PBS Videos from NCLive

by Edward Hirst Rowan Public Library

NCLive, North Carolina Libraries for Virtual Education,   provides the citizens of North Carolina access to over 200 hours of documentary and educational video programming from the Public Broadcasting Corporation in cooperation with UNC-TV and the NC Department of Cultural Resources.

The NCLive Video Collection was chosen by librarians for the support of education and the general interest of the public. The collection includes programming covering the sciences, US and world history, biographies, current events, the arts, as well as a variety of other subjects. Titles available in the collection include Ken Burn’s Baseball, Jazz, and The Civil War as well as other episodes from series such as Frontline, American Experience and Scientific American Frontiers.

The videos can be accessed from any device,(phones, tablets, computers, or streaming devices) with a high-speed Internet connection .If you are viewing the videos anywhere besides within the library you will need to login with your library card number and PIN,  which can be requested from any of the library’s locations. 

The videos do not require downloading to be played and you are not required to check them out to view them. NCLive is able to offer unlimited simultaneous streaming to libraries throughout the state.

Visitors to the NCLive Video Collection page can view a listing of all of the titles that are available for viewing. The NCLive video collection is now part of Films on Demand which provides access to thousands of high quality videos on business & economics, health & medicine, humanities & social sciences, and science & mathematics, as well as travel and fitness programming, home and how-to videos, indie films, and popular music performances.

Clicking on any title link leads to a brief synopsis of the program, the playing time, a choice of speeds to stream the video, and whether the video is close captioned.

Be sure and check out the new Video Collection from NCLive.

Warming up your January!

by Abigail Hardison  Rowan Public Library

January is always cold. Blisteringly, bone-achingly, cold; the kind of cold where you just want to go home and get in a hot bathtub just to get your whole body warm at the same time. Libraries are places many folks come in to warm up, charge their phones, use the wi-fi, read the paper, etc. But this January, we have a special program designed to blast your winter blues with some tropical heat! Based on the success we had hosting an Intro to Swing dance class last summer, we are kicking off our Winter/Spring Adult programs on January 12^th from 3 to 4PM with a very special collaboration! Rowan Public Library, Salsarita’s Fresh Mexican Grill, and Spotlight Dance Company are coming together to bring you “Salsa, Chips, and Salsa”. Our Stanback Auditorium will be the location for a totally free and totally fun event with delicious snacks from the local and fresh eatery, along with totally spicy Salsa moves taught by an instructor from Salisbury’s Spotlight Dance Company. Our space is limited because you’ll need room to move around, so please call 704-216-8248 and register. 

If you can’t make it to our free dance class, then at least you can swing by or log on and pickup these hot thriller titles to keep your heart pounding and your palms sweaty this January. First up we’ve got some psychological suspense! The authors behind last year’s smash hit The Wife Between Us, Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, have got their next title An Anonymous Girl coming out in January. It’s already in the catalog, so go ahead and get on hold for it! There will undoubtedly be a wait list! 

Another thriller with a lot of buzz behind it is Looker by Laura Sims. This debut novel is all about the obsession with celebrity culture and what an unhappy person will do to feel close to the object of her obsession, especially when the obsession lives just a few doors down…This Hitchcockian thriller shows us why envy is a mortal sin. 

Our last thriller to highlight is The Night Agent by Matthew Quick. This timely tale is the story of young FBI agent, Peter Sutherland, whose only job is to staff the night desk in the White House Situation Room, and to monitor one emergency phone line… which never rings. Until it does. And the mysterious call that comes in starts a desperate hunt for a deeply-buried Russian mole at the highest levels of power. Peter must evade assassins, spies, and the FBI to uncover the truth. Find out if he does! Be sure to check it out!

As always, our staff here at RPL is ready and waiting to put your next favorite book right into your hands! Call, email or swing by and let us do what we do best!

Get Inspired And Make Travel Plans With Help From Rowan Public Library

    by Paul Birkhead Rowan Public Library

 “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.”  Mark Twain famously said that in his bestselling book The Innocents Abroad and it remains true today.  Rowan Public Library has many resources available to those who wish to journey and expand their horizons.
      What does traveling mean to you?  Is it a quick trip to see family or is it visiting an exotic location?  Does thinking about it put a smile on your face?  Understandably, at this time of year, thoughts of travel might give you pause as you picture stand-still traffic, soaring gas prices, and long lines to get through airport security.  For most of the year, though, travel can be pleasurable, especially if you do some research beforehand.
      The library’s shelves are chock-full of items that can both inspire and help plan your next adventure.  Around the World in Eighty Wines is an interesting book.  Influenced by Jules Verne’s classic tale, author Mike Veseth set off on a global journey to discover the best wines in every region.  Wine lovers are sure to enjoy the book, but even non aficionados will appreciate interesting and fun facts about this popular beverage.
      Don’t Make Me Pull Over! by Richard Ratay is an informal history of how the quintessential family road trip began in the 1950s with the birth of the interstate highway system.  If you’ve ever taken a trip in a station wagon sans seatbelt, this book will certainly make you nostalgic.
      Planning a trip is half the fun – or so some people say.  Whether you agree or not, no one can dispute that travel guidebooks can be very helpful.  They allow you to thoughtfully plan everything from lodging to meals to must-see attractions.  Fodor’s, a division of Random House, has been publishing travel guides since the 1930’s.  The current editions of some of their most popular destination guides can be found at the library.  Fodor’s 2018 London, for instance, would be great to check out if you are organizing a trip to England’s capital city.  Because London is so densely populated, most people find it intimidating to explore.  However, Fodor’s breaks the city up into manageable portions.  Up-to-date information and plenty of maps are helpful in planning out activities.
      A similar set of travel guides is put out by Rick Steves, an American author and television personality.  Rick’s laid-back style makes his television series on European travel very popular.  His personality comes through in these guidebooks as well.  While not as “slick” as the Fodor’s books, Rick Steves’ series makes up for it with advice that is not only helpful, but candid and humorous at the same time.   
      If all this talk about travel makes you want to go on an adventure, what if I told you that you can travel and help support the library at the same time?  For over a decade, Friends of Rowan Public Library has teamed up with Collette Travel to offer group trips to exciting locations in North America and abroad.  Trips planned for the coming year include America’s Cowboy Country (June 8-15), Alaska Discovery Land & Cruise (August 6-18), Sunny Portugal (September 10-19), and Spotlight on Tuscany (October 17-25). 
      Melody Moxley, Friends Board Member and trip coordinator, says “If traveling to Alaska or Italy is on your bucket list and you want to go as part of a fun group, let Collette do all the work for you.”  An informational meeting will be held at Rowan Public Library’s Stanback Auditorium on Thursday, January 10, 2019 at 6 p.m.  To learn more, contact Melody Moxley at 704-216-8230.

Food for the Holidays

by Gretchen Beilfuss Witt Rowan Public Library

  

            It’s that time again, when we stroll down memory lane thinking about the wonderful aromas and delicious goodies that came from Grandma’s kitchen.  We pull out the recipe books or clippings we’ve saved through the year hoping for the occasion on which we can try that marvelous sounding dessert or appetizer.   Many of us are in a rush with lots of gatherings and events to attend as well.  Make the library a stop in your busy schedule and pick up a book or two to help you through the holidays.

            For those busy days when we have mouths to feed but no time in the evening to make something, take a look at “Slow Cooker to the Rescue” a Gooseberry Patch cookbook with over 400 recipes including stews and soups, party foods like Roasted Cajun Pecans, Fiesta Taco Dip or Honey Sesame Wings, lasagna and hearty sandwich fillings, Maple Praline Chicken and Creole Shrimp and Sausage and even breakfast casseroles.  Put it in the cooker in the morning and it’ll be ready by supper time.

            Sally Sampson’s is a terrific place to find dips of every variety such as Peppery Watercress spread with pita chips, Creamy Almond-Basil pesto dip, Roasted Red Pepper with Pomegranate molasses or even a cookie dip made with peanut butter and ice cream.  Each dip recipe comes with clear instructions, great illustrations and suggestions of what types of crackers, chips, fresh veggies or fruit would work best with the flavors and textures of the dip (smooth, chunky or cheesy).

            Looking for something with some elegance?  Take a look at Rick Tramonto’s “Amuse-bouche:  Little Bites of Delight Before the Meal Begins.”  Beautifully and mouth-wateringly photographed “Amuse-bouche” won the James Beard Award.  From the very simple Tomato Soup with Basil to Angel Hair and Artichoke Frittata or the gorgeous Grilled mission figs with mascarpone and prosciutto these before meal gems will wow your guests.

            Readers’ favorite Debbie Macomber shares her Christmas traditions, decorations and recipes in “Debbie Macomber’s Christmas Cookbook”.   Swimming four times each week, Debbie developed a relationship with many of the folks she swam with, but realized after seeing a fellow swimmer in the store with glasses that she had no idea what these folks looked like out of the water.  Thus began her tradition of Christmas teas.  She gathers with swimmer friends, with fellow knitters and others to celebrate and share.  She includes for recipes creams scones with figs and cherries, Cranberry Walnut Cobbler, creamed spinach and feta pie, butternut squash bisque, Pan-Roasted Flank Steak with ginger-sesame marinade, crafts and décor ideas.  Interspersed amongst the recipes are tales of her family Christmases with old and new traditions. 

            The library has a good collection of the “Spirit of Christmas” books from Leisure Arts.  Published for many years these books share craft creations, gourmet gifts, buffet ideas, decoration and gift ideas and scrumptious goodies.  Themed Christmases are easily managed with the help of Leisure Arts editors – a snowman tree, with snowman pillows and mantle pieces all coordinated with directions and patterns included.  Chocolate boxes and place cards, handmade soaps and candles, baked goods and gift bags for them are all included in this bright and well-organized series.  Enjoy the holidays with a little help from the library.

           

Friends Make a Big Impact – and you should be one

By Melissa J. Oleen Rowan Public Library

I want to tell you about the best group of friends in Rowan County and why you should join them.  The Friends of Rowan Public Library, a non-profit organization with over 400 members make special things happen at the library every month. 

This past year Friends of RPL provided funding to purchase touch screen computers for digital media kiosks at every branch.  Customers can now download digital materials straight to their electronic devices via text message links with or without a library card.  Being able to offer kiosks in-house has allowed us to test them and determine the best locations for future kiosks.  The Friends have approved funding to help provide similar kiosks at Rowan County YMCA locations in 2019.

Friends of RPL made it possible for the library to secure Bright Start Touring Theatre and offer the family program Let Freedom Ring: The Music and Poetry of Black History.  Thanks to Friends of RPL, Bright Star will be back in February 2019 to present Heroes of the Underground Railroad.

Coming up December 8^th from 10-Noon, the library is offering a timely and informative program on the latest tech craze, digital home assistants.  Friends of RPL made it possible for us to purchase three different digital assistants for the public to test out at this program.  Word has it one lucky attendee may get to take one home with them.

You might not realize the ways this generous organization and its hard working volunteers have befriended you.

Does your family participate in the library’s summer reading program?  Every summer the Friends provide over $10,000 to pay for performers and purchase summer reading prizes.  Fact, summer reading at RPL could not happen without their support.

Do you have a child aged 7-25 yrs. that attended 2^nd grade at a Rowan County school?  This class has listened to nationally known and professional storytellers via the Friends sponsored Stories by the Millstream festival for the past 19 years.

Do you live or work in West Rowan? The Friends of RPL have donated $15,000 towards the new West Branch Library.

Do you like our library staff?  The Friends help make RPL a great place to work and support RPL staff by providing funding to feed over 65 staff members on staff development days, pay speakers for special staff training events, supplement the costs of sending staff off-site for conferences and make a scholarship available to RPL staff attending graduate school in library science.

December is when Friends annual memberships are up for renewal.  I encourage you to renew your Friends of RPL membership for 2019 and consider bumping your membership up to the next level.  For a minimum cost of $10 dollars you can be a part of this amazing group that touches so many people throughout our community each year.  For more information or to renew your membership, visit any RPL branch, call 704-216-8240 or email Cynthia.Owen@rowancountync.gov. 

Library Bumper Stickers

 by Jim Whalen  Rowan Public Library

With the latest long politician season you are probably tired of all the politics. There is audio, video, and the endless mail from all candidates. Someone is always looking for a soundbite. Play that negative or positive short message and instant winner or loser.

Let’s look at some library sound bites. Some are new, some, old, and some bumper stickers. Take a break and enjoy them. 

Libraries always remind me there are good things in this world.

Your library is your paradise.

If you have a garden and a library you have everything you need.

Old librarians never die, they just get renewed.

Where are you headed with your life? Each direction is good if there is a library along the way.

Without libraries what have we? We have no past and no future.

The most important asset of a library goes home at night, the librarian.

I have found the most important thing in my wallet, my library card.

I ransack libraries and find them full of treasures.

If I was a book I want to be a library book so I could be taken home by all sorts of kids.

Librarians working for you since 2600 BC

If truth is beauty how come nobody has their hair done in the library?

A truly great library has something in it to offend everybody.

Libraries raised me.

My two favorite things are libraries and bicycles; they both move forward without wasting anything.

Bad libraries build collections, good libraries build services, and great libraries build communities.

An original idea, that can’t be too hard. The library is filled with them.

When the going gets tough, the tough get a librarian.

You can borrow a book, but you get to keep the ideas.

A book is a magic portal to another dimension

When in doubt visit your library.

I'm a librarian you could not shock me if you tried.

Libraries are forever.

Who needs a librarian when you have Google? Who needs a doctor when you have Webmed?

To keep this short I did not give credit to the writer, but you can always ask a librarian.