By Betty Moore
Rowan Pubic Library
“Answers: Anytime, Anywhere” is the motto of NC Live. I hope that everyone with a library card and access to a computer (either through the library or at home) is aware of at least some of the resources, many of them treasures, available to them without charge through NC Live.
Not sure what NC Live is? It is a collection of electronic resources supported by the North Carolina General Assembly. It is a collaborative program of around 200 N.C. public and academic libraries. To begin with, this collection includes complete articles from more than 16,000 newspapers, journals, magazines and encyclopedias.
But it also includes some hidden gems that go beyond the common usage of a student’s research for a paper or speech. These are a few that caught my interest at a recent workshop.
Did you know that a large number of PBS videos are available to watch free through NC LIVE? Search by title (the list is more than 40 pages long); series (including “American Experience,” “Liberty’s Kids,” “Frontline” and programs by Ken Burns); or subject, such as African American studies or health and medicine.
The American slavery database from Greenwood is a powerful collection of life histories, in their own words, of former slaves. These were compiled from nearly 4,000 interviews with ex-slaves during a WPA project in the 1930s, then stored at the Library of Congress. The collection can be searched by the name of the former slave or master, county and topics discussed in the interview.
One interview in the collection is with Gus “Jabbo” Rogers, over 90 years old when interviewed in 1937, who was born at Salisbury on the Rogers plantation.
“North American Women’s Letters and Diaries: Colonial to 1950” is another treasure. This fascinating way to learn history and customs contains the experiences of 1,325 women in 150,000 pages of diaries and letters. The materials have been indexed and can be searched in several ways, such as by authors, years, places, historical events (such as the Chicago Fire) or personal events (such as childbirth).
These scanned documents show the handwriting of each writer and often contain other items, such as drawings, postcards, pressed flowers or leaves, fashion ads, hair clippings, etc.
A good place to start is with its “Showcase,” a number of diaries that can be clicked on at the beginning of the database. One of these is “My Trip Abroad 1914,” Ruth Pike’s travel journal. In it she documents a trip through Europe and describes the outbreak of World War I while she and her companions were stranded in Switzerland.
CQ Researcher and CQ Weekly are two great online resources that appeal to anyone interested in current events as well as students doing research.
CQ Researcher offers comprehensive, non-biased reporting and analysis on issues shaping our world. Each week, a thorough full-length study is presented on a current topic of interest such as the financial bailout. Another helpful feature is “Pro/Con,” a collection of timely topics, such as animal rights and urban planning, with experts taking opposing viewpoints on each topic.
CQ Weekly is Congressional Quarterly’s online magazine on government, politics and commerce. It also offers coverage of the U.S. Congress: bills, votes, amendments, committees, etc.
These are just a few of the many resources available on NC Live. To explore further, go to the Rowan Public Library Web site www.rowanpubliclibrary. org, then scroll down to NC Live under Featured Resources. On the next page, click on NC Live at the top for use in the library, or see directions on using NC Live from home using your library card and PIN to get the NC Live password.
Once inside NC Live, most of these sources are best accessed by clicking on “Browse Resources,” then “Alphabetic” to see these resources and browse others.
If you need help getting started with NC Live, ask library staff at each location or call 704-216-8243 for help.
Computer classes: Headquarters ó Nov. 20, 2:30 p.m., eAudiobooks with N.C. Digital Library.
South ó Nov. 24, 7 p.m., Digital Photography: Part Two.
Classes are free. Sessions are about 90 minutes long. Class size is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis.
Children’s Program: September-November ó Weekly Story Time. Headquarters ó Tuesday, 10 a.m., Toddlers and Moms (18-24 months); 11 a.m., Toddlers and Moms (24-36 months); Wednesday, 11 a.m., Tiny Tots and Moms (infants-18 months); Thursday, 10:30 a.m., Three through Five; 4 p.m., Noodlehead Story Times (4-8 years). South óMonday, 10:30 a.m., Preschool Time (3-5 years); 4 p.m., Noodlehead (4-8 years); Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., Toddlers and Twos (18-35 months); Thursday, 10:30 a.m., Baby Time (babies and toddlers); East ó Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., Preschool (2-5 years); 4 p.m., Noodlehead, (4-8 years); Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., Preschool (2-5 years); Thursday, 11 a.m. Baby Time (6 months-2 years).
Tuesday Night at the Movies: Nov. 18, “A Streetcar Named Desire”; Nov. 25, “On the Waterfront.” All movies are rated G, PG or PG 13; some movies are inappropriate for younger audiences. Children should be accompanied by an adult. Free popcorn and lemonade.
Displays: Headquarters ó Foundation by Rowan Public Library; South ó holiday Beleek and Fenton Glass by Kathy Murphy; East ó Jr. Poppy Education by AL Unit 112.Literacy: Call the Rowan County Literacy Council at 704-216-8266 for more information on teaching or receiving literacy tutoring for English speakers or for those for whom English is a second language.
Web site: For a listing of all library programs at all library locations, www.rowanpubliclibrary.org.