The Witch of Blackbird Pond
by Elizabeth George Speare

This book is a classic children's novel, and for good reason. The author was a student of history and she carefully weaves a believable web of historical authenticity. The main character Kitty is a young woman who grew up with relative freedom and wealth on a Caribbean island. Circumstances leave her without money or relatives, save for an aunt and uncle she has in the Puritan colony of Connecticut. The novel follows her first year in the colony and her adaptation to her new environment. There is intrigue and romance and plenty of action, but also a lot of interior reflection which I did not find the least bit boring. The "witch" refers to an old Quaker woman who everyone thought of as a witch, but in whom Kitty finds a true and fast friend. Kitty is not only a likable protagonist, but also someone who grows in maturity and concern for others. This book is available in our juvenile fiction section.

Marian

Some Quick Computer Commands

Just a simple guide for some quick commands.

Generic Hot Keys

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Quick Printing: “Ctrl” + “P”

Copy: “Ctrl” + “C”

Cut: “Ctrl” + “X”

Paste: “Ctrl” + “V”

Undo:  “Ctrl” + “Z”

Open: “Ctrl” + “O”

Select All: “Ctrl” + “A”

System Menu: “Alt” + “Ctrl”

Move Forwards One Item: “Tab”

Move Backwards One Item: “Shift” + “Tab”

Hold “Shift” + “Right” or “Left” arrows to highlight one character or more in either specified direction.

Hold “Shift” + “Up” or “Down” arrows to highlight entire rows in either specified direction.

Hold “Ctrl” + “Right” or “Left” arrows to move quickly between words.

Hold “Ctrl” + “Up” or “Down” arrows to move to the beginning of the last or next paragraph.

Hold “Ctrl” to be able to highlight many individual things at once.

Hitting the “SPACE BAR” on any internet page is a quick way to scroll down without having to navigate with the mouse.

Chrome Hot Keys

New Window: “Ctrl” + “N”

Reload Page: “F5”

View History: “Ctrl” + “H”

View Downloads: “Ctrl” + “J”

Stop Page Loading: “Esc”

Find In Page Search Box: “Ctrl” + “F”

Make Text Larger: “Ctrl” + “+”

Make Text Smaller “Ctrl” + “-“

Fire in Martinsburg on September 16, 1912--Read all about it!

This Month in Local History, September 16, 1912

On September 16, 1912, Martinsburg publication “The Evening Journal” reported on the destruction of a local industry that occurred on the previous day.  West Virginia experienced the loss of the Stewart Vehicle Plant which is cited as one of the largest vehicle industries in this part of the country at that time.  The blaze destroyed hundreds of vehicles along with industrial materials that were stored in the facilities.  Firefighting tactics were described in their valiant attempts to contain the blaze, and the fire was reported to be visible from Hagerstown and surrounding areas.

This historic news story and many others can be accessed from the extensive local historic publications maintained at the Martinsburg Public Library.  This headline appears in the Martinsburg publication “The Evening Journal”, which began publication in 1907.  The Microfilm Collection includes newspapers of Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan Counties in West Virginia from 1791 to present. Copies may be printed from a microfilm reader at the cost of 10 cents per copy or page images may be transferred onto your own USB drive at no cost.

Medical Dictionaries

Medical Dictionaries

Medical terminology can be hard enough for medical students to learn, let alone anyone else. Say your doctor has told you that you should begin taking a particular drug. You want to know more information about what the drug is for, how to take it, and whether there are any side effects that you should know about. Maybe you weren't expecting to need a new medication, and you forget to ask your doctor some of the questions you have. When you call his office, he's unavailable. Is there a way to find out what you need to know?

"The Physician's Desk Reference" is one resource that we keep to help with questions like this. It is kept behind the reference desk so that the librarian there can pull it out quickly for people who have questions about prescription medicines. Maybe you are curious about Eliquis which you are supposed to begin taking to prevent you from having a stroke. You come to the library, ask for "The Physician's Desk Reference," and look up your new medication. You glance over the recommended dosage, and you read the side effects. One is "bleeding," which seems straightforward. But the first side effect is "Increased risk of thrombotic events after premature discontinuation." You stop and stare--and stare some more.

What should your first step be? You can look up medical terms on the internet, of course, but having an authoritative source of information is important--this medicine is going down your throat, after all. If you want a source that you know you can trust, your safest bet might be a medical dictionary.

Medical dictionaries only include words that are related to medical and health topics. Many medical dictionaries include illustrations to help you understand what a condition (warts, anyone?) looks like. They include common medical terms like "arthritis," offering specific definitions of different varieties of the condition. And then there are the extremely unfamiliar terms. "Under "A," you can find words like "apraxia," "arcus senilis," and "avulsion." Under "Z," you can find "zeolite," "zonulitis,"

and "zygoma."

 

Some of our medical dictionaries are available in the reference section, but others can be checked out. For a reference book with some good illustrations, try "Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary." Or, if you would like to take a medical dictionary home, a copy of "Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary" is available for checkout in out nonfiction section.

Baseball--100 years at Martinsburg High School

Baseball--100 years at Martinsburg High School

This year marked the 100^th anniversary of baseball at the Martinsburg High School.   An exhibit of items related to the commemoration of that accomplishment will be on display in one of the front foyer cases at the Martinsburg Public Library during the month of August. 

Martinsburg High School formed their first baseball team in 1915 so to document the 100 years, there is a special commemorative edition booklet that was created and includes all available Bulldog baseball team photos throughout the years as well as the Alumni game participants.  Pre-sales are being taken by Larry and Anita Cooper at a cost of $5.00 and checks are to be made payable to MHS Baseball Boosters.   A pre-order list (but no payments) is also being taken at the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Library through the end of September 2015. Those persons will be contacted by the Coopers to obtain their copy of the book.   Mini-helmets and commemorative baseballs like those in the display case are also available from the anniversary committee.

 

Please stop to look at this interesting exhibit which celebrates one of America’s favorite sports and baseball at Martinsburg High School in particular!!

submitted by Keith Hammersla