Director's Chair June 2015

From the Director’s Chair

     Change is inevitable, sometimes it is pleasant:  a wedding, birth of a child or a new job, sometimes it is unpleasant:  the loss of a job, an illness or a divorce. For this library system, the upcoming change in funding, the loss of over $500,000 is very unpleasant and has forced both the staff and the Board of Directors to make some very difficult decisions.

  

     The first major change is in the number of hours that the main library and its branches will be open. Currently the Martinsburg Library is open 64 hours per week, beginning July 1, the hours will be reduced to 44; instead of 7 days a week the library will be open 5 days. The main library will be closed on Sundays and Wednesdays.Each branch library will be open 32 hours per week also beginning July 1; instead of 6 days a week, each branch will be open 4 days per week. Other than Sunday, the other closed day will vary by library. Information and calendars will be posted on our website, available as handouts and in the monthly newsletters—beginning with this one.

     These hours allow the staffing to be reduced which results in a savings of almost $300,000. Most of the staff positions of those who are retiring or leaving for other reasons, are not being replaced. Part-time staff hours have been reduced by 1/3 or more in some cases.

The second major change in the library is the budget for materials. This has been reduced by over $130,000. For the patron this means that we will not have as many duplicate copies of bestsellers or high demand items. Databases such as Books and Authors, Signing Savvy, Price It! Antiques, America’s History Newspapers, Teen Health and Wellness, Gym America, etc. will not be renewed.

     Patrons who use our e-books and e-audios will notice a dramatic decrease in the number of titles, especially best sellers that are available. The cost is prohibitive at an average of $50.00 per copy. The purchase of books on CDs will be drastically reduced as will reference materials.

     The third major change will be the reduction in our operating costs which includes programming, supplies, utilities, etc. This part of our budget has been reduced by over $70,000. We will be relying on grants to pay for any program, such as the Maryland Zoo that charges a fee; we will be depending on the kindness and expertise of our patrons and staff to provide other programs free to families, children and adults. If you have a talent or a hobby you are passionate about, please let us know. 

     Some things however will NOT change: the library’s commitment to provide quality materials and services to everyone. The staff will still be courteous and informative; the materials we selected will still fulfill the needs of our patrons and be of the highest quality possible. Both the Berkeley County Commission and the City of Martinsburg fund us to the full amount specified in the Special Law; the state of West Virginia still provides $5.00 per capita; and, the generosity of this community is phenomenal.

As Barbara Kingsolver said in Small Wonder “The changes we dread most may contain our salvation.”  I am hopeful that out of this will come dedicated funding for public libraries across the state or at the very least, a levy passed in Berkeley County that provides the library with financial support.                                                    
                                                                              -Pam Coyle, MBCPL Director

Director's Chair--May 2015

From the Director’s Chair

There are several books titled “Everything I ever needed to know I learned…” from kindergarten, from my dog, from a little Golden Book, in first grade, at home, etc. With libraries, everything you ever need to know you can learn from The Wizard of Oz.

Dorothy is the patron who wanders into the library and finds s/he is not in Kansas anymore: s/he is in a world of imagination and reality, a world in which s/he can learn almost anything and be transported to almost anywhere. Programs and exhibits emphasize people, situations, and viewpoints manifested through paintings and photographs that create a place unlike anything familiar or commonplace.

The Tin Man is looking for his heart and finds it with the staff who treat everyone with respect and courtesy. Regardless of financial status, race, or creed, the staff views everyone with compassion and, as much as possible, tries to help them in whatever brought them to the library. From job searches to school reports, to finding books for their children to finding how to fix an automobile, no question is considered stupid or ignorable.  The staff member who goes the extra step and makes a frightened child or adult feel welcome has the heart we all need.

The Scarecrow, looking for a brain, finds it in all of the free resources that the library has to offer. There are even books on how to improve your IQ. If you want to grow intellectually, without the pressure of formal schooling or as an addition to such schooling, the library is the place for you.

The cowardly lion is looking for courage. The patron who doesn’t know how to work a computer, but comes to the library to find out, is courageous. The patron who doesn’t speak English but brings his child to story time is brave. When you come to the library and deliberately seek out material that challenges your beliefs, you are courageous. If you are determined to overcome something you fear by learning more about it, you are brave.

The Wizard of Oz or the man behind the curtain is the illusion that libraries are free—it costs money to provide adequate services and qualified staff. To believe programs that enhance people’s lives, that material which improves children’s reading, or allows adults to obtain better jobs, or  brings entertainment to someone is totally free is a fantasy. To believe the physical library isn’t a place for community, for the exchange of ideas, or a welcoming space is another fantasy.

The other illusion is that everyone can afford to pay for these services. Without free information, you do not have a free society. Limiting a child or an adult’s access to books or computers because they cannot afford it is returning to the days of subscription libraries.

The last major character, the Wicked Witch of the West, is the person who considers the Internet the same as facts, that everyone can afford to attend ticketed programs and to stream videos and games and that everyone has access to computers, job search software and the high speed Internet. This person wants to take from Dorothy, the patron, her “ruby slippers”: those items that can transport her not just to a home that values diversity, knowledge, and independence but also to worlds in which creativity, imagination and hope are commonplace.

-Pam Coyle, MBCPL Director

From the Director's Chair --February 2015

From the Director’s Chair
with Pam Coyle...

Although T. S. Eliot called April the cruelest month, February is possibly the dreariest. Usually cold, with little to do and less ambition to do it, you can become depressed if you have SAD (seasonal affective disorder) or don’t have a sweetie for Valentine’s Day, in financial trouble because you overspent on the holidays or owe the IRS, and disappointed if you have abandoned all but the easiest of your January resolutions.

Tell me something I don’t know, you say?

February is also Library Lover’s Month—a reason for rejoicing in my opinion. Find a way to convey your love of libraries to your legislators and other elected officials. Most people know that this month is Black History Month as well—come in to view the display done by our own Tamesa Hampton. This display and accompanying bibliography illustrate this year’s Summer Reading Program themes of Every Hero has a Story and Escape the Ordinary. Read about people who exemplify these qualities.

Other less known celebrations are associated with February. From National Blah Buster Month to Return Carts to the Supermarket Month to International Twit Award Month, February offers unique opportunities to put fun in your life.

On February 16th, do a grouch a favor, it is the one day of the year designated for this purpose; you can have a tooth ache on February 9^th; on February 28^th, you can observe Public Sleeping Day—just don’t wake up your boss with snoring or do it in the library.

The library can help you find this entire trivia and more to amuse yourself and your family on cold days and nights when you don’t want to move from your warm and cozy homes. You may want to put this trivia to good use by forming a “Brain Game” team and joining other teams to support Literacy efforts in the Eastern Panhandle in April.  For more information call the Literacy office at 304-264-0298.

Although the library is a source of serious information from tax assistance [See article in this newsletter] to how to fix broken pipes, it is also a place where you can lose yourself in other worlds with science fiction and fantasy books, travel to other countries without leaving home, and enjoy the humor and foibles of other people through fact and fiction.

Yes, February can be a dreary gray month but it also can be the month you take time to explore different worlds, different times and different people either by coming to the library or searching our reference section of databases on our homepage.

-Pam Coyle, MBCPL Director

Director's Chair

From the Director’s Chair
with Pam Coyle...
The 2015 Summer Reading Program theme for adults is “Escape the Ordinary” and the children’s is titled “Every Hero has a Story.”  Many of the director’s columns this year will focus on these themes.

As you form your New Year’s resolution(s), most of them will have to do with becoming stronger, in mind, body, faith, or community. You become stronger in mind by educating yourself on new and interesting topics, in body by consistently exercising specific muscles and resisting those foods that harm you, in faith by studying the tenets and how to put them into place when adversity strikes, and in community by becoming a vital part of those organizations whose goals and results positively impact  the members of the community who need help.

Consider what all of these have in common with strength—of mind, body and character. When you visualize strength what comes to mind; a closed fist or an open hand? One revelation for the new year is that strength is indeed an open hand.

As you commit to making your mind stronger by learning a new language, a new skill or more about your work, think about opening your mind to different views on the world, politics and people.  As you focus on becoming physically stronger, ponder the fact that in addition to the gym, carrying in groceries, lifting or packing food or repairing roofs for those unable to do so, this is the open hand way of doing things.

So to with growing in your faith or ethical behavior, you can understand and articulate your viewpoint better if you keep an open mind and learn about other viewpoints. As Carmine Falcone, from the movie Batman Begins stated, “You always fear what you don’t understand.”

If your strength comes from a closed fist, think about what you cannot do with a closed fist—pick a flower, hold a child’s hand, turn the page on a book, or caress a loved one in their hour of need.

In 2015, escape the ordinary by opening your hand, your mind, and your heart to all the possibilities.  To learn more about  library resources that will help you learn a new language, understand different faiths, control anger, gain physical strength, or find your passion, check out our blog (mbcpl.blogspot.com).

From the Director's Chair

From the Director’s Chair

As winter and the holiday season approach, sedentary activities, such as sewing, crafting, and reading become more popular. School has started and students are reading textbooks and researching various topics.  All of these activities increase library usage.

This is also a perfect time to focus on life-long learning, one of the library’s missions. With Hedgesville Day, the Apple Harvest Festival, and the anniversary of the founding of the Martinsburg Public Library all falling in October, this month is the perfect time to delve into local and state history.

The Martinsburg Public Library has a collection of almost 2,500 local history and genealogy titles in the C.E. Campbell Beall Local History & Genealogical Research Room. This room is named for a local businessman and community leader who was president of the Martinsburg Public Library Board for 44 years, as well as chairman of the West Virginia Library Commission for 40 years.  A strong advocate for public libraries, he was instrumental in the construction of the Martinsburg Public Library building in 1967, its addition in 1981, and the creation of the combination of a high school and public library, the Musselman-South Berkeley Community Library, in 1998.
The local history collection is a combination of local, county, state, and regional history as well as genealogical information. Some items deal with the history and peoples of Virginia, as West Virginia was part of that state until 1865. Other items focus on the surrounding counties in  the nearby states of Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Many items in this local history collection are original source material. The microfilm collection includes newspapers of Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan Counties in West Virginia from 1791 to the present.  None of these materials are circulated, although copies may be made on copiers or microfilm printers or saved onto a USB drive.
We also have a circulating collection of almost 1,000 items that address West Virginia history and biography and works written by authors from the state. These materials, located in the West Virginia collection  (WV Shelf) on the top floor of the Martinsburg Library,  may be taken home and read at your leisure. For example, if you prefer short stories, read Doors by Charleston native, William Hoffman. To learn more about our diverse culture, read Memphis Tennessee Garrison: the remarkable story of a black Appalachian woman, by Memphis Tennessee Garrison. Peruse this collection to discover the many unique and surprising titles that reflect the talent and impact of West Virginians on history over the decades.

Our branches also have a local history and a circulating West Virginia history collection which continues to increase as interest for this type of information grows stronger. Each branch tries to focus on  topics specific to that area. North Berkeley Public Library concentrates on the information surrounding the Battle of Falling Waters while Hedgesville Public Library  houses the history of Hedgesville. The Musselman-South Berkeley Community Library focuses on the apple industry. All four libraries are continuously looking for quality material to add to their collections.
From its various industries to its role in the United States Civil War, Berkeley County and the surrounding areas are rich in history.  This month, read to explore and to appreciate your West Virginia heritage—either by birth or by choice.

 

August 2014: From the Director's Chair

www.fanpop.com

In the Spring/Summer 2014 issue of Read Aloud WV's newsletter, volunteer Trudy Oliver says, "...the most important [lessons she learned from the children is that no technology exists that can eradicate the power of the imagination."

Reading to children stimulates imagination and keeps it alive. Although most children can imagine even the most impossible thing, adults do not seem to retain this ability as they age. Imagination depends on a certain amount of freedom and as children's and adults' lives become more structured and filled with activity, there is less and less time to just imagine. When was the last time you or your child had time to daydream without the cell phone, television, or other people demanding your attention?

Which is why every community needs a good library. What, you ask, do libraries have to do with imagination?

Answer: EVERYTHING

Many people view libraries as warehouses of books no longer needed because, they say, all of this information is stored online. However, story times and other creative programs fuel the imaginations of both children and adults. From travel to inventions, picture books to magazines, the collections in most libraries stimulate your imagination and encourage you to dream.

Some children's first experiences with books are at a library, especially if the parents/guardians do not value reading in the home. By providing materials free of charge, and making them accessible to all, libraries offer people the chance to explore different worlds without judgment and stretch their imaginations.

Without access to free information in libraries, residents would have to depend on what they can find on their electronic devices (if they can afford them) or by word of mouth, which is rarely a reliable or unbiased source of information.

Thus, people depend on libraries as a place to ignite their creativity and provide information that is easy to find, reliable, and free of charge. Stop by your local library today and reignite your imagination!

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!

June 2014: From the Director's Chair

The last two letters in the acrostic poem for LIBRARY are R and Y. I've decided to combine them in this article. The final R stands for realistic and the Y stands for you. Although the library's tag phrase is "Find FREEdom at your library," and although we always emphasize that our services are free to the public, we have to be realistic and understand the costs involved.

Fortunately for the residents of Berkeley County, state legislator Clarence Martin introduced a bill in the 1970s that required a percentage of the property tax collected be used to support public libraries. By ensuring stable, reliable funding, this bill enabled the libraries in the counties of West Virginia to grow and provide quality services to everyone. Over the years, modifications have been made to this law but funding remains in place.

R is for realistic. It is a reality that libraries need funding if they are to provide their patrons with "free" services. This funding has to be stable, reliable, and sufficient to meet the needs of the community. Information in any format is not cheap. Whether the library is purchasing print materials, electronic databases, or e-materials, the cost keeps rising. Purchasing up-to-date computers to help with job searches or other services vital to our patrons costs money. Replacing HVAC systems that are sixty years old is expensive. Building new libraries to meet the growth and expectations of the new residents is extremely expensive.

Which brings us to the Y in LIBRARY. Why you? Without you, the library is simply a warehouse with a few staff people in it. With you, the library is a vibrant, exciting place for people to explore options and opportunities, to increase skills or learn new ones, and to hold discussions on a wide variety of topics and concerns.

Your support also means that when levies come up for a vote, you vote for libraries, understanding that the $10-20 you pay per year toward this service would probably not even pay for 1 DVD, much less the 6,000 DVDs to which you have access. It would not pay for 1 print book, yet you have access to over 200,000 titles. It would not pay for 1 month of Internet service, and definitely does not pay for the service to our 40 public access computers in Berkeley County libraries.

Your support also means helping out with fundraisers, donations, your time, your ideas, and your patronage at the libraries. 

Again, this library has been extremely fortunate in regards to donations and bequests from our patrons. Please continue to think of the library when you consider the who will be the recipients of your charity dollars.

Other libraries across the country and the state are not so fortunate. Please encourage your local, state, and federal legislators to make quality libraries available to everyone!

Pam Coyle, Library Director
Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries

May 2014: From the Director's Chair

May brings the fifth letter in the acrostic poem for library - A. For me, the A stands for the unexpected - art, artifacts, and archives. The Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries are fortunate to house many unique items donated by the local community.

Art
Several pieces of art are housed at the Martinsburg Public Library. "Christmas in Old Virginia," a painting by N. C. Wyeth, hangs in the main library. This painting was found in the basement of the old Interwoven Factory. A grant helped restore a work of art which portrays George Washington at Mount Vernon during the Yuletide season.



"Christmas in Old Virginia" by N. C. Wyeth

Solomon, Goldie, and Frada Fine donated the smaller portrait of George Washington which is unsigned but attributed to Gilbert Stuart. Two pastel portraits of General Elisha Boyd and his wife Ann were loaned to the library by Ann Pahl and Mary Faulkner Kearse. They are displayed above the mantel on the third floor of the library.
Mobiles by Howard Connor were presented to the library in memory of his mother-in-law, Mrs. Rose Hollis. The fish and butterfly mobiles can be found in the children's department while one made of round discs hangs in the adult department. The plaster of Paris statue of a reclining boy reading which rests on top of the mystery section was made and donated by Michael Rodgers in the 1990s.

Artifacts
Artifacts representing local history are also on display through the main library. The Mantz tobacco box Indian was a gift from Dr. Marvin H. Porterfield. This item stood in front of the Mantz Tobacco Box store for many years.

Lockheed Vega Airplane

Hanging in the library is a replica of the Winnie Mae, a Lockheed Vega plane, owned by F. C. Hall, a wealthy Oklahoma oilman. The Lockheed Vega, with its streamlined, high-winged, single engine design and reputation for reliability and airworthiness, was the favorite of many pilots in the 1920s and 1930s, setting flying records in both America and internationally. This model was built by Ward Hedges between 1949 and 1950. It has never flown, but it has a 3/4 horse power gas engine.

Another piece of Martinsburg history, the popcorn cart, acts as a display case. George Ashton used this and other carts to sell popcorn in downtown Martinsburg from the early 1900s until 1950. This cart was repaired and donated to the library by his grandson, Max Moss.

A unique piece of furniture on the third floor of the library is the revolving oak carousel bookcase. This bookcase stood in the library when it was founded by Newton D. Baker in 1897 and was housed on the second floor of the Flick Building. While the library moved from place to place, this bookcase was stored in the attic of the John Street School for over 50 years until the current library opened on the public square in 1968.

Archives
Archives are a mainstay of most libraries as they are a collection of documents such as letters, official papers, photographs, or recorded material, kept for historical interest.

The main library houses a local history and genealogy room with over 5,000 volumes related to genealogical research, genealogical records, and local histories of West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, although the main focus is on the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. In addition, the library houses the Clarence Martin collection which contains many classic historic nonfiction titles. These resources are administered by Keith Hammersla, the Director of Information Resources. He is also a noted genealogist and curator for the Adam Stephen House and the Triple Brick Museum.

Our microfilm collection includes newspapers of Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan Counties in West Virginia from 1791 to the present. Heritage Quest Online and Ancestry.com, both genealogical research databases, can be found at the library. The latter must be used in a library and all four branches have access to this on one of their public computers.

Several local organizations maintain file cabinets of historical information pertaining to their group at the library. While these minutes and papers are only available to organization members, the history is being preserved here at the library.

As our branch libraries continue to grow, they will acquire more art, artifacts, and archives, and we will make sure everyone knows about the generosity and thoughtfulness of those who donate.

So get your A game on when you visit the downtown library. Look for art and artifacts and explore the archives to discover the history of both you and your community.

Pam Coyle
Director
Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries

April 2014: From the Director's Chair

April brings the fourth letter in the acrostic poem for library - R. The most obvious word associated with this letter is read, and for most people, reading is synonymous with libraries. Being able to read makes you ready for life. As you learn to read, improve your vocabulary, and learn to communicate well both orally and in writing, you are making yourself ready for a variety of opportunities.

Young children recite the alphabet, learn to read, and do well in school. Studies show that children are happier when they are read to and when they are exposed to adults who read. A child's reading level often determines whether they are ready to advance to the next grade or not. Teachers often tell children's libraries they they can pick out which students participated in the library summer reading program because of their reading skills.

Teenagers may use "creative" spellings in their texts, but being able to read well (and correctly) enables them to explore the universe. From blogs to Facebook, you must able to read to understand content and its context. You must also be able to read to write. Communication is very important and successful communication relies on how well you express yourself. Reading a wide variety of authors and subjects makes you ready to understand and discuss a variety of issues. Being able to read and communicate well also enables you to successfully complete driver's license exams, college applications, and other entrance exams which help lead you toward a successful future.

Applying for jobs beings in adolescence and continues throughout our lives. Many applications must be completed online and the instructions are sometimes complicated. Being able to read makes anyone at any age ready to complete applications. In the workplace, promotions often depend on your ability to read as well.

Middle-age brings the raising of children, and while experience and advice from seasoned parents can be helpful, reading about parenting issues can broaden your insights. I'm not sure anyone is ready to be a parent!

As you get ready for retirement, reading about insurances, retirement locations, investment strategies, and the psychological impact of retirement is extremely important. In the end, literally, everyone should read and prepare the necessary documents including a living will, power of attorney, and other documents to make your passing easier for your loved ones.

The ability to read makes you ready for life!

March 2014: From the Director's Chair

The third month of the year brings the third letter in the acrostic poem LIBRARY - B. The most obvious word associated with this letter is books, of which the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries have 204,102, and we continue to add more daily. There are also 7,837 digitized books and more added monthly. Whatever format, books are a staple of every library, even those eliminating those in print.

For me, two other words which come to mind are blessing and bravery. Probably not what you expected, right? Libraries are blessings. Spending between $4.00 and $32.00 per capita across the United States, libraries provide materials, computers, programs, a community center, and helpful staff to anyone who walks through our doors. In Berkeley County the total tax dollar support, from all local sources, averages less than $18.00 per year per person. Some people spend more than that in a day on computer games such as Candy Crush; more than that in a week for fast food meals; or more than that in a month for coffee.

It is a blessing that we live in a country that encourages the keeping and dissemination of knowledge to all citizens, not just those in power, or the rich, or the highly educated. Unfortunately, tax support for libraries has been waning. The poor economic climate is often blamed. Libraries are seen as non-essential services and as such, no longer necessary.

Access to and use of information is important to ensuring that the economic climate will change. People have to know where and how to find a job, how to start their own businesses, how to make wise decisions about their health, their money, and their futures. The one central, free location for this information is a quality library. That takes dedicated, stable, and sometimes expensive funding.

The Internet is a money-based source of information. If you don't have money for the monthly fees, for the computer or other devices, for the subscription fees to various sites, your access is severely limited or nonexistent. But you can access the Internet free at the library. Without local, state, and federal funding, free libraries may become a thing of the past.

Generous and thoughtful people have blessed this library with bequests and annual gifts. Their contributions have enabled the library to expand our buildings, our collection, and our staff. However, it is impossible to budget for those donations which are not always consistent or dependable.

B is also for the blessing that the library is to the community; for the blessing of politicians who understand the importance of libraries and vote for adequate funding; and for those members of the community who give freely of their time and money.

The third word that comes to mind is bravery. You might think this is an odd word in relation to libraries. But it isn't. If a librarian handles book selection the right way, there will always be someone complaining. All views should be represented, not just one side to the exclusion of other ideas. Some librarians have been fired for putting books or other materials on the shelf despite the objections of some members of the community.

Tolerance is built when patrons have access to read and determine for themselves solutions to problems or concerns. To refuse to read, listen, or give credence to any other point of view is to become intolerant.

The other side of bravery in libraries comes from the non-English speaking parent who brings her child to story time so that the child can understand the English language and interact with others. A child who is having difficulty reading bravely takes her/his place by the reading dog and reads out loud. The teenager who is having problems at home or school comes to the library to find material for school assignments, information on bullying, to find books that will take him/her to other worlds so s/he can escape their situation if just for a few hours.

Every day people walk through our doors looking for ways to manage their debt, to find out more about health issues, to look for work, to access email which keeps them in touch with family and friends across the country and the world. It takes bravery on their part to come here and ask for help in finding these things.

People who have managed all their life to get by without being able to read come to the library to be tutored. What courage it must take to admit that you can barely sign your name then being the struggle to change the situation, whether you are 18 or 80.

Bravery is many things to many people but to me it is being able to face yourself and your situation and do something about that. Firemen rush into burning buildings, police face armed criminals, soldiers defend their country in many ways. For other people, their bravery is admitting that they need help, then trying to find that help.

Books + blessings + bravery = LIBRARY

February 2014: From the Director's Chair

www.newyorker.com

LIBRARY

The second letter in the acrostic poem about the word library is I. Libraries and librarians work in an environment full of imagination, ideas, information, and innovation and work hard to be inviting to a broad range of people.

To use your imagination to develop your creative side in 2014, start at the library.

If you have a creative idea or product and want information to market that item, the library has materials on patents, trademarks, and marketing. For those with strong left brains (the analytic, linear side) who want to develop their right brains (the creative and imaginative side), the library has materials to help you reach that goal as well.

Do you have an idea about how to improve library services? We welcome your suggestions. Suggestion boxes can be found in each of our libraries and suggestions are reviewed each month. Work begins on the library's annual budget in March. At that time, we will consider shared suggestions. Some suggestions, like more DVDs, updating computers, and adding more fiction and e-books, are already being implemented.

Surveys will be going out to the patrons of the Naylor Memorial Library soon to determine what hours and days of operation, as well as services, they would like to see at the new Hedgesville Library. A separate survey asking your help in determining what magazines we should continue to maintain in physical form will be distributed to patrons at all four libraries.

One of the most discussed issues in the library field today is the future of libraries. Some libraries no longer have physical books at all. They have gone to e-readers and e-books instead. Some libraries no longer use the Dewey Decimal System and have opted to go with the bookstore model of classification which is broad subject areas. Some libraries have become the creative centers in their communities with 3-D printers, recording studios, video editing equipment, discovery walls for children, etc.

In all of the above scenarios, innovation is key to maintaining a library that is inviting, interesting, and an integral part of the community. Let us know how you want us to do that in Berkeley County. Use your imagination and bring your ideas to us to improve your libraries.

Call me at 304-267-8933 (ex. 203) or email me at pam.coyle@martin.lib.wv.us.

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?

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!

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?