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March 2020
Rodman Buzz
railroad crossing

Child of Steam – Alliance's Birth at the Crossing

Robb Hyde will present Child of Steam: Alliance’s Birth at The Crossing – a look at the early days of the railroads in Northeast Ohio and the founding of Alliance, Ohio. Sponsored by the Alliance Historical Society, the program will take place on Monday, March 2, at 7 p.m., in Rodman Library’s Main Auditorium. The title of the program comes from Levi L. Lamborn, one of the founding fathers of the city, who wrote in 1873 that Alliance was “an offspring of the locomotive, a legitimate child of steam” in his “History of Lexington Township.”

Child of Steam is the first part of a two-part series of programs on Alliance Railroad History debuting at the University of Mount Union’s Continuing Learning Program. The second program, Crossroads on the Standard Railroad of the World, is set for April 7, 2020, at 10 a.m. For more information, call the Main Library at 330-821-2665, ext. 101.

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plant and trowel

Rodman Library Partners with StarkFresh Seed Library

Rodman Library is once again partnering with StarkFresh to bring a “Seed Library” to our community. Beginning on Monday, March 2, vegetable and flower seeds will be displayed in the Library’s wooden card catalog located in the Library’s front lobby. Patrons may browse through the catalog and take the free seed packets of items they are interested in growing. The seed packets offered are the same ones seen in most retail stores with corn, beans, peas, squash, herbs, beets, radishes, watermelon, lettuce, cucumbers, cantaloupe, gourds, a few root vegetables such as turnips and a wide variety of flowers. Mid-March planting will give patrons ample time to start their seeds indoors.

StarkFresh, located in Canton, Ohio, states their mission is to “Improve healthy food access and advance food and farming education to everyone in Stark County.” The agency offers a Mobile Market, also known as the “Veggie Mobile” for the Stark County Community; educates the community on how to grow, eat, cook and preserve fresh food; forms partnerships with groups to teach vocational skills around farming that will create jobs and help increase produce yields and partners with libraries, businesses and organizations in Stark County to form a Seed Library to distribute vegetable and flower seeds to community members.

Seed packets have been generously donated by Marc’s Grocery Stores, Canton City Public Health and Motts Greenhouse. For more information on the Seed Library, call Rodman Public Library at 330-821-2665, ext. 107, or visit our website at www.rodmanlibrary.com. To learn more about the StarkFresh organization visit their website at www.starkfresh.org.

canned goods

Food for Fines

Rodman Library is once again offering “Food for Fines” through the month of March. The recipient of this food collection will be the Alliance Food Pantry. For items donated, fines will be forgiven from a patron’s record.

Food items requested by the Food Pantry are peanut butter, cans of tuna, cereal, cans of soup and canned fruit and vegetables. Non-food items such as toilet paper, paper towels and hand soap (bar or liquid) are also needed. No lost or damaged items will be included in the fines. Items donated will not be accepted if they are past the expiration date. For more information, call the library at 330-821-2665. 

Evening Book Discussion

Are you a book lover? Are you interested in meeting other book lovers to compare notes and have a lively discussion? Join us at the evening book discussion group Monday, March 2, at 6:30 p.m., in Rodman Public Library’s Conference Room.

The Long Flight Home by Alan HladThe Long Flight Home, by Alan Hlad, is the book choice for discussion. The title is carried at Rodman Main and Branch Libraries—also available electronically.

The book selection for April is House Made of Dawn, by Scott Momaday. Come to the meeting and bring a friend. For more information, call 330-821-2665, ext. 107.

Branch Book Club

The Branch Book Club meets on the third Monday of each month and is scheduled for March 16, at  6:30 p.m.

We Band of Angels by Elizabeth NormanWe Band of Angels: The untold story of American nurses trapped on Bataan by the Japanese, by Elizabeth M. Norman, is the book selection for discussion. It is available at Rodman Branch Library—also available electronically.

The book selection for April is My Family and Other Animals, by Gerald Malcolm Durrell. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, stop at the Branch Library or call 330-821-1313.

Vinyl ClubAlliance Vinyl Club

Do you collect vinyl records and enjoy listening to your favorites with like-minded people? Join us Monday, March 30, from 6:30-8:00 p.m., in the Main Auditorium as the evening’s guest speaker, John Whitacre, will display and play selections from his extensive vinyl collection. He will show many of his rare records, such as colored vinyl, picture discs, spoken word and steam.

Whitacre will also play selections of traditional folk music ranging from international to local artists. He started collecting vinyl records in the late 60s and now owns over 1000 LPs and CDs and several hundred 45s that encompass a wide range of musical styles and eras. As a musician, Whitacre performs traditional Celtic music of the British Isles on string instruments. He is also a writer, historian and calligrapher who also collects, besides records, books, maps and inkwells.

This program is free and open to the public. No registration is needed. For more information, call the Main Library at 330-821-2665 ext. 216.

Tabletop Stragety 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, March 24, 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 Sierra West. Light refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact DJ at 330-821-2665, ext. 214.   

Creativebug Class

Do you enjoy arts and crafts? Join us for a fun afternoon on Saturday, March 21 at 2 p.m., in the Main Auditorium as library staff show you how to use our new online database Creativebug. This library provided database allows free access to thousands of award-winning art & craft video classes taught by recognized design experts and artists.

During this program, participants will create their own decorative jewelry pin made using Shrinky Dinks®. Supplies will be furnished.

Limited to 30 participants so registration is needed. This event is free and sponsored by the Friends of Rodman Library. To register, call 330-821-2665, or go online to www.rodmanlibrary.com/calendar and click on Evanced calendar. 

computer

March Computer Classes

Rodman Library offers a series of winter computer classes that run through March. The next classes take place on March 3, 5, 11, 18 & 19. 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.

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, March 3 

Tech Time Thursday: Our Computer Classroom 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 date is Thursday, March 5 & 19

Intro to Windows 10: Curious about Windows 10? We will demonstrate how to navigate through this interface and show new elements such as the Edge browser. Demonstration only.
Class date is Wednesday, March 11

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 Wednesday, March 18

VITA Tax Clinics at Rodman Library

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 through April, available at Rodman Library, is as follows:

Wednesday:
03/11/2020 – 4-7 p.m.
03/25/2020 – 4-7 p.m.
04/08/2020 – 4-7 p.m.

Thursday:
03/12/2020 – 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.
03/26/2020 – 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.
04/09/2020 – 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.

 Saturday: 
03/14/2020 – 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.
04/04/2020 – 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.

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., through April 9, 2020.

BizChat with John Myers

Are you an entrepreneur? Got an idea and want to kick it around, or a business idea and don’t know what’s next? Are you running a small business and need some advice? Or do you just want to learn about resources at the library? Stop by for a chat with John Myers, Director of INCUBOX business incubator on Wednesday, March 11, at 10 a.m., in Rodman Library Conference Room. Free and open to the public. For more information, call 330-821-2665.

red crossAmerican Red Cross Blood Drive

The American Red Cross is having a blood drive at Rodman Public Library, on Wednesday, March 25, from noon to 6:00 p.m., in the auditorium.

You may schedule an appointment by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or go to RedCrossBlood.org and use sponsor code: Rodman. Help save lives by giving blood.

Ohio Civics Essential Game Night

An Ohio Civics Essential Game Night will be held on Monday, March 23 at 6:30 p.m.

Ongoing Programs

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.

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215 E. Broadway Street, Alliance, OH 44601