By Edward Hirst

Rowan Public Library

Children in North Carolina now have access to a new digital resource for books through the NC Kids Digital Library that can be found at: https://nckids.overdrive.com/ .

This new resource became available in January. It was created through a partnership between the NCPLDA, (North Carolina Public Library Directors Association), the State of North Carolina, and eBook platform provider Overdrive.

The North Carolina General Assembly provided $200,000 to the North Carolina State Library to work with the NCPLDA to make this statewide consortium available to the 85 regional, county and municipal libraries in North Carolina.

NC Kids Digital Library opened with a collection of 3,029 eBooks, 689 audiobooks, and 37 streaming videos. Three hundred of the titles are available as simultaneous access, with no waiting for the title to become available.

The free Overdrive app is available for popular IOS, Android, Kindle Fire tablets and Windows and Mac computers. The app can be downloaded from https://nckids.overdrive.com/ or http://app.overdrive.com/. Books can also be read or listened to in a web browser.
Users can choose to check out up to five titles for a period of seven to 21 days. Titles can be returned earlier then the loan period if needed.

To sign in and check out items from the NC Kids Digital Library click Sign In on the upper right side of the page. Select “Rowan County Public Library” from the list of libraries and enter your Rowan Public Library card number or Rowan-Salisbury School Student ID number and PIN. Holds are not allowed on NC Digital Kids Library items.

Titles are available for beginning readers, picture books, comic books and others.

Weekly events for children run through the week of April 28.

Baby Time: Infants to 23 months. A loosely interactive program introducing simple stories and songs to infants up to 23 months old with a parent or caregiver; 30 minutes. Headquarters, Char’s Little Stars, Wednesday, 10 a.m.; East branch, Tammie’s Tiny Sprouts, Mondays, 10 a.m.; South Regional, Miss Pat’s Tiny Tots, Wednesdays, 10 a.m.

Toddler Time: 18 to 35 months. Focused on sharing books, singing songs and encouraging listening skills with a parent or caregiver. 30 min. Headquarters, Reading Rumpus, Tuesdays, 10:30 .m.; East, Tammie’s Tot Time, Mondays, 11 a.m.; South, Miss Pat’s Wee Readers, Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.

Preschool Time: To encourage the exploration of books and build reading readiness skills for children 3 to 5 years old with a parent or caregiver. 30 minutes. Headquarters, East and South, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.

Noodlehead Story Time: Books and songs for all ages; primary focus is pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. 30-45 minutes. Headquarters, Thursdays, 4 p.m.; East, Tuesdays, 3:30 p.m.; South, Wednesdays, 4 p.m.

Art programs: Activities and instruction based on various themes and media vary by branch. Appropriate for pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Headquarters, Art in the Afternoon, Thursdays, 4:30 p.m.; East, Bethany’s Brushes, Tuesdays, 4 p.m.; South, Canvas Kids, Wednesdays, 4:30 p.m.

Tail Waggin’ Tutors: Children 7 to 9 can practice their reading skills in a relaxed, dog-friendly atmosphere. Dogs registered through Therapy Dogs International are available for beginning and struggling readers to read aloud to them. Reservations are recommended but not required. Headquarters, Tuesdays, 4:30 p.m.; East, selected Mondays, 3:30 p.m.; South, selected Tuesdays at 6 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.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. For more information, contact Tammie Foster at 704-216-7842.

Teen Advisory Board: Teens who join this board provide input on RPL’s teen programming and book selection and discuss current events and issues of interest. Members can count their hours of participation toward school community service requirements. Headquarters, Feb. 28, 4:30 p.m.

Teen program: Join us each month as teens play games, make crafts and do activities related to a specific theme. February is the Chocolate Festival. Enjoy all things chocolate, complete with a chocolate fountain. Headquarters, Feb. 21, 4:30 p.m.; East, Feb. 27, 6:30 p.m.

Lego free play: Feb. 25, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., East branch. The library’s Lego collection will be available for free play for children.

Saturday Cinema: “The Lego Movie,” Feb. 25, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., East branch. Enjoy the Lego Free Play and watch the 2014 “The Lego Movie.” This film is rated PG. Light refreshments. This event is free, open to the public, and all ages are welcome.

Monday Matinee: “Frozen,” Feb. 20, 11 a.m., South Rowan Regional. “Let it go,” and experience the adventures of Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven. This 2013, PG-rated film has a runtime of 102 minutes. Light refreshments. Free and open to the public. All ages welcome; however, children ages 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Movie Night at East: “The Proposal,” Feb. 20, 5:30 p.m., East branch. A pretend engagement between a supervisor and her employee undergoes comedic developments during a family visit to Alaska. Starring Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock, this 2009, PG-13 rated film has a runtime of 107 minutes. Light refreshments; free and open to the public. Children ages 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

PJ Storytime: Feb. 20, headquarters, 6:30 p.m. Put on your pajamas, grab a blanket, your favorite stuffed animal, and join us for a special evening storytime. Recommended for children 3 to 11 years old, though all children are welcome.

Learn. Act. Grow.: Herbs 101, Feb. 27, 5:30-7 p.m., South Rowan Regional. Learn about herbs and what they can do for you. Discussions will be about health benefits, research, culinary uses and preservation practices. This class will be taught by Aubrey Mast, extension associate in nutrition at Plants for Human Health Institute at the N.C. Research Campus in Kannapolis.

Downtown Beats, Rowan’s Impromptu Chorus: Feb. 27, 6-7 p.m., Headquarters. Everyone is welcome. This community sing requires no experience and no commitment. No charge or prior registration is required. Arrive at 6 p.m. for a short practice of two songs. February’s sing will culminate with a final performance of the night’s songs. Questions? Contact Abigail at Abigail.Hardison@rowancountync.gov or at 704-216-8248.

Maker Mondays: Feb. 27, 6-7 p.m., headquarters. See the RPL Cooperative Lab’s 3D printer in action. Learn about the process from start to finish, and witness how a 3D printer can make ideas reality

Displays: Headquarters, North Hills Christian School log cabin projects; East, doll exhibit; South, Corriher-Lipe Middle School student artwork.

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.