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"I am completely smitten with the Lunch with Books patrons...who welcomed me like a long-lost cousin. It takes two to have a successful reading: an enthusiastic presenter and an engaged audience, and boy did the stars align for us." -Marie Manilla, Still Life with Plums

"Lunch With Books is an outstanding program -- one of the best in the country." -NPR Journalist Matthew Algeo, The President is a Sick Man


"With a new book in hand, I’ve visited a lot of libraries lately, and I think the Ohio County Public Library is my all-time favorite. People are kind and welcoming, and deeply appreciate a visiting writer." -Jaimy Gordon, Lord of Misrule (National Book Award)

“I wanted the book launch to be at Lunch With Books because it is the best library book program in West Virginia and because Wheeling and the Wheeling area was centrally involved in so many of the firsts in West Virginia sports.” –Bob Barnett, Hillside Fields: A History of Sports in West Virginia

This blog is being discontinued.

This blog is being discontinued.
Please visit: www.ohiocountylibrary.org/calendar

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Explore Wheeling's Past and Present


Wheeling: Then and Now, a new book from Arcadia Publishing, highlights Wheeling’s past and present and is a collaboration between writer Sean Duffy and photographer Paul Rinkes. It compares the Wheeling of the late 19th and early 20th centuries to its present by placing historical photographs side by side with modern-day images. Informative captions explain the location and transitional history of each photographic pair.

Duffy will offer a presentation about Wheeling: Then and Now at the library's Lunch With Books program on Tuesday September 7 at noon. For every book sold at the program, $1.00 will be donated to the library. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit the Wheeling Area Historical Society. Patrons are invited to bring a bag lunch and free beverages will be served. Call the library at 304-232-0244, email lunchwithbooks@yahoo.com, or visit http://ocplprogramming.blogspot.com for more information.

A companion exhibit of photographs from the book will be on display through Sept. 30 in the third floor loft gallery of the Wheeling Artisan Center at 1400 Main Street in downtown Wheeling. The exhibit is sponsored by the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation. For more information, call 304-232-1810.

Adding to its appeal, Wheeling: Then and Now is formatted like a travel guide. The reader can follow in the footsteps of the creators, visiting each site starting in Oglebay Park and traveling through Warwood, North Wheeling, Downtown, East, Center, and South Wheeling and then "out the pike" through Fulton, Woodsdale, Pleasant Valley, Elm Grove, and Triadelphia.

Duffy and Rinkes have started a blog, at http://thenandnowwheeling.blogspot.com, documenting the “story behind the story” of many of the book’s photos, as well as some that didn’t make the cut.

Duffy, who grew up in Warwood, is the Programming Coordinator at the Ohio County Public Library in Wheeling. A graduate of Wheeling Jesuit University, and the American University, he has written one previous book, The Wheeling Family: A Celebration of Immigrants and Their Neighborhoods, published by Creative Impressions in 2008. He is currently at work on a second volume of local immigrant stories and photographs.

A Martins Ferry native, Rinkes graduated from Denison University in Granville, Ohio, in 1994 and worked as a reporter and copy editor for the Wheeling News-Register. His travels took him to Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis and now to Franklin, TN, where he currently runs Rinkes Photography with his wife, Amina. He also is an independent computer consultant, working with clients in the content creation industry.

Wheeling: Then and Now sells for $21.99, and is available through Arcadia Publishing at www.arcadiapublishing.com or (888) 313-2665. In addition to local branches of national chains and on-line retailers, the book can be purchased from the following local retailers: Wheeling Artisan Center, Convenient True Value Hardware, Hughes Design & Gift Gallery, Pat’s Hallmark, Spry’s Mail Center Plus, Valley Cheese, Warwood Ace Hardware, Wheeling Hospital Gift Shop, Wheeling Jesuit Campus Store, and Words & Music at Stratford.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Songs of the American Worker

Rev. Bob Willits will be at Lunch With Books at the Ohio County Public Library on Tuesday, August 31 at noon, to perform folk songs about the American worker for Labor Day. Lunch With Books programs are free and open to the public. Patrons are invited to bring a bag lunch and free beverages are provided. Please call the library at 304-232-0244 for more information.Test

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

SSSSSSSSNAKES! @ the Library!

Greg Park, Associate Director of Environmental Education at Oglebay Institute, will be at Lunch With Books at the Ohio County Public Library on Tuesday, August 24 at noon to present a program on herpetology featuring live snakes. Lunch With Books programs are free and open to the public. Patrons are invited to bring a bag lunch and free beverages are provided. Please call the library at 304-232-0244 for more information.


Incidentally, 94 people attended James Casto's presentation on the Flood of 1937 today. Many audience members shared memories of the 36 in Wheeling. Fascinating stuff.

COMING SOON

STAY TUNED FOR A MAJOR NEW PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT FEATURING AUTHORS OF NATIONAL PROMINENCE.

HINT: Could possibly be the greatest book ever created (according to yours truly).

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Aug 17: The Big One (Share Your Flood Stories)

James E. Casto of Huntington will be at Lunch With Books at the Ohio County Public Library on Tuesday, August 17 at noon to discuss his book, Images of America: The Great Ohio River Flood of 1937. In 1937, raging floodwaters inundated thousands of Ohio Valley houses and businesses, drove one million people from their homes, claimed nearly 400 lives, and recorded $500 million in damages. The book brings together 200 vintage images of one of the darkest chapters in the region’s history. Casto has written four previous Arcadia books. In 2006, the Cabell County Public Library paid tribute to his efforts as an historian by naming its James E. Casto Local History Room in his honor. Lunch With Books programs are free and open to the public. Patrons are invited to bring a bag lunch and free beverages are provided. Please call the library at 304-232-0244 for more information.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Judge Stamp Draws 98

Lunch With Books was honored to host U.S. District Court Judge Frederick P. Stamp, who presented a fascinating inside look at the history of the Sterling Drug Company to an audience of 98 (including far more lawyers than usual). That pushes the average attendance up to an amazing 73 on the year. Many thanks to all.

August 10: Dr. Albert Buckelew

Dr. Albert R. Buckelew, Biology Chair at Bethany College, will be at Lunch With Books at the Ohio County Public Library on Tuesday, August 10 at noon to review the book, George Miksch Sutton: Artist, Scientist, and Teacher by Jerome Jackson. A famous ornithologist and bird artist, Sutton had a profound influence in the Wheeling area. The program will include study skins prepared by Sutton and copies of some of his books and papers. Lunch With Books programs are free and open to the public. Patrons are invited to bring a bag lunch and free beverages are provided. Please call the library at 304-232-0244 for more information.

Top Ten Lunch With Books Programs

Program; Presenter; Attendance; Date

1. SAENGERFEST; Eintracht German Singing Society; 200; 07-17-10

2. A Lucky Child; Auschwitz Survivor Judge Thomas Buergenthal; 198; 03-04-11

3. Fashion Show; Civil War 150; 194; 11-20-11

4. Ruanaidh; Art Rooney, Jr. and Jim O'Brien; 168; 06-15-10

5. Follow the River; James Alexander Thom; 160; 06-05-08

6. Warwood Memories; 157; 12-18-12

7. The Quiet Man Pub Reading; 150; 08-30-12

8. Wheeling Then and Now; Sean Duffy; 146; 09-07-10

9. Bloch Brother Tobacco; Stuart Bloch; 131; 04-27-10

10. Reasons to Believe; Dr. Scott Hahn; 126; 08-21-07

Book Discussion Groups

The Ohio County Public Library facilitates book discussion groups for both young adults and adults. Currently, the OCPL offers two adult groups, which meet on the first Monday and third Thursday of each month.

In addition to its own growing collection, the OCPL has access to the book discussion collection of the West Virginia Library Commission.

To join or form a book discussion group, or for more information, please call 304-232-0244.

Meeting of the Minds Philosophy Group

The Meeting of the Minds Philosophic Inquiry Forum is facilitated by David Weimer. The group meets virtually every Tuesday at 6 PM. Call the library for meeting room locations.

For more information, visit www.firstknowthyself.org/m&mphilosophy.htm or contact group organizer, David Weimer, at 740 526-0985 or by email at dwwweimer@comcast.net..