Library Notes Laurie Lyda

By Laurie Lyda  Rowan Public Library

Now that the local forecast includes an impending blast of truly cold weather, courtesy of the break-up of the Arctic’s polar vortex, it’s time to take advantage of Rowan Public Library’s circulating collections and stock up on movies and books! A library card accountholder can check out 15 DVDs and 25 items total for two-week circulating collections. Even during bad weather, renewals for accounts in good standing are easily accomplished with a phone call or visit to your online account. (Online access requires your four-digit PIN/password; if you don’t know it, contact your nearest RPL branch for assistance.) One caveat, though, is that if another customer has placed a hold on an item, renewal is not possible.

For those who enjoy well-crafted, suspenseful, and dark series, “The Fall,” starring Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan, is a must-see. Anderson’s Stella Gibson is sophistication and steel, while Dornan’s Paul Spector is chillingly compelling. Watching Gibson’s cat-and-mouse game with Paul Spector – or is it Spector’s game with Gibson? – is a macabre delight. There are three seasons total, and the first two are part of RPL’s collection.

Fans of the classic whodunit with a British flair have several connected series to choose from. “Inspector Morse,” based on Colin Dexter’s series of detective novels, is a series of 33, two-hour episodes featuring Morse (John Thaw) and his partner, Sergeant Lewis (Kevin Whately). Whately went on to star in “Inspector Lewis,” a series also comprised of 33 episodes. This time, Whately’s Lewis teams up with James Hathaway (Laurence Fox) to solve crime. In 2012, yet another series in this show universe was launched with “Endeavor,” a prequel to “Inspector Morse.” Starring Shaun Evans as Endeavor Morse, the show’s fourth season will air in 2017. Many seasons from all three shows and several of Dexter’s novels are available in RPL’s collection.

            In “Broadchurch,” the murder of an 11-year-old rips apart a close-knit, small community, exposing shocking secrets and lies. Local Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller (Olivia Coleman) and new-to-town Detective Inspector Alec Hardy (David Tennant) navigate figurative minefields as they must learn to work together and deal with ramifications from the investigation that neither could have expected. It’s a haunting, well-done show, and when I finished series/season three, I was still hoping for more. Alas, creator Chris Chibnall has confirmed that the third season is the final one.  RPL carries all three seasons of the British version.

            If you’d rather read an engrossing narrative than watch one, Emily Bronte’s 1847 “Wuthering Heights” is a classic. Originally published under the pseudonym “Ellis Bell,” the gothic tale has inspired countless critical studies. Whether you’re looking for an analysis topic or a story to pass the time, “Wuthering Heights” offers a complex narrative structure, supernatural elements, mystery, and complicated, controversial characterizations. You can find the novel and several film versions, including the 2009 adaptation starring Tom Hardy, in RPL’s circulating collection.

            One of my current favorite contemporary mystery writers is Ruth Ware. According to her website, she describes her novels as “psychological crime thrillers,” and I think that’s apt -- I’ve voraciously read all four: “In a Dark, Dark Wood” (2015), “The Woman in Cabin 10” (2016), “The Lying Game” (2017), and “The Death of Mrs. Westaway” (2018). Each is unique, with distinctive narrators and complex, knotty storylines that typically deliver from the first pages to the carefully crafted dénouement. You can locate all four novels through RPL.

            Those looking to expand their reading horizons should also check out “Novelist.” A link to this readers’ advisory tool can be found at the top of the RPL catalog’s home page. To access from home, have your library card number and PIN handy; you can obtain direct access at any branch or ask a staff member for assistance. Part of NC Live, “Novelist” offers readers the chance to explore titles similar to their favorites and to specifically search for genres, elements, reading levels, and more. It’s a great resource, and one that can aid the discovery of your next favorite.

            To learn more about RPL and its resources and services, visit www.rowanpubliclibrary.org.

Conquering Your Language Learning New Year’s Resolution

by Kristen Thomas Rowan Public Library

One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to learn a new language, but that can be hard when you don’t know what resources are available to you. Thankfully, with the internet and your library card, it's easier to gain access to those resources than ever before. No matter your learning style there’s something to help you reach your goal.

If you’re someone who prefers guided learning or a classroom type of setting, the Gale Courses have several different language courses that are available for you. There are introductory courses, courses to help you gain basic conversational skills, and even Spanish for Medical Professionals! While most of courses are for Spanish and French, there are also courses for Italian, Japanese, and even American Sign Language. These courses usually start on the second week of the month and last a few weeks, before starting a new session.

If you’re not someone who is interested in the classroom setting or are just generally more interested in setting your own pace, there’s also something for you. Mango Languages is a program that is more self-guided but also has more than 70 languages available, giving you a wider selection of choices. You can even learn more than one language at a time, if you are feeling ambitious. It also has a mobile app for both Apple and Android, allowing you to learn from your phone or tablet. This is a convenient way to keep up with your progress and practice on the go.

But maybe you are not tech savvy or you find learning from a computer screen more difficult. Or maybe you want to supplement your learning. In all of these cases, we also have several books available for check out to help you on your language learning journey.  If you’re looking learning aids, we have both dictionaries and grammar books to help guide you and provide context for your studies. We also have practice work books available to help steer you in the right direction, especially if you’re learning a language that has a different writing system!

All of these resources are available for anyone with a library card, and if you need help finding the right materials for you, don’t be afraid to ask! Both the Gale Courses and Mango Languages can be found them through our website, under Services & Support – just make sure you have your Library Card and PIN handy beforehand! Under Services & Support, you should see a link to the Gale Courses, which will take you directly there. Mango Languages is available through NC Live, so first click on NC Live and then scroll until you find Language Learning.  You can either call your local branch or come in and ask a librarian, we always love to help our patrons reach their goals.

Ringing in the new year at RPL

 by Sydney Smith Rowan Public Library

In the first full week of 2019, many of us feel mounting anticipation for the new year and everything it may bring. With a fresh start, anything is possible, and I am most excited to see how the new year will unfold in the world of public libraries.

            2018 was a busy and innovative year for our nation’s public libraries. The American Library Association (ALA) released an updated report regarding the public’s attitudes toward public library systems, and many of their findings were positive: 70% of United States voters responded that they’d visited their local public libraries within the last year, averaging around eight visits per voter.

            The ALA’s report also revealed what the public values most in its public library systems. While finding books, accessing the internet, and having quiet studying spaces still ranked high in importance to public library visitors, many of them voted favorably for other aspects of the library’s services as well. Some of these mentioned services include using community meeting spaces, attending special programs hosted by the library, and learning about new technology.

            Over half of the voters responded that using the public libraries’ digital resources and websites are important to them. 52% of the voters reported visiting their local public library’s website to access the free digital content stored there (such as eBooks, scholarly journals, and technology tutorials, to name a few).

            These positive findings from the ALA’s report are well-reflected in our own Rowan Public Library system. Rowan Public Library offers an immense amount of free digital content and resources as well as print resources for the public to explore. Library staff offers a variety of activities and programs for patrons of all ages to experience, and the librarians are ready to assist patrons with technology questions and research queries.

We also have a lot to look forward to in 2019 regarding Rowan Public Library as excitement for the West Branch continues to grow. A brand-new year of exciting programs commences this week, and the library will continue to grow its collections of print and digital materials. Public libraries are still popular institutions among the American public, and seeing ours continue to flourish and grow in Rowan County will be an especially exciting part of 2019.

           

           

           

           

Gotta Play in the Dirt

By P.L. Stiles  Rowan Public Library

     Looking out on a dismal winter landscape, ever wonder “Why winter!?”  With barren trees, snowy gray skies, and icy winds, winter seems the most inhospitable season of them all. Winter, though, plays an important role in the lifecycle of plants, trees, forests, and ecosystems.  Fallen leaves and decaying matter replenish nutrients in soil, snows and rains scatter and bury seeds, the cold offers energetic respite for trees and provides a killing season for insects and invasive species. Winter provides the land with resources it needs to thrive season upon season. 

     So it seems surprising that many plants thrive during the winter. Bulbs, from tulips to garlic, require weeks of cold weather at 40 degrees or colder. Some seeds require scarification, a process of freezing and thawing that cracks a hard seed shell, in order to grow.  These include morning glory, moonflower, and nasturtiums.  Some seeds require stratification in order to grow, a process of warming and cooling that happens when temperatures change as winter becomes spring. Those seeds include many butterfly habitat plants such as milkweed, butterfly weed, daylilies, and apples. 

     For gardeners, having a winter garden can be just as joyful as a summer garden. Cold weather can make root vegetables sweeter, and many greens grow better in colder weather. Winter crops are all about leaves, stems, and roots which grow slowly in cool weather. Greens such as arugula, kale, and pak choi (Chinese cabbage) all grow better in cool to cold weather. Fresh arugula and kale make winter salads tasty as well as nutritious. Making a hot soup with garlic, pak choi, and sweet carrots fresh from the garden warms any wintery day.

     In January, the South Regional Library will start hosting a monthly gardening club, “Gardening Party Saturdays” where gardening, plant, and pollinator enthusiasts can gather and swap plant & seeds, trade gardening tips, and explore new gardening topics.  The first meeting on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at
11 am,  and will feature a seed swap, so bring seeds you wish to share (and whatever information you may have about them) and take home seeds of new varieties! Garden planning will be the topic, and dreaming is free.  At Garden Party Saturdays, new and experienced gardeners can learn more about getting soil tests, putting together a garden no matter the space, growing for your culinary interests, composting, vermiculture, and more! 

     If you just gotta play in the dirt, despite the January chill, join with other like-minded folk and plan to make gardening part of your life no matter the season.