By Edward Hirst

Rowan Public Library

North Carolina Digital Library recently unveiled a new website and mobile app that will make your experience with digital content from Rowan Public Library faster and easier to navigate.

The redesign includes an easy-to-understand availability status and links that allow for the ease of borrowing and placing requests for titles that are checked out.

Users can continue to use the quick search, advanced search or filters to focus their search among the many different titles and formats available. In addition, there is also a new subjects link that allows users to quickly scan all of the available subjects.

A new collections menu facilitates exploring the library’s featured content. Search results are easily sorted by date added, relevance and many other methods. While browsing the collections menu you can use the media tabs to sort by the following formats: ebooks, audiobooks, video and magazines.

Audience filters allow users to set account level filters for certain audiences while browsing or searching. For example, parents may want to limit their children to only be able to view juvenile or young adult titles with this filter.

Borrowers can now browse and search the library’s entire digital collection on any device. Previously any title that didn’t work on the device you were using at the time was hidden from your view. Now you can borrow or place a request on any title, no matter where you are or the device you are using.

Users can now sign in to NCDigital Library with a library card number, Facebook account, or Overdrive account. Just make sure you sign in the same way each time on that device.

Borrowers can choose the lending period for a single title right from the title details page if they want to shorten or extend the loan without changing their default lending periods.

When borrowing a title from its details page, you’ll see a button suggesting the best way to get that title on your device (whether that’s opening the title right in your browser or adding it to the OverDrive app).

Visit https://ncdigital.overdrive.com/ncdigital-rowan/content or http://www.rowanpubliclibrary.org to experience the new Overdrive.

Lego free play:  Legos have been cited for developing creativity, imagination, systematic reasoning and problem solving. The library’s collection will be available for free play or bring your own. 10 a.m-1 p.m., Nov. 26, East Branch.

Drive-In Movie Night for Kids: Nov. 22, 5 p.m., East Branch, Rockwell. Enjoy an indoor drive-in featuring Disney Pixar’s “Cars.” Lightning McQueen takes an unexpected and life-changing detour through Radiator Springs. Rated G, the film runs for 116 minutes. This is geared for children ages 2 to 12; families are welcome. Light refreshments will be served.

Cards for a Cause: Nov. 26, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. All library locations. Create holiday cards that will be delivered to service members in the U.S. Armed Forces. For more information, call Laurie at 704-216-7841. Stations to make cards will be available during the week.

No-School Cinema: Nov. 23, 10:30 a.m., East Branch, Rockwell. Kick off the Thanksgiving holiday with “The Santa Clause.” Divorced dad Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) accidentally becomes Santa, and holiday hijinks ensue. Rated PG, this film has a runtime of 97 minutes. Light refreshments will be served. This event is free, open to the public, all ages are welcome.

Saturday Cinema: Nov. 26, 10:30-1 p.m. East Branch, Rockwell. Enjoy the holiday classic “White Christmas;” runtime is two hours. Light refreshments will be served. This event is free, open to the public, all ages are welcome. Participation in Cards for a Cause is not required, though both events will be held simultaneously in the East Meeting Room.

The Nutcracker: Nov. 29, 6:30-7:30 p.m., headquarters. Rowan Public Library and members of the Salisbury Symphony present dance selections from Piedmont Dance Theatre’s “The Nutcracker Ballet.”  This is a classic holiday program for all ages.  Light refreshments will be served. This event is free, open to the public, and all ages welcome.

Movie Night at East: “The Preacher’s Wife,” Nov. 30, 5:30 p.m., East Branch, Rockwell. Angel Dudley (Denzel Washington) tries to save a marriage and earn his wings in “The Preacher’s Wife.” Also starring Whitney Houston and Courtney B. Vance, this 1996, PG-rated film has a runtime of 124 minutes. Light refreshments will be served. This event is free, open to the public, and all ages are welcome.

RoBoJo Holiday Show: Dec. 3, 2 p.m., headquarters. RoboJo Theatre Troupe returns to RPL for the 17th annual presentation of Holiday Theater. A fun crew of talented local actors joins RPL’s Children’s staff to perform an hour-long variety show featuring skits, songs, readers’ theater and audience participation.

National Parks 100th Celebration: Dec. 5, 6:30-7:30 p.m., headquarters. Free and open to the public. A pictorial journey through U.S. National Parks presented by Dr. Wyndham Whynot, professor of history at Livingstone College in celebration of the 100th year of the National Park Service. Accompanying display in the HQ display cabinets.

Money Mondays: Dealing with Debt for Adults, Nov. 21, 7-8 p.m., headquarters. Learn practical tips to manage debt, avoid quick fixes and plan to resolve financial trouble.

Technology Tuesdays: iPad Basics, Nov. 29, 7-8 p.m., headquarters. Become a confident iPad user in this free class. We’ll discuss components, navigation and the use of apps. Must bring your iPad (fully charged) with you to class. Seating is limited. To reserve your spot, please call 704-216-8248 or email info@rowancountync.gov

Tail Waggin’ Tutors: Children 7-9 can practice their reading skills in a relaxed, dog-friendly atmosphere. Reading therapy dogs registered through Therapy Dogs International are available for beginning and struggling readers to read aloud to them. Reservations recommended, not required. Headquarters, Tuesdays, 4:30 p.m.; East, selected Mondays, 3:30 p.m., Nov. 21; South, selected Tuesdays, 6 p.m.

Chapter Chats Book Club: A weekly club for teens 14-17, primarily for participants with developmental or intellectual disabilities, but all are welcome. Meets at East branch meeting room, Tuesdays, 5 p.m., Nov. 29 and Dec. 6, 13, 20.

Weekly events for teens are on hiatus after Nov. 22, unless otherwise noted.

Teen Advisory Board: Teens who join this board provide input on the library’s teen programming and selection, as well as discuss current events and issues. Meets once a month at each library location at 4:30 p.m. TAB members can count their hours of participation towards school community service requirements. Nov. 22, headquarters.

Teen Monthly Program: Teens play games, make crafts and do various activities related to a specific theme. November is Back to Hogwarts. 4;30 p.m., Nov. 21, East branch.

Book Bites Book Club: South (China Grove), Nov. 29, 6-7 p.m. Free, open to the public. We discuss a different book each month and serve refreshments loosely related to the theme.”Bel Canto,” by Ann Patchett. Need a copy? Call 704-216-7731.

Displays: Headquarters, International Game Day and Lee Street theatre; East, photos of Rockwell, Glenda Hunsucker; South, artwork/paintings, Kay Azzara.

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.

Unless otherwise noted, weekly children’s event are on hiatus after Nov. 21.