Magazine Musings

 by Pam Everhardt Bloom Rowan Public Library

When’s the last time you bought a magazine? If it’s been a while, you may find them a bit pricey. Even with the savings brought by a year subscription, you might want to sit and look at several issues before ordering. For many publications, it’s as simple as visiting the Rowan Public Library for a closer look or to discover a new favorite.

For example, Headquarters carries a hundred plus titles with selections in the Children’s Room, the History Room and the second floor magazine area. (Titles may differ dependent upon the branch you’re visiting.)

My new favorite and one I will probably order for my oldest granddaughter is New Moon Girls. A bi-monthly publication, this is one of the most exciting magazines that I’ve seen for girls 8 and up.  100% advertising-free, the magazine describes itself as “helping girls discover and honor their true selves, engage in meaningful pursuits and dialogue, and express their voices in ways that matter.” One of my favorite pages is “Girl-Caught.” This column is written by girls and contains real life examples that readers find disrespectful to their gender. I loved reading their uproar over Merida, heroine of “Brave,” being turned into a skinny Disney princess instead of maintaining her spunky personality and regular girl looks. Girls are also regular contributing authors and artists for both the print magazine and the on-line edition. Diva, 12, wrote about Clara Lemlich, a shirtwaist factory worker. Diva says, “Clara inspires me because of her relentless spirit… she inspires me to change my world for the better…”  Safe, educational, fun and ad-free. What a great magazine for raising spirited and thinking young women.

Not interested in a girls magazine? Need ideas for local fun or information? Browse Our State, Carolina Garden, Business North Carolina, Charlotte Business Journal, Charlotte Magazine, NC Wildlife, Muse & Spirit or NC Genealogical Society Journal. Looking for holiday ideas for food, home, or craft this time of the year? Better Homes & Gardens, Cooks Illustrated, Crafts n Things, Family Fun, Good Housekeeping, House Beautiful, Ladies Home Journal, Martha Stewart Living, Oprah Magazine, Parents Magazine, Redbook, Southern Living, or Vegetarian Times may provide inspiration.

Want a newsy political update, business information or fashion and entertainment news? You might find yourself smiling and frowning in turn as you read Bloomberg Business Week, Black Enterprise, Ebony, The Economist, Entertainment Weekly, Esquire, Essence, Forbes, Fortune, GQ Gentleman’s Quarterly, Jet, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Money, The Nation, New Republic, People Weekly, Rolling Stone, Seventeen, Time and Vanity Fair. In the mood for relaxation, travel or special interests? American Girl, American Hunter, American Rifleman, American Spirit, Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel, Bicycling, Boys Life, Car & Driver, Coin World, Conde Nast Traveler, Confederate Veteran, Consumer Reports, Cycle World, Details, Discover, Family Handyman, Field & Stream, Fine Gardening, Fine Woodworking, Four Wheeler, Golf Digest, Guns & Ammo, Hot Rod, Men’s Journal, Men’s Health, Mother Earth News, Motor Trend, Muscle & Fitness, National Genealogical Society News, National Geographic, National Geographic Traveler, Natural Home & Garden, The New Yorker, Organic Gardening, Outdoor Life, Outside Magazine, Popular Mechanics, Prevention, Ranger Rick, Road & Track, Runners World, Science News, Smithsonian, Sports Illustrated, This Old House, Trains, Truckin’, Urban Farm  and The World.

Just imagine, the above doesn’t even list any of the newspapers and journals available at your library nor all of the magazines and special publications. Visit Rowan Public Library. You may be surprised at the wealth of material at your fingertips. And if technology is your thing - coming soon to RPL is a digital magazine service that will allow library patrons to access magazines on their personal computers and tablets from the comfort of their own homes. Does it get any better?