Children’s Programs

Posted by mcpl on 22 August 24

Upcoming September Programs 

First Chapter Tuesdays at 7 p.m.

Join Ms. Megan for the first chapter of a new book that has been added to our collection. These books are geared toward students in grade 2-5.

BEDTIME STORIES

The McDowell County Public Library have Literacy Bookbags available for checkout at the Marion and Old Fort libraries at the Children’s Circulation Desk. The purpose of the Literacy Bookbags is to help families get involved in improving their child’s literacy skills and provide families with the tools to help them become their child’s first teacher.

What’s Included:

• (4) Curated Storytime books based on a theme
• Literacy tips
• Fun learning activities to allow for communication between parent and child
• Colorings pages
• And songs (that can be used along with scarves and egg shakers)

 Have a question about a program posted?  Call us at either 828-652-3858 for Marion or 828-668-7111 for Old Fort.

Seed Library & Propagation Station

Posted by mcpl on 16 June 22

Welcome to our Seed Library, a community initiative run by our local  McDowell Master Gardeners and local volunteers. Our Seed Library offers a diverse selection of gardening seeds free of charge for anyone in the community to take and use in their gardens. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting out, we welcome you to explore our collection and discover new varieties to grow.

How it Works:

1. Browse our collection of seeds, conveniently organized by type.

2. Select the seeds you’d like to grow and take them home with you, free of charge.

3. Plant your seeds, nurture your plants, and watch them thrive in your garden.

4. Harvest and enjoy your homegrown produce, and consider saving seeds from your healthiest plants for future seasons.

5. If you’re able, consider donating seeds from your own garden to help replenish our library and keep it thriving for others in the community.

Our Seed Library is a celebration of biodiversity and a testament to the power of community collaboration in nurturing our shared environment. We hope you’ll join us in this wonderful gardening adventure and help us grow together!

As an additional resource, we offer seed cleaning screens available for borrowing. These screens make it easy to clean and prepare seeds harvested from your garden for future planting. Simply ask the front desk staff to borrow a seed cleaning screen, follow the instructions provided, and ensure your seeds are ready for storage and sharing with fellow gardeners.

Propagation Station

Visit our Propagation Station, located next to the Seed Library.

What is plant propagation?

Plant propagations are pieces, or cuttings, from plants that grow their own root systems and become new plants.

Want to adopt cuttings?

• Spray a paper towel with water.
• Remove a cutting from a cup, and wrap the plant roots gently in the paper towel.
• Place the wrapped roots in a plastic bag.
• Take the correct plant information card for your adopted cutting.
• When you get home, continue to grow the cutting in water or plant it in well-draining soil in a pot with drainage holes.

Want to donate cuttings?

• We take houseplants or indoor herbs only.
• Please no soil or potted plants.
• Please root the cuttings in water before donating them.
• Cuttings must be healthy and free of pests or disease.
• Pour water into one of the donations cups. Record your donation in the notebook and include care tips plus the cup’s number where you place your donation.

What we offer..

Common name: Golden pothos

Scientific name: Epipremnum aureum

Light: Medium to bright indirect light

Water: Water when top 2-3 inches of soil is dry

Toxic to pets

Common name: Arrowhead vine

Scientific name: Syngonium podophyllum

Light: Low to bright indirect light

Water: Water then top inch of soil is dry

Toxic to pets

Common name: Silver inch plant

Scientific name: Tradescantia zebrina

Light: Bright, indirect light

Water: Water when top inch of soil is dry

Toxic to pets

Common name: Swedish ivy

Scientific name: Plectranthus australis

Light: Bright, indirect light

Water: Water when top inch of soil is dry

Non-toxic to pets

Common name: Snake plant

Scientific name: Dracaena (Sansevieria) trifasciata

Light: Medium, indirect light

Water: Water when completely dry

Toxic to pets

Common name: Swiss cheese vine

Scientific name: Monstera adansonii

Light: Bright, indirect light

Water: Water when top inch of soil is dry

Toxic to pets

Common name: Spider plant

Scientific name: Chlorophytum Comosum

Light: Medium to bright indirect light

Water: Water when top inch of soil is dry

Non-toxic to pets

Note: Sensitive to chlorine and fluoride in tap water –use rainwater or bottled water

Common name: Heartleaf philodendron

Scientific name: Philodendron hederaceum

 Light: Medium to bright indirect light

Water: Water when top half of soil is dry

Toxic to pets

Tutor.com- Free online help for students!

Posted by mcpl on 04 September 20

Need homework help?  We’ve got you covered!

The McDowell County Public Library is excited to announce that we now offer free academic resources and online tutoring from Tutor.com!

To get started, go to Tutor.com/mcdowell

Patrons have two ways they can access Tutor.com:

1. StudentAccess– Students can use their Student ID as the barcode and the last 4 numbers of their ID as the password.

2. Library Card– Anyone with a McDowell County Library Card can get access by entering the library card # as the barcode and their PIN as the password.

All students in grades K-12 with a library card can use the service to get help with homework, class projects, papers—even test prep! We would love to help your students be better prepared for class each day by providing one-to-one assistance when they need it most: on-demand at homework time. Tutor.com helps you help your students by:

1. Providing Personalized, On-Demand Student Support
Every Tutor.com session is one-to-one between tutor and student. There is no appointment needed and they can access the service from home. Your students get help with their own specific questions or assignments—right when they need it.

2. Extending the Learning Day
When the bell rings at the end of the day, learning does not have to stop. Our tutors are available to help your students when they are struggling with homework after school and on the weekends. Tutors are available to them all week from 2 p.m.- 10 p.m. Tutors who speak Spanish are available all week from 3 p.m.- 10 p.m.

3. Engaging the Student One-to-One
Tutor.com is committed to student learning. Their highly vetted expert tutors will never simply provide homework answers to your students, but instead guide them to find the answer on their own.

4. Impacting Student Achievement
95% of students who use Tutor.com say it helps them complete their homework and improve their grades. Students come to class more prepared and ready to learn!

5. Building Confident Learners
Students also report that Tutor.com helps them feel more confident in their schoolwork.
Tutoring is available in all core K-12 subjects – math, science, English, social studies and writing, including AP-level assistance. Students can access live, online tutoring from any Internet-capable device through Tutor.com/McDowell