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Second Saturday Bookshop Open Saturday, June 14 Stop by Friends of RPL's Second Saturday Bookshop on Saturday, June 14 from 10am – 3 pm for excellent deals on used books, including fiction, nonfiction, children's literature, and more! Most items are priced $2 or less. In June, shoppers can purchase four pocket paperback books for $1. To learn more about Friends of RPL or the Second Saturday Bookshop, call 704-216-8240 or visit www.friendsofrpl.org. |
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Thank You, Summer Reading Sponsors! Rowan Public Library and Friends of Rowan Public Library extend a big thank you to this year's Summer Reading 2025 sponsors: Phyllis Bodnar and Jim Tonseth Barbara and Darryl Corriher Anna Danner Sue Davis Jane Gamewell Lillian Gascoigne Sandy Goodman Jayne Hubbard Jennifer Hubbard and Steve Cobb Celia and Steve Jarrett Genevia and Philip Mozolak Gavine Pitner Kathy and Bruce Sanborn Judy and Tom Childress Judith Kandl Kay and Jesse McCartney |
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Alternative Bookshop Access: A Note from Bookshop Manager, Cyndii Owen We have received information that the entrance to the Rowan Community Center (previously West End Plaza) at the Board of Elections office will be set to close on June 1, 2025, and will not reopen until the Health Department construction concludes in 2026. Below is a map showing the alternate entrance for the public to use. The new main entrance will be where the fountain used to be (at the roundabout where the flag poles are). We will post this map, and the closure information signs at the Rowan Community Center doors and on the A-frames along the concourse. There will be an added Emergency Exit in Unit Q (next to the Board of Elections training room). It will be labeled and the gate will be rolled up when it is ready. To learn more, call 704-216-8240. |
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Summer Reading 2025 Is Here! Summer Reading programming at Rowan Public Library is back! This year's theme is "Color Our World," and there is no better place to add creativity and color to your life than the public library! Summer Reading features educational, entertaining, and engaging programs for library customers of all ages to enjoy all summer long. Besides programming, RPL also offers incentives and prizes to encourage readers of all ages to keep reading, even when school isn't in session. While reading is beneficial for people of all ages, it is especially helpful to prevent "summer slide" in school-age children. Summer slide refers to the regression in academic skills that can occur when students are away from school for a prolonged period of time. Besides reading, people of all ages are invited to visit the RPL branches for storytimes, Big Show performances, and other exciting programming. Check out the awesome lineup of June activities for children: Win a Pizza Party!
RPL Headquarters (Salisbury), RPL East (Rockwell), RPL South (China Grove), RPL West (Cleveland)
Ongoing through July 26
Visit all four RPL branches, get your passport stamped, and be entered to win a pizza party! Pizza passports can be picked up at any branch. After you collect all four stamps, return your completed passport to any RPL branch for a chance to win.
Scavenger Hunt: People Who Bring Color to Our World
RPL Headquarters (Salisbury), RPL East (Rockwell), RPL South (China Grove), RPL West (Cleveland)
June 1 – July 26
Search RPL Children's Rooms for famous people who bring color to the world through inventions, creativity, and actions. Find all the figures and win a prize! Books & Babies
RPL Headquarters (Salisbury)
June 2 – July 10
Tuesdays, 9 am
This 30-minute program is designed for babies and their caregivers to engage through books, rhymes, and songs. Toddler Time
RPL Headquarters (Salisbury)
June 2 – July 10
Tuesdays, 10 am
This 30-minute program is designed for toddlers and their caregivers to engage through books, rhymes, and songs. Baby & Toddler Time (Children Under 3 Years Old)
June 2 – July 10
10 am at each branch
Mondays, RPL West (Cleveland)
Tuesdays, RPL South (China Grove)
Thursdays, RPL East (Rockwell)
This 30-minute program is designed for children under 3 years old and their caregivers to engage through books, rhymes, and songs. Spectacular Storytime (Preschool – 1st Grade)
June 2 – July 10
Mondays, RPL West (Cleveland), 10:30 am
Tuesdays, RPL Headquarters (Salisbury), 9:30 & 10:30 am
Wednesdays, RPL South (China Grove), 10:30 am
Thursdays, RPL East (Rockwell), 10:30 am
This 30-minute program is designed for children ages 3 – 6 years old and their caregivers. Each week will feature a different talented storyteller from RPL's creative Youth Services Staff! Big Show: Shepherd Shakespeare Company
Monday, June 2, 10:30 am & 2 pm – RPL Headquarters (Salisbury)
Tuesday, June 3, 10:30 am & 2 pm – RPL South (China Grove)
Wednesday, June 4, 10:30 am & 2 pm – RPL East (Rockwell)
Thursday, June 5, 10:30 am – RPL West (Cleveland)
Thursday, June 5, 2 pm – RPL Headquarters (Salisbury)
Enjoy a fun theatre performance by Shepherd Shakespeare Company! Book Tasting
RPL Headquarters (Salisbury)
Saturday, June 7, 3:30 pm
Enjoy "tasty" reads as you explore the children's collections! Find the next great read-aloud title for your family or yourself at this school-age program. Refreshments will be served. Big Show: The Ro, Mo, and Joe Show
Monday, June 9, 10:30 am & 2 pm – RPL Headquarters (Salisbury)
Tuesday, June 10, 10:30 am & 2 pm – RPL South (China Grove)
Wednesday, June 11, 10:30 am & 2 pm – RPL East (Rockwell)
Thursday, June 12, 10:30 am – RPL West (Cleveland)
Thursday, June 12, 2 pm – RPL Headquarters (Salisbury)
Attend a laugh-out-loud comedy show put on by this local theatre troupe. I Scream for Homemade Ice Cream!
RPL West (Cleveland)
Saturday, June 14, 11 am
Learn the science behind ice cream and make your own at this event. To learn more or register, call 704-216-8290. Big Show: Amazing Teacher Steve Somers
Monday, June 16, 10:30 am & 2 pm – RPL Headquarters (Salisbury)
Tuesday, June 17, 10:30 am & 2 pm – RPL South (China Grove)
Wednesday, June 18, 10:30 am & 2 pm – RPL East (Rockwell)
Thursday, June 19, 10:30 am – RPL West (Cleveland)
Thursday, June 19, 2 pm – RPL Headquarters (Salisbury)
Be amazed by this magical comedy show hosted by the Amazing Teacher Steve Somers! Colors in Nature Storytime
RPL East (Rockwell)
Saturday, June 21, 11 am
Enjoy a storytime focused on colors found in the natural world. Afterward, Kelli Isenhour of Rowan County Soil & Water will lead a nature-based activity. Big Show: Criss Cross Mangosauce
Monday, June 23, 10:30 am & 2 pm – RPL Headquarters (Salisbury)
Tuesday, June 24, 10:30 am & 2 pm – RPL South (China Grove)
Wednesday, June 25, 10:30 am & 2 pm – RPL East (Rockwell)
Thursday, June 26, 10:30 am – RPL West (Cleveland)
Thursday, June 26, 2 pm – RPL Headquarters (Salisbury)
Pump up the jam with a latin-infused music, movement, and storytelling performance by Criss Cross Mangosauce! Can't make it to one of the programs? No worries – interested participants can stop by any RPL branch through July 12 to register or visit bit.ly/RPLR2 and register online. To learn more, call 980-432-8670. |
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 This Photowalk will begin at Waterworks Visual Arts Center, giving participants a chance to view exhibits and get inspired before taking photos of their own. |
Participate in a Photowalk
Get your cameras and walking shoes ready for a Photowalk on Saturday, June 21 at 10 am! Get inspired by RPL's "Color Our World" Summer Reading theme and join RPL staff on a Photowalk through downtown Salisbury. The group will meet at the Waterworks Visual Arts Center and view the exhibit “Never Before Seen…Modern Masterpieces” for inspiration. Participants will then set out as a group to create their own photographic masterpieces. Photographers may want to include stops at various 2025 Salisbury Sculpture Show exhibits along their routes. This Photowalk is a great opportunity for novice and experienced photographers alike to capture some wonderful images and swap tips and tricks with other photography enthusiasts. This event is free; bring your own camera or cell phone for taking photographs. To register, contact David at David.Lamanno@rowancountync.gov or 704-216-8229.
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 Lyndsey Maloney smiles for the camera and holds up her Leadership Rowan diploma. |
RPL Librarian Graduates from Leadership Rowan On Thursday, May 15, Lyndsey Maloney, RPL's Adult Services Supervisor, graduated from the 2024-2025 Rowan County Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Rowan class. For the past nine months, she and 29 other class members have attended monthly sessions that offered an in-depth view of community issues, developed skills necessary to assume leadership roles, and introduced all attendees to community involvement opportunities. The nine session topics were: History and Power; Public Education; Criminal Justice; Human Needs; Government; Business and the Economy; Communications; and Quality of Life. As part of Leadership Rowan, Lyndsey had the opportunity to meet key community leaders, work with class members on community homework projects, and debate the issues of the day. All thirty class members successfully completed the program and were honored during the Chamber’s Power in Partnership breakfast on May 15. Alisa Stone, the senior director facility leader at the new Macy’ Customer Fulfillment Center in China Grove, was the guest speaker. Duke Energy served as the sponsor for this month’s program. Lyndsey extends thanks to Friends of RPL for sponsoring her participation in the program. "I want to say thank you to Friends of RPL and Director Oleen for allowing me the opportunity to participate in Leadership Rowan. This class taught me a lot about our community and our county. I have gained valuable resources and knowledge on how to be a better leader, how to help our county, and how to be a better Rowan Public Library advocate. I am proud of myself and my classmates for completing this program and class #32 is truly the best class ever." Read more about Lyndsey and her classmates' experiences via The Salisbury Post.
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Learn How to Use Coursera at RPL Headquarters in June Now through December 31, 2025, Rowan Public Library cardholders can enjoy 90 days of free access to Coursera through a pilot program made available through the State Library of North Carolina. If you are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity but aren't sure where to start, attend one of the free information sessions happening at RPL Headquarters (Salisbury) in June! RPL is offering two public programs on Wednesday, June 25 at 2 pm and Thursday, June 26 at 6 pm. Both programs will be held at RPL Headquarters, located at 201 W. Fisher St., Salisbury, NC 28144. The program on June 26 will also have a virtual attendance option for folks who prefer to attend via Zoom. A representative from Coursera will be onsite to teach participants the basics of using the program.
To get registered for either date, visit bit.ly/CourseraJune to sign up. People who choose the virtual option will have a Zoom link emailed to them prior to the program.
Coursera is a global online learning platform offering courses and certificates from top universities and companies. With over 300 partners, including Stanford, Duke, Google, IBM, and Meta, Coursera provides a wide range of subjects and formats, including courses, specializations, and certificates. Degree programs require additional payment and are not included in the pilot program. The Coursera program will allow registrants to learn in-demand, job-relevant skills to secure their first job, improve career advancement, or transition into a new field. According to the Coursera Learners Outcome Report, 77% of Coursera learners report career benefits including new skills, increased pay, and new job opportunities. To sign up for a free account, fill out the registration form using your active Rowan Public Library card. Registrants will be directed to the Coursera website to sign in or create an account. After signing in, registrants may select the course(s) they wish to take. Although this is a pilot program, after 90 days, a user’s progress is saved – they won't lose their work. If seats are still available, you can register again for another 90 days. Alternatively, users can continue learning by subscribing directly through Coursera. Users who do not log in or engage with Coursera after 30 days will have their access removed to allow space for others. For more information about Coursera and the June programs, visit www.rowanpubliclibrary.org or call 704-216-8240.
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Bookshop Volunteers Wanted The Friends of RPL Second Saturday Bookshop is in need of bookshop sorting room volunteers! To learn more, contact Library Services Manager Laurie Lyda at 704-216-8245. Location: Friends of RPL Second Saturday Bookshop Address: West End Plaza, 1935 Jake Alexander Blvd. W, Salisbury, NC 28147, Unit C-7 Duties: Volunteers are needed to work shifts on the second Saturday of every month. Shifts are typically 10 am to 1 pm or 1 to 3 pm, though hours may be flexible. Duties include receiving and sorting boxes of donations, loading carts, and shelving books in the store. Shifts will involve standing for extended periods; pushing, pulling, and lifting 30-pound boxes; pushing and pulling carts of books up to 100-pounds; and stooping and bending to pick up materials. Preferred Skills: Knowledge of broad genres (fiction, non-fiction, juvenile, etc.) preferred. Teen Friendly?: Yes. This opportunity is open to volunteers ages 17 and older. Time/Duration: Year-round, second Saturday of each month. Volunteers will be required to arrive at their designated shift time and work the duration of their assigned shift.
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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 RPL Headquarters' Edith M. Clark History Room Staff! |
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Gretchen Witt, History Room Supervisor I am currently reading a delicious book entitled Crisps, Cobblers, Custards & Creams by Jean Anderson. The book is beautifully illustrated; the cover eventually tempted me to check it out. The recipes are clearly written and easy to follow. There are many different cultures' dishes represented in the collection including a Portuguese baked custard, Sericala (see picture below — I decided to try making this one!), that is dusted with cinnamon before baking, and Kheer, an Indian Rice Pudding with cardamom. Several of the recipes have unusual ingredients like a Norwegian cranberry cream dessert that uses dry cream of wheat and a crumble that uses green tomatoes, raisins, and apples. Quite a few recipes come from North Carolina, too — it is well worth checking out.
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 Witt's take on Sericala, a Portuguese baked custard that is dusted with cinnamon after baking. She used the recipe included in Anderson's Crisps, Cobblers, Custards & Creams. |
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William Brewton, Library Associate The Hornet's Nest, written by former president Jimmy Carter, is a novel of historical fiction written from the perspective of Ethan and Epsey Pratt, a young married couple in the Southern colonies. Although it can be somewhat slow at times, the book gives an interesting description of the Pratts' lives as farmers in the Carolinas and southern Georgia. The novel provides a background of social and political unrest prior to and during the Revolutionary War. At the end of the novel, the reader has been introduced to life among native American Indians, Regulators, militiamen, and Redcoats. It is historical fiction that delves heavily into facts, but still a good read.
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Anne Morgan, Library Associate I am currently reading The Martian by Andy Weir. This is the book that the movie with the same title, staring Matt Damon, is based on (I haven't watched the movie....yet). The action begins when astronaut Mark Watney and his crew are exploring the surface of Mars and a giant dust storm strikes, causing them to make a sudden evacuation back to their spacecraft. In all the ruckus, they assume Watney dies, but in reality, he survives the storm and is left behind as the others make their escape. The Martian manages to be sad, scary, and funny as Watney tries to survive after being assumed dead and left on Mars. If you are interested in space, exploration, or survival, then this is the book for you.
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RPL Headquarters
201 W. Fisher Street
Salisbury, NC 28144
RPL East
110 Broad Street
Rockwell, NC 28138
RPL South
920 Kimball Road
China Grove, NC 28023
RPL West
201 School Street
Cleveland, NC 27013
rowanpubliclibrary.org
980-432-8670 |
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