Happy New Year!

Have a very happy
(and safe)
New Year's Eve
and New Year's Day!

We'll see you at the library...in 2014!

Staff Picks: The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars
John Green
2012

This heartbreaking yet hilarious novel tells the story of Hazel Lancaster, an Indianapolis teenager and medical miracle living with cancer. Preferring to stay at home and watch episodes of America's Next Top Model, she's less than thrilled when her mom suggests that she attend a Cancer Kid Support Group. But it's there that she meets the handsome and wonderfully unique Augustus Waters—and her life changes forever.

Exploring the themes of life and death, living and dying, friendship and family, and young love, fans of John Green (author of Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, Paper Towns, etc.) will devour The Fault in Our Stars. Full of unforgettable characters, this novel is a brilliant, hilarious, tragic, painful, and inspiring read! Two thumbs up!

And make sure to check out the book before the movie it inspired comes out in June of 2014!

Sarah 
Librarian
Martinsburg Public Library

CALL NUMBER: YA FIC Gree.J

2014: Change Your History

In the year 2013, the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries based our activities on history, with an emphasis on West Virginia's 150th birthday.

For the 2014 calendar year, the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries' theme will be NEW YEAR, NEW YOU, based on changing your history, whether that means you make goals to improve your life financially, physically, or in any other way you want to make a change for your future.

Be on the lookout for another post with more details, as well as programs and activities throughout the year based on this theme!

Wishing you very happy, happy holidays...

...from all of us at MBCPL!

We've got all your holiday favorites! Come check them out!

Looking for a great book to read this holiday season? Check out some of these holiday favorites!

 

A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens

JF D548ch

 

 

 

 

How the Grinch Stole Christmas
by Dr. Seuss

JP Geis.T or JP Seuss

 

 

 

 

The Polar Express
by Chris van Allsburg

JP Vana.C

 

 

Skipping Christmas
by John Grisham

F G869sk or FIC Gris.J

The Christmas Box
by Richard Paul Evans

F E92ch

 

 

 

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor
by Lisa Kleypas

FIC Kley.L or LT FIC Kley.L

 

 

 

 

The Christmas Train
by David Baldacci

F B175ch

The Stupidest Angel
by Christopher Moore

F M821st

 

 

 

Merry Christmas, Cowboy

by Janet Dailey

FIC Dail.J (NEW)

Janet Dailey, we'll miss you!

www.earlyword.com

Beloved romance author Janet Dailey passed away over the weekend due to complications from heart surgery.

Dailey wrote over 150 novels and found herself on the bestsellers list many times. She will certainly be missed in the world of books!

For a full list of Janet Dailey's books, click here. If you would like to find out what titles we offer at our libraries, simply go to our online catalog and type author:(Dailey, Janet) in the search box.

You can find her newest book, Merry Christmas, Cowboy in our new section under the call number FIC Dail.J. You'll find most of her older titles in our regular fiction section.

For more information about the life and writing career of Janet Dailey, visit her website.

Holiday Reception at MPL

The Martinsburg Public Library will host a Holiday Reception tomorrow, Thursday, December 12.

Stop by the library and select a cookie cutter from our Christmas tree!

Image borrowed from ndrichardson.com.

Thank you!

 

It is that time of year when we reflect on what we are thankful about and who we are thankful for.

This year, the Library Foundation of Berkeley County is thankful for the many donations received from the residents of Berkeley County. We are thankful that the service provided to the community by the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries (MBCPL) has been recognized and appreciated.

The MBCPL continues to offer free services to the community, even with the increased cost of books, computers, and other technologies.

As you are making your charitable donations this year, we hope that you will think again (or for the first time) to donate to your local Berkeley County library.

Visit www.librarygiving.com to donate online!

Local Author Book-Signing

Local author James Droegemeyer will visit the Martinsburg Public Library on Saturday, December 14, 2013 from 1:00-4:00 pm for a book-signing in honor of his new book.

His new book is entitled Robbing the Ambassador: "For the Jazz" and is a historical account of the great train robbery of Martinsburg!

Join us and speak with the author as he tells about who he spoke with while researching for his newest book. 

Tis the Season

As the days grow shorted and the weather becomes colder, thoughts turn to the approaching holiday season. Thanksgiving is barely over but plans for the BIG holiday, be it Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, are already well on the way to making this holiday the best ever. People are getting into the spirit!

As December begins, the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries (MBCPL) is contemplating the holiday season. By the end of November, the area garden clubs transformed the library into a holiday delight to rival the likes of many a store. Our Christmas panels, painted by staff member and artist Wayne Hilliard will again adorn the Queen Street windows throughout the month of December.

Stop by the Children's Department on Saturday, December 14 at 10:30 am for a special holiday Book-to-Movie program featuring the film The Muppets Christmas Carol.

The Martinsburg Public Library will also host a Holiday Reception on Thursday, December 12. Stop by the library and select a cookie cutter from our Christmas tree!

MBCPL promotes the gift of reading. For the month of December, the adult library will feature a Bag Sale. Fill a bag (which the library provides) for just $1.00! The Children's Department will also sponsor a book sale this month. This is the perfect time to select those favorite titles and share the gift of reading with others.

This year all Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries will be closed on the following dates...

Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Tuesday, December 31, 2013 (at 1:00 pm)
Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Wishing you a happy holiday season!

What's happening at NBL in December?

Join us at North Berkeley Library on Tuesdays from 6:00-7:00 pm for...

December 3
Lego Freeplay

mariloustrait.wordpress.com

December 10
Game night with special Christmas craft (We'll be making Christmas trees out of old books!)

There will also be special craft days on Mondays, December 9, 16, 23, and 30. Craft supplies will be available throughout the day and patrons of all ages are welcome to come and create!

And join us for Story and Craft Time for preschoolers on Thursdays, December 5, 12, and 19 at 10:30 am. The focus this month will be on holiday stories and crafts.

December 2013: From the Director's Chair



kingstonpubliclibrary.org

As the holiday season approaches, many people will be receiving an e-reader as a gift or they may be upgrading their existing device. This will mean an increase in demand for e-materials, including e-books, e-magazines, and e-audios, for all ages and for all subject areas. As much as the library wants to exceed your expectations, there are some challenges currently involved with the purchase of e-materials for libraries. 
First and foremost, some publishers do not allow libraries to buy e-materials. Although you might search Amazon and find a bestseller available for your Kindle, this same title may not be available for the library to purchase. We do our best to search all available vendors, but often publishers make decisions to not allow libraries to purchase particular titles.
 
Secondly, costs and usage play large parts in the e-materials challenge. For example, many popular titles, such as Inferno by Dan Brown, may cost the library $15-$20 for a traditional hardback, but may cost almost $85 in e-book format. In other cases, the library may purchase an e-book with the stipulation that it may only check out twenty-six times. For the twenty-seventh patron, that item no longer exists in our system. In still other cases, such as the Harry Potter series, e-books may be checked out for up to five years before disappearing from our system. We continue to increase our budget in this area to meet the demand of patrons as well as increasing e-materials costs.
 
Third, finding e-materials in our library catalog can be rather difficult and inconvenient. Currently our online catalog vendor is developing a method of integrating our e-materials with our traditional library materials. But until then, you as a patron may have to search three separate vendors (Overdrive, Axis 360, One Click Digital) to find a e-materials title that interests you. Our goal is to make your searching experience more streamlined and convenient.
 
All three of the above mentioned vendors are located on our webpage (http://martinsburg.lib.wv.us) under the Electronic Resources tab.
 
We have also added Zinio to our list of electronic resources. With this site you an access and download digital magazines to your e-reader or device. You can select from over 270 titles which cover a variety of topics.
 
We appreciate the patron who understands the cost of ordering e-materials and donated $250.00 for this purpose. Any similar help would be welcomed!

Staff Picks: The Richest Woman in America

The Richest Woman in America: Hetty Green in the Gilded Age
by Janet Wallach
2012

Most people recognize the names Rockefeller, Carnegie, Astor, and Huntington as the names of men who made fortunes during the Gilded Age and with their influence helped expand the country with railroads and increased wealth. Few would recognize the name Hetty Green as easily.

In the biography The Richest Woman in America: Hetty Green in the Gilded Age, Janet Wallach introduces readers to a woman who made her own financial decisions and fought for what she felt was rightfully hers. During several downturns in the economy during this time period, she was the one who lent New York City money; she was the one who started the Texas Midland railroad. As she said, "I am always buying when everyone wants to sell and selling when everyone wants to buy."

In my opinion, the author spent far too much time drawing parallels between Hetty's time and now, inferring psychological motives for many of Green's decisions and the Gilded Age. However, the story of Hetty Green is the story of how America was built not only by financiers who were men, but also by financiers who were women.

Pam Coyle
Director
Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries

CALL NUMBER: 921 Gree.H

Let It Snow

Join us at Musselman-South Berkeley Community Library for Let It Snow, a movie, story time, and craft program on Saturday, December 7, 2013 at 1:30 pm. 

Popcorn and drinks will be provided.

Happy Thanksgiving!

After School Christmas Crafts

Announcing...



After School Christmas Crafts!

Beginning Wednesday, December 4 from 3:00-4:30 pm and continuing throughout the month on December 11, and 18.

All children are welcome! Crafts will require dexterity suitable for school-aged children.

Join us and create!

We'll miss you, Barbara Park!

http://www.blink.com.ph/barbara-park.html

We in the Children's Department were very sad to learn that Barbara Park passed away last week. Park was a prolific children's author, best-known for her Junie B. Jones series.

Before Junie B.'s first adventure in 1992, Park wrote several other novels for children, including Mick Harte Was Here and The Kid in the Red Jacket, along with two picture books titled Psssst! It's Me...The Bogeyman and Ma! There's Nothing to Do Here! A Word From Your Baby-in-Waiting.

Our system holds most of Barbara Park's books, and we encourage you to memorialize her by searching the catalog for "Park, Barbara." Remember that you can have books sent from another location to your home library!

Of course, we are all very sad to lose Barbara Park, but, as Suzanne Perez Tobias said in this wonderful memorial, "Junie B. Jones will live forever."

Let us introduce you to Dewey...

Do you find using the library difficult? Need a crash course in the Dewey Decimal Classification system?

The Dewey Decimal Classification system is used to organize information into general areas, which are then broken into smaller, more specific topics. Based on the topic and author, books are then assigned numbers, known as call numbers. A call number serves as a book's home address—it's where you can find it on the shelf.

www.proprofs.com

Here is a breakdown of the general areas organized within the Dewey Decimal Classification system...

000 General Knowledge
Almanacs, encyclopedias, libraries, museums, newspapers, etc.

100 Psychology
Death & dying, ethics, feelings, logic, superstitions, etc.

200 Religions and Mythology
Bible, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, world religions, Greek & Roman mythology

300 Social Sciences and Folklore
Careers, customs, environment, families, government, manners, money, etc.

400 Languages and Grammar
English, foreign languages, dictionaries, grammar, etc.

500 Math and Science
Biology, chemistry, geology, physics, etc.

600 Medicine and Technology
Computers, engineering, inventions, nutrition, exercise, health, cookbooks, etc.

700 Arts and Recreation
Crafts, drawing, games, jokes, music, movies, sports, etc.

800 Literature
Plays, poetry, Shakespeare, writing, etc.

900 Geography and History
Biographies, country information, states, travel, wars, etc.

November at Naylor

Here's what to look for at Naylor in November...

www.gograph.com

TEEN NIGHT

Monday, November 18 from 7-8 pm is craft night for teens! Learn the art of origami, make something totally new from an old book, and enjoy other paper crafts! And starting in December, the second Monday night of every month at Naylor will be TEEN NIGHT! On Monday, December 9th from 7-8 pm, join us for duct tape projects. 

STORY TIME TO GO

Also in December, Naylor will be starting a special program for preschoolers called STORYTIME TO GO. If you check out a holiday book, you will receive a take-home craft based on the book you check out.

Happy Veterans Day

Happy Veterans Day!

Thank you for your service, veterans!

Ancestry.com

Retired librarian Jane Sullivan will present a program on Ancestry.com on Saturday, November 16 from 11am to 1pm for people interested in using this website to trace their family roots! She will begin by explaining the features of the website and then be available to answer specific questions and even help patrons use the site.

International Games Day @ your library!

Join the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries on Saturday, November 16, 2013 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm to celebrate International Games Day @ your library!

International Games Day is “an initiative run by volunteers from around the world and [supported] by the American Library Association to reconnect communities through their libraries around the educational, recreational, and social value of all types of games” (American Library Association). This year marks the sixth anniversary of the start of the International Games Day @ your library celebration.

To celebrate in Berkeley County, a variety of games will be available for you to play at each of our four branches—Martinsburg (downtown), Naylor Memorial (Hedgesville), North Berkeley (Spring Mills), and Musselman-South Berkeley (Inwood).

You’ll find decks of playing cards and board games like chess, checkers, Candyland, Chutes & Ladders, Trouble, Mousetrap, and Sorry! There will also be gaming systems like Kinect, Xbox, and Wii available at all of the branch libraries except Naylor Memorial. If you plan to visit North Berkeley, please note that gaming events do not begin until 12:00 pm.

So come to the library on Saturday, November 16th and have fun playing our games! We can’t wait to see you!

For more information on International Games Day please visit http://ilovelibraries.org/gaming.

Local author with new book to visit NBL!

George F. Franks, III, author of a new book titled Battle of Falling Waters 1863: Custer, Pettigrew and the End of the Gettysburg Campaign will be visiting North Berkeley Library on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 6:30 pm to discuss his book, his research, and answer questions from the public. There will be books available for sale and signing.

Battle of Falling Waters 1863: Custer, Pettigrew and the End of the Gettysburg Campaign is a new book from local author George Franks. It tells the story of the Gettysburg Campaign, both before and after the Battle of Falling Waters. The book has been receiving increased attention from historians.

Although not the climactic battle of the war desired by President Abraham Lincoln, the Battle of Falling Waters remains a story of miscalculation, bravery, larger-than-life personalities, tragedy, and a cover-up. This new book tells the story of that final battle.

George F. Franks, III has been passionate about the study of the American Civil War since visiting Gettysburg battlefield with his parents in July 1963. He studied history at the U.S. Naval Academy and the University of Pittsburgh. A former telecommunications executive with extensive international experience, he is currently the president of Franks Consulting Group and the owner of CockedHats.com, a historical hat business.

George is also the former president of the Capitol Hill Civil War Round Table, a member of Hagerstown Civil War Round Table, Save Historic Antietam Foundation, and the Civil War Trust. He is a Governor and a former Vice President of the Company of Military Historians. George has researched the July 14, 1863 Battle of Falling Waters, Maryland for a decade.

Game Night at North Berkeley!

Join us at North Berkeley on Tuesday, November 12, from 6:00 - 7:00 PM for a game night and craft! Come out and play some of your favorite games, then make those rubber band bracelets that are so popular at school!

WV Author Sarah Sullivan to visit MPL!

Come to the Martinsburg Public Library to meet West Virginia author Sarah Sullivan on Saturday, November 9, 2013 at 10:30 AM! 

        

Ms. Sullivan will discuss her NEW middle-reader book All That's Missing, as well as her acclaimed picture books Passing the music Down, Dear Baby: Letters from Your Big Brother, and Root Beer and Banana, among others.

Learn about the author and her writing, enjoy discussion about her work, have some yummy refreshments, and even get a book signed!

Jewelry Sale at NBL

Stop by North Berkeley Library on Saturday, November 9th for a "Just in Time for Christmas!" jewelry sale. All day long, come and pick something up for that special someone. Costume and better jewelry will be offered, second-hand and new. Proceeds go toward the Friends of the North Berkeley Library programs!

November 2013: From the Director's Chair

This November, as cold weather sets in and our thoughts turn to the holidays (especially Thanksgiving), I am reminded that although people are very different in many ways, they are grateful for the same things:

· Enough food

· A place to call home

· Good health

· A sense of accomplishment

Unfortunately, we at the library are faced with the reality that some of our patrons do not have enough food or a place to call home. In the colder months, they come to the library for shelter and warmth, valuing not only warmth from the furnace but from the staff which strives to welcome everyone. These patrons work on the computers, connect with family and friends, read everything from newspapers to esoteric tomes on philosophy, and discuss the world and its troubles with other patrons. These patrons, in fact, are just like us.

So what is the library’s role in this unfortunate reality? First, it is to provide a place that is welcoming to everyone, and second, it is to provide free access to a wide variety of materials in print or via the Internet to all patrons.

This unfortunate reality is uncomfortable for some patrons who have expressed that “those people” should not be in the library. However, our role as a library is not to pass judgment on who should or should not be here or what they should or should not read.

This holiday season, be thankful for what you have and compassionate for those who don’t have as much, for whatever reason. Also, give thanks that we live in a society that provides free information with diverse viewpoints to everyone regardless of economic or social standing.

To learn more about this issue, check out the following link from the American Library Association:

Equality and Equity of Access: What's the Difference?

Middle Reader Book Group

Please note that the Middle Reader Book Group will meet at the Martinsburg Public Library at 4:30 pm on the first Tuesday of each month. This is a change from the original schedule.

Come out on Tuesday, November 5, 2013 at 4:30 pm to talk about Diary of a Wimpy Kid!

Staff Picks: Coming Clean

Coming Clean
Kimberly Rae Miller
2013

Coming Clean by Kimberly Rae Miller is a gut-wrenching memoir by a talented young woman who grew up with two hoarding parents. At first it was only her father who hoarded, but in time her mother did also. Kimberly vividly describes an agonizing and confusing childhood, one in which she could never invite friends to her house or even explain why. And yet she loves her parents, and they obviously adore her. They provide for her every need, except the need to grow up in a clean environment. 

This memoir will blow away any preconceived notions about who hoarders really are. Kim's parents are intelligent and educated, but are unable to deal with, or even admit to, their mental illness. 

Anyone who enjoys reading biographies and memoirs or has any interest in how children cope in a dysfunctional family will want to read this book. It is a fast and fascinating read!

Marian Bieniek
Librarian
Martinsburg Public Library

CALL NUMBER: 973.92 Mill.K

Happy Halloween

Stop by the Children's Department at Martinsburg Public Library on HALLOWEEN (Thursday, October 31) any time between the hours of 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM for a ghoulish party!

Make a Halloween craft, dance to Halloween music!

Come for books, stay for fun!

And if you dress like your favorite storybook character you will receive an extra treat!

WV InfoDepot

What's so great about being a student in WV?
You get access to some great, FREE resources! Need research for a big paper? Want to learn more about what you're studying in school? Check this out...

Why's WV InfoDepot so great?
WV InfoDepot is provided to teachers, library card holders, and school students by the West Virginia Library Commission for FREE. It includes a variety of resources, including an encyclopedia, job and career accelerator, newspaper archives, and many academic (but fun and easy to use) databases for all ages.

Which database is right for you?
Points of View
This database contains resources that present multiple sides of an issue and provides the basis from which students can realize and develop persuasive arguments and essays, better understand controversial issues, and develop analytical thinking skills. 

Kids Search
This database makes researching a variety of topics easy for elementary students.

Searchasaurus
This database is colorful and easy to use for young elementary students. The Searchasaurus dinosaur makes researching fun!

How do you find WV InfoDepot?
To get to WV InfoDepot, just go to the library's website, go to the RESOURCES tab, and click on General Reference. WV InfoDepot will be toward the bottom of the list. You will need a username and password, but if you are a library card holder or a student, just give us a call and we can provide you with that information.

If you have questions, just give us a call at 304-267-8933! We're always happy to help!

Ghosts of Martinsburg

During the month of October many individuals turn their thoughts toward ghosts, ghost stories, and other paranormal events. Justin Stevens is one such individual, focusing his concentration on the ghosts of Martinsburg. On Thursday, October 24 at 7:00 PM, Stevens will share his love of local history and ghost stories at the Martinsburg Public Library.

Stevens' interest in ghosts began when his grandmother told him his very first ghost stories. Over the years he heard various stories about the ghosts of Martinsburg, and recently he observed that most historical towns have a ghost tour to honor their ghostly heritage. However, Martinsburg does not. With this in mind, Stevens began collecting local ghost stories only to find the town was rich in ghostly lore!

This program coincides with Stevens' ghost tours of Martinsburg, titled Haunted History & Legends of Martinsburg, West Virginia, which he will be offering throughout the month of October. Tour schedule and cost information can be found by contacting Justin Stevens at:

martinsbrgghoststories@yahoo.com

The program on October 24th at the library is free and open to the public.

Michael T to visit NBL!

Stop by the North Berkeley Library on Tuesday, October 22 from 6:00-7:00 PM. Michael T will join us for LEGO club. He will be reading his book and performing magic tricks!

Mythology at MPL!

www.art.com

Join us at the Martinsburg Public Library this Thursday, October 17, 2013 at 7:00 PM for a discussion with Dr. David Shahan about ancient mythology!

Halloween at Musselman!

Stop by the Musselman-South Berkeley Community Library on Saturday, October 19, 2013 at 1:30 PM for some special Halloween fun! Join us for some fun, frighteningly good food, and affordable party and costume ideas!

Please call 304-229-2220 for more information!

Video Games at MPL

The Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Library system is happy to announce that we now have video games available for check-out to our patrons 18 years of age or older.

Our collection is starting out with 66 games, which span the Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii platforms, and range in rating from E (Everyone) to M (Mature). Titles include: Mario Kart Wii, Kinect Adventures, Need for Speed: Most Wanted, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Halo 4, Assassin's Creed, Smackdown vs. Raw, and many more! Contact your local library for a complete list of games.

Because of the range of ratings, check-out of video games will be limited to patrons 18 years of age and older. Each check-out will be for one week. Additionally, check-out is currently limited to 2 games per adult library card. Finally, only patrons with a valid library card from the Martinsburg, Musselman, Naylor, or North Berkeley libraries will be able to place holds on video games. Those with valid library cards from Jefferson or Morgan counties need to place any requests for games through their local librarian.

Have some games you'd like to donate to the library? We are currently accepting any gently used games as donations, but they must include both disc and cartridge. No PC games and no games rated above M will be accepted, however.

Check the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) for game ratings and content to make informed choices about the various games available for check-out. Watch for upcoming gaming events in the library during the next few months, including International Games Day in November!

from BOOK to MOVIE

Looking for a stimulating, wholesome, and free way to spend a morning with your family? Join us for our 'from BOOK to MOVIE' program which runs the second Saturday of each month from October through May at 10:30 AM, in the Children's Department.

After all, a good story can be enjoyable in many forms: written word, moving picture, stage production, music, etc. Perhaps the two we're most familiar experiencing are the written word and moving picture, i.e. books and movies. So why not enjoy them both?

In celebration of our love of stories on the page and screen, we offer the 'from BOOK to MOVIE' program for children. Now in its fifth year, this program introduces kids (and adults alike) to the great literature which inspires many films.

Many of us know Dr. Seuss' The Lorax and Tolkien's The Hobbit, as they were classics of literature long before coming to the screen. Take, however, the epically popular quadrilogy of Shrek animations: this adventurous, if cranky, ogre began his life on the pages of a children's picture book of the same name by author/illustrator William Steig. Recall J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan, animated early-on by the Walt Disney Company.

In the past, we have enjoyed this story from a fantastically creative slant in Steven Spielberg's Hook. Other entertaining and quality stories we've featured are The Iron Giant, based on a poem by Ted Hughes; The Polar Express, from the modern, picture book classic by author/illustrator Chris van Allsburg; and The Neverending Story, from the novel by German author Michael Ende.

Depending on the ages in the audience, we may talk about characters, themes such as good versus evil, or get into a discussion about the differences between the book and the film production. No matter what, we always hear a dramatic reading from the original story and watch the film, munching on popcorn and "thematic snacks" (example: Turkish Delight for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe).

Please call the children's department at (304) 267-8288 for more information!