Author Archives: mgtlibrary
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Take Your Child to the Library Day
Leave a CommentThe 12th Annual Take Your Child to the Library Day is coming up on Saturday, February 4th! This system-wide event will take place during open hours at all Morgantown Public Library System locations.
Morgantown Public Library: 9:00am-4:00pm
Cheat Area Public Library: 9:00am-2:00pm
Clay-Battelle Public Library: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Clinton District Public Library: 10:00am-1:00pm
Arnettsville Public Library will hold their event on Friday, Feb. 3 from 11:30am-3:30pm. **Please note: Arnettsville participants will still need to redeem their free cupcakes on Saturday, Feb. 4th.
This exciting event is an opportunity for children and families to explore the library and learn more about our collections and services. This year’s theme is “Recipes for Readers” — children will be given “recipe card” worksheets to guide them through different areas of the library where there will be fun activities to complete including decorating their own chef hat! After completing all of the stations, the recipe card can be turned in at The Cupcakerie for a free cupcake on the day of the event! There is a limit of one recipe card/coupon per child.
We can’t wait to see you there!
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Reach for the Moon
Leave a CommentOn Saturday, February 11th at 10:00am join us in Meeting Room A at the Morgantown Public Library to learn about Katherine Johnson, the African American mathematician from West Virginia who helped put some of the the first humans into space and whose story is featured in the movie Hidden Figures. We will read Katherine Johnson’s biography, hear a story written about her by Miss Elkins Outstanding Teen, create space-themed origami, and build moon phase calendars for 2023. This will be a great way to take young learners ages 7-12 on an inspirational journey. This event is a partnership with the Lila Bear Explor(her) Club & Miss Elkins Outstanding Teen.
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Local Author Spotlight: Tom Bredehoft
Leave a CommentJoin us on Saturday, February 25th at 2:00pm at the Aull Center to hear local author Tom Bredehoft read from his mystery novel, Foote. In addition to reading an excerpt from the book, Tom will discuss writing about Morgantown and West Virginia cryptids.
“In the space of one weekend in Morgantown, West Virginia, private investigator Big Jim Foote finds himself at the center of two murder investigations. Suspected of one killing at a local festival, he locates the body of a missing person immediately after. The cops are watching him, and Big Jim has a secret he dares not reveal: he is a bigfoot living in plain sight, charged with keeping his people in the surrounding hills from being discovered. To protect the bigfoot secret, he must solve both murders — and convince himself it wasn’t a bigfoot who pulled the trigger. Through the course of his investigations, Big Jim is helped by unique and well-rendered characters and friends in both his bigfoot and human communities. Readers are introduced to Appalachian mountain folk and traditional culture in new ways, even while Big Jim experiences the impact of the opioid epidemic on his own bigfoot kin. By centering a mythical creature as the unlikely protagonist in this enchanting literary murder mystery, Foote offers a winsome redefinition of a cryptid ‘monster’ and breathes new life into the PI genre” — Goodreads.com website. -
2023 Winter Reading Challenge
Leave a CommentFrom January 1st – January 31st, compete in our “All the Feels Winter Reading Challenge, Bingo.” Register at mympls.beanstack.com. We want you to explore the importance of emotions and discover fun activities to express yourself fully!
The Rules: Receive virtual badges and earn bingo by reading & completing the activities on the 3×3 bingo card to compete in your age category:
- Children (ages 5-12)
- Teens (13-17)
- Adults (18 and up)
The Prizes: We have a prize drawing for each age group — to enter you can either complete bingo or log 240 minutes (4 hours) on Beanstack for your chance to win two Launch Pad Trampoline Park passes (children’s prize), $25 gift card to Black Bear Burritos (teen’s prize), or a $25 gift card to Phoenix Bakery (adult’s prize). The more reading you log, the higher your chances to win the prize drawing! Prizes won from the prize drawings must be picked up in person. The first 140 people to bring their bingo card (with the virtual bingo badge earned) to the Morgantown Public Library will also receive a MPLS mug with hot chocolate as a participation prize. Prizes will be available for pickup February 1st – 15th.
Sign Up:
Register at mympls.beanstack.com
Reading Lists: Need inspiration? Check out our “All the Feels” reading lists! You do not have to read books relating to the theme to participate in the reading challenge — any reading counts towards bingo.
Use Beanstack to Track Your Reading Progress
Beanstack is easy to use and available both online and as a mobile app. Get started by visiting our Morgantown Public Library Beanstack website at mympls.beanstack.org to create your account. You can also register through the app (find out below under “Get the App”).
Note: An email address is required, if you do not have an email address you will need to create one first then come back to register for Beanstack.
Have your Library Card ready and choose how you would like to register (as an individual, registering a child, registering a family or group) and then complete all required fields (marked with *) on the online form. If you do not have a library card email us at askmympls@gmail.com with your full name, current mailing address, and phone number for a temporary library card.
Once registered, you can access your account online or in the app by signing in with your username and password.
Enjoy the fun of reading and unlock achievements!
Beanstack is a website and app that serves as an interactive home for reading challenges and events. It’s your one-stop-shop to not only register for challenges, but to also track your reading habits and unlock badges!
What You Can Do
- Register as an Individual, Family, Group, or Class
- Perfect for parents and teachers
- Track Your Reading
- Keep a Reading Log
- Set/Record Session Timers
- Keeps track of what you’ve read and how long you’ve read
- Complete Reading Challenges
- Choose from Youth or Adult Reading Challenges created by the Library
- Write Book Reviews
- Now available on desktop and mobile
- Earn Badges, Incentives, and Prizes
- Digital badges and achievements as well as prizes from your Library
- View Highlights
- Features your badges, stats, and streaks based on your reading habits
- Manage a Family Member’s Reading Log & Achievements
- (If registered as a Family) Easily switch views between member profiles without having to change log-ins
Get the App
Find the free app in your Apple App or Google Play store under the name “Beanstack Tracker” and select “Get” or “Install.”
Once downloaded, open the app and follow the simple step-by-step prompts to create an account for yourself, your child, or your family/group. If you’ve already created your account through the website, you can skip this step and just sign in to your existing account with your registered username and password.
Registering on the Website vs. Through the App: Since the app does not use our direct website link, the first prompt in creating your account is selecting “Find Your School or Library” and entering “Morgantown” in the search option. Otherwise the process is the same as registering on the website. All fields are required except for phone number.
Troubleshooting
If at any time you need help with Beanstack, please visit their Helpdesk and type in your question.
For questions related to the Winter Reading Challenge, please reach out to Crystal or Emily at ask@mympls.org.
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January Events Calendar
Leave a CommentCheck out our newly redesigned events calendar! Now you can see all of the events occurring across the Morgantown Public Library System at a glance with a color-coordinated key for all branch locations and a second page with event descriptions. See ** that means that event requires registration. Scan the QR code on the calendar or go to our events page for registration information. You can also pick up our print calendars at any MPLS library location. They are perfect for hanging on your wall or refrigerator!
Click here for a printable version of the January Events Calendar.
We can’t wait to see you at events this month!
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Book Trail at Mulkeen’s Christmas Tree Farm
Leave a CommentCheck out our latest Book Trail! Join us at Mulkeen Landscaping located off of Gladesville Road. Read through an entire story as you shop for the perfect tree. You can also pick up a free activity kit to make a great Button Christmas Tree ornament, while supplies last.
You don’t need to buy a Christmas tree to experience the Book Trail.
This month’s book is Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht. Conditions permitting, the Book Trail should be up until December 25th!
Send us photos of your family at the Book Trail to communications@mympls.org!
Mulkeen Tree Farm: 743 Sleepy Hollow Road, Independence, WV 26374
They are open on weekends only – Friday, Saturday and Sundays, from 8am to 5pm.
Directions:
- Follow Rt. 119 south out of Morgantown to Gladesville Rd.
- Turn LEFT on the Gladesville Rd. and go 2 miles.
- Turn RIGHT at the sign for Mulkeen Landscaping and Tree Service on Arden Peters Road.
- Go one mile on this gravel road and turn RIGHT at the MULKEEN sign.
Thank you to Mulkeen Landscaping for having us!
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Communications Survey
Leave a CommentGot a minute? The Morgantown Public Library System wants to know how best to reach you! Fill out this survey to let us know your preferences for learning about events and more at the library.
Thank you — your feedback is greatly appreciated!
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New Library Cards
Leave a CommentDream big with our brand-new library cards!
If you would like to update your library card to one of our exciting new designs, you can do so for free — we are waiving the replacement fee until December 31, 2022.
You do not have to get a new card — the older ones will continue to work.
If you do not yet have a library card, click here to learn about what you need to get a card.
What will you discover with your new library card?
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Clinton District Public Library Branch Community Survey
Leave a CommentThe Morgantown Public Library System was selected by the Mills Group, LLC for their yearly community project. We will be going through a design process with the Mills Group to identify the key components we would like to see in a new branch library to serve the Clinton District area. If you haven’t heard about it, Morgantown Magazine covered it recently, and you can read all about it on their webpage.
The Clinton District Public Library branch will be hosting Listening Group Sessions on Saturday, October 15th from 11am to 1pm and Wednesday, October 19th from 5pm to 7pm for community members to come and share their ideas of what their dream community library would look like. These ideas will be shared with the Mills Group to help create a conceptual design.
If you can’t make it to the Listening Group Sessions, please fill out this survey so we can make sure your dreams, wishes, goals, and wildest ideas get shared with the Mills Group! Please feel free to share the survey with your friends, family, & homeowners association or through any other way you can think of to help get the word out. The survey will be open through October 31, 2022.
If you have any questions or concerns about the project, you may contact Sarah Palfrey, Director of the Morgantown Public Library System, at director@mympls.org or by calling 304-291-7427.
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Friday Exhibit Opening Reception
Leave a CommentDon’t miss out Friday night’s opening reception at the downtown branch (373 Spruce Street, Morgantown WV 26505) from 6:00pm – 8:00pm for the multisensory multimedia exhibit, “Listening for Racial Understanding,” as part of the Listening Project conceived by Morgantown locals, Eve Faulkes and Susan Eason!
Beginning with recorded interviews with 46 individuals of different racial and cultural backgrounds, The Listening Project invited artists to create renderings inspired by these very interviews. 23 pieces of art range in form from poetry, digitally generated art, video, and oil on canvas. QR codes will be available for each of the pieces to provide a multisensory multimedia experience.
“As part of the library’s values of inclusion and stories, we are pleased to host this very unique exhibition and hope that visitors will pause and listen to the lived experiences that the participants have shared,” says Sarah Palfrey, library director.
Before the exhibition travels to Lewisburg and Beckley, it will be available to the public during normal business hours through Friday, September 30th, 2022. To close the exhibition on this final day from 6:00pm – 8:00pm, meet other participants of the project with an appearance by poet, Susan Truxell Sauter, who will be reading her work that inspired one of the art renderings.
