By Brooke K. Taylor

Rowan Public Library

Do you love to write? I do, too. Give me a nice felt tip pen and a new, crisp notebook and I’m off!

Writing can be freeing and fun. Some consider the act of taking thoughts from your head and laying them out on the page a creative and cleansing activity. I find that keeping a journal handy helps when inspiration hits.

Sometimes it is just a record of random thoughts and ideas. It could be great quotes I have read or an interesting saying or local colloquialism I’ve heard. It doesn’t matter, everything gets written down to be reviewed and ruminated over later.

Now, before you get the wrong idea, I am not and never have been accused of being a great author. I simply love the creative act of writing things down, though my family may say otherwise, based on the time I spend typing on my smartphone.

If writing is your thing, too, then you should join the Library in Rockwell for Wednesday Writers Club. What are club members writing about? Some are preserving their family history and turning those stories into memoirs. A few fiction fans are creating fantasy realms and entertaining short stories of imagined places and things.

Poems, greeting card lines, anecdotal shopping experiences, and real life stories are all acceptable among this circle. Participants enjoy a time of solo writing, group sharing and peer-to-peer reviews. Coffee and snacks are offered, along with encouragement.

No publishing or prior writing experience is necessary. Whether you are writing the next great American novel, or a shopping list, come join in.

The Wednesday Writers club meets the first and second Wednesday of each month. Want more details? Give the East Branch staff a call. They love talking to future local authors.

Veterans Day: All library branches will be closed for Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

Cards for a Cause: Through Dec. 18, headquarters, East and South. Create holiday cards that will be delivered to active service members in the U.S. armed forces and to veterans at the Hefner VAMC in Salisbury. Patrons can specify  their card(s) be delivered to a certain branch or to the VA.

Cards submitted for a branch of the armed forces have a Nov. 6 deadline for cards distributed internationally; Dec. 6 for cards distributed stateside. Cards submitted Dec. 7-18 will only be delivered to the VA. For more information, contact Tammie at 704-216-7842.

Mega Color: Thursday, 4 p.m., East. Come relax and help decorate the teen spaces with giant zentangle-inspired coloring posters. Markers, crayons and colored pencils will be provided, but feel free to bring your own. This teen program is designed for rising sixth- through 12th-graders. For more information, call Sydney at 704-216-8229.

Big Library Read: Through Nov. 18, headquarters, East and South. Big Library Read (BLR), facilitated by OverDrive, is a free, global e-Book Club. The global event provides instant access to one book for two weeks without wait lists or holds, connecting readers around the world in the largest digital library book club in the world. To participate, all you need is your library card. Ask RPL staff for assistance. Visit biglibraryread.com for full details, including the November selection.

Scavenger Hunt: Through Nov. 30, Turkey Hunt, headquarters, South. Can you find all the turkeys hidden throughout the children’s room?  Complete the challenge and get a prize! For more information, call 704-216-8234.

Scavenger Hunt: Through Nov. 30, Eye-Bomb Contest, East. It’s always fun to photobomb. Have you ever eye-bombed, though? Try to make funny pictures with googly eyes during our Scavenger Hunt. You will be entered into a raffle contest for a literary-themed prize. For more information, contact Tammie at 704-216-7842.

2019 Bookmark Contest: Through Nov. 9. Children 4 to 11 may design a themed bookmark and win a cash prize. The contest, sponsored by Friends of Rowan Public library, will award first, second and third-place prizes in three, age-based categories: 4 to 6, 7 to 9, and 10 to 11. Full submission guidelines, rules and entry forms available online or at any RPL location. For more information, call 704-216-8234.

Sensory Storytime: Friday, 10:30 a.m., headquarters. Attendees will experience storytime through tactile stimulation as they touch, see, smell and hear different interactive elements. This 30-minute storytime involves books, songs and movement and is designed for those with autism and/or sensory challenges. All ages and those of all abilities are welcome. A responsible caretaker (age 16+) must accompany children 8 and under. For questions or to make accessibility arrangements, call 704-216-8234.

STEAM into Adventure: No-cook playdough, Saturday, 10:30-11:30 a.m., South. Make playdough from simple wet and dry ingredients. This Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics program is geared for ages 6 to 11. A responsible caretaker (age 16+) must accompany children 8 and under. For more details, call 704-216-7729.

Songbird Storytime: Saturday, 11 a.m., headquarters. This is an interactive program of music, reading and learning for ages 7 and under. A responsible caretaker (age 16+) must accompany participants. For more information, contact Chelsea at 704-216-8269.

Reader’s Theater: Saturday, 1:30-2:30 p.m., South. Be an actor without the pressure of memorizing a script. This theater style conveys the story through vocal and facial expressions. This program is designed for ages 8 to 13. Questions? Call 704-216-7729.

Giant Game Time: Nov. 12, 3:30-6:30 p.m.,  headquarters. Come enjoy the giant versions of your favorite classic games. This teen program is designed for rising sixth- through 12th-graders. For more information, call Sydney at 704-216-8229. November 14, 2019, 4-5 PM @ RPL East – Meeting Room

Paint class: Nov. 12, 6-7 p.m., East. Enjoy a holiday-themed painting program. Everyone 12 and older is welcome to attend this free painting class featuring a gnome painting. Registration is required and space is limited. To register, call 704-216-7842. Teens and adults.

Technology Tuesday: Social Media Market, Nov. 12, 7-8 p.m., headquarters. Interested in learning how to use social media as a marketing strategy? This class will cover how to do so effectively. For more information, contact Hannah at 704-216-8259. Adults.

Displays: Headquarters, Rustic Edge Soap by Rachel Mowery and Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 1083 display; East, veterans by Glenn Hinson; South, original artwork by Kristen Trahan.

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.