SALISBURY — Would you like to learn a new skill or enhance existing skills for professional development or personal enrichment? Instead of pulling out your credit card, reach for your library card instead because Rowan Public Library has partnered with Gale/Cengage Learning, to offer free access to hundreds of online, instructor led courses for members of the library.
The Learn4Life subscription service provides courses and career training programs such as: Introduction to Microsoft Excel 2010, Beginning Writer’s Workshop, Medical Terminology and QuickBooks 2013 for Contractors. There are courses for preparing for tests such as the GED, GRE and the SAT. Courses are also provided for ESL students and teachers.
Online courses from Learn4Life offer the flexibility to study at your own pace, and yet have enough structure and support to complete the course. Access to the classroom is available 24/7 from anywhere with an Internet connection. All of the courses provide well-crafted lessons, expert instruction and interaction with fellow students.
New sessions of each course begin every month. They last for a total of six weeks, with two new lessons released weekly, for a total of 12 lessons. The next class session begins Thursday. Each course requires a time commitment of two to four hours per week. The courses are entirely Web-based with comprehensive lessons, quizzes and assignments. An expert instructor leads every course, answering questions, providing feedback and facilitating discussions. Students will receive a certificate after successfully completely the course and the 36 question final exam.
Registering for a class is quick and easy. Just visit www.rowanpubliclibrary.org, click on the link for Online Tools, then scroll to Learn4Life. The first time you register for a class you will need to create an account using an email address, contact information and your library card number. With more than 300 courses available in the catalog, you are sure to find more than one you would like to take. So get that library card out, or get a new one and get ready to learn.
Richard Smith concert: Tuesday, headquarters, 7 p.m. Guitarist Richard Smith has toured the world surprising audiences with his range of musical styles, from country, bluegrass, mainstream jazz and modern pop and rock to classical guitar. Admission is free, and all are welcome.
Superfoods workshop: South branch, Jan. 27, 5:45 p.m., free. Learn how to cook up the good stuff with cooking demonstrations, samples and tips on how to stock a healthy kitchen. This workshop will be led by Chef Chris Herron and Director of Food and Nutrition Sara Lynch of Morrison Food Services. All ages welcome, but anyone un­der 16 should be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required; please call 704-216-7734 to register or for more information. This workshop is part of the Learn. Act. Grow. wellness program. At each program you have a chance to win door prizes; participants who attend all five workshops will be entered to win a grand prize.
Wii Bowling Tournament for Teens: All 5:30-7 p.m., East, Jan. 27; headquarters Jan. 28. Wii bowling and other games. Open to all middle and high school students. For more information call 704-216-8234.
Book Bites Club: South (only), Jan. 27, 6:30 p.m., “Wicked: The Life of the Wicked Witch,” by Gregory MaGuire. Book discussion groups for adults and children meet the last Tuesday of each month. The group is open to the public and anyone is free to join at any time. There is a discussion of the book, as well as light refreshments at each meeting. For more information, please call 704-216-8229.
Library closings: Jan. 20, all RPL locations closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
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.