Rowan Public Library

“Thank you!! This was my first online course and I enjoyed every lesson. It has given me confidence to try even more!”

This is just one comment from a student enrolled in Rowan Public Library’s Gale Courses online educational resource. New classes begin on the third Wednesday of every month; students can register anytime with their library card.

The classes all have 12 lessons and last for six weeks. Lessons become accessible by students on Wednesdays and Fridays while the class is in session. Students can expect to spend one to two hours on each lesson. Gale Courses are offered entirely online and accessible 24/7.

Expert instructors develop and lead each class. They provide feedback, answer questions and facilitate student discussions. Online courses allow students to study at their own pace and take classes at times they find most convenient. Each course consists of readings, assignments, and a quiz. Supplementary information is provided for students, as well a discussion area for each lesson.

There is a 36-question final exam that is administered at the end of class. Students are awarded a Certificate of Completion after completing the lessons and passing the final exam.

Classes are available in the following subject areas: accounting and finance, business, computer applications, design and composition, healthcare and medical, language and arts, law and legal, personal development, teaching and education, technology, and writing and publishing. Some of the newest classes offered are Introduction to QuickBooks 2015, Writing the Fantasy Novel, Spanish for Medical Professionals II and Intermediate Microsoft Access 2013.

Registering for a class is easy. Just visit www.rowanpubliclibrary.org, click on the link for Online Tools, then scroll to Gale Courses. The first time you register for a class you will need to create an account using an email address, contact information and your library card number. More than 300 courses are available each month. All classes offered are free for registered users of Rowan Public Library. There is no limit to the number of classes you may take.

Summer reading registration:  Every Hero Has a Story! Reading hours may be tracked Monday, June 10 through Aug. 8. Prizes are awarded when children read one, five, 10, 15 and 20 hours. Children who read 20 hours receive a special certificate and are entered in the 20-Hour Reader Raffle to be held Aug. 10. Door prizes are raffled at the weekly school-aged programs. To enter, children write and submit a Super Reader Review prior to the start of the program.

Kickoff celebrations, HERO BOOTCAMP, at each location: Thursday, June 11, 3:30-5 p.m. at South Rowan Regional, China Grove; Friday, June 12, 1:30-3 p.m., East Branch in Rockwell; Saturday, June 13, 10 a.m.-noon, RPL Headquarters, Salisbury.

Weekly programs begin June 15 and run until July 30. Family programs will again be offered at Cleveland Town Hall and reading hours can be tracked there at the time of the program.

Wonders: 12- to 24-month-olds — Each program lasts about 30 minutes and runs for four weeks, June 15 -July 9. Headquarters, Wednesday, 10 a.m.; East Branch, Monday, 10 a.m.; South Rowan Regional, Thursday, 10:30 a.m.

Marvels: 2-year-olds — Each program lasts about 30 minutes; runs for four weeks, June 15- July 9. All at 10:30 a.m. Headquarters, Thursday; East Branch, Tuesday; South Rowan Regional, Wednesday.

Mighty Readers: 3- to 5-year-olds — Each program lasts 30-45 minutes and runs for seven weeks, June 15 -July 30. All at 10:30 a.m.; Headquarters, Tuesday; East Branch, Thursday; South Rowan Regional, Monday.

Super Readers: Rising first- through fifth-graders — Programs last about 45 minutes and runs for seven weeks, June 15-July 30. Headquarters, Wednesday, 2:00 p.m.; East Branch, Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.; South Rowan Regional, Tuesday, 2 p.m.; Cleveland Town Hall, Thursday, 10:30 a.m.

Performer lineup — June 15-19, The Sock Rockerz; June 22-26, Red Herring Puppets; June 29-July 3, Rags to Riches; July 6-10, Ro & Mo; July 13-17, Zelnik the Magician; July 20-24, Mother Minter; July 27-31, Lee Street Theatre.

Special summer reading programs for camps and daycares are by reservation only. Call 704-216-8245 for more information.

A special parent workshop will be offered for parents of children ages 0-5 on Monday, June 22, 6-7 p.m. at Headquarters only. The workshop is free but registration is required and space is limited. Parents can register by calling 704-216-8234.

Teen summer reading: “UnMask” Summer Reading Program will be June 15-July 31, all rising sixth-graders to 12th-graders are invited to participate. Teens can earn library dollars to be used at the end of the summer to enter raffles on prizes provided by the Friends of Rowan Public Library and other local organizations.

Programs will be 3:30-5 p.m. on Tuesdays at Headquarters; Wednesdays, East Branch; and Thursdays at South Rowan Regional.

Each teen will receive a booklet when they register for summer reading. The booklet is a way to keep track of library dollars. Prize raffles will be drawn at the National Teen Lock-in at Headquarters on Friday, July 31, 6:30-10:30 p.m.

Hero’s Hunt: A hero-themed scavenger hunt with challenges —Headquarters, June 16; East Branch, June 17; South Rowan Regional, June 18.

Marvelous Comics: A presentation on how to draw comics —Headquarters, June 23; East Branch, June 24; South Rowan Regional, June 25.

Villainous Art: Graffiti art and other villainous activities —Headquarters, June 30;  East Branch, July 1; South Rowan Regional, July 2.

Game Show Challenge: How well do you know your superheroes? — Headquarters, July 7; East Branch, July 8; South Rowan Regional, July 9.

Hero’s Challenge: Which hero will survive? — Headquarters, July 14; East Branch, July 15;South Rowan Regional, July 16.

UnMasked: Mask-making and t-shirt designing — Headquarters, July 21; East Branch, July 22; South Rowan Regional, July 23.

National Teen Lock-in: End of summer celebration — Headquarters, July 31, 6:30-10:30 p.m.

Adults summer reading: Adults ages 18+ are invited to participate in the “Escape the Ordinary” Summer Reading Program at Rowan Public Library, where they will have a chance to escape the ordinary through reading, movies and more.

To participate, each adult must sign up online at www.rowanpubliclibrary.org. Participants may pick up an information packet, which will be available at each library location starting June 15. The packet will contain details on how to track reading hours, prize levels, fun activities, program information and more. Reading hours may be tracked June 10 through Aug. 8. Prizes include Amazon gift cards and two tablet computers. Prize winners will be announced at the end of summer celebration, Be Your Own Hero, and participants do not have to be present to win.

In addition to tracking reading hours adults may attend special programs including: Film presentation by Will Davis, a professional filmmaker and educator, will explore the worlds of heroes and villains on the silver screen. Heros – Monday, June 22, 6:30 p.m., Headquarters. Villains – Tuesday, June 23, 6:30 p.m., South Rowan Regional (China Grove)

Summer movie series: All movies start at 6:30 p.m. Headquarters.  June 16, “Big Hero 6” (PG); June 23, “Guardians of the Galaxy” (PG13); June 30,  “Miracles” (PG). Movies are free and all ages are welcome. Children should be accompanied by an adult. Movies run June 16 -Aug. 11. Free popcorn and lemonade.

Book Bites Club: June 30, 6:30 p.m., “Rin Tin tin: The Life and the Legend,“ by Susan Orlean. Book discussion groups for adults and children at South Rowan Regional Library meet the last Tuesday of each month. Open and anyone is free to join at any time. There is a discussion of the book, as well as light refreshments. For more information, call 704-216-7841.

Displays: Headquarters, AARP; South, photography by Aaron Cress; East, vintage fashions by Alice Thompson.

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.