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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, November 30, 2010

Remembering Pearl Harbor

All members of the community who remember the shocking attack on Pearl Harbor are invited to come to Lunch With Books at the Ohio County Public Library on Tuesday December 7 at noon to share those memories as we mark the 69th anniversary of the date that still lives in infamy. All comments will be recorded for inclusion in the library archives. Dr. Jeffrey Rutherford, a history professor at Wheeling Jesuit University and a WWII specialist, will provide a brief introduction covering the events leading up to the attack and will host the ensuing discussion. 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, November 23, 2010

November 30: Growing Up in the Last Small Town

Retired Marshall professor Bob Barnett will be at Lunch With Books at the Ohio County Public Library on Tuesday November 30 at noon to present Growing Up in the Last Small Town: A West Virginia Memoir, a humorous and poignant story of growing up in small-town America between 1940 and 1960. For Bob and the other children in unincorporated pottery town Newell, West Virginia, it was a time of simple pleasures. This story captures the rhythm of small-town life that we thought would never change — but did. The generation whose story is told in this book grew up in the last small town in America. 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.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Nov 23: Haskins Hospital

On Tueday, November 23 at noon, local historian Kate Quinn will be at the Lunch With Books program at the Ohio County Public Library to discuss Haskins Hospital, a private facility built in 1895 at 32nd and Eoff Streets. The program will feature photographs of the interior and the staff. Haskins, which also included a nursing school, closed in 1915. 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, November 16, 2010

Thursday Nov 18 at 6:30--THE CHIEF then GENE COLLIER!


People's University Receives Community Foundation Grant Award

The Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley has awarded a grant to the Ohio County Public Library to help cover the costs of The People's University, Series 1: A History of Wheeling with instructor David Javersak. The OCPL is honored to receive this grant award. Pictured left to right: Susie Nelson (Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley), Dr. David Javersak (instructor), Sean Duffy (OCPL programming coordinator), and Dottie Thomas (library director).

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

The IRONMEN Still Draw a Crowd!

This afternoon at Lunch With Books, an audience of 112 people enjoyed listening to the memories of WHEELING IRONMEN football days shared by (right to left) Ann Thomas (wife of the late Clyde Thomas, star RB), sportswriter Doug Huff, and former players , Willie Stinson, Bob Butts, and Perry Jeter. Thanks to all who participated for a stellar and enjoyable program.

NOVEMBER 16 AND 18: THE CHIEF

On Tuesday November 16th at noon and Thursday November 18th at 6:30 pm, the Ohio County Public Library in Wheeling will offer the first local screening of the fantastic one-man-play (now on DVD) about legendary Pittsburgh Steelers founder Art Rooney Sr. Written by Gene Collier and Rob Zellers, The CHIEF, the one-man-play, debuted at Pittsburgh Public Theater in 2003 starring Tom Atkins, whose portrayal is amazingly true-to-life. The DVD has been publicly endorsed by the Rooney Family, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Steeler Nation.

On November 18th, immediately after the film ends at about 8:00 PM, Pittsburgh sportswriter and co-author of the play, Gene Collier be on hand speak to the audience about the play and about Mr Rooney and to answer audience questions. Copies of the script of The Chief, now available in book form, will be available for purchase and signing by Mr. Collier. Don't miss this one of a kind opportunity to see the film and meet the writer. 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, November 2, 2010

MEN OF IRON

On Tuesday, November 9 at noon, Doug Huff and Ann Thomas will be at Lunch With Books at the Ohio County Public Library to help us remember Wheeling’s beloved professional football team, the Wheeling/Ohio Valley Ironmen, who played in the United & Continental Football Leagues from 1962 through 1969. Mr. Huff is the retired sports editor for the Wheeling Intelligencer, and Mrs. Thomas’s husband Clyde Thomas was a star running back for the team. 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

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..