Burke County Public Library

10/22/2026

Throwback Thursday:
Olive Hill High School Football Team 1956 -1957. The team was the Northwestern Athletic Conference Champions. When the team went to play a game in North Wilkesboro, new uniforms that were expected had not arrived. Dr. Jimmie V. Morris, the Principal, stayed behind. He delivered the uniforms at half-time. The team members won the game in their new uniforms that were blue and gold. Joseph Robinson and W. F. McIntosh, Jr. were the coaches.

Brenda Brewer provided this image to Picture Burke, a digital photograph preservation project of the NC Room of the Burke County Public Library.

10/21/2026

It's Wednesday - which means it's time for Wilson Reads YA! This week he was thrown off-kilter by Killing November by Adriana Mather. 📚

✒️"From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of How to Hang a Witch comes a thriller set at a secretive boarding school where students are trained to carry on family legacies that have built--and toppled--empires." -Penguin Random House (Publisher)

✅Check out this title from your local library or as an eBook via !📱

10/21/2026

We're partnering with the Burke County Genealogical Society to offer the Second Annual Genealogy Conference on Saturday, November 14 from 9am-3pm. Featuring four dynamic speakers, it is an opportunity to hear from state and regional experts on family history and heritage and gather with other genealogy enthusiasts. For all experience levels. Registration is now open. Deadline Nov 10. Call 828-764-9266 or click the link to register: https://square.link/u/j5BuErxe

10/21/2026

See what's new this week at the Burke County Public Library at:

*** http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&p=1238-444 ***

There are sixteen new bestsellers, nine new movies, three new audiobooks, 24 new children's books, and 94 other new books, including eight that are available online.

The new bestsellers this week include "The Steps," "Hollow Bones," and "The Battle for Your Soul: 31 Biblical Secrets of Spiritual Warfare."

Sign up for the weekly newsletter to be sent to your email at http://www.wowbrary.org/signup.aspx?zipshow=28655

10/20/2026

For Family History Month, our very own NC Room Curator, Laurie Johnston, will be the guest speaker for this Thursday's "Coffee at the Museum" program at 10 am at The History Museum of Burke County. She will discuss how to find treasures in your own family tree as well as local history tidbits using resources available at the Burke County Public Library. She will discuss the Picture Burke photo collection, yearbooks, records, files, newspaper archives, and online resources available to the public and she will share some of her favorite local stories and photos from the NC Room collection.

The History Museum will also introduce a new project idea for next year about the First Families of Burke County. See you at 203 W. Meeting St. in Morganton this Thursday, October 22 at 10 am!

10/20/2026

Don't forget this month's Crochet Cafe is Thursday at the Valdese Public Library at 6pm! Open to adults and teens. No pre-registration required!

For more information contact Danielle at [email protected].

10/20/2026

Happy Dussehra to those who celebrate!

Dussehra (also known as Vijayadashami, Vijaya Dashami, Dasara, or Dashain) is a Hindu festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil.

While the day is celebrated differently in various parts of India and the diaspora, it is observed with excitement and enthusiasm.

In much of India, Dussehra marks the triumph of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana, as depicted in the Ramayana. In other parts of India and Nepal, it celebrates Goddess Durga's victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. The festival is observed on the tenth day of the Hindu month of Ashvin, following the nine-day Navratri celebrations (a festival devoted to the Goddess Durga).

10/19/2026

Come join us!

Join us on Tuesday, October 20 from 5-7pm at the Valdese Public Library for a Fall Festival (for kids 5th grade and under). Magical Entertainment, cupcake walk, games, mini-pie eating contest, face painter, prizes, and more!

For more information, call the Valdese Public Library at 828-874-2421

10/19/2026

3rd-7th graders are invited to join the Valdese Public Library for a Museum-led tour of the Hickory Aviation Museum on Tuesday, November 3rd at 10:30 am! There are limited spots available for this exciting opportunity, so be sure to reserve your spot soon.

This program will be limited to students in the 3rd-7th grades. One accompanying adult may be registered with each child (or family of children) in the specified grade levels. Attendees will meet at the Museum, and this free program will begin promptly at 10:30 am.

As this program has limited spots available, please be sure to let us know if you register but later find that you will be unable to attend. This will allow us to offer the spot to children on the waiting list.

To register for this tour, you can stop by or call the Valdese Public Library at 828-874-2421.

10/19/2026

Picture Burke Photo of the Week:
The Morganton Depot, ca 1930s. Railroad construction in the area began in 1857 but work on the Western North Carolina Railroad was halted east of Morganton in 1861 by the Civil War. Construction resumed after the war, and the line reached Old Fort by 1869.

The first Morganton train depot was built in the early 1870s and was replaced by this passenger station in 1886. Passenger service ended in the 1970s. In 2004, the city-owned depot was restored to its 1916 appearance and is now home to a history museum operated by The History Museum of Burke County. The museum is open Saturdays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

A citizens' group, “Waiting for the Train,” is working to bring passenger rail service back to Burke County. This image was submitted by The History Museum of Burke County to Picture Burke, a digital photograph preservation project of the Burke County Public Library.