Onslow County Public Library rolls out ASL classes, Books & Barks and Youth Astronaut program

Tori Parks, representing Onslow County Public Library, presented the library system’s spring newsletter and described several new and returning programs.

Parks said beginner American Sign Language classes will be offered twice a month in Richlands and every Tuesday afternoon in Jacksonville. The Books & Barks program will return at the Swansboro and Jacksonville branches, allowing children ages 5–10 to read aloud to a therapy dog. Parks also described a Youth Astronaut program in Sneads Ferry for grades 5–9, where students will collect data and connect with educators online.

The library will distribute 24-page seasonal newsletters at branches, maintain branch-specific event calendars, and post digital calendars and program listings on its website and social channels. Parks encouraged families to check branch displays and calendars for registration details.

These offerings are presented as regular public-library programming; no funding actions or policy changes were discussed during the interview.