By Paul Kagebein
January 2020, at the Garland County Library, sets the tone for the new year by trying a variety of new events and implementing some progressive changes.
On Tuesday, January 14, the library will host, in partnership with the Hot Springs Area Cultural Alliance, the first installment of the Arkansas Highlands Folk Project: An Introduction to Traditional Music. Listen to and learn from performers from across the state as they showcase this toe-tapping, fun-filled genre of music.
History buffs will appreciate learning about the origins of music from the Ouachita & Ozark Mountains. Attendees are even encouraged to play along or dance, should they want to. This series is meant to be an interactive celebration of all things local folk music.
Also, in January, the popular Winter Watching Program returns, lasting the entirety of January and February. Patrons who borrow DVDs or Blu-Rays from the library will be rewarded with a raffle slip for every one checked out. These slips can be distributed upon return among the potential prizes of their choice. Patrons can check out up to 15 DVDs and 5 Blu-Rays at a time, so an avid film aficionado could theoretically have hundreds of entries by the time the program ends!
Other January programming highlights include the competitive Adult Table Tennis Tournament on Saturday, January 11, the astronomical STARGAZING 101 on Thursday, January 23, the adorable Iditarod Sled Dog Presentation on Saturday, January 25, and the heartbreaking story of Kalaupapa: The Last Remaining Leprosy Colony in the U.S. on Monday, January 27.
Visit the library online at www.gclibrary.com or call the library at 501-623-4161 or 501-922-4483 for information about special events, library collections, or library services. The library is located at 1427 Malvern Avenue in Hot Springs.