By Edward Hirst

Rowan Public Library

Rowan Public Library provides access to a number of high quality business resources through our partnership with NC LIVE, a consortium of 200 member libraries across North Carolina.

NC LIVE offers free electronic access to resources for all ages on topics ranging from careers, business and investing, to health, history and genealogy.

Ebooks, audiobooks, videos, magazines, newspapers, journals, language-learning tools and other online materials available through NC LIVE are designed for at-home use, and are available from any Internet connection via library websites, and through NCLIVE.org. All North Carolinians may use NC LIVE resources.

The ABI/INFORM Collection for business research is the gold standard when it comes to business research databases. Full text articles are available for the following journals: Journal of Business Ethics, Journal of Economic Literature, Journal of International Business Studies, American Economic Review, Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor, The Economist and US News & World Report.

Subjects covered through ABI/INFORM include business, economic conditions, accounting, finance, and management theory.

ABI/INFORM is available through NC LIVE and provided by ProQuest, a world leader in serving the information needs of researchers around the world.

Morningstar Investment Research Center, available through NC LIVE, is an investing resource for collecting financial information, learning about investment options and reading up-to-date financial news commentary. Morningstar provides research and independent opinions on thousands of mutual funds and stocks. It also includes access to an investing classroom that has access to over 100 courses on stocks, funds, and building your portfolio.

With US Newsstream you are able to search the most recent U.S. news with archives that go back to 1980. US Newsstream includes content from newspapers, newswires and blogs. US Newsstream offers access to one of the largest collections of local and regional newspapers as well as access to the LA Times and Chicago Tribune.

ReferenceUSA is a database that provides access to information for over 50 million U.S. businesses. Businesses can be search by size, type and geographic location and more. It is useful for accessing information about corporations, associations, mailing addresses, telephone numbers, potential employers and suppliers. The information is updated monthly.

Reference USA also provides access to Canadian business information, the U.S. White Pages with access to 156 million U.S. residents, and U.S. Healthcare with information on 1.2 million physicians and dentists.

You can access resources by visiting rowanpubliclibrary.org or nclive.org. Just use your card number and PIN.

Friends of RPL and Cheerwine Concert Series: Headquarters, Feb. 27, 7 p.m., Castlebay will perform “Bards & Blarney,” a celebration of the Irish Bardic Tradition as part of the Friends of RPL and Cheerwine Concert Series on Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Free, open to the public, all ages welcome.

Southern Oral History Program Training: Headquarters, March 5, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. A Federation of NC Historical Societies Workshop. Registration is required, and FNCHS requires a registration fee: For more information and to reserve your seat, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Federation2018Salisbury  FNCHS Hometown History workshops focus on oral history training to help equip participants with the interviewing and transcribing skills they need to collect valuable stories.

Learn.Act.Grow.: “Your Credit and Staying Protected,” South, March 5, 6 p.m. State Employees’ Credit Union will share how to build a better credit report. They will discuss what credit is, why it is important, and what you can do to improve your score. This presentation will also provide step-by-step instructions on how to freeze your credit report, safeguard your personal information and contact the appropriate person if you become a victim of fraud or identity theft. Registration requested. To reserve your seat or to learn more, call 704-216-7730.

“Oh, look at that …” scavenger hunt: Through Feb. 28, East branch. Olaf’s body has come apart yet again. Can you put all nine pieces back together again before he melts? Find the pieces and be entered into a raffle contest for a literary-themed prize. For more information, contact Tammie Foster at 704-216-7842.

Blind Date with a Book: Through Feb. 28, South. Life is full of surprises. All ages are welcome to experience the mystery of checking out an unknown book and discovering what’s in the wrapping. This program is for all ages. For more details, call 704-216-7842. Also at East through Feb. 14.

Family Game Night: East, Feb. 26, 6:30 p.m. Challenge your family in an array of board games for all ages. Play the games provided or bring your own. Open to the public; all ages welcome. For more details, call 704-216-7842.

Book Bites Club: South, Feb. 27, 7 p.m.  Free, open to the public. We discuss a different book each month and serve refreshments loosely related to the theme. February’s title is “Girl Waits With Gun” by Amy Stewart. This meeting also features a virtual visit online with the author. Need more information? Call 704-216-7730.

Dr. Seuss’ Birthday Bash: Headquarters, March 2, 10 a.m.-noon. Children of all ages are invited to come celebrate Dr. Seuss and his very own “Day of all Days.”

Super Seuss-abration: East, March 3, 10:30 a.m.-noon. There is no better place to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Seuss than the library. Hang out with Thing 1 and Thing 2 while we have story time, crafts, games and refreshments. This event is free and open to the public.

Lego Saturday: Headquarters, March 2, 10 a.m.-noon. Legos available for creative play. For children only.

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.

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. Contact Tammie Foster at 704-216-7842. Next meeting, Feb. 26.

Teen Board: Want to be part of a Teen Advisory Board and make decisions about upcoming teen library programs? Or just want to play some board games? Now you can do both. Headquarters, Feb. 27, 4:30 p.m.

Displays: Headquarters, Rowan Doll Society; East, celebrate Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day by Tammie Foster; South, crochet art by Sheila Weaver and fairy gardens by Maria Cannizzaro.

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.