PLEASE VOTE FOR THE HANCOCK COUNTY LIBRARY LEVY TUESDAY!

Repairing Library Books - No Tape PLEASE!

Books often come back to the library with some sort of damage. One of the most frequent offenders where this is concerned is the family dog. Many dogs have developed a love for literature. My dearly departed beagle favored paperback books. She never took them off of tables, but leave one on a bed or a chair and the room would soon be decorated with pages resembling fallen leaves. I knew she had this tendency, and it was my responsibility to keep the books out of her reach. There was no way to repair books she had "read."

Sometimes books just fall apart due to age or poor quality of workmanship. In the past, books were sewn together, now almost all of them are glued. Unfortunately, glue dries out and the pages start to come out.

We have several methods of repairing books with specialty tools and tapes or flexible glues. If the book is one that we know we cannot replace or we want to keep in the collection for a long period of time, we may use archival materials or send it to the bindery. The bindery does an excellent job of making a worn book look like new. Unfortunately, not all books can be rebound and there is a cost involved.

The library staff can tell the difference between a book that has damage due to wear and tear and one that has been damaged due to the carelessness of the borrower. We can usually even tell if it was the baby or the dog that chewed a book. Please, if you are returning a book that you know is damaged, don't let your embarrassment prevent you from letting the library staff know so that they can get the book repaired before it gets worse.

Most importantly, please don't attempt to repair a library book yourself! Normal household tape is meant for tasks like wrapping gifts. It won't last for a book's lifetime. It either stains, leaves a sticky residue or dries up and falls off. Sometimes it does all three. In any case, it can prevent us from performing a proper repair or sending the book to be rebound. Another home favorite, duct tape has a million uses, but book repair is not one of them! We know that those who try to repair library books mean well, but home book repairs often do more damage than good. So if a book is damaged, please bring in all the pieces and let us know so that we can take the proper steps to repair it.

Your Vote is Important

Vote for the Hancock County Library Levy!

Some of you may not be aware that the Hancock County Libraries have a levy on the November 2, 2010 ballot. This is a renewal of the levy we are currently operating under. These funds are vital to the operation of the three libraries in Hancock County. The money that each library receives from the state is tied to the amount of local funding that is generated for the library. In other words, if our local funding is reduced, we will also lose state funding. Every vote is important because 60% of the voters must approve the levy for it to  take effect. So please, support your local libraries and vote for the levy.

Young and Need a Job?

The library received a fax yesterday announcing a Job Corps Orientation on Monday, October 25 at 11:00 a.m. at the Ohio County Public Library, 52 16th Street, Wheeling. Job Corps is a career technical training and education program sponsered by the government. It is open to students aged 16-24 who meet requirements of the program. There is an online brochure the explains the program. For further information, call Job Corps Admissions at 304-620-8146.

How Can We Create the Best Future for Our Area?

How can this region become a place where communities thrive in fifteen years? Do you have ideas? Join us at the library, Monday, October 25, 2010 for a Power of 32 Community Conversation. At each of these events the participants break up into groups and consider four questions:


· What does a thriving region look like?

· What challenges will we face and what strengths can we build on?

· What has to be done to make sure the area thrives and why?

· In 2015 what will we be most proud of in our region and what was key to making it happen?

If you have ideas or opinions about these questions, now is your time to be heard. Join with positive people from all over the region in working toward a brighter future for our area.

Tutor Training

Do you want to change lives? Think about becoming a tutor in our literacy program. The Mary H. Weir Library has an active literacy program that not only provides reading instruction, but works with students preparing for GED testing, basic computer skills, and immigrants learning English. There is always a need for reliable, patient tutors. Tutors may work with individuals or small groups and may tutor in any of a variety of subjects.  A Volunteer Tutor Training will take place next week at the library. Training will be held Tuesday, October 19 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., Thursday, October 21 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., and Saturday, October 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information, or to register for training, call Pam at 304-797-8510.

Investment Fraud Program

The library will be hosting Seniors Against Investment Fraud a program of the WV State Auditor's Office on Thursday, October 21 at 12:30. Learn how to recognize scams and avoid investment fraud. The program will be held in the library's activity room on the lower level. Parking is available in back of the library, and those interested in attending may enter through the doors on the Walnut Street side of the building.

Basket Fundraiser

The Literary Department of the GFWC is holding it's annual basket fundraiser at the library. This year the basket themes include: Christmas, Toys, Tea, WVU, Pittsburgh Steelers, Romance, Chocolate, Italian, Garden and Kitchen. Each basket is stuffed full of interesting items that reflect the basket's theme. Tickets are $1 each or 6 tickets for $5. Proceeds benefit the library. Winners will be drawn in early to mid December. If you happen to be lucky enough to win a basket, make sure to bring someone strong when you come to pick it up. Some of these baskets are heavy!

Teen Read Week

Next week, October 17th  to October 23rd is Teen Read Week. Teen Read Week is designed to encourage teens to read for fun. The Mary H. Weir Public Library appreciates teens who read! To show our appreciation, every teen (ages 13-19) who checks out a book during Teen Read Week will be given the opportunity to enter a drawing to win one of four prizes. The prizes include a Clock Radio, two 2G MP3 Players and a 4G Tony Hawk USB Skatedrive.

Fall 2010 Displays

If you haven't been in the library recently, you're missing some great displays by local groups. The Gallery behind the library is continuing to show Photographs of the Tri-State Region by the Upper Ohio Valley Camera Club. Inside we have an attractive and informative Constitution Day display from the DAR and several displays of artwork by local children. The Tri-State Christian Academy recently completed a unit on the Renaissance. They have brought in three castles created by students to share. The children from the Weirton Christian Center have decorated pumpkins with sequins, painted fall leaves and created a display of Johnny Appleseed pictures all of which create a cheerful fall atmosphere. You can see examples of their work on the slide show on the left side of  the blog, but it's always better to come in and see the real thing.

Speaking of art, the Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center is sponsoring the 2nd Annual Robert Haworth Memorial Art Exhibition this Saturday at the library from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This year the exhibit will feature the work of Anthony Sellitti and local art students. The display will be in the library's activity room. Be sure to stop by and see how much talent there is in the Weirton area.

Local History Books Available

Fall is here, and the holiday shopping season will soon be with us. The library has a small collection of recently printed local history books available for purchase at our front desk that would make a special gift for anyone with ties to the Weirton area. The newest of the collection is Thomas Zielinsky's account of The Final Days of Weirton Steel.  We also have two titles from Acadia Publishing's Images of America Series. Hancock County and Rock Springs Park are filled with photographs of bygone days which will bring back many memories for area residents. From the Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center, we have A Pageant of Nations and Calendars for 2011, 2012, and 2013. Each month is illustrated with a historic scene. We also still have copies of The History of Weirton by David Javersak. This title was a project of the Historic Landmarks Commission. It is the most complete, well illustrated history of the city available.