Staff Pick of the Week

Suzy's Pick

My Thoughts Be Bloody: The Bitter Rivalry Between Edwin and John Wilkes Booth That Led To An American Tragedy by Nora Titone, read by John Bedford Lloyd

I usually don't check out books on CD that are longer than 8 discs, but the blurb on Titone's 16 disc book caught my interest. I was impressed that the foreword was written (and on the audio book, read by distinguished historian Doris Kearns Goodwin.) I thought, if it's good enough for Doris, it's good enough for me.

Using correspondence and memoirs of friends and family, Titone draws a fascinating portrait of a family and its times all leading up to the bloody climax on April 14, 1865. Beginning with departure for America by the family's patriarch, famed tragedian Junius Brutus Booth with his pregnant 16 year old mistress, Titone follows the expanding Booth clan through decades of hardships and triumphs.

Junius was a brilliant, but deeply flawed individual who passed on both his great genius and terrible alcoholism to his son Edwin. His son John Wilkes inherited all his father's sumptuous stage costumes, but unfortunately for him and the nation, none of his father's talent. John Wilkes comes across as a young man of great self regard, but little self control. A modern reader, familiar with the events in Oklahoma City and Columbine can see that his was a crime just waiting to happen.

In chronicling this family, Titone gives a fascinating look at the history of the America and the American theater in the early days of the Republic. Father Junius was a drinking buddy of Andrew Jackson and Sam Houston. Edwin was a dear friend of Julia Ward Howe, author of " Battle Hymn of the Republic." Julia's abolitionist husband, Samuel Gridley Howe, was a supporter of John Brown and was reputed to have helped finance Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry. John Wilkes abandoned his stage company in Richmond to join cadets from V.M.I. who were called to guard the Charles Town area during Brown's trial.

John Bedford Lloyd's narration is well done. His reading enhanced the text without drawing attention to itself. The book reads, or in this case listens like a well written novel, but the scholarship is sound. Sources are well documented. As usual, my only problem with listening to non-fiction is the lack of illustrations and photographs that are in the print format.

New Year, Healthier You

This week's cookbook is The New Mayo Clinic Cookbook: Eating Well For Better Health, recipes by Cheryl Forberg, R.D., and Maureen Callahan, R.D.

Curried Carrot Soup

(Serves 6)

A splash of lime juice and a blend of spices transform an everyday carrot soup into a sophisticated indulgence. Accompany the soup with a green salad and crusty whole-grain bread for a complete meal.

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon mustard seed
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
1 lb carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon peeled and chopped ginger
1/2 jalapeno chile, seeded
2 teaspoons curry powder
5 cups chicken stock, vegetable stock, or both
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (fresh coriander), plus leaves for garnish
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
3 tablespoons low-fat sour cream or nonfat plain yogurt
Grated zest of 1 lime

1. In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the mustard seed. When the seeds just start to pop, after about 1 minute, add the onion and saute until soft and translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the carrots, ginger, jalapeno, and curry powder and saute until the seasonings are fragrant, about 3 minutes.

2. Add 3 cups of the stock, raise the heat to high, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until the carrots are tender, about 6 minutes.

3. In a blender or food processor, puree the soup in batches until smooth and return to the saucepan. Stir in the remaining 2 cups stock. Return the soup to medium heat and reheat gently. Just before serving, stir in the chopped cilantro and lime juice. Season with the salt, if desired.

4. Ladle into warmed individual bowls. Garnish with a drizzle of yogurt, a sprinkle of lime zest, and cilantro leaves.

Per serving: Calories 80, Protein 6g, Carbohydrate 5g, Total Fat 4g: Saturated Fat 1g, Monounsaturated Fat 2g, Cholesterol 3mg, sodium 147mg, Fiber 1g

African American Women's Activism in the Mountain State Lecture Feb. 1, 2011

Dr. Lois Lucas will present "African American Women's Activism in the Mountain State" at the monthly Tuesday evening lecture in the Archives and History Library at 6:00 p.m. on February 1, 2011. Using as examples Memphis T. Garrison, Elizabeth S. Drewry, Lucile S. Meadows, and Mildred M. Batemen, Lucas will explore the role blacks played in the history of the state. These four women were agents of change, pioneers in their fields, according to Lucas. Their activism represents a long tradition that has been established among blacks in West Virginia, while at the same time illustrating the complexity of race relations in the southern West Virginia coal fields and in the entire state.


Garrison was a strong civil rights advocate in the 1920s and 1930s and held a somewhat enigmatic position as an organizer and field secretary for the NAACP, speaking out against discrimination, while working as a social worker for a major coal company in southern West Virginia. Drewry was the first African American woman elected to the West Virginia state legislature. Elected in 1950, she did not shy away from controversy but tended to support and introduce legislation that favored wage workers, women, and health improvement rather than legislation that focused on racial equality. Meadows was a noted and effective educator who worked to bridge the gap between the races, beginning in the classroom. Although she held considerable political clout in the Democratic Party, she chose not to run for election to the legislature at the end of an appointive term in the 1990s. Unlike the other women, Bateman, who is still alive, is a medical doctor and was the first African American woman to serve as the head of a state department--the Department of Mental Health. She was seemingly less vocal in the public sphere than the other three; yet, her style of activism yielded significant results nonetheless.


Lois Lucas is an associate professor of history at West Virginia State University in Institute, where she teaches American, African American, and world history courses. She received her bachelors and masters degrees from North Carolina Central University and her doctorate from the University of Kentucky. Lucas wrote her dissertation on "African American Women's Activism in West Virginia." She is the author of five published essays.


All Archives and History workshop and lecture sessions are free and the public is invited to attend. On February 1, the library will close at 5 p.m. and reopen at 5:45 p.m. for participants only. Advance registration for the lecture is not required, but is encouraged to help plan seating arrangements and supplies for the session. To register in advance, contact Robert Taylor, library manager, by e-mail at bobby.l.taylor@wv.gov or at (304) 558-0230, ext. 163. Participants interested in registering by e-mail should send their name, telephone number and the name and date of the session. For additional information, contact the Archives and History Library at (304) 558-0230.

New Year, Healthier You

This week's cookbook is The New Mayo Clinic Cookbook: Eating Well For Better Health, recipes by Cheryl Forberg, R.D., and Maureen Callahan, R.D.

Warm Coleslaw with Honey Dressing

(Serves 6)

Cabbage is one of the healthful cruciferous vegetables. For this slaw, sliced vegetables are quickly stir-fried, then tossed in a hot dressing.

6 teaspoons olive oil
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 large carrot, peeled and cut into julienne
1/2 head napa cabbage, cored and thinly sliced crosswise (about 5 cups)
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon dark honey
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon caraway seed
1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf (Italian) parsley

1. In a large nonstick saute pan, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add the onion and mustard and saute until the onion is soft and lightly golden, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.

2. Reduce the heat to medium and add 2 more teaspoons of the olive oil to the pan. Add the carrot and toss and stir constantly until the carrot is tender-crisp, about 3 minutes. Transfer to the bowl with the onion.

3. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons oil to the pan over medium heat. Add the cabbage and toss and stir constantly until the cabbage just begins to wilt, about 3 minutes. Quickly transfer the cabbage to the bowl with the other vegetables.

4. Quickly add the vinegar and honey to the pan over medium heat, stirring until combined and bubbly and the honey is dissolved. Pour over the slaw. Add the salt and pepper and toss well. Garnish with the caraway seed and parsley and serve warm.

Per serving: 91 calories, 2g protein, 12g carbohydrate, 5g total fat-<1g saturated fat, 3g monounsaturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 221mg sodium, 3g fiber

Staff Pick of the Week

Steven's Pick

Read This Next: 500 of the Best Books You'll Ever Read by Sandra Newman and Howard Mittelmark

Book clubs seem to be very popular these days. For those book lovers interested in starting a book discussion group, I have one question for you, "where do you start?" Fiction or non-fiction, best-sellers or classics, highbrow or lowbrow, the literary elite or offbeat, underground classics. With so many books to choose from and so little time, how does one go about organizing and selecting a reading schedule that is exciting and unpredictable, with depth and substance, and that will still appeal to a wide variety of readers?

I recommend picking up Read This Next: 500 of the Best Books You'll Ever Read, which is a wonderful place to discover new books that you have never heard about or to rediscover books that you haven't read in years. A world away from those "Best Books" reading lists you probably had on your bookshelf in college, with such heavy titles as The Lifetime Reading Plan and Good Reading: A Guide for Serious Reads, Newman and Mittelmark have a lot more fun entertaining their readers with delightful and sometimes unexpected recommendations than in telling them what they should read in order to be considered "educated and serious" readers.

Following in the footsteps of Nancy Pearl's Book Lust and More Book Lust, the authors have crafted an entertaining, witty, and smart selection of some of their favorite titles, and more often than not, their tone is very tongue in cheek. The book is divided into ten very general sections such as "Love" and "Memoir" and "Religion" and "Death," with 12 book recommendations for each section- one for each month of the year. In addition to the book suggestions, the hungry reader will find discussion questions that are as funny as they are deconstructive. Also included are "Read These Too," thematically-arranged sections for further reading with such alluring titles as "Books on Transgressive Love" (think Lolita, Giovanni's Room, or Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife) and "Le Livre de Toilette" (roughly translated: the toilet book...or ideal bathroom reading.)

Whether reading as part of a group or individually, readers will benefit equally from the author's experience, their broad reading interests, and their robust sense of humor. Enjoy!

Fire up your skills database workshop

When Thu, February 10, 5:30pm – 7:00pm

Where Library Commission Reference Library, Culture Center, Charleston

An interactive workshop series to introduce the Learn Express Library Test Preparation and Job & Career Accelerator databases available on WVInfoDepot.org.


For details contact Susan Hayden 304.558.3978 or susan.g.hayden@wv.gov

New Year, Healthier You

This week's cookbook is The South Beach Diet: Quick & Easy Cookbook by Arthur Agatson, M.D.

Egg, Bacon, and Tomato "Sandwiches"

(Makes 4 servings)

Oven-baked tomatoes, smoky Canadian bacon, and a touch of mustard make an outstanding breadless, low-fat twist on eggs Benedict. A little vinegar is the simple secret to a perfect poached egg.


2 medium tomatoes, each cut into 4 slices
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon (optional)
4 (1-ounce) slices Canadian bacon
1 tablespoon white vinegar
4 large eggs
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees F

2. Season tomato slices with salt and pepper; place 4 of them in a single layer in a nonreactive baking dish, spread with mustard, and sprinkle with tarragon, if using.

3. Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until lightly browned, about 2 minutes per side. Lay 1 bacon slice over each mustard-spread tomato slice. Transfer to the oven and bake until tomatoes begin to bubble, about 10 minutes.

4. Fill a straight-sided skillet or wide saucepan with 2 inches of water. Add vinegar and bring to a gentle simmer. Crack each egg into a separate cup or bowl. Carefully slide each egg into the just-simmering water. Cook until desired doneness, about 3 minutes for soft-centered; remove with a slotted spoon, placing 1 egg atop each bacon slice. Top with remaining tomato slices and serve.

Per Serving: 140 calories, 7g fat, 2g saturated fat, 13g protein, 7g carbohydrate, 0g dietary fiber, 580mg sodium

Staff Pick of the Week

LeAna's Pick

John Dies at the End by David Wong

Do you love a great horror-comedy, especially one with a little off-color humor? If so, this book might be perfect for you. There are a lot of authors who seem to struggle when trying to create a really good cross-genre story, especially one that crosses anything with horror. With this reissue of an internet phenomenon originally published in 2007, David Wong (Cracked.com editor Jason Pargin’s alter ego) has left me wishing there were more authors who could master it like he has. A unique brand of supernatural craziness from an imagination that must truly be cracked left me constantly checking over my shoulder for evil things one minute and laughing out loud the next. When the book opened with Wong and his BFF John fighting a meat-ghost-monster with 80’s glam rock, I knew it was going to be special. I was not disappointed. This book is as hilarious as it is scary, and it still has me checking over my shoulder months later.

New Year, Healthier You

This week's cookbook is The South Beach Diet: Quick & Easy Cookbook by Arthur Agatston, M.D.

Whole-Wheat Penne with Eggplant and Ricotta

(Makes 4 2-cup servings)

Tossing hot pasta with ricotta cheese creates a quick creamy sauce that's rich in taste and low in fat. Top this dish with fresh parsley or basil, if you have some on hand.

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for pan
1 1/2 pounds eggplant, cut into 1-inch cubes
8 ounces whole-wheat or spelt penne
1 small onion, thinly sliced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 (14.5-ounce) can chopped tomatoes
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. Heat oven to 450 degrees F

2. Lightly coat a baking pan with oil. Place eggplant in the pan, drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the oil, season with salt and pepper, toss to coat, and spread in an even layer. Bake, stirring once, until eggplant is slightly browned, about 25 minutes.

3. While eggplant is roasting, cook pasta according to the package directions.

4. Meanwhile, heat remaining oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add tomatoes with juice and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 3 minutes. Stir in vinegar and season to taste with salt and pepper.

5. Drain pasta, place in a large bowl, and add tomato mixture, eggplant, and cheese. Toss to combine, season with salt and pepper, and serve.

Per serving: 420 calories, 14g fat, 4g saturated fat, 18g protein, 62g carbohydrate, 12g dietary fiber, 320mg sodium

Gearing up for Black History Month, part 3

The Library Commission Reference Library collection has several databases to assist libraries and teachers in making preparations for Black History Month.  This week's featured database is

Major Acts of Congress
Analyzes 262 congressional acts from 1789 to 2002. Describes the law circumstances, issues, and subsequent history of the act.

Users will need to have a Reference Library card to access this resource.  Contact the Reference Library at wvlcref@wv.gov to acquire a library card or for more information about or accessing the databases.

New Year, Healthier You

This week's cookbook is The G.I. Diet Cookbook by Antony Worrall Thompson

Herbed Trout with Fennel

(Serves 2)

Trout is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, and is also full of flavor. It needs nothing more than a few salad greens and lemon to accompany it.

4 sprigs of rosemary
4 sprigs of fennel fronds
4 sprigs of parsley
4 sprigs of oregano
2 medium-sized trout, gutted
1 tablespoon olive oil
Ground black pepper
2 small heads fennel, cut in 2 lengthwise
Handful of arugula leaves
Lemon wedges

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F

2. Place the herbs inside the trout and tie with fine string or secure with wooden toothpicks.

3. Arrange the fish in a shallow flameproof roasting pan. Drizzle the olive oil over the fish and season with pepper.

4. Blanch the fennel in boiling water for 10 minutes, then drain and place next to the trout. Brown the trout and fennel over medium heat on top of the stove, turning once, then transfer to the oven for about 15 minutes to finish cooking.

5. Serve the trout with the fennel and pour any cooking juices over it, along with some arugula and lemon wedges.

Per portion: 363 cal., 18g fat, 3.3g sat. fat, 0.12 sodium, 4g carbohydrate

Automobile Winter Travel Kit

It is easy to pick up a few extra things for the house when weathermen start calling for snow, but don't forget to prepare your car.  Pack these few things in case bad weather strands you on the road:

• Blanket
• Shovel
• Windshield scraper
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Water
• Food--dried fruit, granola bars, cereal bars
• Extra clothes
• First aid kit
• Jumper cables
• Road maps
• Radio with extra batteries
• Books or travel board games to help pass the time
• Candle, coffee can and matches.  Place candle in the can and light for a heat source.  Please crack a window for ventilation.

New Year, Healthier You

Now that we've all eaten the delicious offerings of the holiday season it is time to lighten our recipes and encourage healthy eating for a more energetic and healthy year.

This week's cookbook is The G.I. Diet Cookbook by Anthony Worrall Thompson

Warm Broccoli Salad

(Serves 2)

1 small onion, grated
4 anchovy fillets, mashed
2 teaspoons capers, rinsed and chopped
Juice of 1/2 small lemon
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped mint
10 ounces small broccoli florets (about 5 cups)
Ground black pepper

Thoroughly mix the onion, anchovies, capers, lemon juice, olive oil, and mint in a bowl. Steam the broccoli for 3-5 minutes, then drain and toss with the rest of the salad. Season with black pepper and serve immediately. This salad is also good served at room temperature and is delicious tossed with whole-wheat pasta.

Per Portion: 166 cal., 11g fat, 1.1g sat. fat, 0.80g sodium, 6g carbohydrate

Fire-Up Your Skills Workshop--Learning Express Library

When: Thurday, January 13, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Where: Culture Center - WV Library Commission Reference Reading Room
It’s freezing outside but don’t let that be your reason to allow a brain freeze. The West Virginia Library Commission can help with a free “Fire up Your Skills” interactive workshop series.
The first hands on computer session is for students, education professionals, and adults. The session, scheduled Thursday, January 13th, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., will focus on the LearningExpress Library database. For details contact Susan Hayden 304.558.3978 or susan.g.hayden@wv.gov

WV Library Snapshot Day Public Service Announcement

Library Television Network has pulled together images from Snapshot Day to create a public service announcement to air on stations in your area. Interested libraries should contact LTN to request a customized copy to deliver to local media outlets.

Staff Pick of the Week

Megan's Pick

Agnes and the Hitman by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer

This book was my introduction to author Jennifer Crusie, who swiftly became one of my all-time favorite authors. Her characters are flawed and funny, raucous and real. I would recommend any of her books but this first one holds a special place in my heart.

Agnes Crandall, a food columnist, lives up to her Cranky Agnes by-line. She's already cracked two cheating ex-fiancees in the head with one of her frying pans. (Way to go, Agnes.) Now her dream life is within her grasp: she only has to refurbish the stately-but-aging mansion for the wedding of an old-family friend and a column to finish. But unfinished business finds Agnes when someone breaks into the mansion, former home of a Mafia Don, looking for old loot. Agnes' friend Joey, collaborator on her best selling Mob Food book, calls in his nephew Shane (no last name) to protect "his little Agnes." Well, Agnes ain't that little and she's not sure her new bodyguard is much safer than the people who are after what's hidden in her house.

Shenanigans ensue as Agnes and Shane dance around her temper and his job and their growing feelings for each other, try to get the house finished to meet the terms of the mortgage, and try to stay a step ahead of the mafia, the government and her Cranky Agnes column deadline.

Gearing up for Black History Month, part 2

The Library Commission Reference Library collection has several databases to assist libraries and teachers in making preparations for Black History Month.  This week's featured database is

Encyclopedia of African-American Culture & History
Covers all aspects of the African-American experience from 1619 to the present day through biographies, historical essays, and thematic pieces.

Users will need to have a Reference Library card to access this resource.  Contact the Reference Library at wvlcref@wv.gov to acquire a library card or for more information about or accessing the databases.

Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest

The West Virginia Division of Culture and History (WVDCH) is pleased to continue its partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation to present Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest. This exciting contest encourages students to learn poetry through memorization and performance. High school winners will be sent to Charleston, WV to compete in the 2011 West Virginia Poetry Out Loud Final. The WVDCH will cover lodging costs and reimburse travel costs for all participants in the state final. The winner will receive $200, with $500 going to their school for the purchase of poetry books. An additional $100 goes to the runner-up, with $200 going to his or her school. The West Virginia State Finalist will win an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to compete for $50,000 in scholarships and school prizes.

For more information please contact:
Stacy Kepple, Poetry Out Loud Coordinator
1900 Kanawha Blvd, E
Charleston, WV 25305-0300
304.558.0240. ext. 721
fax 304.558.3560
stacy.l.kepple@wv.gov

New Year, Healthier You

Now that we've all eaten the delicious offerings of the holiday season it is time to lighten our recipes and encourage healthy eating for a more energetic and healthy year.

This week's cookbook is The Best Light Recipe From the Editors of Cook's Illustrated.

Ranch Dressing
(Makes about 1 cup)

Fresh herbs are essential for the flavor of this dressing; do not use dried herbs

1/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
1/4 cup low-fat sour cream
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon minced shallot or red onion
1 tablespoon minced cilantro leaves
1 tablespoon juice from 1 lemon
2 teaspoons minced fresh dill
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Pinch cayenne

Stir all of the ingredients together until smooth. The dressing can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Per 2-Tablespoon Serving: Cal 30; Fat 1.5 g; Sat fat 1 g; Chol 5 mg; Carb 2 g; Protein 1 g; Fiber 0 g; Sodium 150 mg

Gearing up for Black History Month

The Library Commission Reference Library collection has several databases to assist libraries and teachers in making preparations for Black History Month.  This week's featured database is

American National Biography Online
Profiles over 17,400 deceased individuals whose lives have shaped the United States including famous, not so famous, and infamous people from all walks of life from the earliest times to present day.

Users will need to have a Reference Library card to access this resource.  Contact the Reference Library at wvlcref@wv.gov to acquire a library card or for more information about or accessing the databases.

Staff Pick of the Week

Janice's Pick

Extraordinary, Ordinary People: a Memoir of Family by Condoleeza Rice

Condoleeza Rice's biography of her parents, Extraordinary, Ordinary People: a Memoir of Family, details the love, attention, and opportunities she experienced as an only child growing up outside of Birmingham in the late 1950's and early 1960's. Her parents, unlike Martin Luther King, Jr., did not march in protest, instead they, like their parents before them, worked with African American youth to get an education and go to college. At least one of her grandparents founded a college and an aunt was the first Black female to receive a Ph.D.

After much thought, her mother, a musician herself, named her daughter after a musical term "con dolcezza" which is a direction to play "with sweetness." Sweetness is very much a part of this book. Even in segregated Birmingham, Condoleeza's life started out with sweetness, almost like whites imagined existed in the "colored sections" of Birmingham. Aspects of segregation touched their lives, but segregation is not the focus of the book. The focuses are on Ms. Rice's family and ancestors' abilities, intelligence, strengths, and drive to prosper and help others.

This book, a lovely tale, nicely told, is intended as a biography of Rice's parents, but readers learn about the author through her family history. Rice is the daughter of two educators. Her father was also a minister. She inherited many talents which her parents allowed her to explore. They encouraged her to think, read, and learn. She pursued dance, piano, and ice skating. She began playing piano before she was five. She started kindergarten early, but was homeschooled one year when she was not old enough to start first grade.

Ms. Rice received her master's degree before other students her age completed their undergraduate work. Her Ph.D. dissertation was finished before she accepted a position at Stanford, but to say she is an "overachiever" denies the interest and zest she approaches learning, which reflects the encouragement, pride, and cheer leading her parents provided, up to and including driving her the ice rink for lessons at 5:00am. These extraordinary, ordinary parents allowed their daughter to learn, mature, and blossom into a well qualified leader.

While in graduate school at Stanford, she pursued foreign relations which eventually lead her to the White House under the administration of both President Bush.

Librarian Job Opportunity in Charleston WV

Working title: Program and Planning Consultant. Responsible for identifying trends and needs in WV libraries through the collection and analysis of library data and, based on this analysis, for developing statewide programs that promote improvement in library services to better serve the people of West Virginia. Design, implement and monitor agency activities that annually collect, publish and analyze general, service, and financial data from West Virginia's academic, public and special libraries. Advise and train statewide library staff on data collection and reporting techniques. Complete and file statistical reports required of the Library Commission by state and federal agencies. Maintain current and historical agency statistics. Analyze statistical data collected for implications for library service needs in the state. Prepare customized funding needs in the state. Prepare customized IDE library community, and others. Plan and implement statistical reports requested by agency staff, the statewide library community, and others. Plan and implement programs that enhance all levels of staff development in the state's public libraries, assist libraries with strategic planning, and improve library services. Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of data collection and analysis techniques as well as knowledge of the principles and methods of planning and implementing programs; ability to interpret and apply laws, regulations and policies affecting program operations; ability to analyze regional, community and statewide needs to make recommendations for new or revised programs; ability to communicate complex information to non-specialists and to conduct a formal presentation. The minimum of two years professional experience should be in a large to medium public library or state library agency is recommended. Applicants must be proficient with Microsoft Word and Excel software programs.


For more information or to appy, click here.

African American Studies Center

African American Studies Center documents contributions of African descents have made on America since their arrival in the 1600s. Includes history, biography, art, architecture, literature, women, study resources and encyclopedias focusing on African American heritage and lives.

This databases is only for Reference Library card holders. Contact the Reference Library for card information and database access.