SALISBURY — Rowan Public Library welcomes storyteller Bill Harley on Thursday at 7 p.m. at RPL Headquarters. Bill is a Grammy award-winning artist, who uses story and song to paint an entertaining picture of growing up, schooling and family life. The event is free and all are welcome.
But you can find out more about Bill Harley by checking out his CD “The Town Around the Bend” or the DVD “Yes to Running” from Rowan Public Library.
Bill’s live performance was recorded for the DVD and features songs children can appreciate, such as “Grown Ups are Strange” and a song about fighting over the car radio. Bill also tells stories through song, like the ballad of Dirty Joe, the pirate who steals dirty socks, and his battle with another underwear stealing pirate.
Bill grew up in Indianapolis, and in “The Great Sled Race” he recalls the winter he received a special Christmas gift of a new sled. His friend also gets a new sled, and together they race down Mammoth Hill, with disastrous results.
The CD offers bedtime stories and songs about the children who live in a town called Around the Bend. The children also have unusual names, like Bucket of Beans, who discovers his parent’s magic bubble machine, and Twizzlesticks, who decides children should read bedtime stories to parents, instead of the other way around, because the parents fall asleep before they finish the story.
Check out Bill Harley’s CD and DVD at Rowan Public Library, and don’t miss him live at Rowan Public Library on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Fall Story Time: Now-Nov. 29. For more information call 704-216-8234.
Baby Time — A loosely interactive program introducing simple stories and songs to 6- to 23-month-olds and their parents. Headquarters, Wednesdays, 10 a.m.; East, Mondays, 10 a.m.
Toddler Time — A program for children 18 to 35 months old with a parent, focused on sharing books, singing songs and encouraging listening skills. Headquarters, Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.; East, Monday, 11 a.m.
Tiny Tumblers — A loosely interactive program for children 6 to 35 months with a parent or caregiver introducing simple stories, musical scarves and instruments. Same program offered two separate days. South, Tuesdays or Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.
Preschool Time — A program for 3- to 5-year-olds to encourage the exploration of books and to build reading readiness skills. Headquarters, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.; South, Tuesdays, 1:30 p.m.; East, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.
Noodle Head Story Time — A program for children ages 4 to 8 to enjoy silly books and tales together. Headquarters, Thursdays, 4 p.m.; South, Mondays, 4 p.m.
Art programs — (South and East will start the week of Sept. 16). Learn different art techniques and start a new art project. Runs weekly during Story Time. Art in the Afternoon, Headquarters, Thursdays, 4:30 p.m.; The Paintbrush, South, Wednesdays, 4 p.m.; Art with Char, East, Thursdays, 4 p.m.
Computer classes: Basic Microsoft Publisher 2007 — Monday, 7 p.m., South; Tuesday, 1 p.m., East (registration required for East only, call 704-216-8229); Thursday, 9:30 a.m., Headquarters.
Learn how to create flyers and brochures using Microsoft Publisher 2007. Classes are free. Sessions are about 90 minutes. Class size is limited and on a first come, first serve basis. Dates and times are subject to change without notice.
RPL presents Cheerwine Music Hour concert: Amber Waves band, headquarters, Sept. 26, 7 p.m., Stanback Auditorium. The band plays a mixture of bluegrass and folk and original songs. Please enter Stanback Auditorium from the Fisher Street entrance. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and admission is free.
Book Bites Club: South (only), Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m., “The Language of Flowers” by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. Book discussion groups for adults and children meet the last Tuesday of each month. The group is open to the public and anyone is free to join at any time. There is a discussion of the book, as well as light refreshments at each meeting. For more information, please call 704-216-8229.
Teen program: All 5:30-7 p.m. Free monthly programs for middle and high school students. Share your favorite books while creating your own tie-dye shirt (please bring your own T-shirt). Questions? Call 704-216-8234. East, Sept. 23; Headquarters, Sept. 24.
Displays for September: headquarters, Constitution month by DAR; South, miniature doll houses by Donna Deal and Terri Correll; East, wood by Whitey Harwood.
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.