One-on-One Technology Assistance Available at Rowan Public Library

by Amber Covington Rowan Public Library

By: Amber Covington

Staff at Rowan Public Library are available to help with any technology questions you may have about your mobile devices such as a laptop, cell phone, tablet, or e-reader. During operating hours community members of Rowan County can schedule a 30 minute one on one session called a Tech Stop to have any questions answered with the help of a library staff member. These 30 minute sessions are free and available to the public. Tech Stops have been available since early spring of 2018 and is a great way to learn about a new cell phone or tablet and ways to interact with the device.

The Information Desk Reference Staff assists the public daily on computers and tablets and are ready to help with questions or directions for completing a task on mobile devices.  Often, library staff receive questions from customers needing assistance downloading a mobile app to a device or creating an online account for a service. Our staff are knowledgeable and can assist with: basic computing, creating a website or blog, locating and using e-resources, creating an email, using social media sites, demonstrating ways to use Microsoft Office, and demonstrating how to navigate Windows or Apple operating systems. 

The library also offers free online Gale Courses that are available to library cardholders seeking technology assistance with assigned weekly coursework and activities to help increase their skills and abilities with Microsoft software, web design, game development, web development, and Adobe products.  Our library collection has several books available for checkout related to computer and technology tools including on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Microsoft Office products, and web development.

Rowan Public Library provides free services for information seekers and continues to grow its computer and technology services to the community by offering a monthly technology club, online Gale courses, and one on one Tech Stop sessions. To learn more about these services contact your RPL branch for more information.

 

Life’s Lessons: My First Foray into Illustration and Publication

By Emma Rose Rowan Public Library

            Ever since I was a little girl my favorite activities were reading and drawing. I spent many hours of my youth at the public library where I could access books that fueled my imagination and books that instructed me on how to perfect my creations. Rowan Public Library has many items available for check-out for those with a budding passion to express themselves artistically:

·         Drawing for Mixed-Media Artists by Carla Sonheim

·         Freehand: Sketching Tips and Tricks Drawn From Art by Helen Birch

·         Illustrating children's books : creating pictures for publication by Martin Salisbury

·         Writing and illustrating children's books for publication : two perspectives by Berthe Amoss

            In August of 2018, I was fortunate enough to be able to use my passion for books and art to illustrate and publish my first book, Life’s Lessons. The opportunity presented itself when I met a man named Ray Delane Bost of Rockwell, NC. It took us no time at all to realize that, although we are an unlikely pair, we can work well together to help one another make our dreams a reality.

            Ray’s dream is to share his poetry with the world. Ray began writing poetry as a hobby when he was just a teenager. He published his first book of poetry in 2017 which is entitled This and That. This and that can be found at Rowan Public Library [811.54 BOS] nestled amongst an array of lovely collections of poetry. This summer, Ray was ready to publish his second collection of poetry and planned for it to be bigger, longer, hard-covered, and designed with his vision in mind. 

            My dream is to illustrate and publish books. I have always held a deep admiration for talented and creative illustrators such as Dr. Seuss, Gris Grimly, and Brett Helquist, to name just a few favorites whose work can be found at Rowan Public Library. Yet, I had always felt that illustrating my own book was a bit of a pipe-dream.

            Using Ray’s words and my ability to tame the technology necessary for the project, we decided we would make Life’s Lessons a reality. When Ray learned that I had always wanted to illustrate, he offered for me to design images for each of his poems so that I too, could have my name on the cover of a book. I am a librarian and so I am surrounded by books, at work and at home, yet none of them have my name on them…unless you count my worn copy of the children’s book Are You My Mother by P.D. Eastman which actually has my name all over it…but it is in crayon and I wrote it myself when I was first learning to write my name. [Warning: don’t try this at home, kids!]

            Needless to say, I accepted and began imagining and sketching out my designs while keeping each poem in mind. I will always cherish those warm summer nights I spent sitting on my back porch pouring over my designs and characters, drawing and redrawing them with a smile on my face.

            Along the journey, Ray and I discovered that we had other passions in common: a compassion and love for K-9 companions, public libraries, and playing the harmonica.

            Ray and I, are so proud to present the final product to the world which can be found at Lulu.com [product ID: 23762636]. Poetry by Ray Delane Bost. Illustrations by Emma Marie Rose. Published by my rookie publishing company Red March Publishing through Lulu.com.

Online Resume Writing Tool Available for Job Seekers

by Amber Covington Rowan Public Library

Cypress Resume is a free digital resource available to all Rowan Public Library cardholders to access as a guide to create professional resumes. As a member of the NC Live consortium, RPL has a subscription to this online resume writing tool that allows users to create and revise resumes. With the ease of accessing the library’s website anyone can begin to create or revise their resume within minutes. Online Google search results for resume templates can be quite daunting.  A simple search yields thousands of examples that may not fit the layout necessary for the job a person may be applying for. To ease the process of searching for the right resume template online, simply create an account with Cypress Resume to begin a customized layout that fits your needs.

Simply, create an account with Cypress Resume and begin to fill in your information to create a resume, cover letter, or reference sheet. Each section has required fields for your information (i.e. full name, address, and contact information) which populates to create a professional resume listing your educational background, jobs, and skills. Once all fields are completed press the preview button and voila, a resume appears. For people that prefer to create their own layout check out these book titles for formatting and layout designs:

“Knock’em Dead Resumes” by Martin Yate

“Best Resumes for College Students and New Grads: Jump Start Your Career” by Louise Kursmark

“The Quick Resume & Cover Letter Book: Write and Use an Effective Resume in Only One Day” By Michael Farr

Get started today with Cypress Resume by creating your account. Visit our website at www.rowanpubliclibrary.org and look for NC Live Resources. Cypress Resume is sure to be a fit for all your resume needs.