Coursera Now Available Through Rowan Public Library

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. 

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, visit www.rowanpubliclibrary.org or call 704-216-8240.

Beth Bentley, Children's Outreach Librarian

I recently read Terry Pratchett's Going Postal. After his execution in Ankh-Morpork, conman Moist Von Lipwig is given an ultimatum to save the city's Post Office or receive a more permanent death sentence. He soon discovers there is more to the failing of the service than undelivered letters and the sudden deaths of the former postmasters. Moist must deliver on the promises he makes, like his life depends on it. 

Jacquelyn Loy, Children's Outreach Associate

I recently read Celia C. Pérez's The First Rule of Punk. This book is a middle grade novel that follows Maria Luisa's (or, as she prefers, Malu's) journey as she explores her identity as a Mexican American and a punk. Malu's mother wishes she would take a greater interest in their Mexican heritage, but Malu feels she has more in common with her punk rock-loving white father. This conflict is exacerbated when Malu and her mother move from their home in Florida to Chicago due to her mother accepting a new job.  At her new middle school, Malu finds herself at odds with the school's dress code, its anti-punk principal, and a popular girl who challenges Malu's Mexican identity by referring to her as a "coconut." However, she overcomes these issues with the help of her new friends and a specific coffee shop owner who introduces Malu to several Mexican and Mexican American punk rock bands. Interspersed throughout the text are Malu's zines, which helps readers get a clearer image of Malu's struggles and how she views her world.