Finding the cure for Dirty Dancing Fever at your local library

By Maria Davis

“It’s a feeling, a heartbeat.” Do you have Dirty Dancing fever? It seems like many in town do this September. The Dirty Dancing Festival sold out in August and will take over the lake and Keeter Field on Sept. 10.

The movie’s producers missed a golden opportunity when they passed on a library scene, but we here at Mountains Branch are still celebrating during the festival. The library is highlighting related materials such as Jennifer Grey’s 2022 memoir, “Out of the Corner,” biographies of Patrick Swayze and, of course, the classic movie itself.

Grey’s memoir is just one example of the many new books the library receives each week. Some of the latest hot reads are releases from James Patterson, Lisa Jackson, Danielle Steel, Sandra Brown, and Anne Perry.

Need some entertainment while driving? We’ve recently added more than 25 titles to our audiobook collection. New books by David Baldacci, Heather Graham, Elin Hilderbrand, Stephen King, Mary Alice Monroe, James Patterson, Louise Penny, and several other popular authors are now available for checkout.

But the library is so much more than books! September’s take-home activity is an herb-growing kit, complete with seeds, potting soil, and instructions in a biodegradable container. Growing herbs is easy because once the plants are established, they require very little maintenance and produce a generous supply for harvests as needed and enough to fill your spice jars. Stop by the library at 150 Bill’s Creek Road and pick up a kit while supplies last!

After a brief hiatus, line dancing classes resumed last month in the library’s Community Room. Also in August, the library hosted a Mexican corn dip cooking class, a pinch pot craft class, an egg carton crafts day, a Pokemon meetup and an ECO Explorers program.

Our crafting station is available during regular hours and is free to use. The DIY crafting station offers everything from paint, yarn, pipe cleaners, sequins, pom poms, and beads to glue guns and glitter. Weekly craft ideas and supplies are provided as well, and past crafts have included painting flower pots, and making binoculars and paper bag puppets.

Clogging, quilting, yoga, preschool storytime, Book Club, Lego Club, and Genealogy Club continue on a weekly or monthly basis. Stop by or visit https://rutherfordcountylibrary.org/ for a full calendar of events.

One author remains in the 2022 Books & Bites Author Series. Jennifer Coburn, author of “Cradles of the Reich,” will speak Tuesday, Oct. 11 at Lake Lure Inn. The cost of the luncheon, which begins at 11 a.m., is $25 and benefits the Friends of the Library.

About 40 children participated in our Summer Reading Program, and events aligning with the 2022 theme of “Oceans of Possibilities” were held each Tuesday in June and July for children, teens, and their families. Congratulations to our three grand prize winners, who took home ocean-themed STEAM prizes including Lego kits, a crystal growing aquarium, and an underwater camera.

Special “prizes” can always be found throughout the library. Coloring sheets, Legos, toys, puzzles and other interactive activities are always available in the children’s area, and the Book Sale Room offers plenty of reading material and DVDs for $1 or less. Stop by today and have the time of your life with a good book!

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