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May 5, 2005
Frostburg Library Hosting "Living Wills and Other Advanced Directives"
May 12, 2005
Library's Grand Re-Opening Weekend Full of Activities for All Ages
May 16, 2005
Library Hours
Changing for May 23 and May 24

May 5, 2005
PRESS RELEASE - Allegany County Library System
Contact: Pat Merrbach
Frostburg Library
65 E. Main Street
Frostburg, MD 21532
A program titled “Living Wills and Other
Advance Directives” will be held at the Frostburg Branch of the Allegany
County Library System on Wednesday, May 11 starting at 7PM.
Kim Jackson, Medical Social Worker at
WMd. Health System will be conducting the program, helping you learn
what you need to know about these important documents and health care
agents. He will also have copies of the forms available. Please
pre-register: call 301-687-0790.
“Taking an hour out of your time to attend this program is a good way to
get a feeling of peace, that you are taking the first step in this
important matter,” commented Linda Burkey, Coordinator of Community
Outreach for the library system. “We have so many patrons inquire about
getting these forms. Here is a chance to also get information that might
help you decide what you want the forms to say.”
May 12, 2005
PRESS RELEASE - Allegany County Library System
Contact:
Linda Burkey
South Cumberland Library
100 Seymour Street
Cumberland, MD 21502
Lt. Governor Michael S. Steele will be a featured speaker for the
Washington Street Library Grand Re-Opening ribbon cutting on Friday, May
20 at 3:30 PM. The ceremony will kick-off a weekend full of activities
for all ages.
Library Director, John Taube says "The community has been so supportive
of
this renovation project and the libraries that we wanted to go all out
and
make this a special event to thank them and welcome them back."
Following the ribbon cutting, library staff member will be available to
guide the public through the library, showing all the special features
and answering question about the newly renovated facilities.
Festivities on Saturday, May 21 morning include: 10:00 AM -Database
Demonstrations will be given by Lisa McKenney, the library’s Electronic
Resources Coordinator. 11:00 AM –A reception will be held featuring the
library’s new William Donald Smith, Jr. Children’s Story Hour Steeple
Circle.
Starting at 12 Noon -Part I of the day’s two-part History Forum will
take place in the new F. Brooke Whiting Meeting Room on the 2nd
floor of the library. The theme for Part I is “Railroads in Our Past”
with the Western Maryland Chapter of the National Railroad Historical
Society.
12:00-12:30 PM –Children’s Librarian from around the County will hold a
Story Time Extravaganza, showing some of the activities that make up the
library’s regularly scheduled children’s programming.
12:30 AM -Everyone will have a chance to “Reminisce about the Library
and Librarians with former and retired librarians of the library
system. “We would like to capture the memories you have of the library
over the years, including any memories of Mary Walsh, Allegany County’s
first librarian,” explained staff member Linda Burkey.
1:00-2:00 PM -The dynamic Slim Harrison will present an interactive
program of “Traditional Folk Music and Storytelling” with his Sunnyland
Band (made up of kids from the audience). Harrison, who is well known
for his work as musician in residence at Wolf Trap and numerous school
systems, has taught kids from around the world, at festivals and
workshops, to play instruments such as the washtub base and his more
elaborate “one man band”.
At 2:30 PM –Storyteller Jean Walton will spin her story webs for
children ages 6-10 year olds in the new conference room on the 2nd
floor of the library, while Children’s Librarian Barbara Riffey
entertains younger children with a “Story Time” in the Story Hour
Steeple Circle.
Also at 2:30 PM –Part II of the History Forum: “Transforming Events for
the County” will take place in the F. Brooke Whiting Meeting Room. Join
Howard Buchanan, Ed Hanna, and John Wiseman for a lively exchange on
this county’s rich history.
3:30 PM –A reception will take place in the new Avirett-Maryland Room,
This room houses the library’s largest collection of local history
materials. Following the reception library staff members will be
available to guide you through the library, showing all the special
features and answering question about the renovations.
Sunday, May 22 schedule of events will start at 1:00 PM with a Coffee
Social.
At 1:30 PM –Author Krystyna Goddu Talks about her recently published
Dollmakers and Their Stories: Women Who Changed the World of Play.
The book introduces the pioneering women behind some of the most
important dolls in history, including, Barbie!
2:30 PM –An “Author’s on Writing Forum” will be held in the F. Brooke
Whiting Meeting Room on the 2nd floor. Come learn about the
process of writing, doing research, getting published, and more with
authors James Rada, Dr. Richard Snider Bradford Barkley, and Krystyna
Goddu.
Also at 2:30 PM –A program “Music with Ann Rebuck will be held in the
Children’s Story Hour Steeple Circle. This program weaving music and
stories is geared to younger children.
The library’s Grand Re-Opening Weekend will end with an “Ice Cream
Social” from 3:30 – 5:00 PM.
The Washington Street Library, located in the historic district of
Cumberland, Maryland, first opened its doors on June 19, 1934. The Greek
Revival building was constructed between 1849 and 1850, and was then
known as the Allegany County Academy, the first public school in
Allegany County. A new addition was constructed in 1966, allowing for
the expansion of the library collection.
The library closed to begin renovations on May 8, 2004. Renovations
included an upgrade of the mechanical systems and rework of the layout
to better deliver services and programs on the first floor, including
the addition of a new children’s story hour center, Avirett-Maryland
Room on the first floor, and installation of an elevator to serve the
mezzanine. Renovation continued on the 2nd floor with the
addition of a new computer training lab/conference room and a meeting
room. The library once known as the Main Branch re-opened its
doors on February 1, 2005 as the Washington Street Library.
Thanks to the community for making this project a success! We hope to
see you at the library for the Grand Re-Opening!
May 16, 2005
PRESS RELEASE - Allegany County Library System
Contact:
Linda Burkey
South Cumberland Library
100 Seymour Street
Cumberland, MD 21502
The Allegany County Library System will be improving their customer
service with a new Library Catalog debuting in late May. In order for
library staff to be fully trained on the new catalog, the following
changes will be made to the library’s operating hours for Monday, May 23
and Tuesday, May 24.
On Monday May 23 the Frostburg, Washington Street and Westernport
Branches will be open from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM only! The George’s Creek,
LaVale, and South Cumberland branches will be open regular hours.
On Tuesday May 24, The George’s Creek, LaVale, and South Cumberland
branches will be open from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM only! The Frostburg,
Washington Street, and Westernport branches will be open regular hours.
“The new online catalog from TLC (The Learning Corporation located in
Inwood, West Virginia) will provide our library users with better ways
to find all of the great resources we have to offer our community at our
libraries,” explained Lisa McKenney, Electronic Resources Coordinator
for the library system.
With just a single search on this new catalog, a patron will be able to
locate materials that can be found in the library, articles and
reference resources from the library’s online databases, and web sites
from the Google search engine.
TLC will be enriched by the addition of images of book jackets, reviews
and recommendations, summaries, and author information for titles found
in the online catalog. Listings of bestsellers and “hot titles” will
also update regularly.
“One of the features the public may find the most useful is TLC’s
ability to allow patrons to place their own holds on materials as well
as renew checked out items,” commended staff member, Linda Burkey. “An
interactive community calendar will also be added to announce events at
the library and allow patrons to be notified of new events by email.”