Celebrating West Virginia Women Writers

Pearl S. Buck, the first American woman to win the Nobel Prize for literature (1938), who also won a Pulitzer Prize in 1932, is among the premier West Virginia women writers to be honored at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 29 by the American Women Writers National Museum (AWWNM) in Washington, D.C.

“West Virginia's former Poet Laureate, the late Irene McKinney, West Virginia Music Hall of Fame honoree Hazel Dickens, and American Book Award winner novelist Denise Giardina will be showcased along with Pearl Buck,” said Janice Law, AWWNM founder.

The celebration, jointly-hosted by West Virginia Center for the Book, West Virginia Library Commission, and  West Virginia Humanities Council in Charleston, will be in the McLendon room of the National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW, 20045.

“These brilliant women are only a few of the mega-talented American women literati with West Virginia ties,” said Susan Hayden of the WV Center for the Book, an affiliate of the CFB in the Library of Congress.

A poster featuring women writers from West Virginia, including the four being honored, will be featured during January; it will remain permanently on the AWWNM website as part of AWWNM's 50-state Project to monthly honor in D.C., top-tier women writers from four states.

The AWWNM 50-state event will be held following AWWNM's January 29 noon-1:15 panel of Latina Poets.

All AWWM programs are free and open to the public.

The AWWM website offers more information: www.americanwomenwritersnationalmuseum.org.

Visit www.librarycommission.wv.gov/programs/wvcftb/Pages/default.aspx for more information about the West Virginia Center for the Book, which is funded by the Library Services and Technology Act administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the West Virginia Library Commission.

New Library Update Available to View

The newest episode of Library Update is up on YouTube. This is part one of Episode 16, Library Development. Make sure to catch parts 2 and 3 of the episode as well.

The West Virginia Library Commission is committed to promoting, assisting, and supporting high quality library services and information resources to all West Virginia residents. This includes getting relevant information out to library directors, their staff, and patrons through various formats. Currently the Library Commission uses its website, Facebook, Twitter, Blog, e-bulletins and now YouTube to disseminate information. 

WVLC plans on bringing you current programs, topics, and trends. This broad spectrum includes partnerships, training, programming, and service. We want this program to be a useful, entertaining resource for you. If you ever have any questions or comments regarding topics on this show, please do not hesitate to call us at 1-800-642-9021. 

This program is not intended to act as a calendar of events, but as a vehicle of ideology and practical tips. Specific event information can always be found on our website www.librarycommission.wv.gov and at your local libraries.

The video in this post is the first segment of the episode. Check it out, then view parts 2 and 3. Make sure you subscribe to the West Virginia Library Commission YouTube channel so you don't miss the newest episodes!

Capitol Reads Selections for 2013

Join the Capitol Reads book discussion group every 3rd Thursday of the month at noon for a discussion of Appalachian, current fiction, and other works. Capitol Reads meets at noon in the J.D. Waggoner Reading Room at the West Virginia Library Commission, in the Culture Center.

The schedule for 2013 is listed below.

Founding Mothers by Cokie Roberts
1/17/13

Beekeeper's Lament by Hannah Norhaus
2/21/13

Clay's Quilt by Silas House
3/21/13

Loving Frank by Nancy Horan
4/18/13

Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
5/16/13

Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
6/20/13

Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer &
Annie Barrows

7/18/13

Wild Sweet Notes, WV poetry anthology
8/15/13

Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons
9/19/13

Ballad of Tom Dooley by Sharyn McCrumb
10/17/13

Midwife of Hope River by Patricia Harman
11/21/13

Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross
12/19/13

For further information, check out the Capitol Reads page on the WVLC website or email the group facilitator megan.h.tarbett@wv.gov

WV Reads 150 starts NOW

Happy New Year and Happy Reading, West Virginia!!

West Virginia Librarians, Supporters, Book Sellers and Others:

We are very proud to announce the launch of West Virginia Reads 150, a reading challenge that celebrates West Virginia’s 150th birthday in 2013. This program is being sponsored jointly by the West Virginia Center for the Book at the West Virginia Library Commission and the Kanawha County Public Library. Additional support comes from the West Virginia Humanities Council and the U.S. Institute for Museum and Library Services.

The year-long reading initiative encourages West Virginians to read 150 books in any format (printed book, e-book, audiobook, downloadable text, etc.) from any source, during the course of 2013, West Virginia’s sesquicentennial year. Books can be on any topic, fiction or non-fiction; they must be read between January 1 and December 31, 2013.

People can read 150 books individually, or create teams to read 150 books collectively. Libraries across West Virginia are encouraged to form teams to compete. Teams, which can have up to 15 members, must choose a name and select a leader to keep track of the books read by team members.

All ages and groups can participate – friends, coworkers, book clubs, classmates, seniors, etc. If children are too young to read on their own, kids can have their parents read to them. Families can use their Summer Reading Program reading toward their West Virginia Reads 150 tally.

WVLC, with the support of KCPL will provide libraries with West Virginia Reads 150 artwork, templates, window clings, reader’s advisories, a Good Reads web site, social media support and program ideas. Libraries are free to customize West Virginia Reads 150 for their own needs and/or develop their own programs and initiatives. Prizes, certificates, etc. will be up to participating libraries and sponsoring organizations.

The program is not limited to public libraries – bookstores, school and academic libraries, literacy organizations, youth services providers and more are encouraged to participate in West Virginia Reads 150.

For complete details about the program, guides, and other information, please visit the program website. If your library, school, bookstore, or agency decides to join us in WV Reads 150, please let us know and provide us with contact information so that we can include your information in the program website and in program mailings. Please also let us know of your West Virginia Reads 150 programs and activities so that we can help publicize them as “sanctioned” events.

WV Reads 150

West Virginia Librarians, Supporters, Book Sellers and Others:

We are very proud to announce the launch of West Virginia Reads 150, a reading challenge that celebrates West Virginia’s 150th birthday in 2013. This program is being sponsored jointly by the West Virginia Center for the Book at the West Virginia Library Commission and the Kanawha County Public Library. Additional support comes from the West Virginia Humanities Council and the U.S. Institute for Museum and Library Services.

The year-long reading initiative encourages West Virginians to read 150 books in any format (printed book, e-book, audiobook, downloadable text, etc.) from any source, during the course of 2013, West Virginia’s sesquicentennial year. Books can be on any topic, fiction or non-fiction; they must be read between January 1 and December 31, 2013.

People can read 150 books individually, or create teams to read 150 books collectively. Libraries across West Virginia are encouraged to form teams to compete. Teams, which can have up to 15 members, must choose a name and select a leader to keep track of the books read by team members.

All ages and groups can participate – friends, coworkers, book clubs, classmates, seniors, etc. If children are too young to read on their own, kids can have their parents read to them. Families can use their Summer Reading Program reading toward their West Virginia Reads 150 tally.

WVLC, with the support of KCPL will provide libraries with West Virginia Reads 150 artwork, templates, window clings, reader’s advisories, a Good Reads web site, social media support and program ideas. Libraries are free to customize West Virginia Reads 150 for their own needs and/or develop their own programs and initiatives. Prizes, certificates, etc. will be up to participating libraries and sponsoring organizations.

The program is not limited to public libraries – bookstores, school and academic libraries, literacy organizations, youth services providers and more are encouraged to participate in West Virginia Reads 150.

For complete details about the program, guides, and other information, please visit the program website. If your library, school, bookstore, or agency decides to join us in WV Reads 150, please let us know and provide us with contact information so that we can include your information in the program website and in program mailings. Please also let us know of your West Virginia Reads 150 programs and activities so that we can help publicize them as “sanctioned” events.

Electronic Resources- Fiscal Cliff

Do talks of the Fiscal Cliff make you want to jump off a cliff? Did you come down with a case of the post-election fiscal blues? Do you want a deeper understanding of the subject than the soundbites from the talking heads?

Look no further.

Public understanding and engagement is key to a solution. To that end, Dr. Karen Kunz, Assistant Professor at West Virginia University, Division of Public Administration, has put together a list of electronic resources to aid you in gaining a better understanding of all the talk.


Urban- Brookings Institute
http://www.brookings.edu/about/centers/taxpolicy

Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget
http://crfb.org/

Bipartisan Policy Center
http://bipartisanpolicy.org

West Virginia Center on Budget & Policy
www.wvpolicy.org

Congressional Budget Office
www.cbo.gov

Office of Management & Budget
www.omb.gov

Wonkbook, Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/

House of Representatives
www.house.gov

Senate
www.senate.gov

New Library Update Available to View

The newest episode of Library Update is up on YouTube. This is part one of Episode 15, Electronic Resources. Make sure to catch parts 2 and 3 of the episode as well.

The West Virginia Library Commission is committed to promoting, assisting, and supporting high quality library services and information resources to all West Virginia residents. This includes getting relevant information out to library directors, their staff, and patrons through various formats. Currently the Library Commission uses its website, Facebook, Twitter, Blog, e-bulletins and now YouTube to disseminate information. 

WVLC plans on bringing you current programs, topics, and trends. This broad spectrum includes partnerships, training, programming, and service. We want this program to be a useful, entertaining resource for you. If you ever have any questions or comments regarding topics on this show, please do not hesitate to call us at 1-800-642-9021. 

This program is not intended to act as a calendar of events, but as a vehicle of ideology and practical tips. Specific event information can always be found on our website www.librarycommission.wv.gov and at your local libraries.

The video in this post is the first segment of the episode. Check it out, then view parts 2 and 3. Make sure you subscribe to the West Virginia Library Commission YouTube channel so you don't miss the newest episodes!