Category Archive: Uncategorized
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We’re Hiring! Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Leave a CommentWe are looking to fill our Marketing & Communications Coordinator position! To be considered, please send a resume and cover letter to director@mympls.org. Full consideration is given to applications received by May 1st.
Job Overview
The Marketing & Communications Coordinator is responsible for supporting and executing a wide range of marketing activities to enhance brand visibility and drive customer engagement. This role involves developing and managing content, coordinating marketing campaigns, conducting thorough market research, and organizing events to promote products and services. The Marketing Coordinator ensures that all marketing efforts are aligned with the company’s brand guidelines and business objectives. The employee will collaborate with cross-functional teams to create compelling marketing materials, manage social media platforms, and analyze campaign performance to optimize marketing strategies. The employee will also assist in managing budgets, tracking expenditures, and preparing detailed reports to measure the success of marketing initiatives.
Job Purpose
Promote the mission, vision, and values of the Morgantown Public Library System through the creation of library print and digital promotions, social media content, and outreach strategies.
Support the communication of library news, collections, services, and events within the Library System and to the greater Monongalia County community.Duties and Responsibilities
- In coordination with the Director, design and implement a marketing strategy that corresponds with the Library’s strategic plan.
- Leads the social media team, creating and sharing relevant content across multiple platforms (Facebook and Instagram).
- Develops and maintains consistent branding across all media.
- Collaborate with various stakeholders (internal and external) to conceptualize and execute designs for print and digital media.
- Create, curate and update website (WordPress).
- Update website content including, headline banners, blogs, web calendar, etc.
- Coordinate a monthly event calendar (digital and print) and newsletter.
- Recommend marketing products and services for purchase.
- Responsible for identifying and interpreting user needs.
- Occasional student intern project management.
- Attends conferences, workshops, and meetings and reads professional literature to stay informed on issues related to public libraries and marketing to meet required 3 CE hours a year.
- Performs duties in other library areas, branches, or partner locations
- Participates in library special projects as needed or requested by the Director.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree (B.A / B.S.) from four-year college or university; or two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.Pay Range:
Starting salary is $38,000, plus a generous benefit package.
Knowledge
- Communications and Media: Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
- Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Clerical: Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
- English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Skills
- Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
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Citizen Science Kits – Available at the Morgantown Public Library!
Leave a CommentExplore Science at Home with Our New Citizen Science Kits!
The Morgantown Public Library is excited to introduce Citizen Science Kits, now available for checkout! These hands-on kits provide everything you need to participate in real scientific research from the comfort of your home or out in the community. Perfect for all ages, our kits help you contribute valuable data to global research projects while learning about the world around you.
What Kits Can I Check Out?
- Biodiversity Kits — This kit helps scientists collect data about the local wildlife. Community members are encouraged to upload their findings to iNaturalist, a site that shares the information gathered with scientists. The kit includes binoculars, a lens kit that attaches to a smart phone to assist with taking pictures, as well as information about local species. Anyone can use iNaturalist.
- Cloud Kits — This kit helps NASA scientists collect data about clouds. The kit includes some information to assist with cloud identification as well as information on how to get the app. Globe Observer is an app through NASA that uses the data gathered about clouds to help them get an accurate picture of the weather. The observations we gather as a community will help NASA scientists interpret the information they get from satellites.
- Water Quality Kit — This kit includes different ways to test water quality. It includes PH strips and a TDS meter (Total Dissolved Solids). This information is shared with mWater, an NGO that collects information about water quality from areas around the world.
How to Check Out a Kit
The Citizen Science Kits are available for check out at the Morgantown Public Library! Stop by the front desk with your library card to pick up a kit.
Citizen Science Kits are a fantastic way for families, students, and curious minds to engage in real-world science. Whether you’re an aspiring scientist or just love learning, these kits make it easy to contribute to meaningful research. If you would like to anonymously submit your data, please use these forms for the Biodiversity Kit, Cloud Kit, and/or Water Quality Kit.
Check out a kit today and start your science adventure!
BioBlitz: April 1-30
The month of April is Citizen Science Month! To celebrate this, the Morgantown Public Library is hosting a BioBlitz. Our BioBlitz is a month-long challenge where people work as a community to submit as much scientific data about Morgantown’s wildlife, clouds, and water quality as possible. There are several ways you can participate in the BioBlitz. Patrons of the Morgantown Public Library can check out one of our new Citizen Science Kits! These hands-on kits provide everything you need to gather and submit data about your area’s wildlife, clouds, and water quality. But you don’t have to have a Citizen Science kit to participate in the BioBlitz! Simply download the apps from the app store (iNaturalist for wildlife data, Globe Observer for cloud data, and mWater for water quality data) to gather and submit data right from your backyard.
BioBlitz Party
Join us Saturday, April 19th from 12:00-3:00pm at the Cheat Area Public Library (CAPL) for a BioBlitz Party, a fun, all-ages drop-in event celebrating a month of citizen science! Explore a small outdoor area near CAPL to identify local species, enjoy some provided snacks, and pick up informational pamphlets to continue your biodiversity journey. Friends of Deckers Creek will give an engaging presentation at 12:00pm on the importance of biodiversity and what we can do to protect it. This event is the perfect way to reflect on our discoveries so far and learn even more about the natural world!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who can check out a Citizen Science Kit?
Anyone with a valid Morgantown Public Library System library card can check out a kit from the Morgantown Public Library.
How long can I keep a kit?
Kits can be checked out for 3 weeks. Please return them on time so everyone has a chance to participate.
Do I need special training to use a kit?
No special training is required! Each kit includes clear instructions to guide you through the project.
How do I submit my findings?
Each kit includes instructions on where to submit your data online. The Biodiversity Kit uses iNaturalist, the Cloud Kit uses Globe Observer, and the Water Quality Kit uses mWater. If you would like to anonymously submit your data, please use these forms for the Biodiversity Kit, Cloud Kit, and/or Water Quality Kit.
What is the BioBlitz?
BioBlitz is a month-long challenge in April where people work as a community to submit as much scientific data about Morgantown’s wildlife, clouds, and water quality as possible. There are several ways you can participate in the BioBlitz — you can check out a Citizen Science Kit from the Morgantown Public Library or simply download the apps from the app store (iNaturalist for wildlife data, Globe Observer for cloud data, and mWater for water quality data) to gather and submit data right from your backyard.
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Events for Kids
Leave a CommentLibrary Events for Kids
It’s time for fun! The library is your go-to spot for exciting preschool and children’s events all year long. Whether it’s reading to friendly therapy dogs, diving into creative crafts, or gearing up for seasonal reading challenges, there’s always something awesome happening. Check out our full events calendar to find the perfect adventure for your little ones!
Preschool
Read Baby Read
- Date & Time: April 17th, April 24th, May 1st, May 8th at 10:30am
- Location: Meeting Room A, Morgantown Public Library
- Ages: 0-2
Read Baby Read is a free library program for infants ages birth to 24 months and their caregivers to provide social interaction and help promote a lifelong love of the library. Visit a variety of free play stations and visit with other families then join us in circle time with songs and more!
Spring Preschool Story Time at the Morgantown Public Library
- Date & Time: April 1st & 2nd, April 8th & 9th, April 15th & 16th, April 22nd & 23rd at 10:00am
- Location: Meeting Room A, Morgantown Public Library
- Ages: 2-5
Join us for spring story times at the Morgantown Public Library. During our time together, we will listen to two delightful stories, sing fun songs, and explore a different theme each week. The story times are for children ages 2-5.
Tuesday Evening Preschool Story Time at the Morgantown Public Library
- Date & Time: April 1st, April 8th, April 15th, April 22nd, April 29th, May 6th at 6:30pm
- Location: Meeting Room A, Morgantown Public Library
- Ages: 2-6
Join us at the Morgantown Public Library for our Spring Session of Tuesday Evening Preschool Story Times for children ages 2-6. Story Times consist of free play activity stations providing a variety of activities including crafts, games, puzzles, blocks and more followed by circle time with stories, songs, and more. Story Time begins at 6:30pm and lasts approximately 30 to 45 minutes. For more information, contact the library at 304-291-7425.
Wednesday Morning Story Time at the Cheat Area Public Library
- Date & Time: Every Wednesday at 10:30am
- Location: Cheat Area Public Library
- Ages: 3-6 recommended, all ages welcome
Come to the Cheat Area Public Library every Wednesday to listen to engaging stories, do themed crafts, and play with new friends!
Toddler Playgroup at the Cheat Area Public Library
- Date & Time: Every Friday at 10:30am
- Location: Cheat Area Public Library
- Ages: 1-5 recommended, all ages welcome
Toddlers and parents meet up at the library to play and socialize! The library provides a variety of exciting toys and crafts that make for a fun, casual, weekly gathering.
Preschool Story Time at the Clinton District Public Library
- Date & Time: April 14th at 11:00am
- Location: Clinton District Public Library
- Ages: Preschool
Join us at the Clinton District Public Library to plant a seed and grow your own plant. You will also hear a story and have a snack!
Grades 1-5
Makerspace Spotlight
- Date & Time: Monday, April 7th at 6:00pm
- Location: Meeting Room A, Morgantown Public Library
- For all ages
Step into the world of innovation with Makerspace Spotlight! Each session, we’ll showcase a different piece of equipment from our library’s Makerspace cart, giving you the chance to explore new tools and technologies. This time, we’ll be trying out our snap circuit and paper circuit kits. For all ages.
Choose Your Own Adventure Book Club
- Date & Time: Thursday, April 17th at 6:00pm
- Location: Meeting Room A, Morgantown Public Library
Join us for a new adventure! Elementary kids embark on a unique and challenging expedition filled with twists, turns and unexpected endings! The fun continues after our reading with a different activity each month. A one time registration is required to attend, if you haven’t registered yet please register here.
LEGO Night
- Date & Time: Monday, April 21st at 6:00pm
- Location: Meeting Room A, Morgantown Public Library
- For all ages
Use your creativity and imagination for an evening of Lego building! If you’re not sure what to build, don’t worry! You can always pick a challenge out of our Lego Challenge Basket. For all ages.
STEAM Explorers/Tween STEAM
- Date & Time: Wednesday, April 23rd at 6:00pm
- Location: WVU Evansdale Greenhouse
- Ages: 6-12
In this special combined kids STEAM program, we’ll be getting a tour of the WVU Evansdale Greenhouse! The tour will include a walkthrough of the greenhouse, a discussion of how greenhouses work, and a chance to explore their plant collection! After the tour, we will make seed bombs in the workroom for the kids to take home. For ages 6-12.
We will be meeting at the WVU Evansdale Greenhouse. Kids must be accompanied by a guardian or parent.
Read to Rover
- Date & Time: Thursday, April 24th at 6:30pm
- Location: Children’s Area, Morgantown Public Library
- Ages: 5-12
Do you like dogs? Do you like to read? Join us for our monthly Read To Rover program where you can combine your two loves by reading to a trained therapy dog. Children ages 5-12 are invited to participate in this fun and free program. You must register for your reading time spot by calling the library at 304-291-7425 or stopping by the front desk. For more information, call the library at 304-291-7425 and ask for Cathy.
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Events for Tweens & Teens
Leave a CommentLibrary Events for Tweens & Teens
The library isn’t just for books — it’s your space to connect, create, and explore! Our events for tweens and teens are designed to spark creativity, encourage new ideas, and bring friends together. From book clubs and gaming nights to STEAM workshops and more, there’s always something exciting happening. Check out our events calendar for more information!
Tween Events
Tween Time
- Date & Time: Wednesday, April 2nd at 6:00pm
- Location: Meeting Room A, Morgantown Public Library
- Ages: 10-12
The possibilities are endless at Tween Time! Kids ages 10-12 are invited to join us for games, activities, and crafts. We do something different every month! This month, we’ll be playing board games and video games! A Switch will be provided, but feel free to be bring your own Switch or laptop!
Beyond the Book
- Date & Time: Wednesday, April 16th at 6:00pm
- Location: Meeting Room A, Morgantown Public Library
- Ages: 10-12
Make books come alive with us at our Beyond the Book night! Join us for activities and crafts inspired by your favorite reads! This month, we will be exploring the world of “Mr. Lemoncello’s Library.” Make your own jigsaw puzzle, play board games, make a spinning top, and complete puzzles and mazes! Don’t worry if you haven’t read the book; you will get the opportunity to take a copy of the first graphic novel home with you. For ages 10-12.
STEAM Explorers/Tween STEAM
- Date & Time: Wednesday, April 23rd at 6:00pm
- Location: Meeting Room A, Morgantown Public Library
- Ages: 6-12
In this special combined kids STEAM program, we’ll be getting a tour of the WVU Evansdale Greenhouse! The tour will include a walkthrough of the greenhouse, a discussion of how greenhouses work, and a chance to explore their plant collection! After the tour, we will make seed bombs in the workroom for the kids to take home. For ages 6-12.
We will be meeting at the WVU Evansdale Greenhouse. Kids must be accompanied by a guardian or parent.
Teen Events
Board Games & Brownies
- Date & Time: Wednesday, April 9th at 5:30pm
- Location: Meeting Room A, Morgantown Public Library
- Ages: 13-18
Eat brownies and play board games, like Exploding Kittens and Uno, with other teens! For ages 13-18.
Teen Anime Club
- Date & Time: Tuesday, April 15th at 5:00pm
- Location: Meeting Room B, Morgantown Public Library
- Ages: 13-18
Join us for Teen Anime Club, where teens meet to discuss and recommend anime, as well as explore the topic of the month – April is “Food in Anime.” Anime has developed a high standard for the food depicted in any particular work, to the point that it is often more detailed than the animated characters themselves! New enthusiasts and experienced fans are welcome. If you have questions about the program, feel free to email tessa.staubly@mympls.org.
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Fiction 101: Books That Celebrate Friendship
Leave a CommentBooks That Celebrate Friendship
by Shelby D., Evening Supervisor
Happy Galentine’s Day!
Last year in February, I made a list of books that have some of my favorite romance tropes. That was so much fun, and if you’d like some good romance recommendations feel free to go back and read it here! Be sure to swing by the Morgantown Public Library this month to check out the Blind Date with a Book display I created — it has a variety of genres, including romance!
But since I’ve focused on romance in the past, I wanted to do something different this year for Valentine’s Day — so this month for Fiction 101, I’m focusing on books that celebrate friendship! I’ve compiled a list of books that in my opinion emphasize the bonds of friendship. This list isn’t exclusively about sisterhood, it includes friendships of all kinds.
We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman
“A riotously funny and fiercely loyal love letter to female friendship. The story of Edi and Ash proves that a best friend is a gift from the gods. Newman turns her prodigious talents toward finding joy even in the friendship’s final days. I laughed while crying, and was left revived. Newman is a comic masterhand and a dazzling philosopher of the day-to-day.”—Amity Gaige, author of Sea Wife
How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley
“When Lydia takes a job running the Senior Citizens’ Social Club three afternoons a week, she assumes she’ll be spending her time drinking tea and playing gentle games of cards.
The members of the Social Club, however, are not at all what Lydia was expecting. From Art, a failed actor turned kleptomaniac to Daphne, who has been hiding from her dark past for decades to Ruby, a Banksy-style knitter who gets revenge in yarn, these seniors look deceptively benign—but when age makes you invisible, secrets are so much easier to hide.
When the city council threatens to sell the doomed community center building, the members of the Social Club join forces with their tiny friends in the daycare next door—as well as the teenaged father of one of the toddlers and a geriatric dog—to save the building. Together, this group’s unorthodox methods may actually work, as long as the police don’t catch up with them first.”
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
“Teeming with life and crackling with energy — a love song to modern Britain and black womanhood. Girl, Woman, Other follows the lives and struggles of twelve very different characters. Mostly women, black and British, they tell the stories of their families, friends and lovers, across the country and through the years. Joyfully polyphonic and vibrantly contemporary, this is a gloriously new kind of history, a novel of our times: celebratory, ever-dynamic and utterly irresistible.”
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
“Beautifully written and incredibly funny, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is about the importance of friendship and human connection. I fell in love with Eleanor, an eccentric and regimented loner whose life beautifully unfolds after a chance encounter with a stranger; I think you will fall in love, too!” —Reese Witherspoon
Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
I know it’s a little silly to include this on here! But amazing fantasy world building, lovely story telling, and epic adventure aside; Lord of the Rings is to me a story about friendships and the bond the fellowship forms throughout their quests.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
“Linus Baker is a by-the-book case worker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He’s tasked with determining whether six dangerous magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world.
Arthur Parnassus is the master of the orphanage. He would do anything to keep the children safe, even if it means the world will burn. And his secrets will come to light.
The House in the Cerulean Sea is an enchanting love story, masterfully told, about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place―and realizing that family is yours.”
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
“A modern masterpiece from one of Italy’s most acclaimed authors, My Brilliant Friend is a rich, intense and generous-hearted story about two friends, Elena and Lila. Ferrante’s inimitable style lends itself perfectly to a meticulous portrait of these two women that is also the story of a nation and a touching meditation on the nature of friendship. Through the lives of these two women, Ferrante tells the story of a neighborhood, a city, and a country as it is transformed in ways that, in turn, also transform the relationship between her two protagonists.”
Sula by Toni Morrison
“Sula and Nel are two young black girls: clever and poor. They grow up together sharing their secrets, dreams and happiness. Then Sula breaks free from their small-town community in the uplands of Ohio to roam the cities of America. When she returns ten years later much has changed. Including Nel, who now has a husband and three children. The friendship between the two women becomes strained and the whole town grows wary as Sula continues in her wayward, vagabond and uncompromising ways.”
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
“A Thousand Splendid Suns is a breathtaking story set against the volatile events of Afghanistan’s last thirty years—from the Soviet invasion to the reign of the Taliban to post-Taliban rebuilding—that puts the violence, fear, hope, and faith of this country in intimate, human terms. It is a tale of two generations of characters brought jarringly together by the tragic sweep of war, where personal lives—the struggle to survive, raise a family, find happiness—are inextricable from the history playing out around them.
Propelled by the same storytelling instinct that made The Kite Runner a beloved classic, A Thousand Splendid Suns is at once a remarkable chronicle of three decades of Afghan history and a deeply moving account of family and friendship. It is a striking, heart-wrenching novel of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship, and an indestructible love—a stunning accomplishment.”
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
“When four classmates from a small Massachusetts college move to New York to make their way, they’re broke, adrift, and buoyed only by their friendship and ambition. There is kind, handsome Willem, an aspiring actor; JB, a quick-witted, sometimes cruel Brooklyn-born painter seeking entry to the art world; Malcolm, a frustrated architect at a prominent firm; and withdrawn, brilliant, enigmatic Jude, who serves as their center of gravity. Over the decades, their relationships deepen and darken, tinged by addiction, success, and pride. Yet their greatest challenge, each comes to realize, is Jude himself, by midlife a terrifyingly talented litigator yet an increasingly broken man, his mind and body scarred by an unspeakable childhood, and haunted by what he fears is a degree of trauma that he’ll not only be unable to overcome—but that will define his life forever.”
The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley
“Colleen Oakley’s The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise is the ultimate road trip, featuring a pair of quirky, original characters on the lam from the law. A funny, fresh take on unlikely friendships and family, I’d ride shotgun with Tanner and Louise in a heartbeat!” — Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of The Newcomer
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
“With characters so real they feel like dear friends and a compelling storyline, this is a beautiful, special novel. I loved it and didn’t want it to end!” —Liane Moriarty, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Big Little Lies
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Reading Dragons & Friends – Tournament on 3/15
Leave a CommentWelcome to Reading Dragons & Friends
Do you like trading cards? Do you hoard books like dragons hoard gold? Then you need to join our Reading Dragons & Friends program! Season 2 runs from October 1st, 2024 – March 29th, 2025 and you can join in at any time during the season! If you registered for Season 1, you don’t have to register for Season 2.
This is a collaborative national reading program created by the Dover Public Library in Ohio that encourages children in grades K-8 to read for fun. Participants can track their reading, collect dragon trading cards, and play card games, all while learning good reading habits and gaining a lifelong love of reading!
Dragon Madness Tournament — 3/15/25
Save the date! The Dragon Madness Tournament will take place on Saturday, March 15th from 11:00am-12:00pm at the Morgantown Public Library. Kids who collect Reading Dragons and Friends cards are encouraged to bring their cards to play against other kids and win special tournament cards!
- Program Highlights
- Registration Information
- Dragon Coloring Contest
- Collect the Cards
- Card Games
- Frequently Asked Questions
Program Highlights:
- For children in Grades K-8
- Season 2 of Reading Dragons & Friends will run from October 1st, 2024 – March 29th, 2025
- For every 30 minutes read, you will earn a trading card (up to 16 cards a month)
- Collect different Reading Dragons & Friends card families
- Use these cards to play fun card games with your friends
Registration Information:
Participants (children in grades K-8) can register for the program through our online form or in-person at any of our locations. After you register, you can pick up your registration kit at your home library starting on October 1st. The registration kit includes:
- 3 Starter Cards
- Season 2 Reading Tracker (with exciting new card options including unicorns!)
- Dragon Coin
Did you participate in Season 1? You’re already registered! Just stop by to pick up your Season 2 registration kit.
Dragon Coloring Contest
Congratulations to Gisella for winning the Dragon Coloring Contest! Her “Iris” dragon card family can be picked up during the month of January at any MPLS location.
By participating in this design contest, you are giving the Morgantown Public Library System permission to use it for library purposes, including but not limited to, future programs and publicity.
Collect the Cards:
You will receive 3 starter cards at registration: a red fire type, a green plant type, and a blue water type.
There are many dragon and unicorn card families for you to choose from after logging your 30 minute reading sessions. Each of the card families include 4 members — an egg, a child, a teenager, and an adult.
Each month, you can earn up to four different dragon families – you do not have to complete a family before moving on to the next one, but you must progress through each family in order.
If you join the program late, don’t stress! You can work backwards by filling in squares from previous months on your reading tracker – cards (besides the special edition cards) are not exclusive.
We can’t replace lost cards — just keep reading to earn more cards.
Cards must be picked up in person from a Morgantown Public Library System location.
There are four special edition card families that you can earn by coming to our Dragon Day event on November 9th, Take Your Child to the Library Day event on February 1st, Dragon Madness gaming day in March, and pick up the winner of the coloring contest card family in January!
Card Games:
Once you’ve collected some cards, you’re ready to start playing with them!
Rock, Paper, Scissors
You and a friend each choose one card secretly, keeping it hidden so your friend can’t see what you chose. Then count to 3 and both of you flip over your cards to see who wins.
- Red beats Green
- Green beats Blue
- Blue beats Red
Dragon Duel
Play this game when you have several dragons cards (be sure to write your name on the cards so you don’t get them mixed up with your opponent’s).
Mix up both player’s cards and divide them evenly between both players.
Place your stack of cards face down on the table. Do not look at your cards.
Both players draw the top card on their deck and flip it over at the same time.- Red beats Green
- Green beats Blue
- Blue beats Red
If you have the same color, the oldest creature wins. (The three starter cards count as an “adult” card for scoring during dragon duel.)
If your creatures are the same age then it’s time to duel:- To duel, add two face down cards to the pile, then play one more card face up (red beats green, green beats blue, blue beats red).
- If you have the same color, the oldest creature wins.
- If you tie again, duel until there is a winner.
The winner adds both cards to their win pile.
Play until you run out of cards.
The player with the most cards in their win pile wins.Frequently Asked Questions
If I registered for Season 1 of Reading Dragons & Friends, do I have to register again for Season 2?
No, if you participated in Season 1 of Reading Dragons & Friends, you are automatically registered for Season 2. Just stop by the library to pick up your Season 2 Registration Kit starting on October 1st!
How long does the Reading Dragons & Friends program run for?
Season 2 of Reading Dragons & Friends will run from October 1st, 2024 – March 29th, 2025.
What is the Dragon Coloring Contest?
Submit your own dragon design! The winner will have their dragon family printed as special edition cards. Coloring sheets are included in the Season 2 registration kits. Need another copy? Download one here starting on October 1st.
The Dragon Coloring Contest is only open to registered Reading Dragons & Friends participants. The coloring sheet must be returned to the library by November 9th.
By participating in this design contest, you are giving the Morgantown Public Library System permission to use it for library purposes, including but not limited to, future programs and publicity.
Who can participate in the program?
Reading Dragons & Friends is for children in Kindergarten through 8th Grade.
How do I register for the program?
You can register online via our registration form or in-person. Registration kits and trading cards must be picked up in-person. Season 2 starts on October 1st, 2024.
How do I earn trading cards?
For every 30 minutes read, you will earn a trading card (up to 16 cards a month). Log the reading sessions on your Reading Tracker and show it to a librarian when you come into the library to choose your card(s).
I lost a card! What can I do?
We can’t replace lost cards but no worries! Just keep reading and earning new cards.
I missed the start date, can I still participate?
Yes! If you join the program late, don’t stress! You can work backwards by filling in squares from previous months on your reading tracker – cards (besides the special edition cards) are not exclusive.
How do I earn the special edition cards?
There are four special edition card families that you can earn by coming to our Dragon Day event on November 9th, Take Your Child to the Library Day event on February 1st, Dragon Madness gaming day in March, and pick up the winner of the coloring contest card family in January!
Do I have to complete a “dragon card family”?
Each month, you can earn up to four different dragon families – you do not have to complete a family before moving on to the next one, but you must progress through each family in order. This means that you must always start with the “egg” card for each new family started.
What do I do with my trading cards?
Collect them all! Your Reading Tracker has a checklist on the back to help you keep track of all of the available cards for Season 2.
Once you’ve collected enough cards, you can start to play fun card games with them — rock, paper, scissors and dragon duel.
What “age” are the starter cards?
The starter cards count as an “adult” card for scoring in the games.
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We’re Hiring! (Morgantown)
Leave a CommentWe are hiring! Join our team at the Morgantown Public Library as an evening-shift part-time Library Assistant! We are currently seeking an enthusiastic and team-oriented individual to join our Public Services team. Library Assistants provide direct customer service at both the circulation and reference desks by completing basic circulation functions, assisting patrons in the use of library materials and services, and providing general reference services. Other duties include shelving, shifting, helping with special projects, and general housekeeping. Successful candidates will be passionate, creative team players with excellent communication, interpersonal, computer, and customer service skills and strong attention to detail.
Part-time Library Assistants are eligible for paid time off, sick leave, holidays, and parking.
This position will be scheduled for approximately 19 hours per week at $12.00 per hour (38.5 hours maximum per pay period). The schedule for this position will resemble the following:
Monday: 4 pm – 8 pm
Tuesday: 4 pm – 8 pm
Wednesday: 4 pm – 8 pm
Thursday: 4 pm – 8 pm
Alternating Saturdays: 9 am – 4 pm
Help foster a love of reading at the Morgantown Public Library as a Library Assistant! Email an updated resume and employment application via assistantdirector@mympls.org to apply.
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Website Survey
Leave a CommentWe need your feedback about our website!
The Morgantown Public Library System is conducting a survey about our current website as we begin the process of redesigning it. We would love to hear your opinions about what you like, dislike, and want to see on our website in the future! This survey should take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete — click on the button below to get started. We appreciate your thoughtful feedback!
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Fiction 101: Top 10 Books in 2024
Leave a CommentFiction Favorites: The Most Borrowed Books of 2024
by Shelby D., Evening Supervisor
Hello and welcome to the first Fiction 101 post of 2025 — I hope the new year finds everyone well! For this month, I’ll be deviating just a bit and instead of a specific genre, I want to talk about the books our library community enjoyed in 2024. Let’s explore the most checked out fiction books of 2024 from our collection (not including ebooks).
Frieda McFadden, known for her thrillers, wrote 3 of our 10 most checked out books! Do You Remember?, The Housemaid, and The Teacher were the three most checked out books of hers last year.
Thrillers were a popular genre for the library in 2024! It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover and The Only One Left by Riley Sager also made our top 10 most checked out books. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides was on our 2023 list of most checked out books, and it continued to be on the list in 2024 too.
Kristin Hannah was another popular author who earned multiple spots on our list with her books The Nightingale and The Women. She writes historical fiction and her books focus on women of history.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt was another popular read last year. It’s contemporary fiction, with an optimistic tone. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros was a fantasy book that was a common pick for readers in 2024.
The final book on our list is Funny Story by Emily Henry. I think it was the only cheerful book that made the list!
In 2024, our readers enjoyed a lot of thrillers, some mystery, and historical fiction. Cozy books and romcoms all had their moments though! Year to year, it’s interesting to see the reading trends, and I’m thrilled to share 2024’s with all of you. We will be back next month in February with reads to celebrate Galentine’s Day!
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Meet WhaZoodle! (Clay-Battelle Public Library Exclusive!)
Leave a CommentMeet WhaZoodle, An All-Audio Adventure! (Clay-Battelle Public Library Exclusive!)
by Molly S., Branch Assistant at the Clay-Battelle Public Library
Looking for a screen-free way to entertain and educate your child? Meet WhaZoodle, the all-audio storytelling device from Playaway. Designed for kids ages 3 to 12, WhaZoodle is a simple, easy-to-use speaker preloaded with a variety of engaging content, including interactive stories, music, and podcasts. With no internet or downloads required, it provides a safe and immersive listening experience that sparks creativity and learning — all without a screen.
Library patrons can check out WhaZoodle devices just like they would a book, making them an excellent resource for families looking to explore new stories and educational content. Whether used at home, in the car, or during quiet time, these storytelling devices help kids develop listening skills, comprehension, and imagination. Plus, they offer a great alternative to traditional screen-based entertainment, giving parents peace of mind while their children enjoy high-quality, curated audio experiences. Each WhaZoodle device comes with a charging cord and how-to guide.
Using a WhaZoodle is as simple as pressing play. Kids can navigate through different stories and content easily, allowing for independent use. Whether they’re in the mood for a bedtime story, a fun singalong, or an engaging educational program, WhaZoodle delivers hours of entertainment and learning. The following WhaZoodle devices are currently available for checkout at the Clay-Battelle Public Library:
Ages 3+:
- “Monster Mischief”
- Easy as ABC!”
Ages 5+:
- “Dino Discovery!”
- “Let’s Make Music!”
Ages 8+:
- “Flower Power!”
- “Fin-Tastic Frenzy!”
Ages 10+:
- “Castles and Queens!”
- “It’s a Mystery!”
Next time you visit the Clay-Battelle Public Library, be sure to check out a WhaZoodle and introduce your child to the magic of storytelling through sound. It’s a wonderful way to foster a love of stories, enhance learning, and encourage imagination — all in a portable, easy-to-use device. Don’t miss out on this exciting new way to experience stories with your little ones!
