By Amber Covington

Rowan Public Library

Wondering which items were hard to catch on the shelves at Rowan Public Library last year? Here is a short list of titles from our digital, children’s, young adult and adult collections that didn’t spend too many days inside the library.

Take a glimpse at the most popular library materials checked-out at Rowan Public Library: 

NC Kids (Overdrive audiobooks, ebooks and streaming videos)

1. “The Fortnite Guide to Staying Alive,” by Damien Kuhn. 
2. “Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild,” by Dav Pilkey.
3. “The One and Only Ivan,” by Katherine Applegate.

Children’s fiction

1. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth,” by Jeff Kinney.
2. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules,” by Jeff Kinney.
3. “Dork Diaries No. 1: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life,” by Rachel Renee Russell.

Children’s DVD

1. “Frozen.”
2. “The Lion King.”
3. “Toy Story 3.”

Young adult fiction

1. “The Fall of Crazy House,” by James Patterson.
2. “The Hunger Games,” by Suzanne Collins.
3. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” by J.K. Rowling.

Young adult non-fiction

1. “Cracking the ACT Premium.”
2. “The Greatest Treasure Hunt in History: The Story of the Monuments Men,” by Robert Edsel.
3. “ACT 2019.”

North Carolina Digital Library (Overdrive audiobooks, ebooks, and streaming videos)

1. “Gray Mountain: A Novel,” by John Grisham.
2. “Where the Crawdads Sing,” by Delia Owens.
3. “Rogue Lawyer: A Novel,” by John Grisham.

Adult fiction

1. “The Reckoning,” by John Grisham.
2. “Where the Crawdads Sing,” by Delia Owens.
3. “Past Tense: A Jack Reacher Novel,” by Lee Child.

Adult non-fiction

1. “Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be,” by Rachel Hollis.
2. “The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West,” by David McCullough.
3. “Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals,” by Rachel Hollis.

Adult DVDs

1. “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.”
2. “War Room.”
3. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

 Biography

1. “Becoming,” by Michelle Obama.
2. “Educated: a Memoir,” by Tara Westover.
3. “Paul McCartney: The Life,” by Philip Norman.

Scavenger Hunt: Dr. Seuss, through March 31, Headquarters, South. Can you find these Dr. Seuss characters hidden throughout the children’s room? Complete the challenge and get a prize! For more information, call 704-216-8234 (HQ) or 704-216-7728 (South).

Scavenger Hunt: Out & About Hunt: East, through March 31. Get to know our community better! This hunt will take you to local businesses and landmarks around Rockwell. Capture a picture at each location to be entered into a raffle contest for a literary-themed prize. Call 704-216-7842 for more information.

Catch a Leprechaun: East, March 16, 6-7:30 p.m. Leprechauns can be tricky people to see, much less to catch! Come make a trap based on the children’s book “How to Catch a Leprechaun,” by Adam Wallace. Call 704-216-7842 for more information.

Playday Tuesday: Headquarters, March 17, 5-7 p.m. Drop by the children’s room for fun, seasonal games with Mr. Robert and Ms. Kimber. A responsible caretaker (age 16+) must accompany children 8 and under. For more information, contact 704-216-8234.

Baby-Toddler Tea Party: South, March 18, 10:30 a.m. This special storytime guarantees fun for every child. Refreshments will be served. A responsible caretaker (age 16+) must accompany children 8 and under. Questions? Call 704-216-7729.

Char’s Stars: Down on the Farm, headquarters, March 21, 11 a.m. Join us as we bring the farm experience to the library. Kids are invited to dress up in their best farmer outfit and learn how to make their own butter, in addition to other farm-themed activities and games. A responsible caretaker (age 16+) must accompany children 8 and under. For more information, contact Charlene at 704-216-8234.

Sensory Storytime: March 13, 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: Happy Pi Day, South, March 14, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Learn what the number Pi is and make related crafts. This STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) 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.

Murder Mystery Escape Room: Headquarters, March 21, 1-5 p.m. The Librarian has “checked out!” Solve the mystery of who killed the librarian by following the clues, cracking the codes and uncovering the murderer! This program is open to ages 12 and up. The escape room will run every 30 minutes, beginning at 1 p.m.; each time slot can accommodate six people. Registration preferred. Contact Abby at 704-216-8248 or email info@rowancountync.gov to reserve your chance at catching the culprit!

Job Readiness on the Go: South, March 19 2-4 p.m. A Career Connections Specialist from Goodwill will be on site to help with successfully completing employment applications online and on paper, creating a resume, learning interviewing skills, and completing assessments to help select a career based on your personality and skills. Call 704-216-8259 for more information.

Displays: Headquarters, Log cabins by North Hills Christian School; East, original art presented by James Rhea; South, Star (Wars) Party display presented by Rowan Public Library.

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.