‘Unleash Your Story’ at Rowan Public Library for Teen Read Week

Published 12:00 am Sunday, October 1, 2017

By Hope Loman

Rowan Public Library

Each year in October, the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) sponsors Teen Read Week, a national literacy initiative that encourages teenagers to be regular readers and library users.

This year, the Teen Read Week theme is “Unleash Your Story,” and all participating libraries are encouraged to share stories in their collection and help teens write and tell their own stories. Starting Monday, Oct. 9, Rowan Public Library will offer passive and active programs for each day of Teen Read Week at all three branches, culminating in a final Young Adult Reader’s Advisory Event on Saturday, Oct. 14, at the RPL headquarters.

On Oct. 9 at 6:30 p.m., the East Branch in Rockwell will host an evening of YA Book Trivia, quizzing teens on categories such as young adult dystopian novels and famous love triangles in popular YA series. Teens are encouraged to bring their own smartphone, tablet or any device that can access the Internet. The library will also have a limited number of iPads on hand for patrons to borrow. Winners will receive gift card prizes.

Tuesday, Oct. 10, Rowan Public Library headquarters in Salisbury will have a YA Book-to-Movie Marathon, featuring three movies that have been adapted from young adult books. Beginning at 3 p.m., there will be a viewing of “Everything, Everything,” based on Nicola Yoon’s book; at 4:45 p.m., there will be a showing of “Before I Fall,” originally a story by Lauren Oliver; and finally, at 6:30 p.m., there will be a screening of “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children,” based on Ransom Riggs’s popular series.

Wednesday, Oct. 11, will be the first passive program, which will allow teens to drop by RPL HQ at any point during the day and enter the bookmark contest, with the official entry form and all art supplies needed to draw their bookmark idea available in the young adult area.

Some entries will be chosen to be turned into actual bookmarks, which will be available for other patrons to use and featured in a future display in the YA section.

Thursday, Oct. 12, the South Branch in China Grove will host a live stream event in partnership with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, the first in their Teen Science Café series. This Teen Science Café will focus on rescuing rare butterflies and the efforts that are underway to restore high quality butterfly habitats, especially the St. Francis’ satyr, a butterfly only found in North Carolina. There is no registration required, and refreshments will be provided during the event, which will begin at 4 p.m.

On Friday, Oct. 13, the East branch will have its own all-day passive program with a book cover contest. Similar to the bookmark contest, entry forms and materials will be provided in the young adult area. Contestants are encouraged to think creatively, either by drawing their own interpretation of a novel that they have read, or a book cover inspired by the Teen Read Week theme. Entries will be featured in a future display in the young adult area.

Finally, on Saturday, Oct. 14, both the RPL headquarters and South Branch will have their own programs. At 2 p.m., RPL HQ will host a YA Reader’s Advisory Event, which will allow patrons to socialize with fellow readers, enjoy refreshments and have a chance at winning various prizes.

The South Branch will host a read-in for its teens during its Saturday operating hours, and some teens that “get caught” reading will receive gift card prizes.

For more information, please contact Hope at hope.loman@rowancountync.gov, and be prepared to “unleash your story” this October.

Tractor Mac Storytime: Oct. 10, 5:30-6:30 p.m., East branch. It’s harvest time. Come join us for a fun evening filled with Tractor Mac stories, crafts and activities. The events are centered on the tractor named Mac who was made famous by author Billy Steers. Recommended for ages 3-8 accompanied by an adult.

Lego Saturday: Oct. 7, 12:30 p.m. at both headquarters and East. Legos available for free play for children.

Teen programs are open to sixth- through 12th-graders who are 11-18 years old.

Chapter Chats: Weekly book club for teens 14-17, primarily for participants with developmental or intellectual disabilities, though all are welcome. Mondays, 5 p.m. at East Branch, Rockwell. For more information, contact Tammie Foster at 704-216-7842.

Give Back Saturdays: Help us give back to the community through various crafts and projects, which we’ll donate to local charities. Teens can count participation to meet community service requirements for school or other organizations. Headquarters, Oct. 14, 11 a.m.

Monthly teen program: Escape the Library. Using only your wits and a couple of hints, see if you can work with your teammates and find a way out in our very own RPL escape room. Headquarters, Oct. 31, 4:30 p.m.; East, Oct. 16, 6:30 p.m.; South, Oct. 19, 4 p.m.

The Write Stuff: Lessons in and practice with creative writing, led by Jenny Hubbard, young-adult novelist. Headquarters, Oct. 3, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Open to teens in grades six through 12.

“Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” book release party:  Celebrate the release of the illustrated edition of the third Harry Potter book with crafts, snacks and a screening of the movie. We will not have copies of the book for sale. South, Oct. 3, 3 p.m.

Teen Hour: Bring your favorite games to challenge friends, talk about your ideas for upcoming events, or just hang out. Headquarters, Oct. 24, 4:30 p.m.;  South, Oct. 26, 4 p.m.

Rocktober Fest: East, Oct. 1-31. Rowan Rocks can be found all around Rowan County, but Rowan Public Library Rocks may be harder to find. If you happen across a rock with our name on the back, bring it to the East Branch to get a prize. This program is for kids up to 18 years old. Find the library Rocks fast as this program will only run in October. Check out Rowan Rocks on Facebook.

Healthy Living Series: Oct 2, 1-2:30 p.m., South Regional and Oct. 9, 1-2:30 p.m. at South. At North Carolina State University’s Plants for Human Health Institute (PHHI), food crops are researched for their healing, health promoting and disease prevention potential. PHHI’s Extension associate in nutrition, Aubrey Mast, will provide an overview of the crops researched by PHHI, their phytochemical compounds, strategies to use them in your kitchen and ways they can contribute to your health. This is a three-part series that can be attended in whole or in part. Questions? Contact Amy at Amy.Notarius@rowancountync.gov or 704-216-7731.

Makerspace Open House: Oct. 7, 1 p.m. headquarters. The RPL Makerspace will host a Do-It-Yourself costume information session. Contact Abby at 704-216-8248 or Hope at 704-216-8258 for more information.

Manhattan Short Film Festival: Oct. 2, 6:30 p.m., South Regional; Oct. 3, 6:30 p.m., headquarters; Oct. 4, 5 p.m., East branch; Oct. 7, 2 p.m., headquarters. Participate in the world’s only global film festival. Free, open to the public. The festival invites everyone to participate in a one-week, global event. Vote for your favorite short film and actor. Each branch will show all of the films up for consideration. For more information, please contact Gretchen at Gretchen.Witt@rowancountync.gov or 704-216-8232 or visit www.rowanpubliclibrary.org.

Tech Tuesdays: “Genealogy: Census Records,” South, Oct. 10, 7 p.m. This one-hour computer class, held in South’s computer lab, is designed to help participants dig deeper into their ancestral roots through the use of United States census records. Questions? Contact Paul at Paul.Birkhead@rowancountync.gov or at 704-216-7737.

Fall Festival and open house: South, Oct. 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Celebrate fall and explore South Rowan Regional in China Grove. The day’s festivities include activities, games, a special storytime and the Salisbury Symphony’s musical petting zoo. The day will also feature a Teen Read-In and Photowalk. Questions? Call Laurie at 704-216-7732.

Displays: Headquarters, TBA; East, replicas of eastern Rowan churches by Tim Linker; South, Miniature Doll House Month exhibit, by Donna Deal and Terri Correll.

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.

Baby Time: Birth-23 months. Highly interactive 30-minute program for children and their adult caregivers. Headquarters, Wednesdays, 10 a.m.; East, Mondays, 10 a.m.; South, Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.

Toddler Time: 18 to 35 months. Highly interactive 30-minute program for children and their adult caregivers. Headquarters, Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.; East, Mondays, 11 a.m.; South, Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.

Preschoolers: 3-5 years. Highly interactive 30-minute program for children and their adult caregivers. Headquarters, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.; East, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.; South, Mondays, 10 a.m.

Noodlehead Storytime: Pre-K to fifth grade. Interactive storytime. Headquarters, Thursday, 4 p.m.; East, Tuesdays 3:30 p.m.; South Wednesdays, 3:30 p.m.

Art programs: Pre-K to fifth grade. Learn art terms, techniques and work on art projects; 30-45 minutes. Art in the Afternoon, headquarters, Thursdays, 4:30 p.m.; Bethany’s Brushes, East, Tuesdays, 4 p.m.; Canvas Kids, South, Wednesdays, 4 p.m.

Tail Waggin’ Tutors: 7 to 9 years old. Children can practice reading skills in a relaxed, dog-friendly atmosphere. Canine listeners provided by Therapy Dogs International. Headquarters, selected Tuesdays, 4 p.m. Call 704-216-8234 for details. East, selected Mondays, 3:30 p.m., Call 704-216-7842 for details. South, by appointment only. Call 704-216-7728 for details.