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Philippi Library announces Teen Read Week events

Susanna Holstein

Susanna Holstein

PHILIPPI — The Philippi Public Library will host Teen Read Week from Oct. 10 through Oct. 15. Teen Read Week is a national literacy initiative created by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) of the American Library Association (ALA). It began in 1998 and is held annually in October. Its purpose is to encourage teens to be regular readers and library users.

The library staff members have been working very hard to provide a great Fall program this year.

Library Director Judy Buckner Larry says, “The focus of this week is on teens but we invite others to share in some of the fun and educational experiences as well. Teen Read Week is a very special time. Because it is near Halloween, we usually feature ghost stories, legends, and other interesting stories, especially West Virginia ghost stories, Mothman, the Braxton County Monster, and other West Virginia oddities.”

Light refreshments of the season will be provided each afternoon Tuesday through Friday during the programming.

On Oct. 10, from 4-5:30 p.m., the library will host “Remembering Poe.” This event will serve as a tribute to Edgar Allan Poe (born Jan.19, 1809 and died Oct. 7, 1849). Poe was a legendary American writer, best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. The library will have a reading of “The Raven,” a Poe look-a-like contest and other activities celebrating his life.

“We encourage the public to come in their best Poe look and will offer a small prize for the winner and light refreshments related to the theme,” Larry said. “Remembering Poe” is open to teens and adults.

On Oct. 11, from 4-5:30 p.m., the library presents “It Came From the Library–WV Oddities!” That afternoon’s event will be dedicated to West Virginia’s monsters, myths, legends and other oddities and will focus on West Virginia’s most famous monster, the Mothman of Point Pleasant, as well as other West Virginia stories and oddities.

“The story of Mothman is quite interesting and has a lot of mythology that expands outward into many other theories, including aliens and the ‘Real Men in Black,'” says Philippi Public Library Clerk Jonathan Casey Griffith who will lead the discussion and activities that day. This event is open to teens only and light refreshments will be available.

On Thursday, Oct. 12, from 4-5:30 p.m., the library welcomes back its favorite West Virginia storyteller and writer, Susanna Holstein, for “Appalachian Ghost Stories with Granny Sue.” She will spin her tales of eerie Appalachian ghost stories and ballads.

“I find ghost stories all across West Virginia and Appalachia,” said Holstein. “Headless ghosts, vengeful revenants, restless graves and unsolved murders abound in all regions.”

People often tell family ghost stories or personal experiences to Holstein, who then researches them to find out more and develop the story into a tellable tale.

Ghost stories, historical tales and unexplained phenomena attract Holstein like moths to a flame. Holstein is no stranger to Philippi; she has presented programs for the library’s summer children’s programs and Christmas programs and often visits the town on her way to other performances in the area.

She has performed nationally as well as locally and is a founding member of the West Virginia Storytelling Guild. A professional storyteller for 20 years, she has published short stories and poetry in journals, anthologies and online, writes a monthly column for the regional magazine Two Lane Livin’ and has produced two CDs of stories and ballads, including a ghost story collection called “Beyond the Grave: Ghost Stories and Ballads from the Mountains.” She travels extensively in West Virginia and to other locations across the U.S., telling stories, singing ballads and teaching storytelling and writing workshops. “Appalachian Ghost Stories with Granny Sue” is open to all ages. “Ghostly” refreshments will be provided.

Those who are not afraid to venture out on “Friday the 13th” will enjoy coming to the library to play Minecraft, the blockbuster video game in which children build constructions from three dimensional (3D) cubes. This event will Oct. 13, from 4-5:30 p.m. and is for teens only. Light refreshments will be available.

On Oct. 14, as an end to Teen Read Week, Larry invites children, teens and their parents to “Sensational Saturday” which has something for everyone. From 11 a.m. to noon, teens and adults will enjoy No Carve Pumpkin Decorating, a unique class on pumpkin decorating without cutting. Participants will decorate one pumpkin and will learn other creative ways in which to decorate many others. Registration is required for this event so the library staff members know how many pumpkins to purchase and it is for teen and adults only.

The library will also host Builders Club for younger patrons from 11 a.m. to noon. Children will build with Lincoln Logs. From 12:30-1:30 p.m., the children will read to the dogs during Dog Tales — Reading to Mountaineer Therapy Dogs. In this program, children read aloud to the dogs in a comfortable, non-judgmental environment to practice their reading skills. The dogs are therapy-certified and insured dogs. Registration is required so the group knows how many dogs to bring and parental permission is required. If the children are too young to read, they may show the dogs a book or tell them a story.

Registration and parental permission is required for all teen and children’s programs. The library reserves the right to use photographs produced at such events for promotional and other purposes. All of the programs during Teen Read Week are available free but the Philippi Public Library accepts and asks for donations.

For more information about programs at the Philippi Public Library, call 304-457-3495 or stop by the library.

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