Second Saturday Bookshop Open Saturday, January 11

Stop by Friends of RPL's Second Saturday Bookshop on Saturday, January 11 from 10 am – 3 pm for excellent deals on used books, including fiction, nonfiction, children's literature, and more! Most items are priced $2 or less. January specials include a 25% off discount on puzzles.

To learn more about Friends of RPL or the Second Saturday Bookshop, call 704-216-8240 or visit www.friendsofrpl.org.

Special Shopping Hour Coming for Friends of RPL Members

Friends of Rowan Public Library members can take advantage of a special Friends-only shopping hour at the Friends of RPL Second Saturday Bookshop in 2025. While the shop will still be open to the general public to shop from 10 am — 3 pm on these dates, it will open one hour earlier at 9 am for Friends of RPL members to shop first. This special shopping hour will be hosted on a quarterly basis on the following sale dates:

Saturday, February 8
Saturday, May 10
Saturday, August 9
Saturday, November 8

Not a Friends of RPL member yet? You can purchase a membership online at www.friendsofrpl.org or at the bookshop. To learn more, call 704-216-8240.

Cards for a Cause 2024 Brings New Record Number of Cards

The “Cards for a Cause” campaign has become a holiday season tradition at Rowan Public Library. Since the program began in 2015, the number of cards delivered to service members and veterans of the United States Armed Forces has steadily increased, and this year, 7,747 cards were sent, which is over 1,000 more than last year’s total. 

The community had a few different options for participating in “Cards for a Cause.” Anyone could visit an RPL branch and create cards using the libraries’ tables of blank cards and decorating materials. Some folks preferred to create, print, or purchase cards of their own to use.  

As always, the campaign began in October and ran through mid-December, and patrons could designate their cards’ destinations: to current service members in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard, or to veterans at the W.G. Hefner VA Medical Center. This year, cards were also delivered to Rowan County Veterans Services, Cabarrus County Veterans Services, Military Missions in Action of North Carolina, Carolina Caring, The Women Warriors Initiative of Greensboro, and the Red Cross of Charlotte, to name a few. 

There are different submission deadlines during the campaign to accommodate international and stateside deliveries, and in the past, some cards have traveled as far as Afghanistan. Throughout the campaign, RPL staff routinely sort the cards and arrange delivery to the respective recruiting offices; the offices then forward the cards on to service members. RPL staff deliver cards designated for veterans to the VAMC in Salisbury.  

Some of the largest card returns came from community schools and educational organizations. Sacred Heart Catholic School, Rockwell Christian Academy, West Rowan Elementary School, Rockwell Elementary, Grace Academy, A.L. Brown High School’s National Honor Society, Salisbury High School’s National Honor Society, and Communities in Schools all created cards for this year’s campaign. 

RPL West (Cleveland) also saw a huge return of cards from community members. Liz Gerometta, RPL West's Library Associate, coordinated with schools as well as individuals in the community to increase participation in the Cleveland area. RPL West received over 2,000 holiday cards  for veterans and active service members this season.

"It’s been my good fortune to have a part in such a worthwhile project,” said program coordinator Kim Dinkins. “There are messages that make you smile and those that bring tears to your eyes. I am convinced that in times of need, we see the best in others.”   

In its first year, “Cards for a Cause” collected approximately 230 cards for active service members of the United States Armed Forces. In 2016, more than 800 were collected, and cards were also submitted specifically for veterans, so in 2017, the campaign expanded to include the VAMC and collected over 1,300 cards. In 2018, that total grew by 100, and then in 2019, the National Guard was added, and 2,165 cards were sent. Since then, the program has seen a steady increase in the number of cards made for veterans and service members. 

“Every year, we’ve seen an increase in the number of cards returned. It’s so great to see all these different citizens and community partners working together to spread some positivity,” said RPL East Supervisor Sydney Smith Hamrick.  

“Cards for a Cause” is a program that thrives because of community engagement, and Hamrick gives all the credit to Dinkins for making lots of new community connections as the program’s coordinator. “Kim works hard to find new places to distribute cards. Not only have we seen more cards returned over the last couple years, but we’re also expanding the number of veterans and active service members who receive them,” Hamrick explained.  

The 2025 campaign will officially begin in October. For more information about how you can participate in or support this annual program, contact Kim Dinkins at Kim.Dinkins@rowancountync.gov. 

RPL Reads: Staff Book Recommendations 

Ever wonder what books library staff have been reading? Check out some hot reads recommended by RPL staff. This month, recommendations are provided by the RPL administrative staff!