By Dara L. Cain

Rowan Public Library

If you haven’t had an opportunity to explore Rowan Public Library’s catalog, now is the time. The catalog has some useful features you many not be aware of, including some recently added ones that are sure to be a big hit with teachers and kids.

The first thing you will want to do is visit rowanpubliclibrary.org and select the Find Books link on the library’s homepage.
This link will direct you to the catalog, where you will be able to search from thousands of books. Once you have arrived at the catalog, sign-in using your library card number and four digit PIN by finding the Login link at the top right hand side of the page.

Don’t worry if you don’t remember your PIN or have not signed up for one yet, the library will be happy to set you up with a new one. Once you are signed in to your account, you will have access to a list of the items you currently have checked out, as well as a friendly reminder letting you know when your items are due back.

If your due date is approaching, you have the option to renew your books online, up to an additional two times on most items. Also, right from the comfort of your home, you can place holds on items you are interested in and the library will notify you when they become available.

Another great feature of signing in to your account is having the ability to create your own personal customized lists for summer reading, book clubs, etc. When you find a title you would like to add to a list, select Add To List, a gray button found below the title and it will give you the option to create a new list or add to an existing one. Teachers, especially, will find this tool helpful because now they will be able to create lists organized by topics, favorites, etc.

You also have the option to place tags on items in the catalog. For instance, let’s say you want to be able to do a search for all Caldecott or Newbery books but they don’t come up if you enter it in the search box. Well, now you can create a tag for Caldecott or Newbery books by pulling up a title and selecting the link Tag.

A box will appear and you can enter Caldecott or Newbery books to identify the tag you would like to create. All you would have to do now is enter Caldecott or Newbery books in the search box and all of the titles you tagged will come up as a list. In addition to creating lists and tags, you can also save your searches to refer to later.

For students who are participating in Accelerator Reader (AR) and Lexile Framework for Reading, you are now able to find the Accelerator Reading level and Lexile reading level for titles that come up in your catalog search.

You can also do a reading level search by accessing the Reading Levels link at the top right side of the homepage. It is here that you are able to put in your reading range or a single reading number. A list of titles that meet your criteria will display that you can scroll through and browse.

For those using AR, you are also able to narrow your search by AR Interest Level which includes LG (grades K-3), MG (grades 4-8), MG+ (grades 6 and up), and UG (grades 9-12). You do not have to be logged in to your account to use either of these fantastic features.

Library’s online You are on your way to using Rowan Public Library’s catalog like a pro. Happy catalog searching.

Summer reading:  Every Hero Has a Story! Reading hours may be tracked through Aug. 8. Prizes for children who read one, five, 10, 15 and 20 hours. Children who read 20 hours get a special certificate and are entered in the 20-Hour Reader Raffle on Aug. 10. Door prizes are raffled at weekly programs. To enter, children write and submit a Super Reader Review before the start of the program.

Wonders: 12- to 24-month-olds — Through 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 —  Through July 9. All at 10:30 a.m. Headquarters, Thursday; East Branch, Tuesday; South Rowan Regional, Wednesday.

Mighty Readers: 3- to 5-year-olds — Through July 30. All at 10:30 a.m.; Headquarters, Tuesday; East Branch, Thursday; South Rowan Regional, Monday.

Super Readers: Rising first- through fifth-graders — Through July 30. Headquarters, Wednesday, 2 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 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.

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

Teen summer reading: “UnMask” Summer Reading Program through July 31, all rising sixth-graders to 12th-graders may participate. Teens can earn library dollars to be used to enter raffles on prizes provided by 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.

Prize raffles will be drawn at the National Teen Lock-in at Headquarters on Friday, July 31, 6:30-10:30 p.m.

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.

Heroes’ 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+ may “Escape the Ordinary” at the library through reading, movies and more.

To participate, adults must sign up at www.rowanpubliclibrary.org. Participants may pick up an information packet which contains details on how to track reading hours, prize levels, activities, program information and more. Reading hours may be tracked through Aug. 8. Prizes include gift cards and two tablet computers. Prize winners will be announced at the end of summer celebration, Be Your Own Hero; participants do not have to be present to win.

Adults may attend special programs including a film presentation by Will Davis, a professional filmmaker and educator, who 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.

Summer movie series: All movies start at 6:30 p.m. Headquarters. 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.