In celebration of Walter Dean Myers

www.pbs.org

Walter Dean Myers passed away on July 1, leaving readers of all ages without their favorite spokesperson and advocate. Mr. Myers served as the Library of Congress National Ambassador for Young People's Literature from 2012-2013. He has received numerous awards including the Coretta Scott King Award.

Mr. Myers was born in Martinsburg but was adopted and raised in Harlem, NY. He has presented programs at the Martinsburg Public Library including a wonderful program with his author-illustrator son Christopher.

Mr. Myers' sister Jean requested that Martinsburg youth read a book in his honor as a tribute to his memory. Summer Reading Program members are invited to check out a book authored by Mr. Myers and receive an extra reading credit. Check out the displays about Mr. Myers and his books in the Children's and Young Adult Departments.

Summer's End Bag Sale

cclslib.org

Stop by the Martinsburg Public Library August 1-18 for a Summer's End Bag Sale. Fill a grocery bag with as many books as you can fit for just $1.00.

All books must be paid with cash! No checks are accepted.

Also, the Children's Summer Reading Program is having their Rewards Book Sale based on credits earned throughout the Summer Reading Program. This sale is open to all SRP participants at all Berkeley County libraries. There will also be a cash book sale in the children's department as well.

August @ Musselman

mogadorebranch.akronlibrary.org

Join us at the Musselman-South Berkeley Community Library in August for a variety of programs!

Story times will continue on Saturday, August 9 at 10:30 am. You can also stop by for story times on Thursdays, August 14, 23, and 28 at 10:30 am.

"The Magic of Science" program is scheduled for Tuesday, August 5 at 1:00 pm.

Also, go on a secret rendezvous with a surprise book! Secret Rendezvous, MSBCL's summer complement to Blind Date with a Book, will run from August 3-17. Our staff will select and wrap books, then attach ads to the front telling you just enough about the book to make you want to rendezvous with it. Select a book from the Secret Rendezvous table, check it out, and enjoy!

The Middle Readers Book Group resumes in September. Check with the library for details!

See you soon!

August @ HPL

Stop by the new Hedgesville Public Library in August for the Summer Reading Program finale, "The Magic of Science," on Tuesday, August 5 at 10:00 am. 

There will also be story times on August 1, 15, 22, and 29 at 10:30 am.

Staff Picks: Call the Midwife

Call the Midwife
Jennifer Worth

Call the Midwife is a unique memoir written by experienced midwife Jennifer Worth during post-World War II and set in London. A trained nurse and midwife, young Worth arrives at Nonnatus House, a midwifery practice run by dedicated nuns, to serve the underprivileged and overpopulated East End. While in service there, she meets a variety of memorable characters, including an eccentric nun, countless brave women, families with ten or more children, and downtrodden prostitutes. Through it all, she learns about herself and the meaning of life—one birth at a time.

While this memoir is often graphic and provides medical commentary in extreme detail, Worth tells her stories with great craft so that it reads like fiction. I highly recommend this memoir to anyone who is interested in midwifery, the lives and bonds of women, and/or history.

And, if you like the book, you might also enjoy the television series developed by BBC. You can find both the book and the television series (on DVD) at the Martinsburg Public Library.

August @ NBL

As we wrap up the 2014 Summer Reading Program, children may use tokens collected throughout the summer to "buy" books at the Martinsburg Public Library from August 4-18. For more details, call the Children's Department at 304-267-8288.

On Monday, August 4, 2014 at 1:30 pm, join us at North Berkeley Library for "The Magic of Science." This program uses math, chemistry, physics, and optical illusions to explore scientific principles that appear magical!

Join us for Lego Freeplay on Tuesday, August 5 at 6:00 pm.

If you are a Ham Radio enthusiast you'll want to stop by NBL on Thursday, August 7 at 10:00 am. Children will be able to listen and speak across miles. Operators will have units set up for the entire day. Children of all ages are encouraged to come out and observe, ask questions, and give it a try!

Please note that the North Berkeley Library will open at 1:00 pm on Monday, August 11 so that patrons and staff members may attend the grand opening of the new Hedgesville Public Library. Hope to see you at the new library at 11:00 am!

Then, on Tuesday, August 12 at 6:00 pm, come to game night at NBL. Play games and craft with the library staff!

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On Thursday, August 14 at 2:00 pm, enjoy the program "Reptiles are Cool" and learn about things that slither and creep. This is a hands-on program featuring snakes, lizards, turtles, and alligators.

The Friends of the North Berkeley Library will hold their monthly meeting on Tuesday, August 19 at 6:00 pm.

Lego Club meets on Tuesday, August 26 at 6:00 pm. Join us for a special guest! HINT: Our special guest responds to 911! Also, the winner of the "Guess the Legos" contest will be announced.

Mark Twain @ MPL

American author and humorist Mark Twain, as portrayed by Dough Riley of Tunnelton, is the featured speaker for the Readers' Reception at the Martinsburg Public Library on Saturday, August 2 at 1:00 pm on the main floor of the library. The Readers' Reception is an annual event held following the end of the Adult Summer Reading Program to recognize not only those who participated in the program, but all library patrons as well.

Mark Twain, pen name for Samuel Clemens, is celebrated today as one of America's great authors and humorists. As the young country rapidly grew into an international and industrial power throughout the second half of the 19th century, Twain shared his observations through his writing and speeches. His best known novels are The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, but his body of work includes nonfiction, magazine articles, monographs, and commentaries that provide interesting insight into American history.

Twain is one of the many character presentations offered through the West Virginia Humanities Council's History Alive! Program. These presentations serve as a means of exploring history by interacting with noteworthy historical figures. As a humanities scholar, Riley has researched the writings, speeches, and biographies of Twain using whenever possible his original words.

This program is free to the public.

Christmas in July

It's July. What better time to work on Christmas projects? Need some ideas?

Join the Martinsburg Public Library as we celebrate Christmas in July on Friday, July 25, 2014 from 1:00-4:00 pm on the main floor of the library.

From potpourri ornaments to decorative placemats; from do-it-yourself Christmas cards using last year's cards to re-purposing seashells, the library staff will offer a variety of crafty Christmas ideas to pique your imagination.

Perhaps a Williamsburg centerpiece is more your style, or possible crafting beaded jewelry strikes your fancy. The library will have both projects!

Crafts are geared toward adults. Children under the age of 14 MUST be accompanied by an adult.

The Children's Department hosts their own Christmas in July event. Projects include creating Christmas ornaments from clay and Christmas candle craft.

This hands-on event is free and open to the public. Join us and enjoy Christmas in July!

HOW TO...download eBooks and eAudio Books from the library catalog

You can now download eBooks and other digital content directly from the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries' online catalog!

Our online catalog now allows borrowers to view and download eBooks and eAudio Books from OverDrive and Baker and Taylor's Axis 360 platforms. This allows borrowers to view their account information and check out, download, or place holds on digital titles without being directed away from the online catalog.

Here's how to do it:

Visit our website and click on Catalog. Search for the title or author of the book in which you are interested. You can also browse only eBooks and eAudio Books if you choose to do so.

Next, click on the title you wish to download. Or, simply click the DOWNLOAD button. Insert your library card number and PIN number to finish the downloading process. You will not be able to download eBooks and eAudio Books on the libraries' computers, but you can download them on your home computer, your e-reader, or tablet.

This integration is a work in progress, so please be patient as we troubleshoot any issues that may arise. If you have any questions, please call us at the Martinsburg Public Library at 304-267-8933.

First Fridays Book Club

Do you enjoy reading good books? Do you like discussing your thoughts about good books with other book lovers? If so, you might be interested in joining the new First Fridays Book Club which will meet on the first Friday of each month at the Martinsburg Public Library at 1:00 pm.

Our first meeting will take place on Friday, August 1, 2014 at 1:00 pm. The first book we will be reading together is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. 

If you are interested in join the First Fridays Book Club, please register at the Martinsburg Public Library circulation desk beginning July 1, 2014. Upon registering, you will receive a copy of the book to check out.


Questions? Call Sarah Showe at 304-267-8933. See you in August!

New Hours at Naylor/Hedgesville Public Library

To prepare for the big move to the NEW Hedgesville Public Library on Monday, August 11, 2014, the Naylor Memorial Library will be expanding its hours. New hours begin on July 1, 2014.

The expansion of hours were determined by consulting with other libraries in Berkeley County and by issuing a survey of the Hedgesville community which received over 200 responses. The new hours feature a slightly later opening time, but also far more evening hours. We hope to better serve all of our patrons for many years to come with this switch, and we'd like to thank everyone that participated in the survey which created our new schedule.

Here are the new Naylor Memorial Library/Hedgesville Public Library hours:

Sunday: Closed
Monday: 10:00-7:00
Tuesday: 10:00-7:00
Wednesday: 10:00-5:00
Thursday: 10:00-7:00
Friday: 10:00-5:00
Saturday: 10:00-5:00

July 2014: From the Director's Chair

Freedom...

As we celebrate Independence Day on July 4th, it is often easier to mark the day with parades, family, food, and fireworks than to reflect on our national freedoms and what they mean to our lives both personally and as a nation.

I encourage you to be contemplative this July and consider the many freedoms listed in the United States Constitution. They are:

1) Freedom of speech
2) Freedom of the press
3) Freedom of assembly
4) Freedom of religion

Franklin Delano Roosevelt also spoke of the freedoms found in this country in his inaugural speech. He phrased them like this:

1) Freedom of speech and expression
2) Freedom of every person to worship God in his own way
3) Freedom from want
4) Freedom from fear

At the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries, we believe that you can "find freedom at the library." Historically, libraries have always emphasized the freedom to read, the freedom to access information, and the freedom to pursue knowledge. A public library's function is to provide a variety of points of view on a multitude of topics to help enable the reader to determine his/her own perspectives and opinions.

But there is another freedom–the freedom to learn–which is often forgotten in our culture. Learning does not equal formal education. In fact, when your formal education is finished, you have the freedom to continue to learn, explore new interests, and make yourself a more well-rounded person. And that's where libraries come in to play! Regardless of what you are curious about or interested in, your reading level, or how much time you have to devote to learning, your library has materials available to you that will help you pursue almost any interest.

Kirk Douglas once said, "My mother and father were illiterate immigrants from Russia. When I was a child they were constantly amazed that I could go to a building and [borrow] a book on any subject. They couldn't believe this access to knowledge we have here in America."

The Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries have over 187,300 items that are freely available for your use. Our goal is to encourage and support you as you pursue the freedom to learn, no matter who you are!