Library Notes
Lynn Denison
If you could borrow a kindle loaded with over one hundred and seventy titles at no cost for two weeks, would you be interested? If you could borrow up to 5 DVD’s for two weeks at no charge, would that tempt you? How about having access to numerous up-to-date magazines and newspapers, a “café” with coffee and cold drinks, and a comfortable area in which to enjoy all this? Would you like access to a computer with color or black and white printing capabilities? That and much more is exactly what one can find at Rowan Public Library!
Other amenities the main library provides are photocopiers on all three floors, Wi-Fi access throughout the building, fax services, a variety of study spaces, an on-going Friends of the Library book sale area, and two very well equipped meeting rooms available for public use by reservation. The branches have one meeting room each and do not offer the “café”. Otherwise, the same helpful resources are available at our south and east branches as well.
If you haven’t been to our main library previously, please don’t let the unfamiliar building make you feel overwhelmed. The staff of Rowan Public Library is dedicated to making your first visit and your continuing visits pleasant and enjoyable encounters. We never want you to feel overwhelmed, just welcomed! We want you to come back again and again and always feel at home.
Our main library is located at 201 W. Fisher Street in downtown Salisbury. Our other two branch libraries are located in Rockwell and in the China Grove – Landis area. The headquarters library has three floors. For anyone with mobility problems, there is an elevator that serves all floors.
On the first floor you will find our circulation desk immediately upon entering. The staff at this desk will be pleased to help with your queries and to direct you where you wish to go. The staff there also handles borrowing, returning, and renewing of library materials.
On the first floor you will also find our large, beautiful children and juvenile area complete with a computer station with six computers for children’s use, our new teen space equipped with three new apple computers for teen use, our extensive fiction collection, the large print area, our DVD collection, as well as new fiction and new non fiction books, and books on CD.
Located on the second floor is our information desk with trained staff who will be delighted to help you with any general or specialized enquires you may have and who will be happy to get you started on using our services. They can help you with finding items in our catalogue or finding information on our web-site.
Also on the second floor you will find our computer lab, complete with 28 computers with printing capability. These computers are available for use by patrons with a library card or for guests with a picture identification showing a current address. We also have 4 laptops available for checkout to use within the building. A patron must have a library card and a credit card in order to check out a laptop.
The second floor houses our extensive non-fiction collection. The fiction books on the first floor are shelved alphabetically by the author’s last name. The non-fiction books on the second floor are shelved by using a system called the Dewey Decimal System. If you are unfamiliar with the Dewey system our staff is always available to help you. For an entertaining and educational experience, you might enjoy going to UTube on your computer and playing the Dewey Decimal Rap!
Our third floor is dedicated to our history and genealogy area. Here one will find a wealth of information on the past. The Salisbury Post is accessible on microfilm dating back to 1905. Patrons come here from across the country and even from foreign countries to research family histories dating back to the 1700’s.
Please visit us soon and allow us to introduce you to the exciting resources that Rowan Public Library has to offer.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Details about Titanic emerge at library
By Edward Hirst
Rowan Public Library
After striking an iceberg in the early morning hours of April 15, 1912, the frigid waters of the North Atlantic echoed with the desperate pleas for help from more than 1,500 passengers of the ocean liner Titanic.
As what was just hours earlier the crown jewel of the White Star Line began to sink towards the ocean floor and the passengers slowly died from the effects of hypothermia, an even more awful silence settled over the sea. The sights and sounds from that night would haunt each of the vessel’s 705 survivors for the rest of their days.
In “Gilded Lives, Fatal Voyage,” the historian Hugh Brewster weaves personal narratives of the lost liner’s most fascinating people with an account of the fateful maiden crossing. Through research he accurately depicts the ship’s brief history, presenting the latest thoughts on everything from when and how the lifeboats were loaded to the last tune played by the orchestra.
Although we may think we know the story of Titanic, the supposedly unsinkable and luxurious ship that struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage from Britain to America in 1912, very little has been written about what happened to the survivors after the tragedy. How did they cope in the aftermath of this horrific event? How did they come to remember that night, a disaster that has been likened to the destruction of a small town?
Drawing on a wealth of previously unpublished letters, memoirs and diaries as well as interviews with survivors’ family members, journalist and author Andrew Wilson reveals in “Shadow of the Titanic” how some used their experience to propel themselves on to fame, while others were so wracked with guilt they spent the rest of their lives under the Titanic’s shadow.
Of the families that boarded the unsinkable Titanic in 1912, only a fourth stayed together during the sinking and arrived safely in New York. Albert and Sylvia Caldwell and their 10-month-old son, Alden, were one of those rare Titanic families. Author Julie Williams draws on first-person accounts from her great-uncle Albert and extensive research to tell the fascinating story of the young family who were saved by a combination of luck, pluck, Albert’s outgoing nature, Sylvia’s illness, and Alden’s helplessness in “A Rare Titanic Family.” Their detailed story of the short life of the Titanic and their lucky rescue aboard the ill-starred Lifeboat 13 has never been fully told in Titanic literature.
You may also visit the library’s Stanback Auditorium on Monday, July 30, at 7 p.m. when Julie Williams brings the story of her great-uncle, Albert Caldwell, who survived the Titanic, along with his wife and baby.
Summer reading programs: This summer, Rowan Public Library invites kids to join the library for exciting programs and great reads with Dream Big, Read!
By Edward Hirst
Rowan Public Library
After striking an iceberg in the early morning hours of April 15, 1912, the frigid waters of the North Atlantic echoed with the desperate pleas for help from more than 1,500 passengers of the ocean liner Titanic.
As what was just hours earlier the crown jewel of the White Star Line began to sink towards the ocean floor and the passengers slowly died from the effects of hypothermia, an even more awful silence settled over the sea. The sights and sounds from that night would haunt each of the vessel’s 705 survivors for the rest of their days.
In “Gilded Lives, Fatal Voyage,” the historian Hugh Brewster weaves personal narratives of the lost liner’s most fascinating people with an account of the fateful maiden crossing. Through research he accurately depicts the ship’s brief history, presenting the latest thoughts on everything from when and how the lifeboats were loaded to the last tune played by the orchestra.
Although we may think we know the story of Titanic, the supposedly unsinkable and luxurious ship that struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage from Britain to America in 1912, very little has been written about what happened to the survivors after the tragedy. How did they cope in the aftermath of this horrific event? How did they come to remember that night, a disaster that has been likened to the destruction of a small town?
Drawing on a wealth of previously unpublished letters, memoirs and diaries as well as interviews with survivors’ family members, journalist and author Andrew Wilson reveals in “Shadow of the Titanic” how some used their experience to propel themselves on to fame, while others were so wracked with guilt they spent the rest of their lives under the Titanic’s shadow.
Of the families that boarded the unsinkable Titanic in 1912, only a fourth stayed together during the sinking and arrived safely in New York. Albert and Sylvia Caldwell and their 10-month-old son, Alden, were one of those rare Titanic families. Author Julie Williams draws on first-person accounts from her great-uncle Albert and extensive research to tell the fascinating story of the young family who were saved by a combination of luck, pluck, Albert’s outgoing nature, Sylvia’s illness, and Alden’s helplessness in “A Rare Titanic Family.” Their detailed story of the short life of the Titanic and their lucky rescue aboard the ill-starred Lifeboat 13 has never been fully told in Titanic literature.
You may also visit the library’s Stanback Auditorium on Monday, July 30, at 7 p.m. when Julie Williams brings the story of her great-uncle, Albert Caldwell, who survived the Titanic, along with his wife and baby.
Summer reading programs: This summer, Rowan Public Library invites kids to join the library for exciting programs and great reads with Dream Big, Read!
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Ahhhh ... the wind in your face as you glide along on your own two wheels! Whether you are a neighborhood bicyclist, a competitor or someone who likes to pack things up and make a long scenic ride, the public library has the resources to encourage anyone to peel those years away and cycle!
In “Bicycling the Blue Ridge; A Guide to the Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway”, Elizabeth & Charlie Skinner carefully explain why they consider these roads the “Ultimate bicycling road.” Weather, maps and suggested equipment are all described by these authors who have obviously completed the tours themselves. Their notes, by milepost, include lodging, landmarks, historic stops and a pleasant narration of their experiences. I especially appreciated the elevation cross-sectional maps.
“Bicycling the Atlantic Coast; A Complete Route Guide, Florida to Maine” by Donna Ikenberry Aitkenhead almost scared me off until I realized that the author presents the tour in bite-size pieces. Although her trip begins in Miami, FA and ends in Bangor, MA, she provides detailed maps that depict all back road routes. The coastal states are grouped by the South Atlantic, Middle Atlantic and New England States. Aitkenhead provides thorough maps and numerous tips for successfully cycling any portion, or all, of her coastal adventure. She admits right up front that she likes to tour (no kidding!) and is always planning her next cycling adventure.
These days I prefer greenways. Rowan Public Library has resources that encourage the development and creation of friendly pathways that connect places and people in a community; “Designing Greenways: Sustainable Landscapes for Nature and People” by Paul Cawood Hellmund & Daniel Somers Smith, also “Skinny Streets and Green Neighborhoods: Design for Environment and Community” by Cynthia Girling and Ronald Kellett. Greenways are dedicated paths for walking, jogging, and biking and are composed of gravel and asphalt. North Carolina and it’s neighboring states have many!
For the less mild-mannered bike enthusiasts you’ll find plenty of reading with “Mountain Biking”, by Michael Strassman, and “Mastering Mountain Bike Skills”, by Brian Lopes. Reading these books will give you perfect pedal strokes and tips for handling biking obstacles. Did you know that we have a mountain bike trail here in Salisbury/Rowan? The Salisbury Community Park on Hurley School Road has a mountain bike trail and occasional organized events.
There’s serious training and goal-setting between the pages of “Training Tips for Cyclists and Triathletes”. It is compiled by the Carmichael Training Systems with a forward by Lance Armstrong himself! Joe Friel extensively covers building strength while balancing recovery and fatigue for maximizing on power in “The Cyclist’s Training Bible”.
If you are into “learning it all”, read “Zinn’s Cycling Primer; Maintenance Tips & Skill Building for Cyclists” and, the highly reviewed, “Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance” both by Lennard Zinn.
OK, so you’ve not ridden a bike since you were a pigtailed kid, but I bet you remember that feeling of freedom you experienced on those two spinning wheels! There are more than 60 million riders in the United States today. Recent bike sales to all ages have risen 25%! Commuters, fitness buffs, eco-freaks, all those interested can turn to “Bicycling, a Reintroduction: a Visual Guide to Choosing, Repairing, Maintaining and Operating a Bicycle” by Karen Ruth. There are step-by-step photos where the author introduces, or reintroduces, an interested cyclist to current information about bikes and bicycling.
A couple days a week you’ll find me in a spin class at the YMCA (great instructors) just to keep myself in the cycling mood. To help keep this while-haired woman spinning along outdoors, I think I’ll read “Bike for Life; How to Ride to 100” by Roy Wallack & Bill Katovsky. See you on the greenways!
In “Bicycling the Blue Ridge; A Guide to the Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway”, Elizabeth & Charlie Skinner carefully explain why they consider these roads the “Ultimate bicycling road.” Weather, maps and suggested equipment are all described by these authors who have obviously completed the tours themselves. Their notes, by milepost, include lodging, landmarks, historic stops and a pleasant narration of their experiences. I especially appreciated the elevation cross-sectional maps.
“Bicycling the Atlantic Coast; A Complete Route Guide, Florida to Maine” by Donna Ikenberry Aitkenhead almost scared me off until I realized that the author presents the tour in bite-size pieces. Although her trip begins in Miami, FA and ends in Bangor, MA, she provides detailed maps that depict all back road routes. The coastal states are grouped by the South Atlantic, Middle Atlantic and New England States. Aitkenhead provides thorough maps and numerous tips for successfully cycling any portion, or all, of her coastal adventure. She admits right up front that she likes to tour (no kidding!) and is always planning her next cycling adventure.
These days I prefer greenways. Rowan Public Library has resources that encourage the development and creation of friendly pathways that connect places and people in a community; “Designing Greenways: Sustainable Landscapes for Nature and People” by Paul Cawood Hellmund & Daniel Somers Smith, also “Skinny Streets and Green Neighborhoods: Design for Environment and Community” by Cynthia Girling and Ronald Kellett. Greenways are dedicated paths for walking, jogging, and biking and are composed of gravel and asphalt. North Carolina and it’s neighboring states have many!
For the less mild-mannered bike enthusiasts you’ll find plenty of reading with “Mountain Biking”, by Michael Strassman, and “Mastering Mountain Bike Skills”, by Brian Lopes. Reading these books will give you perfect pedal strokes and tips for handling biking obstacles. Did you know that we have a mountain bike trail here in Salisbury/Rowan? The Salisbury Community Park on Hurley School Road has a mountain bike trail and occasional organized events.
There’s serious training and goal-setting between the pages of “Training Tips for Cyclists and Triathletes”. It is compiled by the Carmichael Training Systems with a forward by Lance Armstrong himself! Joe Friel extensively covers building strength while balancing recovery and fatigue for maximizing on power in “The Cyclist’s Training Bible”.
If you are into “learning it all”, read “Zinn’s Cycling Primer; Maintenance Tips & Skill Building for Cyclists” and, the highly reviewed, “Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance” both by Lennard Zinn.
OK, so you’ve not ridden a bike since you were a pigtailed kid, but I bet you remember that feeling of freedom you experienced on those two spinning wheels! There are more than 60 million riders in the United States today. Recent bike sales to all ages have risen 25%! Commuters, fitness buffs, eco-freaks, all those interested can turn to “Bicycling, a Reintroduction: a Visual Guide to Choosing, Repairing, Maintaining and Operating a Bicycle” by Karen Ruth. There are step-by-step photos where the author introduces, or reintroduces, an interested cyclist to current information about bikes and bicycling.
A couple days a week you’ll find me in a spin class at the YMCA (great instructors) just to keep myself in the cycling mood. To help keep this while-haired woman spinning along outdoors, I think I’ll read “Bike for Life; How to Ride to 100” by Roy Wallack & Bill Katovsky. See you on the greenways!
Sunday, July 01, 2012
Library Notes
June 22, 2012
Marissa Creamer
School is out and the beach beckons, bringing thoughts of sun and fun. There are many enticing vacation destinations, but here in North Carolina summer vacation usually involves at least one trip to the coast. We are fortunate that North Carolina’s coastline offers over 300 miles of sandy summer relaxation.
Beachcombers will want to come to Rowan Public Library before their trip to check out “Living Beaches of Georgia and the Carolinas: A Beachcombers Guide,” By Blair and Dawn Witherington. Filled with colorful photographs, this book begins with the premise that the beaches themselves are alive, and includes a fascinating discussion of the anatomy of a beach. You can learn about beach features such as wrack lines, beach cusps, and antidunes, as well as boneyard beaches, tides, and currents. Learn the best areas of a beach to find seashells and other treasures. The chapter on beach animals includes all manner of seashells, crustaceans, birds, reptiles, mammals, and even insects. Learn how to identify bubble shells, dovesnails, and wentletraps. There are also chapters describing beach plants and beach minerals, including fossils and shark’s teeth. The final chapter is dedicated to the “hand of man,” and includes features such as lighthouses, shipwrecks, historical remnants, and even sand art. It seems that everything that has anything to do with the beach can be found between the covers of this book.
If circumstances don’t allow you to travel to the beach this year, you can always visit vicariously through a novel set at the Outer Banks. In “The Watery Part of the World,” Michael Parker weaves a fictional tale from historical fact. He begins with the mysterious disappearance of Theodosia Burr Alston, daughter of Vice-President Aaron Burr, whose ship went missing after setting sail from Georgetown, South Carolina in late 1812. In this re-imagining, Theodosia’s ship is attacked by pirates and she is left for dead on a remote Outer Banks island. After being nursed back to health by a hermit, Theodosia embarks on a new life with a freed slave. Also woven into the story are the 1971 news reports of the last remaining residents of Portsmouth Island, two elderly white women who abandon the island when their African-American caretaker passes away. Parker explores the bond these last living residents have to the island and its past.
To learn more about this Outer Banks ghost town, check out “It Happened on the Outer Banks,” by Molly Perkins Harrison. Here you’ll find intriguing people and episodes from the history of the barrier islands. Did you know that the first musical notes ever transported over radio waves were sent from a small wireless station antenna in Buxton to Roanoke Island? This breakthrough would eventually lead to the world’s first radio broadcast. Ponder the mystery of what happened to the crew of the schooner Carroll A. Deering, found deserted on Diamond Shoals, and meet a couple who survived Hurricane Isabel by clinging to a treetop.
Whether you are planning a trip or traveling vicariously, Rowan Public Library has something to enhance your summer fun.
June 22, 2012
Marissa Creamer
School is out and the beach beckons, bringing thoughts of sun and fun. There are many enticing vacation destinations, but here in North Carolina summer vacation usually involves at least one trip to the coast. We are fortunate that North Carolina’s coastline offers over 300 miles of sandy summer relaxation.
Beachcombers will want to come to Rowan Public Library before their trip to check out “Living Beaches of Georgia and the Carolinas: A Beachcombers Guide,” By Blair and Dawn Witherington. Filled with colorful photographs, this book begins with the premise that the beaches themselves are alive, and includes a fascinating discussion of the anatomy of a beach. You can learn about beach features such as wrack lines, beach cusps, and antidunes, as well as boneyard beaches, tides, and currents. Learn the best areas of a beach to find seashells and other treasures. The chapter on beach animals includes all manner of seashells, crustaceans, birds, reptiles, mammals, and even insects. Learn how to identify bubble shells, dovesnails, and wentletraps. There are also chapters describing beach plants and beach minerals, including fossils and shark’s teeth. The final chapter is dedicated to the “hand of man,” and includes features such as lighthouses, shipwrecks, historical remnants, and even sand art. It seems that everything that has anything to do with the beach can be found between the covers of this book.
If circumstances don’t allow you to travel to the beach this year, you can always visit vicariously through a novel set at the Outer Banks. In “The Watery Part of the World,” Michael Parker weaves a fictional tale from historical fact. He begins with the mysterious disappearance of Theodosia Burr Alston, daughter of Vice-President Aaron Burr, whose ship went missing after setting sail from Georgetown, South Carolina in late 1812. In this re-imagining, Theodosia’s ship is attacked by pirates and she is left for dead on a remote Outer Banks island. After being nursed back to health by a hermit, Theodosia embarks on a new life with a freed slave. Also woven into the story are the 1971 news reports of the last remaining residents of Portsmouth Island, two elderly white women who abandon the island when their African-American caretaker passes away. Parker explores the bond these last living residents have to the island and its past.
To learn more about this Outer Banks ghost town, check out “It Happened on the Outer Banks,” by Molly Perkins Harrison. Here you’ll find intriguing people and episodes from the history of the barrier islands. Did you know that the first musical notes ever transported over radio waves were sent from a small wireless station antenna in Buxton to Roanoke Island? This breakthrough would eventually lead to the world’s first radio broadcast. Ponder the mystery of what happened to the crew of the schooner Carroll A. Deering, found deserted on Diamond Shoals, and meet a couple who survived Hurricane Isabel by clinging to a treetop.
Whether you are planning a trip or traveling vicariously, Rowan Public Library has something to enhance your summer fun.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)