 5 pm
St. Stephens Branch Library
The Big Red Bus (OneBlood) will be rolling in for a community blood drive. Donors will receive a free sweatshirt and a gift card as a thank you for helping save lives. Help make a difference this holiday season!
Adult DIY Wooden Ornaments
Tuesday, December 9 at 6 pm
Conover Branch Library
Get into the holiday spirit with a hands-on craft! Join us to create your own personalized wooden ornaments. Paint, decorate, and take home a unique piece for your tree or to give as a gift. To register, please call 828-466-5108.
Mystery Mavens
Tuesday, December 9 at 6:30 pm
Sherrills Ford-Terrell Branch Library
The Mystery Mavens book club welcomes new members and is open to the public, even if you haven’t read the book. Join us for a lively discussion on The Hunter by Tana French.
Chair Yoga
Wednesday, December 10 at 11:30 am
Sherrills Ford-Terrell Branch Library
A certified yoga instructor will lead us through a beginner-friendly, gentle flow chair yoga class. Chair yoga allows you to perform yoga poses while seated or using a chair for balance.
Hiring Event
Thursday, December 11 from 1 - 4 pm
Main Library in Newton
Are you ready for an exciting new chapter of your life? In partnership with the Goodwill Career Center, we are pleased to offer a career fair and hiring event to connect area jobseekers with local employers seeking new hires. Use our computers to apply on the spot. Private spaces available for immediate interviews.
Holly Jolly Crafternoon
Thursday, December 11 at 3 pm
Southwest Branch Library
Join us for a fun and festive afternoon of crafting! DIY holiday ornaments and crafts to keep or gift, all while enjoying light refreshments and a cozy, creative atmosphere. To register, please call 828-466-6818.
Needle Felting
Thursday, December 11 at 4 pm
Sherrills Ford-Terrell Branch Library
Explore the textile art of needle felting as we create a holiday wreath. Finger protectors will be available for participants to use. To register, please call 828-466-6827.
Adult Children of Aging Parents : Advanced Planning Forms
Thursday, December 11 at 5:30 pm
Main Library in Newton
Learn about advance care planning, preparing documents, and Living Wills & Health Care Power of Attorney.
Gentle Flow Yoga
Friday, December 12 at 11 am
Sherrills Ford-Terrell Branch Library
A certified yoga instructor will lead us through a beginner-friendly, gentle flow yoga class. You are encouraged to bring a yoga mat or towel as well as a small blanket.
Holiday Cards with Canva
Main Library in Newton
Friday, December 12 at 11:30 am
Learn how to design your holiday cards using Canva! To register please call 828-465-9565.
DIY Keychains
Saturday, December 13 at 11 am
St. Stephens Branch Library
Create a personalized keychain that fits your style: cute, colorful, minimal, or bold. We’ve got the supplies, you bring the vibe! Led by Tabitha Price of Beyond Creations. To register, please call 828-466-6821.
Happy 250th Birthday, Jane Austen!
Afternoon Whist: a Regency Game
Saturday, December 13 at 2 pm
Main Library in Newton
It is a truth universally acknowledged that the 250th birthday of one of the world’s most beloved authors must be in want of a rightful celebration. We do endeavor to prove ourselves worthy of the tasks set before us, and hereby cordially invite all Janeites near and far to join us for an Afternoon Whist: a Regency Game, period costumes welcome:
To register, please call 828-465-8665.
Visit with the Library to Go - out in the community!
Merry Maiden
Thursday, December 11 from 5 - 8 pm
Maiden Town Hall
Celebrate the holidays with us at this Maiden Festival with crafts and storytime.
Valley Hills Mall Visit & Storytime
Friday, December 12 from 10 am - 1 pm
Valley Hills Mall
Join us in the Community Room on the lower level across from the Children’s Place for
storytime at 10 am and outside by the van until 1 pm for checking out books!
