January 2014: From the Director's Chair

As 2014 begins, the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries introduces a new theme: New Year, New You! I decided I would start the year off with an acrostic poem about the LIBRARY. This month, I will begin with the letter L, February will follow with the letter I, March with the letter B, and so forth.

www.library.illinois.edu

An acrostic poem can be written in different ways. The simplest form is to put the letters that spell your word down the side of a page. For each letter, think of a word, phrase, or sentence that starts with the letter and also describes the word/subject. For instance...

L Literature
I  Interests
B Busy
R Reading
A Audio books
R Recreation
Y Young learners

The L in LIBRARY represents a wide array of subjects, including learning, literature, and liberty. Libraries embrace all of these. If you want to learn, either formally or informally, come to the library. We have CDs, DVDs, and electronic resources on a variety of topics. We also have computers on which you can access online classes. Some staff members are also able to proctor tests for students.

By partnering with the Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, the public library is able to provide students with additional online databases, laptop computers, and staff members with Master's degrees in library and information science to assist with research. Because of this partnership, the rest of our patrons and the community benefit as well.

L is also for literature--good and bad. Literature is the mainstay of our collection. From literary works and classics to mysteries or science fiction and children's books, the library provides reading materials for everyone. Developing a library collection means that items are added that suit all tastes and interests. These include religious fiction, urban literature, and more. You can  find a variety of topics in the library in many different formats, including regular print, large print, audio book format, and downloadable formats online.

L also stands for liberty. What other institution provides programs, materials from across the state and country, magazines, and online resources including e-books and academic databases free to its patrons? Liberty is found in the diverse opinions, viewpoints, and information found in the library. A good library will provide both sides of an issue, allowing the patron to make informed decisions.

Consider what the L in library means to you. Lounging, laughter, logic, or love of reading perhaps?