She Has a Name

Have you ever noticed how many book titles refer to a woman only in relationship to other people, or only by her physical characteristics?

My Name is: Linda Wallheim	My name is: Joan Castleman	My name is: Naomi Malcolm	Our names are: Stella, Ritzi, and Maria	My name is: Marie Perry
My name is: Vivienne de la Mare	My name is: Li-Lin	My name is: Nell Gwynne	My name is: Samantha Whipple	My name is: Josephine
My name is: Fanny Savage	My name is: Amy Wilde	My name is: Martha Houghton	My name is: Kimberly Chang	My name is: Louise de la Valliere
My name is: Rakhel Malacouti	My name is: Anna Benz	My name is: Peggy Shippen	My name is: Emily Hudson	My name is: Catherine Land
My name is: Ann Eliza Young	My name is: Brunella Cartalno	My name is: Greta Wegener	My name is: Maya Wolfe	My name is: Anna Fox

The Big Library Read: April 1-15, 2019

Alongside thousands of readers worldwide,Parkersburg and Wood County Public Library patrons can discover a remarkable true story through the largest global digital book club, Big Library Read. From April 1–15, booklovers can borrow, read and discuss Abu Bakr al Rabeeah and Winnie Yeung’s heartbreaking yet hopeful Homes: A Refugee Story ebook from their public library with no waitlists or holds. Parkersburg and Wood County Public Library readers may join by visiting https://wvreads.overdrive.com/ or downloading the Libby app. More than 19,000 libraries around the world are participating.

Big Library Read is available in more than 90 percent of public libraries in North America and facilitated by OverDrive, the leading platform for ebooks, audiobooks and magazines. Homes: A Refugee Story, a 2018 Governor General’s Literary Award finalist for nonfiction, was chosen by a popular vote of readers and librarians worldwide.

“It brings such joy to Abu Bakr and me that his wish of wanting to tell the world of Syria’s plight is being fulfilled in such a far-reaching way,” said author Winnie Yeung. “For this is the magic of books: they don’t just feed our imaginations, they build bridges of understanding. The relationship of sharing, receiving and honoring each other is the true gift of storytelling —something I am so grateful to be a partner in.”

Homes: A Refugee Story chronicles the struggles of the al Rabeeah family who left their home in Iraq for Syria in hope of a safer life – just before the Syrian civil war broke out. Abu Bakr, one of eight children, was ten years old when the violence began on the streets around him: car bombings, attacks on his mosque and school, firebombs late at night. Homes tells of the strange juxtaposition of growing up as a typical teenager in a war zone: horrific, unimaginable events punctuated by normalcy – soccer, cousins, video games, friends.

Big Library Read is an international reading program that simultaneously connects millions of readers around the world with an ebook through public libraries. Homes: A Refugee Story is the 18^th selection of this program which began in 2013 and takes place three times per year. Readers can join an online discussion about the book at https://discuss.biglibraryread.com/. The free program runs for two weeks and only requires a library card to get started.

Homes: A Refugee Story can be read on all major computers and devices through Libby or libbyapp.com, including iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phones and tablets and Chromebook™ without waitlists or holds. Through Libby, readers can also “send to Kindle®” [US libraries only]. The title will automatically expire at the end of the lending period, and there are no late fees.

To join the discussion, learn about past Big Library Read ebooks and download Libby, visit biglibraryread.com.

Women’s History Month

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March is Women’s History Month! In 1987, after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress designated the month of March 1987 as “Women’s History Month.” Enjoy browsing some of our collection that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. If you are interested in more, come on in and browse!

Just Can’t Get Enough?

Just can’t get enough of tax season? We see you. 

Found In Translation

Why should you read books translated into English from another language? Writing translated from another language makes you see things differently. It has many of the benefits of travel, but from the comfort of your own home: a deeper understanding of cultural differences; a new perception of your innate assumptions; and an opportunity to see issues and daily life challenges from a different angle. Here is a selection of our many books translated from another language into English. Check one out, then feel free join us for a relaxed discussion at April’s Random Reader’s Book Group on April 10, 2019 at 4:00 p.m.