#ocpl

Met up with a colleague from my 1st public library system of 2014, @OCPu licLibraries! 🍊 #OCPL (at Riverside Convention Center)

New library card day featuring 'Rita the Zebra' at my old library!! So nice seeing former co-workers I haven't seen in almost 2 years!! #zebraradar #costamesalibraries #ocpl (at Costa Mesa Library)

The first complete history of our founding document, from 1776 to the 21st century, "National Treasure" is a celebration of how the Declaration of Independence became the supreme expression of the American Ideal and unity while guiding us along the often-bumpy road on the way to a more perfect Union. It is also a thrilling adventure story and a fond look at the marriage of civics and commerce that has kept the Declaration in the hearts and minds of Americans. An award-winning historian, Michael Auslin takes us from the boarding house in Philadelphia where Thomas Jefferson put quill to paper to the Declaration’s long, harrowing, and ultimately hallowed afterlife. Through war and peace, expansion and urbanization, and demographic change and social reform, the Declaration has remained, in the words of President Gerald R. Ford, the “Polaris of our political order—the fixed star of freedom.” As Jefferson had hoped, the principles enshrined in the Declaration became a beacon to the world. But what lessons should we take from it today? Can this statement of ideals in whose name the signers pledged their lives and sacred honor bring a disparate nation together? As we gather to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founders’ bold experiment in democracy, Auslin reminds us that this enduring document was not just a call for freedom and equality but an eloquent statement of the principles that bind us together. Michael Auslin is the Payson J. Treat Distinguished Research Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. Previously, he was an associate professor of history at Yale. He wrote National Treasure as a Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the Library of Congress’s John W. Kluge Center and an American Heritage Partners Fellow at the Society of the Cincinnati’s American Revolution Institute. He writes a Substack, The Patowmack Packet, on Washington, DC, past and present, and lives in Virginia. Read the full article

WHEELING. The Wheeling Academy of Law & Science Foundation, in partnership with the Ohio County Public Library, will host its 10th annual symposium focused on regional labor history. The theme is “The Art of Labor.” The Reuther-Pollack Labor History Symposium is held on Labor Day Weekend near the birthday of Wheeling's own Walter Reuther (Sept. 1, 1907), longtime UAW and CIO President and Civil Rights Activist. It is also named for Wheeling Hall of Famer Augustus Pollack, a stogie maker, and the only business owner to have a monument built in his honor by union members. Both the Reuther and Pollack monuments stand at Heritage Port. The Symposium is presented by the WALS Foundation in partnership with the Ohio County Public Library and sponsored by the United Auto Workers International; The United Auto Workers, Region 8; the Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly; and Ironworkers Local 549. Additional partnerships include the Mother Jones Center for Resilient Community (MoJo) and Esoterica, which will host Walter Reuther Fest the weekend prior to the symposium on August 29, starting at 7 pm. The Reuther-Pollack Labor History Symposium will take place on Saturday, September 5 at the First State Capitol at 1413 Eoff Street in Wheeling. It is a free event, but donations are suggested.Please RSVP here. After registration and a complimentary continental breakfast from 9-10 am, paper-cut artist, puppeteer and printmaker Erik Ruin will discuss his work illustrating legacies of resistance- including his series of hand-printed artist’s books based on the personal correspondence of legendary agitator/organizers like Emma Goldman and Rosa Luxemburg, the joys and challenges of collaborating with social movements, and his two decades of experience as a founding member of the worker-owned Justseeds Artists Cooperative. Ruin is a Michigan-raised, Philadelphia-based artist who has been lauded by the New York Times for his “spell-binding cut-paper animations.” Then at 11 am, textile artist Tabitha Arnold will explain why she believes art is one of many languages that working-class people use when they come together in a workplace struggle. Just as the way people speak is diverse and unique in every part of the world, so are the art forms that emerge from labor movements to tell their stories. In the Appalachian South, it comes in the form of craft mediums like quilting and folk music. Tabitha asks: what was the role of imagery and verse in our labor ancestors’ struggles, and why do so many of these traditions still appear on the picket line today? How can artists serve the contemporary labor movement, and how can workers embrace this language of expression to dream, fight and win bigger? Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Arnold taught herself tapestry weaving. In 2019, she began organizing a union at her workplace: a profound experience that called for making tapestries about labor. Using a rug-punching tool as a makeshift embroidery needle, Arnold borrows images from Bible Belt spirituality, social realism, and pre-modern art to create monuments for the working class. She exhibits her tapestries at union halls and labor conventions in addition to traditional venues. She will have a sample of her work on display. Tabitha will also offer two workshops at the Mother Jones Center for Resilient Community (MoJo) on Sunday, September 6 and Monday September 7. Visit themojocrc.org or call 304-238-9484 for more information. The symposium will take a break at noon, with lunches prepared by Midge’s Kitchen available for purchase for $15. Historian Dr. Hal Gorby, a WVU professor, will then lead a walking tour to the Reuther and Pollack monuments at Heritage Port for those interested. After some cake and song in honor of Walter Reuther’s birthday, the symposium will resume at 2 pm with , literature scholar and historian turned grassroots journalist Maximillian Alvarez, who will discuss working class literature and why the stories we tell to ourselves about ourselves matter. From Robin Hood to Tracy Chapman, from Hollywood films to campfire tales, from pop music to podcasts, the stories working people tell about ourselves shape how we live, what we remember, and what we see when we look in the mirror. Maximillian is an Izzy-Award-winning journalist and the Editor-in-Chief and Co-Executive Director of The Real News Network (TRNN) in Baltimore. He is the founder and host of Working People, "a podcast about the lives, jobs, dreams, and struggles of the working class today.” Finally, at 3 pm, Pittsburgh-based multi-disciplinary artist, nonfiction author, and museum professional Shaun Slifer will explore his role as the aesthetic lead for a rural people's history museum (the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum) originally built from scratch. Coming from punk and DIY roots, Slifer's work designing and building the Museum's exhibits and other public design remains consistently grounded in the collective vision of a museum team that includes union coal miners, educators, community activists, and other Appalachian story-holders and -tellers. Shaun’s creative practice fundamentally investigates memory, directly challenging the oppression of currently-dominant historical narratives, both social and ecological. For more information about the symposium, visit www.walswheeling.org or email the WALS Foundation at spdwalsyahoo.com. RSVP Here. The Foundation is a non-profit established to promote educational programming in the areas of employment, labor history, human rights, energy, and the environment; and to promote local economic opportunity, employment, and job creation in our city and region. It is the home of the Reuther-Wheeling Labor Library and Archive. You can donate to WALS, here: walswheeling.org/donate-today/. Read the full article

WHEELING, W.Va. – May 4, 2026 –Wheeling Heritage will host its annual FidoFest on Saturday, May 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Garden Park in Warwood. The free, family-friendly event celebrates the community’s love of dogs with activities, demonstrations, vendors, an adoption center, and entertainment for all ages. FidoFest has become a signature summer event, drawing dog lovers from across the valley for a day of fun, shopping, and connection with local pet-focused organizations and businesses. Attendees can purchase this year’s official FidoFest T-shirt by Holler Merch, have a custom pup portrait created by Green’s Photography, and support the “Stuff the Subaru” donation drive benefiting local animal shelters. Donation boxes are available in advance at the Ohio County Public Library, Wheeling Artisan Center, and Wheeling Volkswagen-Subaru, as well as onsite during the event. "The whole team at Wheeling Subaru is once again proud to be a FidoFest sponsor, and are proud to help care for and support all of our furry friends." Tony Bonitatibus, Sales Manager at Wheeling Subaru  “FidoFest continues to grow each year, and it’s become such an exciting way to bring people together while supporting local animal organizations and small businesses. There really is something for everyone, whether you’re coming for the dogs, the vendors, the demonstrations, or just to enjoy a fun day in the park. It’s a welcoming, high-energy event that reflects the spirit of our community, and we’re excited to see it return to Garden Park!” Riley Carpenter, director of programming at Wheeling Heritage. Event highlights include a Doggy Parade at 11:30 a.m., where participants and their pets will take a celebratory lap around the park. Costumes are encouraged but optional, and all participating dogs will receive a goody bag. Additional activities throughout the day include live music, demonstrations, children’s programming, and interactive experiences. Schedule of events: 10:30 a.m.: Pawz in Time demonstration  11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Meet and greet with Bluey  11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Ohio County Public Library storytimes and crafts  11:30 a.m.: Doggy Parade  Noon: Live music by Stone Campus  1:30 p.m.: Wheeling Police Department K9 demonstration  2:15 p.m.: Upper Ohio Valley Obedience Training Club demonstration  2:45 p.m.: Raffle basket winners announced  10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Adoption Center open with multiple local rescue organizations: Ohio County Animal Shelter, Marshall County Animal Shelter, The Road Home Animal Project, Belmont County Animal Shelter Vendors and food trucks include 87 Coffee Co., B & T Creations, Boyds Barkery, Caricatures by Megz, Confectionery Canvas, David Weimer’s Typewriter Portraits, Dunya’s, Dupe’s Scoops, Evelyn’s Creations, Green’s Photography, K9 Compass LLC, Leona Crafts, LexPDesigns, Low Stress Pet Services, Mason Dixon BBQ, MCTV, MERK & Co., Ohio County Public Library, Pawsitive Creations, Pawz In Time/HeartSoul Dog Training, Potomac Concessions (Mr. Squeezy’s Lemonade), Sea Salt & Cedar, The Friendlier City Project, The Gringos Tacos, The Kernel Crew, The Moors Collective, The Spotted Hound Accessories, Upper Ohio Valley Obedience Training Club, West Liberty University Biology/Veterinary Program, WPHS Paws for a Cause, and Yinz & Yappers. Wheeling Heritage extends its appreciation to this year’s sponsors, including lead sponsor Dirty Paws; Wheeling Volkswagen-Subaru; Hall of Frame; K.E.Y. Animal Hospital; MCTV; Upper Ohio Valley Building & Construction Trades Council; Pet Supplies Plus; Smith Oil Inc.; Uniglobe; Visit Wheeling, W.Va.; and Wheeling Veterinary Associates. For updates and more information, follow Wheeling Heritage on Facebook or visit wheelingheritage.org.  Read the full article

In celebration of National Library Week 2026 (April 19-25), several members of the staff of the Ohio County Public Library have agreed to showcase their wide-ranging talents for the entertainment of their loyal patrons.  “Find Your Joy,” is an invitation for people of all backgrounds to explore and discover what sparks joy in them at the library. So, at a special Thurs. edition, these intrepid library pros will share some of what sparks joy in them, be it through song, dance, the written word, visual art, various crafts, feats of strength (unlikely), or even cooking/baking (more likely)! Read the full article

This talk by award-winning writer and photographer, Scott Wallace, accompanied by the author’s photographs, offers a gripping frontline view of a war reporter’s quest for truth amid a landscape of death and deception, rich in storytelling and abiding relevance in today’s world. Scott Wallace is an award-winning writer and photographer who covers armed conflict, the environment, and vanishing cultures in volatile frontier regions around the world. Formerly a correspondent in Latin America for CBS News, "Newsweek," and "The Guardian," he is the author of the award-winning photographic and narrative memoir, "Central America in the Crosshairs of War: On the Road from Vietnam to Iraq," and the "New York Times" bestseller, "The Unconquered: In Search of the Amazon’s Last Uncontacted Tribes," based on his firsthand experiences trekking through the land of an uncontacted Indigenous group deep in the Brazilian jungle. His written work has also appeared in "National Geographic," "National Geographic Adventure," the "New York Times," "Washington Post," "Harper’s," and "Smithsonian," among many others. His photography is represented by Getty Images and has been published in newspapers and magazines throughout the world. Currently an associate professor of journalism at the University of Connecticut, he is a graduate of Yale University and the University of Missouri School of Journalism. “Scott Wallace’s 'Central America in the Crosshairs of War; on the Road from Vietnam to Iraq' is really several books at once that cohere into a magnificent whole. It is the evocative, at times nostalgic, at others harrowing, personal account of a young journalist’s coming of age during his first foreign journalism assignment, always keenly observant and thoughtful.” — "ReVista: Harvard Review of Latin America" Read the full article

Author Julia Flint will discuss he new book, We Were Promised: How an Appalachian Grandmother Fought a Corporate Giant. The book follows Karen “Momma K” Gorrell and a group of determined retirees on their long journey to seek justice—from staging an Occupy-inspired camp at the Ravenswood plant in West Virginia to confronting corporate executives in Illinois and California. In highlighting Appalachia's role in the modern labor movement and the impact of women activists in the region, this story serves as a powerful example of everyday folks, as Karen said, “having the courage to stand up and raise hell and fight back.” Julia Flint is a writer from the Appalachian Rust Belt. She is the daughter of a steelworker and a therapist. With a background in qualitative research, she has worked for the last decade as a research assistant on projects related to community health and education. Read the full article