User:Shrikesong/RPL

Rowan Public Library is the public library system of Rowan County, North Carolina.

History
(some points)
 * Established 1911.
 * Used to be housed in Community Building which was old courthouse on North Main street.
 * Edith M. Clark named first library director in 1936.
 * Built library in 1951, expanded some in 1953.
 * Library expanded in 1989.
 * A $2.9 million bond referendum was put before the voters on May 6, 1986. The voters of the county, usually rejecting new bonds, approved the library construction bond by a two-to-one margin. It was the first referendum approved in the county in 13 years.


 * Stories-to-Go created in 1991.

From actual page
On March 11, 1911 a group called Traveler's Club met at the Lodge of Salisbury Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, on the second floor of the Meroney Theater in Salisbury, North Carolina. At this meeting a library association was formed. Archibald Henderson Boyden, a former mayor of Salisbury and a leader and later chairman of the city school board, was elected chairman of the library association. Boyden family offered to house the first public library of Salisbury on the property they owned in the small Henderson Law Office located in the corner of Church and Fisher Streets. In 1952 A.H.Boyden's daughter, Mrs.Burton Craig gifted the lot with the law office to Rowan County for the purpose of establishing a library. Boyden heirs donated additional $75,000 for the construction of the new library building.

In 1913 Mrs. Mamie Linton accepted the position of a librarian. During this time the library moved to the former County Courthouse, dubbed the Community Building, and shared space with the police station. In 1936 the library employed its first professionally trained librarian, Miss Edith Montcalm Clark, who served as Director of Rowan Public Library for 36 years until 1972. Ms.Clark was the person who made the library from cataloging the book collection to physical expansion of the library into Spencer, China Grove, Faith, Landis, and Rockwell. She changed the name of the library from Salisbury to Rowan to reflect the spread of libraries in the county.

Electronic media
The library is a member of the NC Live consortium and through its web portal has access to various information and media databases such as EBSCOhost and WorldCat. In 2014, RPL also started providing patrons with access to Learn4Life and Zinio.

Rowan Public Library started offering Amazon Kindles for the public to check out and use beginning in November, 2010. Demand was so popular they had to order several more just a few months later.

Washington letter
Washington letter.

Catesby volumes
In 1999, The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands by Mark Catesby was donated to the library by Archibald Craige. The two volume work is the second edition printed in 1754 and is one of only approximately eighty copies in existence. The volumes were reconditioned and placed in special display cases and placed near the History Room.

Locations
The Rowan Public Library system maintains three branches in Rowan County as well as bookmobile services from their headquarters. They provide free WiFi at all branches during hours they are open.

Headquarters
Meeting rooms are available for groups and organizations to reserve. The Hurley Room holds up to 25 people and the Stanback Room will hold 100 people.


 * The Archibald Henderson Law Office (on the National Register of Historic Places) is located on the campus of the main branch, on the corner of West Fisher and South Church Streets.
 * Just a few yards away from the law office on the campus stands the monument to author Christian Reid (1846–1920).
 * In front of the library is a monument dedicated to [Christian Reid] (pen name of Frances Fisher Tiernan), which is an engraved large open book made of granite.
 * At the back of the library stands the old town well.

Services
The library offers a variety of computer classes taught by library personnel. Topics range from beginning computer use to more advanced instruction. These are offered at all three branches.

Productions

 * Ramble Through Rowan videos.

Notable events

 * Centennial celebrations.
 * The Big Read - 2007 - The Grapes of Wrath
 * The Cheerwine Music Hour - Cheerwine and the Friends of the Library joined to create a concert series generally held at the main branch of the library.

The library was named as one of the top 20 library giver locations by World Book Night, in 2014. RPL is also participating in the 411 Community Read program.

Awards and honors

 * ALA/Information Today Library of the Future Award (1998)