By Amy Notarius
Rowan Public Library
A new school year is in full swing, and your public and school libraries want to help make it a successful one. Rowan Public Library has the tools you need for help with homework assignments.
Visit the libraryís website, www.rowanpubliclibrary.org. From there, click on the link for NC Live.org. You will need a library card and PIN to access NC Live.
Once you have logged in to NC Live, click on the Homework Help link in the alphabetical list of subjects on the NC Live home page. This will take you to a list of databases specially designed to help users search for and locate information on common homework topics.
Younger students might choose from either the Kids Search link or Student Research Center link. Then choose one of the colorful, animated illustrations that represent various topics, from animals and art to math, science and sports. From there you can enter key words to narrow your search further. Kids Search also has an option to search directly from either a dictionary or encyclopedia.
For help with North Carolina projects you wonít want to miss NCpedia, another link on the NC Live Homework Help site. Clicking on the link for this resource takes you to all the information you need on North Carolina, including state symbols, famous North Carolina people and important events in North Carolina history. You can also visit this site directly at http://ncpedia.org.
Older students studying classic works of literature can visit the Literary Reference Center from NC Live. Choose from ěbrowse authorsî to find biographical articles about an author, or ěbrowse works,î to find literary criticism and other information on specific titles.
Rowan Public Library and your school libraries offer many good resources to help with homework assignments. Check them out today.
Computer classes: Classes are free. Sessions are approximately 90 minutes long. Class size is limited and on a first- come, first-serve basis. Dates and times at all locations are subject to change without notice.
Headquarters ó Sept. 15, 9:30 a.m., Absolute Beginners.
South ó Sept. 12, 7 p.m., Absolute Beginners; Sept. 29, 11 a.m., Introduction to Email.
East (registration required for East Branch only, call Edward at 7047-216-7737) ó Sept. 13, 1 p.m., Absolute Beginners.
Childrenís Storytime: Weekly Storytime runs Sept. 12-Nov. 18. For more information call 704-216-8234.
Headquarters ó Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m., Toddler Time (18-35-month-olds); Wednesdays, 11 a.m., Baby Time (6-23-month-olds); Thursdays, 10:30 a.m., Preschool Time (3- to 5-year-olds) and 4 p.m., Noodlehead (4- to 8-years-old).
South ó Mondays, 4 p.m., Noodlehead (4- to 8-years-old); Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m., Baby Time (6-23-month-olds), 1:30 p.m., Preschool Time (3- to 5-year-olds); Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m., Toddler Time (18-35 month-olds).
East ó Mondays, 10:30 a.m., Baby Time (6-23 month- olds); Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m., Toddler Time (18-35-month olds); Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m., Preschool Time (3- to 5-year-olds)
Teen program: All 5:30-7 p.m. Headquarters, Sept. 20; East, Sept. 26; South Sept. 27. Free monthly programs for middle and high school students. Do you like silly game show competitions? Use everyday items to complete challenges that are harder than they appear or keep silent as a team member tries to complete a challenge. For more information call 704-216-8234.
Family storytelling festival: Headquarters, Sept. 15, 7 p.m. To celebrate Rowan Public Libraryís 12th annual Stories by the Millstream Festival, performer Suzi Whaples will be at the library for a family storytelling program in the Stanback Auditorium in Salisbury. Please join us for a free and fun evening of entertaining stories that will captivate your attention.
JRís Adventure Club: Headquarters, Sept. 17, 11 a.m. Enjoy time building, exploring or discovering something new. The club is open to all school age children. Light refreshments will be served. Call 704-216-8234 to learn more.
American Girl Club ó Headquarters, Sept. 24, 11 a.m., a book discussion group about the life and times of the American Girls characters. This yearís discussion will be about Addy.
Book Bites Club: special event: Headquarters only óSept. 13, 6:30 p.m., ěThe Secret Garden,î by Frances Hodgson Burnett; Sept. 27, 6:30 p.m., movie ěThe Secret Garden.î Book Bites will host special events in September focused on ěThe Secret Garden.î Join in the book discussion on Sept. 13 and watch the movie on Sept. 27. This is a book discussion group for both adults and children. The group is open to the public and anyone is free to join at any time. For more information please call 704-216-8229.
Library closings: Monday, all RPL locations closed for Labor Day.
Displays: Headquarters, DAR; South, Rowan Doll Club by Jim Beaudoin; East, pottery by Bob Listerman.
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.