Martinsburg Community Library Continues to Stand Tall After 75 Years; Patrons Join Celebrations

A beloved Martinsburg establishment celebrated a milestone by showing its appreciation to the community that has kept it in business for decades.

For its 75th anniversary, the Martinsburg Community Library held an event full of games, art projects, and snacks on Saturday, April 29, 2022. Both children and their parents could come by from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. to join in on the fun.

"We already had around 30 people in the first hour," said Library Director Danette Feathers.

Feathers has been with the library for four years. She said that this milestone was wonderful and deserved to be acknowledged, particularly since many libraries continue to struggle.

"Our community shows us a lot of support, so we wanted to do something that they could join in on," she said.

Some of the activities for the day included sand art projects, a photo wall, and guessing games. Each jar had a theme; whatever was in the jar had a book prize associated with it.

The celebration and many of the events that the library has on a regular basis were put together by Lori Perrin, one of the library workers.

"We like to do different projects and events to keep children interested and involved," she said. "We do things like STEM nights or Lego building."

She said that their events always have good turnouts. An upcoming project, container gardening, already has 20 sign-ups.

The COVID-19 pandemic had caused Martinsburg Library to shut down for a bit, but Feathers said it had not fully changed things whenever they reopened. Outside of a drop in volunteers, most things have been on the positive side.

"Our patronage has stayed steady and supportive," she said. "The main difference is that our e-resources picked up, though many still prefer getting a hard copy of a book instead."

"We have regular patrons that come like clockwork," Perrin said. "People are appreciative of us being here."

The library has become a place for generations to enjoy. Plenty of young families have recently come in. Feathers said that she is excited for the next generation to get involved with reading.

Both Feathers and Perrin worked in education before working at the library. Feathers taught English for 11 years, while Perrin taught both kindergarten and first grade for 32 years in the Spring Cove School District.

The same can be said for board member Cindy Ritchey, who helped with the sand art activity. She taught elementary school for several years.

"That young age is really the time where books become fundamental," she said. "Not only do all books have lessons, but they also help boost creativity."

To make sure that the children are able to retain their love of books, the library includes many story hours in its calendar. The library also has a summer reading program so that kids have a chance to read outside of their classroom.

"If kids don't get to read during the summer, then they will lose a lot of what they learned," Ritchey said.

Regarding the future of the library, Feathers said that there is a lot in store.

"For upcoming plans, we are getting a new book drop out front and are planning on new shelving," she said. "We are also going to get a mural for the children's area eventually."

She said that they will also continue to come up with many new events over time. As the last place of entertainment that is free to everyone, having a lot to offer was crucial to continue running.

"We are a hub of information and have many resources," she said. "We have free Wi-Fi, printing, and so much more. You don't have to come here for a book. We want to be a place where people can relax. We are community-based, not just a library."

Because of the support from the community and the incoming donations, which have increased in recent years, Feathers said she believed the library would continue to stay open for many more years.

"Even though some days feel like a balancing act, I think we are doing okay," she said. "It's a testament to our community that they find us important and valuable enough to keep us around. We are really thankful."

Those who wish to volunteer can inquire about doing so by visiting the Martinsburg Community Library or by contacting them via phone at (814) 793-3335. You can also find a list of their upcoming events by visiting their website, http://www.martinsburgcommunitylibrary.org.

Friends of Martinsburg Community Library Holding Used Book Sale

The Friends of the Martinsburg Community will hold a used book sale outside in the cattle barn at Morrisons Cove Memorial Park.

Donations of books, DVDs and puzzles will be accepted from noon to 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 23 and 24, at the cattle barn.

The sale days and hours will be as follows:

• Thursday, May 25 – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Friday, May 26 – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Saturday, May 17 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On Saturday, customers can fill a bag for $3.