By Amy Notarius
Rowan Public Library
Last weekend marked the unofficial start of summer and the vacation and travel season. For day trips and outdoor adventure right in your backyard, check out Rowan Public Library’s collection for books about North Carolina parks.
“North Carolina State Parks: A Niche Guide,” by Ida Phillips Lynch and Bill Pendergraft, is a good place to start. Drawing on their personal and professional experience with the parks system, the authors provide information about each of the more than 50 state parks in North Carolina.
Listed by region, (mountain, Piedmont, or coastal plain) each entry includes a park’s location (with GPS coordinates,) size, activities available, contact information and an overview of the park’s special features. Perhaps the best part of this relatively slim work are the gorgeous, full-color photographs of the scenic views and plant and animal life that may be found in each park. These inspiring images make it hard to choose which to visit first.
“Hiking North Carolina,” by Randy Johnson, is a larger and more detailed work. In addition to general park information, Johnson includes trail maps and specific detailed directions. For each hike or trail, Johnson gives the approximate mileage, rates the hike as easy, moderate or strenuous, and describes the special attractions (waterfalls, historic sites) you will pass along the route.
Two nice features: Johnson tips readers off to “best-kept secret” trails; also he tries to suggest places on a trail where you can turn around or take an alternative route so less physically fit hikers can try out parts of more strenuous hikes as they build up endurance.
These and other travel and outdoor guides are available at Rowan Public Library. Plan your summer adventures by checking them out today.
Computer classes: Classes are free. Sessions are 90 minutes long. Class size is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Dates and times are subject to change without notice.
Headquarters ó Monday, 7 p.m., Absolute Beginners Class; Thursday, 7 p.m., Absolute Beginner’s Internet Searching; June 15, 7 p.m., Absolute Beginner’s PowerPoint; June 18, 2:30 p.m., Yahoo e-mail: Beyond the Basics; June 22, 7 p.m., Power Point: Beyond the Basics; June 25, 2:30 p.m., Open Office Up Close: Writer.
South ó Monday, 7 p.m., Basic Word; June 11, 11 a.m., Intermediate Word.
Children’s: Come help Rowan Public Library celebrate the start of summer reading by attending the Be Creative kickoff event. We will have crafts, games and lots of fun for all. Featured artist for the kickoff week is Flow’s Circus. Children can register for summer reading during the kickoff. South, June 11, 6 p.m.; East, June 12, 1:30 p.m.; headquarters, June 13, 10 a.m. For more information, call 704-216-8243.
Teen program: RPL’s program for teens, Express Yourself @ Your Library, will kick off June 15 for rising sixth- through 12th-graders. Kill Toys Workshop will be the first scheduled event which will include Japanese Kendama, juggling and more. Because class size is limited, registration is required for this week only. Please call the library location nearest you to register. Teens can attend any of the other programs without registration.
Headquarters, June 15, 5:30 p.m.; South, June 16, 5:30 p.m.; East, June 17, 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday Night at the Movies: All movies are at 6:30 p.m. 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.
June movies are anime features selected by the Rowan County Anime Group.
Tuesday, “Junkers Come Here”; June 9, “The Place Promised in Our Early Days”; June 16, “A Tree of Plame”; June 23, “Sakura Wars. The Movie”; June 30, “Howl’s Moving.”
Displays: Headquarters ó Rowan Arts Council, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College; South ó Ireland by Diane Brideson; East ó stained glass by James Brady.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.