One Book One Community

Area readers are invited to board next year’s One Book One Community offering. Orphan Train, a novel by Christina Baker Kline, has been selected as the latest in a distinguished series that connects readers of all ages. Kline will speak on March 26 at Union Avenue United Methodist Church and will visit area schools on March 27. 

Kline’s book tells a fictional story that takes place on the real-life “orphan trains” of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. These locomotives carried abandoned children from the East Coast to regular stops throughout America’s heartland, where they would be adopted by families both cruel and kind. In the novel, an Irish immigrant, Vivian Daly, is a passenger aboard one of these trains. Her adoption experiences include long shifts in a sweatshop and mistreatment by an impoverished farm family. As an adult, Daly lives in Maine, where her past is uncovered by a contemporary teen, Molly Ayer, who is having her own challenges in the modern foster care system.

Kline’s website notes that 3.5 million copies of Orphan Train are in print, and that the novel is an international bestseller published in 40 countries. It spent five weeks at the top of The New York Times bestseller list, and remained on the list for more than two years. 

The first scheduled community discussion prior to the author’s appearance will be on Wednesday, January 15, at 7 p.m., at the Alliance YWCA. Patricia Lott, Recruitment Director at Pathway Caring for Children will speak about current practices with the foster care system in Ohio and the direction of foster care. She will be joined by Linda Morosko, Director of eStarkState, and Tiffany White, a licensed social worker with The Village Network.

This will be followed by programs on Tuesday, February 11, at 7 p.m., at the University of Mount Union Library (Kolenbrander-Harter Information Center); Monday, March 2, at 7 p.m., at Rodman Public Library; and Monday, March 9, at 7 p.m., at Rodman Public Library.

Additionally, residents will be invited to share their own inter-generational stories through StoryCorps, a national organization that works to preserve and share oral history. The community will have opportunities to record StoryCorps segments at Rodman Public Library from 6-8 p.m. on Jan. 21, Feb. 17 and March 16; and from 3-5 p.m. on Jan. 23, Feb. 19 and March 17. 

Books will be available for purchase at Rodman Public Library and Rodman Branch Library and the University of Mount Union bookstore. Cost is $10.00 each. For more information, visit One Book One Community Alliance Ohio on Facebook, @AllianceOBOC on Twitter, or rodmanlibrary.com

Vita Tax Clinics

The United Way of Greater Stark County can file your taxes for free. The VITA program offers free tax assistance to people who make $65,000 or less. Anyone may schedule their own tax appointment online by going to www.uwstark.org/our-work/community-programs/vita. IRS-certified volunteers provide free income tax return preparation with electronic filing and offers direct deposit for a speedy refund. The 2020 schedule for the months January through April available at Rodman Library's monthly calendar: http://rodmanlibrary.evanced.info/signup

For more information on the VITA Program and the sites set up throughout Greater Stark County, or to schedule an appointment, call 330-994-VITA (8482), Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., January 6 – April 9, 2020.

Tabletop Strategy Game Night

Do you like to play games of strategy? Or want to try something new? If so, join us in the library’s auditorium on Tuesday, January 21, at 6 p.m., to share your interest with other like-minded individuals of all ages.

Each month there will be a different featured game a staff member will teach you to play. This month's featured game is Catan. Light refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact DJ Digianantonio at 330-821-2665, ext. 214.   

Alliance Vinyl Club with Weird and Gilly

Do you collect vinyl records and enjoy listening to your favorites with like-minded people? Join us Monday, January 27, from 6:30-8:00 p.m., where you can spin your favorite records, learn how to catalog a collection on an online database (Discogs) and share tips for caring for a vinyl collection.

The evening’s guest speakers, are Eric Demattio (aka Weird) and Karen Laney (aka Gilly). They co-authored, under the pseudonym Weird and Gilly, the book Mick Ronson: The Spider with the Platinum Hair. As all melophiles know, Ronson was an english guitarist, songwriter, producer, arranger, and a session musician who recorded with Bowie (as one of the Spiders from Mars), Ian Hunter, and Morrissey. Demattio and Laney will give the audience a close-up look at Ronson as they discuss his music and talk about writing their book.

Eric Demattio is an Ohio native who has pursued his love of music for the last 36 years working and managing various record stores, up to his present position for The Exchange in Cleveland, Ohio. Karen Laney began her career at Canton Graphic Arts after which she started her (nearly) 20 year run at the Quonset Hut. She is currently positioned at the USPS.

Due to time limitations, only a few selections per person will be played. A turntable will be provided, but we ask that you handle your personal records and assume any liability for normal wear and scratches. No registration is required. For more information, call the Main Library at 330-821-2665 ext. 216.

Winter Computer Classes

Beginning in January 2020, Rodman Library will offer a series of computer classes which will run through March. Classes will be held on January 7, 9, 14, 16, 21 & 23. Hands on classes are limited to nine (9) persons and a maximum of two (2) alternates. All classes start at 10 a.m., and last about one hour. Registration is required. You may register in person, or call the Main Library at 330-821-2665, or sign up online at http://rodmanlibrary.evanced.info/signup/Calendar.

iPad/iPhone Basics: This class will introduce you to some basic features on your iPad/iPhone and some popular apps to get you started. Learn how to download apps, close apps, change settings, and more. Please be sure your device is charged and you know your passwords.
Class date is Tuesday, January 7

Tech Time Thursday: Our Computer Lab will be open for any questions you may have about your computer or electronic devices. Problems with your iPhone? iPad app questions? Android device concerns? We will be here 
to help you. 
Class dates are Thursdays, January 9, 16 & 23

Computer 101: The focus will be on the basics of the computer and common desktop elements, information on the various search engines and how to search the Internet, plus how to create an email account, reading and sending emails, and attaching and opening attached files.
 Class date is Tuesday, January 14 
 
Streaming Basics: Alternative ways to bring entertainment and news into your home TV by streaming with media devices, apps, and video game consoles will be discussed. Media devices include Amazon Fire 4K Ultra HD, Apple TV 4K, Google Chromecast Ultra, and Roku Streaming Stick. We will review what apps are available and look at some of the popular ones such as Hulu, Netflix, Crackle and Sling, and talk about using the video game consoles Xbox One and PlayStation as streaming devices. 
Class date is Tuesday, January 21

Ongoing Programs at Rodman Public Library

Join us for one of our ongoing programs at Rodman Public Library. For specific dates and times, please check our monthly calendar of events.

Evening Book Discussion Group - Meets the 1st Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the Main Conference Room.

Branch Book Club - Meets the 1st Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Branch.

"KnitWits" Knitting Circle - Meets on the 2nd and 4th Mondays from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Main Auditorium.

Writers' Alliance - Meets the 2nd Monday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Main Auditorium.

Caregiver Support Group - Meets the last Thursday of the month (except November and December, meets the 3rd Thursday) from 2:00-3:00 p.m. in the Main Children’s Program Room.