Mother's Day Trivia Contest at MPL!

Want to win your mom a hanging basket of beautiful flowers? 

Just take part in MPL's Mother's Day Trivia Contest. 

Forms will be available beginning Saturday, April 27, 2013 at the Chocolate Festival/Book Faire. All forms must be returned to the Martinsburg Public Library by 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 9. 

The winner will be announced Saturday, May 11 during Martinsburg Heritage Day. The hanging basket will be donated by Allegheny Farms in Martinsburg. In the case of a tie, the winner's name will be drawn from a hat.

Here's a little information about the history of Mother's Day...

Mother's Day in the United States is held annually on the second Sunday in May. It celebrates motherhood and allows a special time to appreciate mothers and mother figures.

In 1907, Anna Jarvis held a private Mother's Day celebration in memory of her mother Ann Jarvis in Grafton, WV. Ann Jarvis had organized "Mother's Day Work Clubs" to improve health and cleanliness in the area where she lived. Anna Jarvis launched a quest for Mother's Day to be more widely recognized. Her campaign was later financially supported by John Wanamaker, a clothing merchant from Philadelphia. In 1908, she was instrumental in arranging a service in the Andrew's Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, WV which was attended by 407 children and their mothers. The church has now become the International Mother's Day Shrine. It is a tribute to all Mothers and has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.

Staff Picks: Unbearable Lightness

Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain
by Portia de Rossi
2010

I will read almost any celebrity memoir, but Unbearable Lightness is far and away my favorite; in fact, it's one of my favorite books from any genre. I really enjoyed not just the story but the writing itself. Memoirs are often a chronological account of an author's whole life, but de Rossi has focused on her body image, self-confidence, and eating disorders. In a society that is always worried about image and healthy eating, and that seems to be on a never-ending diet, her thoughts on our relationships with food and exercise seem especially important. Readers who have struggled with weight and body image may also relate to some of her thoughts on coming out. Fans of Ellen Degeneres are likely to enjoy the final section, which talks about the actresses' dating and marriage. All-around, this is a beautifully written book with something to teach everyone.

Hannah
Children's Department
Martinsburg Public Library

CALL NUMBER: 921 Dero.P

Zombies rising up at MPL!

Did you know that May is Zombie Awareness Month? The Zombie Research Society (ZRS) has declared the month of May (not October) to raise awareness of the undead and associates itself with a gray ribbon. According to ZRS, "many films important to the evolution of the modern zombie are set in the month of May, from the original Night of the Living Dead (1968), to the well-received Dawn of the Dead remake (2004).

Supporters of Zombie Awareness Month wear a gray ribbon to signify the undead shadows that lurk behind our modern light of day. You may be asking, "What does this have to do with me?" With the help of Martinsburg Public Library (MPL), it is time to heighten awareness and knowledge about zombies and how to be prepared for natural, biological, or man-made disasters.

To kick off the month, join MPL on May 2, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. for a showing of the original classic zombie flick, Night of the Living Dead, directed by George A. Romero. (This movie may not be suitable for young children.)

Throughout the month there will be zombie and survival displays, a zombie trivia contest, and a survival craft night. Check our Facebook page or right here on the blog for more detailed and up-to-date information on upcoming events for the month of May. 

What better time to celebrate the revival of the undead than during the spring season! Careful, you might just see zombies in the library!

Want more Downton Abbey?

Are you charmed and enchanted by the British television series Downton Abbey? Are you sad that Season 3 is over? Did you know that there are books all about the television series?

Well, there are, and we have them! Come check them out!
  

 

The World of Downton Abbey

by Julian Fellowes
791.4527 Fell.J

A companion book to the popular British series about the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants offers insights into the story and characters and background information on British society in the early years of the twentieth century.

 



The Unofficial Downton Abbey Cookbook
by Emily Baines
641.5 Bain.E

With this collection of delicacies inspired by Emmy Award-winning series Downton Abbey, you'll feel as sophisticated and poised as the men and women of Downton when you prepare these upstairs and downstairs favorites. You will love indulging in the splendors of another era with the snacks, entrees, and desserts from this masterpiece of a cookbook.

 


The Chronicles of Downton Abbey
by Julian Fellowes
791.457 Fell.J

This book, carefully pieced together at the heart and hearth of the ancestral home of the Crawleys, takes readers deeper into the story of every important member of the Downton estate. This lavish book focuses on each character individually, examining their motivations, their actions, and the inspirations behind them.

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle
by The Countess of Carnarvon
921 Carn.A (Musselman)

This book tells the story behind Highclere Castle, the real-life inspiration for the hit PBS show Downton Abbey, and the life of one of its most famous inhabitants, Lady Almina, the 5th Countess of Carnarvon and the basis of the fictional character Lady Cora Crawley. Drawing on a rich store of materials from archives of Highclere Castle, including diaries, letters, and photographs, the current Lady Carnarvon has written a transporting story of this fabled home on the brink of war.



Upstairs & Downstairs: The Illustrated Guide to the Real World of Downton Abbey
by Sarah Warwick
941.082 Warw.S

A tour of a day in an Edwardian-era manor begins with the work of servants and culminates in a dinner party, in a text containing accounts from masters and servants and profiles of such individuals as Winston Churchill and Virginia Woolf.



And look for all three seasons of Downton Abbey on the DVD shelves at Martinsburg Public Library.

DVD
TV
Downto 

Are you a chocolate lover? Do you like to read?

If so, join us in downtown Martinsburg on Friday, April 26th and Saturday, April 27th for a ChocolateFest and Book Faire.

Here's what we have planned for you...

1. Special Guests
Make sure to stop by the library on Saturday, April 27th to visit with our special guests, popular author/illustrators Jackie Urbanovic and Kevin O'Malley. You will enjoy readings, book sales and signings, art activities, and book walks.

Our events will kick off with Kevin O'Malley's reading at 10:00 a.m. After the reading, you can purchase one of his books to have signed. Jackie Urbanovic's reading will begin at 2:00 p.m. Her books will also be available for purchase and signing. 

In addition to enjoying the readings, you will also have the opportunity to take part in art activities with the author/illustrators.

2. Book Walks

And don't miss our book walks around town! During a book walk, you stroll with family and friends while reading pages of a book that are displayed along the route. The Duck at the Door (by Jackie Urbanovic) Book Walk will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and will begin at Aspen Hall (405 Boyd Ave.). 

The Once Upon A Cool Motorcycle Dude (by Kevin O'Malley) Book Walk will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and will start on the public square and end at the Martinsburg Public Library. So lace up those walking shoes and bring the whole family out!


3. Bake Sale
And before you leave the library, check out the bake sale sponsored by MBCPL and the Literacy Volunteers of the Eastern Panhandle on the plaza in front of our building. We'll have lots of yummy chocolate treats to offer you!

The MBCPL library staff is very excited about all of these fun activities. We hope you'll join us. It's going to be a delicious day!  

(Visit Main Street Martinsburg to see a full list of Chocolate Fest and Book Faire events, which include a cupcake contest, pastry demonstration, and free showings of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Apollo Theater.)

Money Smart Week: April 20-27

Money Smart Week, which falls this year during the week of April 20-27, is a public awareness campaign designed to help customers better manage their personal finances.

And on Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 7:00 p.m., the Martinsburg Public Library is offering Basic Budgeting & Everyday Expenses, a class led by MBCPL staff member Karen Butts. The class will help you begin your path to personal finance awareness. This class is free and open to the public.

You can also visit MBCPL's website and click on the tab labeled Financial Literacy to discover resources on a variety of financial topics. Topics range from money news to investment and retirement; from fun with finance to money mayhem; and, of course, cash for college. View financial guru Ken and Daria Dolan's presentation on financial matters, finding financial training, or saving for kids on YouTube.

There's no better time than Money Smart Week to begin your own endeavor toward better managing your personal finances, and you can start right here @ your library!

Calling all Earthlings!

 

Want to learn more about your home planet and how to take care of it? Join us at Naylor Memorial Library on Saturday, April 20, 2013 from 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. for stories, activities, and crafts about our planet Earth. We hope you'll join us!

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." - Dr. Seuss

Ever wanted to learn to paint?

Here's your chance...

Join ArtBerkeley and Martinsburg Public Library for an acrylics painting workshop with local artist Carol Wilks. 

The workshop will take place on Saturday, April 20, 2013 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. 

This event is free and open to the public, but to participate you must register. To do so, call MPL at 304-267-8288. Seating is limited!

National Library Week: Musselman-South Berkeley

During National Library Week (April 14-20) Musselman-South Berkeley Community Library will be hosting a special book sale. Look for great selections and great prices!


On Friday, April 19 Musselman-South Berkeley Community Library will be hosting Technology Day at the Library! Information technology specialists from the Martinsburg Public Library will be available anytime between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to answer any technology questions you may have. Various types of e-reader devices will be available for you to view and basic instruction on using them will be offered as well. Questions regarding wireless Internet access will be addressed, and instruction on the use of any of the reference databases available from the libraries' webpage will be provided. No appointment is necessary and questions will be answered on a first come, first served basis.


On Saturday, April 20 Musselman-South Berkeley Community Library will offer a special story time and craft day for our younger library patrons. At 1:30 p.m., stories will be read reflecting the joy and excitement of children exploring all that is available at the public library. A special library craft will also be created at this time. Light refreshments will be available for ALL of our library patrons—both young and old—to enjoy throughout this final day of National Library Week.

National Library Week: April 14-20

Get ready to celebrate National Library Week, April 14-20, 2013. We have a few things planned for you...

1. Need a new library card? All patrons may replace their badly worn library cards with a brand new library card FREE OF CHARGE. NOTE: You must have your old, worn card with you to receive a free replacement card. Lost card replacements still cost $1.00.

2. On Friday, April 19, 2013, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. library staff members will be available at each of our four branches so that you can get your technology questions answered. Bring your laptop or e-reader to learn more about how to use them, or find answers to the technology questions you've been wanting to ask.

Look for another post soon about what's happening specifically at Musselman-South Berkeley Community Library.

And here's some more information about National Library Week...

"National Library week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation's libraries and librarians and to promote library use.

"Every day across the country, libraries open their doors to everyone: students, parents, seniors, teachers, writers, artists, job seekers, entrepreneurs, readers, gamers, movie lovers, and travel buffs.

"Head to your library during National Library Week to see what's new and take part in the celebration. Libraries across the country are participating." @yourlibrary

Diane Gilliam to visit MPL!

Poet Diane Gilliam will return to the Martinsburg Public Library on Saturday, April 13, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to conduct a poetry workshop.

The workshop will be limited to 20-25 adults/young adults. Register for this event by calling the Martinsburg Public Library at 304-267-8933 or by stopping by the reference desk to sign up in person.

Gilliam authored Kettle Bottom based on the historical and social events of the West Virginia coal mine wars of 1920-1921. Her works have been published in several literacy journals and magazines. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Spanish, a Ph.D. in romance languages from Ohio State University, and an M.F.A. in creative writing from Warren Wilson College.

This program is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Register now to secure your spot!

Xbox Bowling Tournament at NBL!

Join us at North Berkeley Library on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 from 6 to 7 p.m. for an Xbox Bowling Tournament! All are welcome!

April 2013: From the Director's Chair

April 14 - 20, 2013 is National Library Week. The American Library Association (ALA) has designated this year's theme as Communities Matter @ your Library.

Community has always played a central role at the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries. This is reflected in the wide selection of materials in many formats dealing with many, sometimes polar and opposite, topics. The library welcomes all members of the community on an equal basis and attempts to provide everyone with free access to free information.

But as American economist, statistician, and author Milton Friedman once said, "There is no such thing as a free lunch." In the library's case, there is no such thing as free information. Library materials, books, DVDs, audio CDs, etc. cost money; library staff are paid; the buildings have to be maintained and utilities paid; and computers and access to the Internet has a cost.

In West Virginia, public libraries have only three options for funding: 

1) special laws
2) levies which have to be approved and submitted by City or County governments or by a Board of Education; and
3) charity dollars

Funding for the public libraries in Berkeley County was established by a special local law sponsored by local legislators and enacted by state legislators in 1970. This law mandated that certain percentages (based on property classes) of the property tax would go to the public library to help the library provide services to all of the county residents. The three entities through which this money was to be funneled were the City of Martinsburg, the Berkeley County Council/Commission, and the Berkeley County Board of Education.

Recently, the WV Supreme Court ruled that these special laws created a disparity between school districts with and without the law which is unconstitutional according to the WV constitution. Even though there are only eleven libraries with special local laws, eliminating special funding to them creates a ripple effect across the state. Some services provided by these eleven libraries will be eliminated or drastically curtailed, which will effect other libraries in the state.

Fortunately, the Berkeley County Board of Education has already placed the library's funding on an excess levy rather than taking the percentage from the general operating funds. Our library funding is safe...for now.

To create stable funding for all public libraries in the state and to address the constitutional issues, legislators have introduced Senate Bill 528. The purpose of this bill is to provide for equal treatment of county boards of education in funding public libraries as a part of the system of public education.

In the end, communities do matter to the library and, with financial support, will continue to support the community!

Pam Coyle
Director
Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries