By Amber Covington

Rowan Public Library

Job searching requires computer access, computer skills, time and money for job seeking candidates. Rowan Public Library is dedicated to ensuring our community has access to information including materials for their personal reading interests, educational resources from birth to college, and connecting job seekers to online classes, technology resources and information to attain employment.

The recent announcement for upcoming job opportunities secured by Rowan County commissioners shows our local economy is growing. Job expansion in the last year in the county has included Chewy and New York Airbrake.

The library is a place that will assist individuals seeking to further their work experience by registering for online Gale courses at no cost or visiting the library to increase their technology skills with free computer access, online job searching, resume and cover letter writing assistance.

Job seekers in our area have several local organizations committed to helping them with their jobs searches: NC Works Career Center, Goodwill Rowan County Career Center, Bonney Staffing, Onin Staffing, Mancan, and R3 Career Services.

Each of these organizations have partnered with Rowan Public Library and participated in our 2018 Job Fair and previous programming. NC Works Career Center helps individuals create online job profiles and assists them with locating jobs specific to their skills and interests. Various online resources are available to the public at no cost and the local office located on South Main Street often has employers onsite conducting interviews for job openings.

Goodwill Rowan County Career Center staff members are available to assist job seekers with career planning, mock interviews, online and paper application assistance, job searching, Adult Basic Education program, Project Re-entry program for former offenders seeking employment, and Veterans Services to assist veterans and military families obtain stable employment.

R3 Career Services provides services to help adults gain skills for a career with dedicated staff to assist with resumes, computer classes and workplace certifications.

Rowan Public Library collaborates with many local organizations to ensure Rowan County citizens have access to resources for locating jobs or advancing one’s career. Every day, our library offers computer labs at three branches — headquarters in Salisbury, East Branch in Rockwell and South Rowan Regional Library in China Grove.

Our staff assists people daily with accessing and navigating online websites for job postings, creating and editing resumes, printing work related documents, and free online Gale Courses to enhance work related skills.

Rowan Public Library encourages everyone to sign up for a library card and use the free resources available to all wanting to advance their career, begin a job search, or seek online coursework to help increase their skills. In the near future, Rowan Public Library looks to partner with local businesses and organizations to offer job fairs and employment seekers programming.

RPL Book Sale: Headquarters, today, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Monday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Tuesday 7, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. It’s time to buy books. Browse RPL’s annual spring Book Sale, held in the Stanback Auditorium at RPL Headquarters. Items will be $2 or less today through Monday; all items will be half-price on Tuesday. Selections replenished daily as inventory allows. When inventory is gone, the sale ends; a closing notice will be posted on www.RowanPublicLibrary.org. Call 704-216-8243 for more information.

Star Wars Day in the Children’s Room: Headquarters, Friday, noon-4 p.m. Travel to a galaxy far, far away and celebrate Star Wars with games, crafts and snacks in this drop-in event. A responsible caretaker (age 16+) must accompany children 8 and under. This program is geared toward kids 3-10. For more details, call 704-216-8234.

Gardening Party Saturdays: South, Saturday 4, 11 a.m. Gardening is cheaper than therapy – and you get tomatoes. Come join us Saturday mornings for Gardening Party, a monthly club. This month’s program will feature a Wild Tea Party. Questions? Call Paulette at 704-216-7731.

Mother’s Day Crafts for Kids: Headquarters, May 10, 2-4 p.m. Kids are invited to create a special present for mothers, grandmothers or other special parental figures in their lives, make Mother’s Day cards, and listen to a Mother’s Day-themed storytime. A responsible caretaker (age 16+) must accompany children 8 and under. This program is geared for ages 3-10. Please register in advance at 704-216-8234.

Saturday Cinema: East, May 11, 10 a.m. Enjoy the quest of the human-born heir to Atlantis in this free showing of “Aquaman” (2018, 143 minutes). This film is rated PG-13, so an adult (age 18+) must accompany anyone 13 and under. For more information, call 704-216-7842.

Genealogy Workshop: Headquarters, May 11, 10 a.m. “Early Rowan Roots” will explore resources for early Scots/Irish and German immigrants to the greater colonial Rowan area. Co-hosted by the Genealogical Society of Rowan County and the Edith M. Clark History Room of RPL, this program is free and open to the public. Call Gretchen at 704-216-8232 for more details.

Displays: Headquarters, African-Caribbean Weaving by Dolly Griffin; East, vintage lunch boxes by Sharon Ross; South, student art exhibit featuring South Rowan High School art classes.

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.