from the tap 09-02-13

retirement news

The Board of County Commissioners have approved a Retirement Incentive effective August 5, 2013. 

Program eligibility requirements include:

• Thirty (30) years of local government service as recognized by the North Carolina Local Government Retirement System;
• Twenty (20) years of service with Rowan County;
• Fifty-five (55) years of age or older;
• Retire on or before March 31, 2014.

Compensation includes an amount equal to four (4) months salary, not to exceed $16,000, for the incentive.  Full retirement benefits through the Local Government Retirement System and the County’s Retiree Health Insurance benefits until age sixty-five (65) will be provided.  All vacation and non-exempt compensatory time balances will be paid to each recipient.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Debbie Holshouser at 216-8103.

thanks a bunch!

I (April) just got back from vacation to the Pacific Northwest and have posted a few photos on my personal blog.  A huge thank you to everyone who covered for me while I was away, with a special thanks to Amy for doing Book Bites, Tara for switching out flyers and posters, and Edward for covering many of my ref desk shifts.  You guys are the best!

from the tap 08-26-13

best wishes, barb!

Best wishes to Barb Sprandel (Circulation @ HQ), whose last day is this Friday.  Thanks for your great work at RPL, and we wish you the best as you “really” retire this time! (Barb began work at RPL on July 1, 2008 after retiring as a public librarian in Lima, Ohio.)

computer classes this week

Basic Microsoft Excel 2007

Mon., August 19th @ 7:00 pm, South Rowan Regional (China Grove)
Tues., August 20th @ 1:00 pm, East Branch (Rockwell)*
Thurs., August 22nd @ 9:30 am, Headquarters (Salisbury)
 
Free.  Learn how to create and use simple spreadsheets with Microsoft Excel 2007.  

*RPL Staff--This is a reminder that you can attend classes on work time as part of staff development training.  Check with your supervisor for more details.

summer movie series

***LAST MOVIE***
The Deep End of the Ocean (PG13)
Tues., August 20th @ 6:30 pm, HQ

Michelle Pfeiffer stars in this emotionally heartfelt drama about a family torn apart after the kidnapping of their three-year-old son and their reunion nine years later.  Free popcorn and lemonade will be served.

from the tap 08-19-13

phishing e-mail alert

If you receive an e-mail from Rowan County Administrator regarding a "phishing e-mail", please do not click on the link in the message.  We believe this e-mail may itself be a scam.

staff changes

From Jeff:

I wanted to let you know about some organizational changes that have been made and are effective today (Friday, August 9, 2013).

• Lynn Denison is now the Branch Manager at the East Branch.
• Paul Birkhead is now assigned to the Information Services Division at Main.
• Edward Hirst is now the Technical Services supervisor, including TLC issues (the catalog and circulation modules).
• Melody Moxley and Sherri Jefferies will supervise Circulation. Melody will also supervise HQ Security and Outreach Services.

from the tap 08-12-13

how to search for new DVDs

Do you envy those folks who seem to always just know about new DVDs before everyone else?  They're not mind-readers, they've not bribed our orderers or tech services staff, they've just mastered searching our online catalog...and you can too!

Step 1:  Go to www.rowanpubliclibrary.org and click on Find Books

Step 2: Click on DVDs at the top of the screen

Step 3:  Click on the New Items tab

Step 4: Choose This Month from the Received Since menu for the newest DVDs, then click Search

Voila!  A list of the latest and greatest should appear.  If you select All from the Received Since menu, you will find a list of all the DVDs we own, which can then be limited by branch.

issue with returning ebooks

From Edward--

There is an issue with returned ebooks from Overdrive not disappearing from the customer's bookshelf. Overdrive is working on a fix.

summer movie series

Aquamarine (PG)
Mon., August 5th @ 4:00 pm, East Branch
Tues., August 6th @ 6:30 pm, HQ
Wed., August 7th @ 2:00 pm, South

A love-struck mermaid supplies adventure to two teenage girls, life-long friends.  Free popcorn and lemonade will be served.

overdrive outtage affects ebooks

From OverDrive Library Partner Services Adobe is experiencing intermittent eBook fulfillment issues due to a power outage beginning 12:30 PM US Eastern. This is affecting eBook fulfillment as well as activation for new customers. We are in contact with Adobe, and they are working to resolve this. We will respond to this message when more information is available.

did you know...

Did you know that you can attend computer classes offered at the library and be paid for it?  Our next computer class will be Basic Microsoft Excel 2007 and will be offered:

Mon., Aug. 19th from 7-8:30 pm @ South
Tues., Aug. 20th from 1-2:30 pm @ East
Thurs., Aug. 22nd from 9:30-11 am @ HQ

Check with your supervisor for more details.

from the tap 08-05-13

google chrome now available

Did you know that we have access to three different browsers on our staff computers?  Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox are both available from the Start Menu (start > programs), but Google Chrome is also hiding in the shadows (thanks to Edward for uncovering it!).  To install a shortcut to Chrome on your desktop, use the following steps:

1.  Open up IE or Firefox and go to www.rowanpubliclibrary.org
 
2.  Click on File > Save As

3.  Save the HTML page to your Desktop

4.  Minimize the window and find the file on your desktop

5.  Right click on the file and select Open With > Google Chrome.  Close the window that pops up, and you will find a shiny Google Chrome icon on your desktop.