Phebe Cantey, Youth Services Librarian

With the holidays fast approaching, we are reminded of the numerous reasons we have to be thankful. At Neuse Regional Libraries, we are especially grateful for the incredible community we serve. Your support and enthusiasm for our library empower us to continue providing valuable resources and services that enrich the lives of everyone in our area. 

Our Youth Services Department has been very busy providing exciting new programs and services for our community as we approach the holidays. Recently, Neuse Regional Libraries hired six interns as part of its Teens Lead pilot program. Through this program, teen interns have the opportunity to develop life skills and immerse themselves in real-life work experiences through community volunteering. This program was made possible through an LSTA grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (IMLS grant number LS-253645-OLS-23).

In October, we were honored to have Financial Advisor Tammy Malone from Edward Jones present to the Teens Lead participants. Tammy graciously shared her expertise through a comprehensive presentation on the significance of financial literacy, inspiring our interns to take charge of their financial well-being. This month, we had the pleasure of hearing from Shannon Whitfield, the Owner of Whitfield Mortuary. Shannon captivated us with his journey as a young entrepreneur, sharing invaluable experiences and lessons learned along the way. His story of perseverance and innovation resonated with our teen interns, offering them a fresh perspective on entrepreneurship and business growth. We are grateful to Tammy and Shannon for their contributions, which significantly enriched our interns’ knowledge and aspirations. 

Neuse Regional Libraries also added a storytime session this month that will be held on  Saturdays at 11 am. This is an opportunity for the community to enjoy a fun-filled 45-minute weekly theme program at a new time. The Youth Services Department will also be holding two special events in November. Thankful for Gamers will be held on Monday, November 18th at 4 p.m. This is an opportunity for teens to gather and compete in various games, including Xbox, VR, tabletop games, minute-to-win-it challenges, and relays. On Saturday, November 23rd, at noon, Happy Thanksgiving will be an opportunity for children ages 5-12 to participate in Thanksgiving-themed crafts and games. The Multi-Sensory Environment in the Children’s Library can be reserved for sessions of thirty minutes to two hours. The space can accommodate up to 18 people at any given time. 

As we celebrate this season of gratitude, we want to extend our heartful thanks to everyone. Your contributions, whether big or small, significantly impact our ability to serve you better. We all at Neuse Regional Libraries wish you a joyous holiday season filled with warmth, happiness, and cherished memories. Thank you for being an integral part of our community. For more information on Youth Services programming at the Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library, please call 252-527-7066, Ext. 133.