Master Gardener's Centerpiece Class

On Saturday, December 5th, the Tri-State Area Master Gardeners held Make and Take Centerpiece Class in the library's activity room. Several varieties of fresh greenery added a holiday scent to the building. The Master Gardeners provided guidance and every participant went home with a beautiful original creation.

Happy Birthday Sesame Street!

Today we are celebrating Sesame Street's 40th Anniversary. The series has had a huge impact on preschool education. Think of the difference between the styles of Romper Room, which was the televised preschool education of the late 50s and early 60s, and that of Sesame Street which debuted in 1969. What the children were learning didn't change as much as how they were learning it. Sesame Street did away with the desks and the wall charts and brought in furry monsters and humor. Different versions of the show appear in 140 countries, each similar, but based on the local culture. Sesame Street can certainly be considered a global phenomenon. As for the impact the show has had on our library - a catalog search shows that we have approximately 150 items either featuring the Muppets or created by the Children's Television Workshop, the nonprofit agency that created Sesame Street.

Basket Raffle

The GFWC Weirton Woman's Club Literary Department's popular basket raffle is now underway. This year there are nine large baskets with great themes including: Christmas, Boy's Toys, Pasta, Romance, Kitchen, Chocolate, Tea, WVU and Steelers. Tickets are $1 each with the drawing to be held in December. The proceeds of the basket raffle are used to benefit the library.

Veterans Day

Veterans Day is coming up Wednesday. The library will be closed, but we would like to share a little information about the holiday. Veterans Day was created from Armistice Day in 1954 to honor the Veterans of all wars and to thank them for their service.

Armistice Day originally commemorated the end of fighting in World War I on November 11, 1918. Part of its purpose was the celebration of peace. For those who would like to know more about World War I, there is a very interesting World War I Document Archive that has been put together by the members of the World War I Military History List and Hosted by Brigham Young University at http://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Main_Page. In addition to formal documents, the archive also includes pictures and memoirs.

For further information about Veterans Day, the Army has a history of Veterans Day online at http://www.history.army.mil/faq/vetsday/vetshist.htm and the Department of Veterans Affairs has one at http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp.

Something that would be of interest to all veterans is the book What Every Veteran Should Know. This title is updated yearly. We keep the current copy in reference and the previous year's copy is allowed to circulate. This small volume holds a weath of information about all types of benefits that veterans may be eligible for and information on obtaining military records. There is even a section on service medals and awards and how to replace lost or stolen medals.

Census Jobs Still Available

Representatives from the U.S. Census Bureau visited the library last week to schedule testing sessions in November and December for those applying to work on the Census next spring. The jobs are all temporary and pay $11.50 and up. Anyone interested in applying for these jobs needs to call 1-866-861-2010 to schedule to take the test.

Thanksgiving Mural

The children from the Weirton Christian Center have created a wonderful three dimensional Thanksgiving mural that is on display in front of the library's circulation desk.

Project on Racism Essay Contest

Interested in writing? Any student attending public, private, parochial or home school in grades 1-12 in the state of West Virginia is eligible to enter the 17th Annual Project on Racism essay contest sponsored by the YWCA and the West Virginia State Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Celebration Commission. Rules and entry forms are available on the West Virginia State Martin Luther King Holiday Commission web page or at the library. Three winners will be chosen in each of four age groups. Winners will receive savings bonds and certificates. First place winners may read their essays at the Awards Luncheon in January 2010. Hurry, the deadline for entries is November 9th.

Columbus Day

Just a reminder, the library will be closed Monday, October 12 for Columbus Day.

Book Review - Be Unique, Be You & Live

In honor of Learning Disabilities Awareness Month, David George of Bethany will be at the Mary H. Weir Public Library on Thursday, October 15 at 6:00 to discuss his experiences struggling with a severe learning disability. Despite his learning disability and a recent diagnosis of a mild case Asperger’s Syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder, George graduated from Bethany College and went on to graduate school. His current mission is to serve as a motivational speaker and an advocate for people diagnosed with learning disabilities. George has written a semi autobiographical book about his experiences, Be Unique, Be You & Live. Autographed copies will be available for purchase at his presentation.

Cove Elementary School Time Capsule Excavation

Approximately 25 to 28 years ago, a time capsule was buried by the students and staff of Cove Elementary School. On October 10, 2009, the capsule will be excavated and brought to the Activity Room of the Mary H. Weir Public Library where a program will be held beginning at 11:00 a.m. Former teachers from that era have be contacted and invited to attend. Students who attended Cove School between 1980 and 1983 are also asked to come and be a part of this event.

What is Banned Books Week All About?

October Events

October 5, 2009 - 10:00-4:00 Council for Independent Living (Room C)

October 5, 2009 - 5:30-7:30 Johnson and Johnson (Activity Room)

October 6, 2009 - 10:00-2:00 Council for Independent Living (Room C)

October 8, 2009 - 1:30-3:00 Homeschoolers 4H (Activity Room)

October 9, 2009 - Set up for Cove School Time Capsule Presentation (Activity Room)

October 10, 2009 - 10:00 Cove School Time Capsule Presentation (Activity Room)

October 12, 2009 - Library Closed - Columbus Day

October 13, 2009 - 1:00 Story Hour

October 13, 2009 - 6:00 Story Hour

October 14, 2009 - 1:00 Story Hour

October 14, 2009 - 8:00-1:00 United Way Day of Caring

October 14, 2009 - 6:00-7:30 Museum Meeting (Activity Room)

October 15, 2009 - 2:00 Library Board Meeting

October 15, 2009 - 10:00-6:00 McDonalds Training (Room C)

October 15, 2009 - 6:00-7:30 Book Signing and Presentation David George (Activity Room)

October 16, 2009 - 10:00 Class Tour

October 17, 2009 - 10:00-4:30 Robert Haworth Memorial Art Exhibition (Activity Room)

October 17, 2009 - Brooke County Levy

October 18-24, 2009 - Teen Read Week

October 20, 2009 - 1:00 Story Hour

October 20, 2009 - 6:00 Story Hour

October 21, 2009 - 1:00 Story Hour

October 27, 2009 - 1:00 Story Hour

October 27, 2009 - 6:00 Story Hour

October 28, 2009 - 1:00 Story Hour

October 28, 2009 - 6:00 Movie Night

October 29, 2009 - 10:00-1:00 McDonalds Training (Room C)

Fall Story Hour Begins Soon

Registration for our Fall session of Story Hour will begin Monday, September 28, 2009. Children ages 3 to 5 are welcome to attend. Parents may register their child for one of three sessions, Tuesday at 1:00, Tuesday at 6:00, or Wednesday at 1:00. The program will begin the second full week of October and conclude the second week of December, with a one week break the week of Thanksgiving. Story Hour is free to those who have a Mary H. Weir Library Card. We do request that both the parent and child have a card. Story Hour is designed to promote reading and develop language skills, fine motor skills, and social skills in a fun filled environment. In addition to stories, programs may include music, fingerplays, crafts, and short films.

Recycling Pays!

As some of you know, the library has been recycling used printer cartridges recently. The company we are working with, the Funding Factory, deals mainly with schools and non-profit agencies. We recently sent in a shipment and with the credit we received from it will be able to purchase a set of finger puppets to use with Story Hour. There are several other items we would like to acquire for our Children's Programs and our Literacy Program so keep those cartridges coming! Of course we can only redeem cartridges that the company can refill and resell, so check the list on the Funding Factory's website, or call the library to see if your cartridges are eligible. Also, please keep as much of the original packaging as possible to protect the electronics. The company does not pay for damaged cartridges.

The Literacy Council also has been recycling paper. They have a trailer in the parking lot behind the library. When it fills, a volunteer takes it to Valley Converting. The proceeds of the paper recycling go to support the programs of the literacy council. They ask that you do not package your paper in plastic bags as these have to be removed before recycling. Please use cardboard boxes or paper bags instead. Funds raised through paper recycling have helped pay for travel expenses to trainings, literacy materials, and bus tickets for students and volunteers.

Thanks to all who have participated in these programs! Your help is greatly appreciated.

2009-2010 Free Family Movie Nights

September is fast approaching, and we are planning our family movie night schedule for the upcoming year. Each film will be shown on a Wednesday night at 6:00 with popcorn and a drink provided. The new projector and sound system are installed, so it should be a great experience for everyone. The dates selected are:

• September 23, 2009
• October 28, 2009
• November 18, 2009
• December 16, 2009
• January 27, 2010
• February 24, 2010
• March 24, 2010
• April 28, 2010
• May 26, 2010

Film titles will be announced as each date approaches. Join us for some free family fun!

The Reading Moose is on the Loose!

The Brooke & Hancock Counties Partners in Prevention are sponsoring a lapsit story time program at the Mary H. Weir Public Library on Wednesday, September 16. There will be two sessions - 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. with a story, a snack, prizes and a book. This program is designed for young children and their caretakers to participate in together. To register, call the library at 797-8510. Space is limited.

Fall Story Hour Schedule

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the schedule for Fall Story Hour has not yet been determined. If you are interested in registering your child, please call the library at 797-8510 and leave your name and number so that you can be notified when the schedule is finalized.

Accelerated Reader Books

We recently received a suggestion that we shelve all of the Accelerated Reader books together in one location. Although this would be convenient for the students participating in the program, it would create other issues for the staff and other library patrons.

A company called Renaissance Learning has developed the Accelerated Reader program which uses independent reading in popular or classic books to develop reading skills. The student’s skill level and understanding of the books read is measured by tests created and sold by Renaissance Learning. Each school district that uses the program decides which tests to purchase, so the titles listed for each school district are just a small portion of those available.

Our local school district’s list is available online and is extensive. Currently, the only way for us to match the books in our collection with the books on the district’s list is to search each title individually in our catalog. There are 203 pages with over 20 titles on each page on our local list.

Several years ago we did put some notes on the items that we knew were on the local list. These notes can be accessed by typing “MHWPL: Accelerated Reader” in the LOCAL NOTE search of the catalog. This will give patrons a list of some of the books we have at each reading level. Unfortunately, we don’t have access to a list of the new titles added each year to update these notes. This means the only way to keep these notes current would be to check the entire list each year. We don’t have the staff available to do that, and only someone with very specific training can enter the notes in the computer record.

Even if we were able to determine exactly which of our books were and weren’t on the list, there would still be the issue of creating a separate section in each of the different categories of books that we have, since the Accelerated Reader program uses books of all types at all levels. It would really be like creating two libraries, one for Accelerated Reader Books and one for books that aren’t on the list. Since the only thing that would be different about the books is each section would be the Accelerated Reader designation, they would be difficult to keep them in the correct section. It would also mean dividing up books by the same author into different sections. So, although shelving the Accelerated Reader books separately would help some people, it really isn’t very practical for our library.

Teddy Bear Tea

The GFWC Weirton Woman's Club Literary Department will sponser a Teddy Bear Tea on Wednesday, July 29 at 1:00 in the library's activity room. This has been a very popular event for the last several years with many children and teddy bears attending.

July Activities

July 1&2 - Summer Used Book Sale 10:00-4:00
July 3 - Library Closed - Holiday Observance
July 4 - Library Open
July 6, 7, 8, & 9 - Summer Used Book Sale 10:00-4:00
July 11 - Museum Committee Meeting - Activity Room 10:00-2:00
July 13, 14, 15, & 16 - Summer Used Book Sale 10:00-4:00
July 15 - Small Group Meeting Activity Room
July 20, 21, 22 & 23 - Summer Used Book Sale 10:00-4:00
July 20 - Summer Reading 1:00-2:00 ages 7-13
July 22 - Summer Reading 1:00-2:00 ages 3-6
July 27, 28, 29, & 30 - Summer Used Book Sale 10:00-4:00
July 27 - Summer Reading 1:00-2:00 ages 7-13
July 29 - Summer Reading 1:00-2:00 ages 3-6
August 7 - Summer Reading Awards Program 1:0

Summer Book Sale

The library is holding a Summer Book Sale from now until July 30th between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. every Monday through Thursday. This is a great time to find some gently used books for reading at the beach or pool and save some money in the process. The environment, your wallet, your mind, and the library's budget will all benefit from this sale. The variety changes daily and there are some great bargains, so stop by frequently. The sale is being held in the Gallery behind the library on sunny days and in the library's garage off Walnut Street on rainy days.

June Activities

June 1 - Job Training in Computer Room 10:00
June 12 - Job Training in Computer Room 10:00
June 15 - Registration Begins for Summer Reading Program
June 16 - Business After Hours 5:00. Library Closes at 4:00.
June 17 - Small Group Meeting 1:00
June 19 - Small Group Meeting 10:00 Cancelled
June 29 - Library Closed
June 20 - WV Day
June 22 - NCOA Meeting 10:00
June 22 - Summer Reading (7-13) Meets 1:00
June 24 - Summer Reading (3-6) Meets 1:00
June 29 - Summer Reading (7-13) Meets 1:00

BE CREATIVE @ YOUR LIBRARY

If your kids get the school's-out there's-nothin'-to-do summer blues, have them get creative at the library. The library's summer reading program begins soon and this year's theme is based on creativity. Six weekly sessions will be held from June 22nd to August 7th for children from 3 to 13. The children are divided into 2 age groups. The older children, ages 7-13, meet on Mondays from 1:00-2:00. The younger children, ages 3-6, meet on Wednesdays from 1:00-3:00. Preregistration is required and will begin on June 15. To register your child, bring your library card and your child's card to the desk in the Children's Department and fill out a short form. It's fun and best of all, it's free!

Happy 51st Anniversary!

Today is the library's 51st Anniversary! After last year's big 50th celebration, this anniversary is a little more subdued. If you read the library's history on the web page, the roots of the library go back much further than 51 years. However, until 1958, the library was funded by donations and much of the work was done by skilled volunteers. After E. T. Weir donated the current building in honor of his wife, Mary, the library began to receive public funds, came under the guidance of a Board of Directors, and became managed by a MLS Librarian.

As with any 51 year old, our building requires more than a little upkeep. In 1958, no one could foresee the need we currently have for electrical and network wiring. I doubt if the staff in 1958 ever thought there would be one computer in the building, let alone the 50 some we now have. We also have people who bring their own laptops in to use. After 51 years of heavy use, other items start to wear out in a building. Even though they last a long time, items like laminate counters, floor tile, faucets and locks eventually wear out.

Each year we try to make some improvements to the library. This year, we installed new handicapped accessible automatic doors. They have been a great improvement! Before they were installed, we actually had some patrons tell us that they thought we were closed because the door at the top of our side entrance was so stiff and heavy that they couldn't get it open. Now the doors open easily for anyone - even someone whose arms are full of books.

This next year will be an exciting one. Our next project, made possible in part by an LSTA Grant, will be to install a new projector, screen, and sound system in the Activity Room. This will make the room much easier to use and will improve security and safety. The equipment will be in a locked box, and we will no longer have to run cords along the floor. In the next year we also plan to add some new services. Look for those announcements sometime soon. We may be getting older, but there's always something new at the library.

Business After Hours at the Library

The library will be hosting a Business After Hours for the Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce on June 16, 2009 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. This is a new event for us, and we are looking forward to it. The library will close to the public at 4:00 on that day.

Summer Hours Coming Soon!

The library will be changing to summer hours beginning June 8, 2009 and running until after Labor Day. The library will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The Friday and Saturday hours will remain the same at 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Remember that books can be renewed at any hour by clicking on the catalog link on the left side of this page and creating an account in MY ACCOUNT. Please note that if the materials are already overdue or have been reserved by another patron, you may not be able to renew online. Materials may also be left in the locked drop box on Sarah Lane between the library and the Millsop Community Center. Materials put in the box will be retrieved and checked in before the library opens the following day.

Looking for Culture? Check the Library!

As Weirton is celebrating its rich ethnic diversity this week, we wanted to suggest some of the wonderful resources available at the library for exploring cultures. Two reference titles in particular discuss West Virginia's ethnic heritage, An Introduction to West Virginia Ethnic Communities and the West Virginia Encyclopedia. We maintain a collection of back issues of Goldenseal, a periodical put out by the Division of Culture and History. Its index is available online and many articles have been written focusing on the ethnic groups in West Virginia. The library has CD and Cassette language instruction, and we have music CDs from different cultures. There are also histories of the countries that people have emigrated from. The library also has a strong collection of cookbooks from many cultures and ethnic recipes on our website. We also have the titles Countries and their Cultures and the Encyclopedia of Food and Culture available in electronic book from right from the library catalog. The library also has bound volumes of the Weirton Steel Employees Bulletin and the Weirton Daily Times on microfilm. You can find the stories of the original festivals in them. So if the Festival of Nations has you looking for more information on Weirton's ethnic groups, the library is the place to go!

Gallery Display Highlights History of Festival of Nations

We are all looking foreward to the return of the Festival of Nations tomorrow at the Weirton Millsop Center. The event, sponsored by the Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center, celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the founding of Weirton. However, the Festival of Nations is not a new event in Weirton. The event was first introduced in 1934 as a Labor Day celebration and continued until 1944. To honor the original festival, the library has created a display of photographs from those early years in the Gallery behind the library. We invite the public to stop and take a look at scenes from past festivals as they enjoy Saturday's event or at any time in the next few weeks.

May 2009 Events

May 1, 2009 - Leadership Weirton 9:00-1:00
May 3 to May 9, 2009 - Children's Book Week
May 4, 2009 - Small Group Room Reservation 10:00-4:00
May 4, 2009 - 4H Meeting 6:00-7:30
May 9, 2009 - GFWC Weirton Woman's Club Book Review
Luncheon at Williams Country Club.
May 11, 2009 - Training Session in Computer Room 11:00
May 13, 2009 - Small Group Room Reservation
May 14, 2009 - 4H Meeting 1:00-3:00
May 16, 2009 - Festival of Nations at Millsop Center sponsored
by the Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center 11:00-5:00
May 20, 2009 - Small Group Room Reservation 5:15
May 21, 2009 - Weirton Jaycees 5:30-7:30
May 25, 2009 - Memorial Day Holiday - Library Closed
May 27, 2009 - Family Movie Night 6:00
June 1, 2009 - Training Session in Computer Room 11:00

Early Literacy Stations Have Arrived!

This year the Mary H. Weir Public Library was awarded an Library Services and Technology Act Grant from the West Virginia Library Commission for the purchase of two Early Literacy Computer Workstations.

These computers come preloaded with over 30 different entertaining and educational programs designed to support the development of children ages 2 to 8. There are programs based on children's book characters like The Cat in the Hat and Stellaluna and programs based on popular television shows like Sesame Street, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Between the Lions. Many of the programs loaded on these computers come from companies like Reader Rabbit and JumpStart that have been creating educational programs for children since these programs first came on the market. Designed to keep the interest of children, these programs are filled with color, movement and music.

One of the computer stations is bilingual. There are flags on the corner of the screen of this station. When the flags are clicked, the programs change to either English or Spanish. Children whose first language is Spanish can become more fluent in English by using these programs and children who speak English can learn some Spanish words from them.

The Early Literacy Stations have an index in the corner so that parents can see which programs are appropriate for their child. The programs are divided by age group and the skill that is being developed. In addition to the Reading and Writing skills that have traditionally been seen as literacy skills, these stations also include programs for developing skills in Math, Music, Art, Social Studies, Geography, and Computer Use.

In addition to the Early Literacy Stations, the library still maintains three workstations for older children that give them access to Microsoft Office products for Word Processing and Internet Access so that they can access the library catalog, our subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica, and the databases available at WV InfoDepot.

Fine Free Week

The Mary H. Weir Public Library designates two weeks a year as fine free weeks. One of those weeks is National Library Week, which is April 12th to 18th this year. That means that any materials returned to the library during this time period will have any fines on the material forgiven automatically.

If you have fines on material that was returned to this library previously, you can come into the library during National Library Week and request to have your fines forgiven. This will only be done by request; it does not occcur automatically. This offer only applies to fines on returned materials returned to us. Replacement costs for lost or damaged materials will still apply, and fines cannot be forgiven on materials that have not yet been returned. Since many of the libraries in our section of the state have joined in a consortium and use the same card, a fine at one library may prevent you from checking out material at another library.

The library is more interested in getting our materials back than we are in collecting fines. Many materials cannot be replaced because they have gone out of print. This is particularly true for earlier titles in fiction series. Often by the time an author is writing the 10th or 11th book of a series, you can no longer purchase the first few books in that series.

If you have fines, don't miss this great opportunity to return your library card to good standing!

Upcoming Events for April 2009

April 6, 2009 - City Department Training Activity Room
April 6, 2009 - 4H Meeting 6:00-7:30
April 9, 2009 - 4H Meeting 1:00-3:00
April 10, 2009 - Library Closed
April 12 to April 18, 2009 - National Library Week
April 16, 2009 - Weirton Jaycees 5:30
April 13 to April 17, 2009 - Census Training 10:00-6:30
April 20 to April 24, 2009 - Census Training 10:00-6:30
April 29, 2009 - Movie Night 6:00
May 1, 2009 - Leadership Weirton History and Culture Session 9:30-1:00

New Databases in WV Depot

The West Virginia Library Commission had announced that they have added two newspaper databases to WVInfoDepot. Both should be wonderful additions. NewsBank will give us access to full text of some current major West Virginia newspapers from Charleston, Huntington, and Morgantown. NewspaperArchive provides a more historic perspective and should be extremely useful to historians and genealogists.

Of particular interest to Weirton residents is the fact that many editions of the Weirton Daily Times from 1955 to 1977 are included in NewspaperArchive. These newspapers appear in the same format as they were originally printed, so not only do you get to see the articles, but also the ads, the cartoons, the TV listings, the real estate transfers, the sports page, and the wedding announcements.

The most exciting feature is that you can search for names or key words across all of the newspapers available or narrow it down to a particular newspaper, a time period or even a specific issue of a newspaper. Of course the library has the Weirton Daily Times on microfilm, but unless you know the exact date of the item you are looking for, it can take many hours scanning the film to find a particular item. I searched the library's name in the database and came up with over 3,000 times that the library was mentioned in the newspaper during that time period.

Of course, this isn't a complete collection of the Weirton Daily Times back issues. The library doesn't have every issue, but our microfilm collection of the Weirton Daily Times begins with March 1931 and continues to the present, giving the library 50 years of newspapers that aren't in NewspaperArchive. However, the searchability and accessability of NewspaperArchive will be a great timesaver for many people.

Another feature that I'm sure our library users will enjoy is that newspapers from all over the country are included in NewspaperArchive. The are newspapers from Alaska to Florida and almost everywhere in between. Many of these are small town newspapers which will aid people who are doing genealogy.

Japanese Book Grant

The Mary H. Weir Library is one of 200 libraries across the country that was awarded a grant to receive 50 books written by Japanese authors. These translated titles are from a variety of genres including fiction, mystery, historical fiction, horror, manga, science fiction and nonfiction. The grant was funded by the Toyota Motor Corporation through the American Library Association. The Mary H. Weir Public Library is the only library in West Virginia to receive this grant.

E-Reference Material

We are all used to the idea that there are certain times that the library is open and other times that it is just not available. But with the electronic resources available now, we have to think about libraries a little differently.

Any patron with a home computer can get information from our website or check to see if we have a book available at any time of the day or night. The statistics on our web pages show that they do that. Not just our patrons, but people all over the country and even other parts of the world access our web page. Using the "MY ACCOUNT" feature of the catalog, local patrons can also check to see when books are due or renew them. We also provide online access to material through Encyclopedia Britannica and link to the databases provided by the state library commission at wvinfodepot.org.

But what if a patron needs information on Alzheimer's, neurodegenerative diseases, statistics on the costs of crime, stress and depression or some other specific topic? It's now possible to get that information at any hour with the library's e-reference books. The library has purchased ten books from Gale's Virtual Reference Library which are available through our catalog with a Mary H. Weir library card. Gale is a well respected publisher of print reference material. These e-books are duplicates of the print versions of multi-volume reference sets that Gale publishes. However, the online version has some major advantages over the print version. In addition to 24 hour access, the whole series can be searched online at one time. If a topic is covered in more than one of these titles, it will show up in the search results.

The ten titles that the Mary H. Weir Public Library has available from the catalog include:

• Countries and their Cultures
• Encyclopedia of Aging
• Encyclopedia of Crime and Justice
• Encyclopedia of Drugs, Alcohol and Addictive Behavior
• Encyclopedia of Education
• Encyclopedia of Food and Culture
• Encyclopedia of Public Health
• Encyclopedia of Sociology
• Gale Encyclopedia of Science
• New Catholic Encyclopedia

The articles in these reference books come up in full text and may be saved, printed or e-mailed. Each article also provides the format for citing the article in both MLA and APA format. Most of these titles are designed to be used at the high school or college level. They are excellent sources of information for reports or papers.

While our building be open 54 hours a week, the need for information isn't confined to those hours. Our online catalog and web page are providing information 24/7.

Upcoming Events for March 2009

March 1, 2009 - 4-H 6:00-7:30
March 2, 2009 - Story Hour 1:00-2:00 and 6:00-7:00
March 2, 2009 - NCOA 1:15-3:30
March 3, 2009 - Story Hour 1:00-2:00
March 6, 2009 - Northern Library Network Executive Meeting
March 6. 2009 - RESA Meeting 11:00-3:00
March 7, 2009 - Computer Room Reserved
March 10, 2009 - Computer Room Reserved
March 10, 2009 - Story Hour 1:00-2:00 and 6:00-7:00
March 11, 2009 - Story Hour 1:00-2:00
March 11, 2009 - Ireland, Scotland and Wales 6:00-7:30
March 12, 2009 - 4-H 1:00-3:00
March 13, 2009 - Census Bureau Testing 1:00-5:00
March 13, 2009 - RESA Meeting 11:00-2:00
March 17, 2009 - Computer Room Reserved
March 17, 2009 - Story Hour 1:00-2:00 and 6:00-7:00
March 18, 2009 - Story Hour 1:00-2:00
March 18, 2009 - Project Destiny 3:30-5:30
March 19, 2009 - Small Group Room Reservation 10:00-3:00
March 19, 2009 - Library Board Meeting 2:00 - Cancelled
March 20, 2009 - Census Bureau Testing 1:00-5:00
March 20, 2009 - School Visit
March 23, 2009 - Master Gardeners 6:00-9:00
March 24, 2009 - Story Hour 1:00-2:00 and 6:00-7:00
March 24, 2009 - Weirton Area Literacy Council 6:00-7:45
March 25, 2009 - Story Hour 1:00-2:00
March 25, 2009 - Project Destiny 3:30-5:30
March 25, 2009 - Movie Night 6:00-7:45
March 26, 2009 - The Women of Holliday's Cove
March 28, 2009 - Computer Room Reserved
March 31, 2009 - Story Hour 1:00-2:00 and 6:00-7:00

New Exercise DVDs for Spring

The warm weather last week brought the promise of Spring even if the groundhog failed us. Swimsuit weather will be here before you know it. To prepare for the season, we have updated our selection of exercise DVDs. There is something for everyone in this collection.

The new titles include:

• The Biggest Loser: The Workout
• Denise Austin Boot Camp
• Yoga: Body Burn
• Discover Bellydance
• The Firm: Cardio Dance Fusion
• Tank Top Arms, Bikini Belly, Boy Shorts Bottom
• Safe and Fit: Total Body Workout

Spring Story Hour Registration

Story Hour is one of our many activities at the library. We regularly hold Spring and Fall sessions for 3 to 5 year olds. The weekly sessions are theme based and include carefully selected age appropriate children's literature and activities such as puzzles, music, crafts and short films. Registration for Spring Story Hour begins on February 17. Parents may register their child for one of three times: Tuesday Afternoons from 1:00-2:00, Wednesday Afternoons from 1:00-2:00 or Tuesday Evenings from 6:00-7:00. Story Hour begins the first week of March and concludes the first week of May. Parents who wish to register children new to the program must do so at the library. Both parent and child are required to have a Mary H. Weir Public Library Card.

It's February and the Year is Half Over!

I know it's hard to believe, but the library's year is more than half over! Of course, the library's year starts in July with the fiscal year, like most businesses. So this is a good time to stop and take a look the first half of the year.

From July to December -

• The library issued 688 new cards
• Adult Fiction circulation increased 13% over last year
• Adult Nonfiction circulation increased 10% over last year
• The computers were used by patrons 7,959 times
• 33,631 books were checked out
• 297 faxes were sent or received for library users
• The library home page received 49,466 visits
• The library has been visited by people from 24 states

We have also been focusing on working with the children of Weirton. Our Children's Librarian reads to the children at Head Start weekly. We hosted the Weirton Christian Center's Martin Luther King celebration. We have had children from the Salvation Army, the Boy Scouts, 4-H and St. Paul's School visit the building, and we have displayed a litter prevention project by the children of Camp Fire USA.

The first half of the year has been a busy one, and we are looking forward to the second half!

Upcoming Events for February 2009

February 10, 2009 - GED Prep. class 6 p.m.

February 11, 2009 - Writing Class 1 p.m.

February 11, 2009 - Census Bureau Testing in Activity Room

February 12, 2009 - GED Prep. Software - "It's New and Just for You"

February 12, 2009 - Home School 4-H Meeting

February 13, 2009 - Citizenship Class 10:30 a.m.

February 14, 2009 - Book Signing: Holiday's Cove Fort by Michael Nogay 12:00-3:00

February 16, 2009 - Presidents' Day, Library Closed

February 17, 2009 - Spring Story Hour Registration Begins

February 17, 2009 - GED Prep. Class 6 p.m.

February 17, 2009 - Computer Training Room Reserved

February 18, 2009 - Census Bureau Testing in Activity Room

February 18, 2009 - Movie Night 6:00

February 19, 2009 - Library Board Meeting 2:00

February 19, 2009 - Literacy Council Meeting

February 25, 2009 - Census Bureau Testing in Activity Room

February 26, 2009 - Project Destiny Board Meeting

February 28, 2009 - Poland: Easter Eggs and Holiday Traditions

March 7, 2009 - Computer Training Room Reserved

March 10, 2009 - Computer Training Room Reserved

March 11, 2009 - Scotland, Ireland and Wales 6:00-7:30

March 26, 2009 - The Women of Holiday's Cove 6:00-7:30

Yearbooks

Did you know that the library can use your old local yearbooks? The Mary H. Weir Public Library maintains a collection of yearbooks in our Local history and Genealogy Collection. However, we have quite a few holes in the collection. We only have about 10 of Madonna's yearbooks dating from 1980 to 1993. We have a fairly large collection of Weir High yearbooks beginning in 1921 and going up to 2003, but very few from period from 1970 to 1990. We also have a few copies of local grade school and college yearbooks and would welcome more of those. We would also welcome duplicate copies of years we already do have. So if you are cleaning house and decide that you no longer want your old yearbooks, please bring them to the library!

Upcoming Events for January 2009

Thursday, January 15, 2009 - The Weirton Area Literacy Council will meet at 6 p.m. The topic will be U.S. Citizenship.

Saturday, January 17, 2009 - The library will be joining with the Weirton Christian Center in celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King.

Monday, January 19, 2009 - The library will be closed.

Thursday, January 22, 2009 - The Library Board will meet at 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009 - Movie Night at 6:00 p.m.

A New Year, A New Way to Communicate

In 2008, the Mary H. Weir Public Library celebrated its 50th Anniversary. Over the past 50 years there have been many changes in the services provided by our library and the formats used to share information. DVDs have replaced VHS and 16 mm film on movie night. WiFi is available in the library. We can create digital files and e-mail pages from our microfilm collection. So we felt that the beginning of 2009 was an appropriate time to begin to share information about the library through a blog. I hope you find it useful.