March 16, 2021 - BCPL Resume Tips

Welcome back, resume warriors! We've got fresh ideas to share for March 2022.

Resume Tip #17 - Adding a Volunteer Section

A volunteer work or community outreach section is an excellent way for a young person or new worker to beef up their one-pager. And sometimes for a more experienced hiree, it can set you apart from other candidates. This portion of your resume can really give your prospective an employer an idea of you as a person and what you're like outside of work.

What sort of volunteer experience is worth noting? You'd be surprised! Did you participate in events with your church? Maybe you coached a peewee sport team or helped the local theater put on a play. Did you serve food or assist patrons at a soup kitchen? Or perhaps you helped shelve materials and clean at the library one summer.

Some may say that a volunteer history section is a bad idea because it implies you might be willing to work for less or for free. That's not true! It can really illustrate your levels of dedication and caring.

The best way to format your volunteer history is the same way we would for work experience or job positions in general. Include the name of the facility or the organization. Your responsibilities, activities, and duties. Location may or may not be relevant depending on the amount of space left on the one page. Try not to go over one page, that's another tip. Did you assist a higher up? Did you organize supplies? Maybe you coordinated or events?

Now, keep in mind, a volunteering section is definitely not a requirement. If your experience with certain groups is more than 5-10 years in the past, it's probably not worth including. It's also okay if you don't have any volunteer work to include. Plenty of people are busy enough with their time taken up by family and friends as well. But it's nice to fill space or gaps and to give potential employers a look at your interests. 

Until next month, job seekers! Remember to ask your local library for help with your job search or resume updates. They can be an excellent resource!

March 15, 2022 - Staff Reviews

Crocodile on the Sandbank

By Elizabeth Peters

Release Date: Unknown in 1975

Ebook Available from WV Reads

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/media/303349

3 Stars - This light mystery series starts off swiftly with heroine Amelia Peabody venturing to Egypt after inheriting her father's estate. She had already inherited his adventurous and curious nature. I'd recommend this mostly to cozy fans looking for something a little different, more treasure hunt than murder mystery. Worth noting, while published first in 1975, it's historical fiction so it really doesn't seemed to have aged.

The setting is in fact the late Victorian era and has likely prevented this series from aging like the Egyptian treasures and culture it features. This book may suffer from being something of a crossover of too many genres. But it's also a positive aspect. There's touches of historical fiction, regency romance, cozy mystery, and even archeological adventures. Likewise, Amelia has many facets to her personality. She's almost too quirky. At times, she is caring, inquisitive, and simply a little obsessive compulsive. But honestly, other times her fiercely independent nature comes off cold and confrontational. And her inner thoughts can be kind of snobby, despite her lack of conceit. 

I do believe from the few times I have dabbled in different parts of this series (attempting to really immerse myself which I admit I still have not done) that Amelia's character softens as she later acquires a husband and a son. But in this first entry, she can come off a bit harsh and sometimes unrelatable to a modern young woman. However, Peters writes her skillfully and manages to really bring her prospective in full light, which I imagine a part of her tried and true appeal through decades. Although, her writing style is not for the everyday reader, in my opinion. She has a tendency to hop around and the plot takes quite a while to actually take shape. The first quarter or so of the book feels quite meandering, and it's not easy reading with the level of detail and antique dialouge. While I enjoyed my time reading this one, it still did not leave me with a great desire to binge read the series or even hurriedly pick up the next book. It's a series certainly worth a try for anyone it appeals to but despite its short length, it's a weighty read. 

(NS)

 

March 14, 2022 - New Arrivals

Adult Fiction

Tom Clancy: Chain of Command by Marc Cameron.

A shadowy billionaire has used his fortune to further his corrupt ambitions, and now he is ready to implement his most ambitious plan yet. There's only one force standing in his way: President Jack Ryan. How do you compel a man like Ryan to bend? The billionaire zeros in on his one Achilles heel: Jack Ryan's family. He has assembled an international team of ruthless mercenaries for one mission: kidnap the First Lady.

 

Just Haven’t Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens.

"Lifestyle reporter Laura's business trip to the Channel Islands isn't off to a great start. After an embarrassing encounter with the most attractive man she's ever seen in real life, she arrives at her hotel and realizes she's grabbed the wrong suitcase from the airport. Her only consolation is its irresistible contents, each of which intrigues her more and more. The owner of this suitcase is clearly Laura's dream man. Now, all she has to do is find him. But what are the odds that she'd find The One on the same island where her parents first met and fell in love, especially as she sets out to write an article about their romance? Commissioning surly cab driver Ted to ferry her around seems like her best bet in both tracking down the mystery suitcase owner and retracing her parents' footsteps. But as Laura's mystery man proves difficult to find - and as she uncovers family secrets - she may have to reimagine the life, and love, she always thought she wanted."-- Provided by publisher.

 

The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain.

When Kayla Carter's husband dies in an accident while building their dream house, she knows she has to stay strong for their four-year-old daughter. But the trophy home in Shadow Ridge Estates, a new development in sleepy Round Hill, North Carolina, will always hold tragic memories. When she is confronted by an odd, older woman telling her not to move in, she almost agrees. It's clear this woman has some kind of connection to the area... and a connection to Kayla herself. Kayla's elderly new neighbor, Ellie Hockley, is more welcoming, but it's clear she, too, has secrets that stretch back almost fifty years. Is Ellie on a quest to right the wrongs of the past? And does the house at the end of the street hold the key?

 

Adult Non-Fiction

The Birth Certificate by Susan J. Pearson.

For many Americans, the birth certificate is a mundane piece of paper, unearthed from deep storage when applying for a driver's license, verifying information for new employers, or claiming state and federal benefits. Yet as Donald Trump and his fellow "birthers" reminded us when they claimed that Barack Obama wasn't an American citizen, it plays a central role in determining identity and citizenship. In The Birth Certificate: An American History, award-winning historian Susan J. Pearson traces the document's two-hundred-year history to explain when, how, and why birth certificates came to matter so much in the United States.

 

Windows 11 for Dummies by Andy Rathbone.

Windows 11 promises to be the fastest, most secure, and most flexible version of the Microsoft operating system yet. With a promise like that, of course you want to start using it, as quickly as possible! Windows 11 For Dummies gives you that speed, security, and flexibility by getting you up to date with the latest in Windows. Windows expert and bestselling author Andy Rathbone gives you a helping hand by showing you how to get around the newly updated Windows 11 interface, how to use the new Windows tools like Teams and widgets, and how to use Android apps. Your tour of Windows 11 starts with the Start menu and ends with how to troubleshoot when things go wrong. In between you find out how to find files on your hard drive, connect with friends and colleagues on Microsoft Teams, transfer photos from your phone to your hard drive, or switch between your desktop and laptop.

 

Easy/Juvenile/Young Adult/Graphic Novel

Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood.  YA

Andromeda is a debtera--an exorcist hired to cleanse households of the Evil Eye. She would be hired, that is, if her mentor hadn't thrown her out before she could earn her license. Now her only hope of steady work is to find a Patron--a rich, well-connected individual who will vouch for her abilities. When a handsome young heir named Magnus Rochester reaches out to hire her, she takes the job without question. Never mind that he's rude and demanding and eccentric, that the contract comes with a number of outlandish rules... and that almost a dozen debtera had quit before her. If Andromeda wants to earn a living, she has no choice. But she quickly realizes this is a job like no other, with horrifying manifestations at every turn, and that Magnus is hiding far more than she has been trained for. Death is the most likely outcome if she stays, the reason every debtera before her quit. But leaving Magnus to live out his curse alone isn't an option because--heaven help her--she's fallen for him.

 

Billie Eilish by Adrian Besley.  YA NF

With number one albums in multiple countries and five Grammys under her belt, Billie Eilish has become a pop sensation. Billie was a promising young dancer until musical success came literally overnight in 2015. A song she uploaded to SoundCloud received a thousand plays in twenty-four hours. The thirteen-year-old's voice intoxicated listeners and the track went viral. Billie and her brother, Finneas, produced a series of eclectic but equally bewitching tracks, which drew fans from around the world. Follow her journey from singing in her bedroom to performing at huge arenas, and find out what makes Billie Eilish the most extraordinary teenage star in the world.

Brooke County Public Libraries    Wellsburg (304) 737-1551    Follansbee (304) 527-0860

March 10, 2022 - Staff Reviews

The Heathens

By Ace Atkins

Release Date: July 13, 2021

Ebook Available from WV Reads!

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/media/5800521

3.5 Stars - Quinn Colson's back but this time quite a bit has changed in the sheriff's life. Things are a bit more laidback and the series returns to more of its mystery roots. He's on the trail of a couple wayward teenagers accused of murder, and in the meantime he might uncover more than he bargained for in his own county.

Ace Atkins seemed like he was tying up all the lose ends with the last Colson novel but then he hit us with a cliffhanger ending. I assume this is where a few fans decide to tap out on the now long-running series. But Quinn's back to living his life with Maggie, Brandon, the new baby, and happily back as  sheriff. His first case back sort of puts him at odds with Lilly, less so through the first half than you would think. It was kind of a nice change of pace though. The newest dumb criminals are surprisingly sympathetic  while being pathetic all the same. 

There's a lot of Bonnie and Clyde references here to TJ and her boyfriend but they seemed a bit far fetched. Lilly's never been impartial which is a bad quality in law enforcement but it's particularly glaring here with TJ. Atkins has a weird way with his characters where he certainly can be insulting to them, even use some pretty bad stereotypes. But he does it across the board so I guess it's all fair. I wish we'd gotten a better new big bad villian though. We've already been through Stagg, Varterman, and Miss Fanny's antics before. He made it pretty difficult to change that up and be original. Also, his writing style is great with an almost lyrical and usually humorous quality. But this time, it seemed a bit too wordy. That could have been me or it could have been the book. We did get a few side characters moving on with their lives this time so it was cool to have different points of view for a change. And I think it actually let a little more of the spotlight show on Quinn, which was great. So some things are new and some are the same, but it's always a fun ride in this series.

(NS)

March 9, 2022 - Book Club Preview

Thanks for stopping in to check out our March 2022 BCPL Book Club pick! 

This month we're reading and discussing Sisters Frist: Stories from our Wild and Wonderful Life by Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush.

The meeting will be held on Thursday March 31, 2022 at 5 pm virtually and in person as space and safety issues allow.

About the book -

Funny and poignant personal stories and reflections from former first daughters. Born into a political dynasty, Jenna and Barbara Bush grew up in the public eye. As small children, they watched their grandfather become president; just twelve years later they stood by their father's side when he took the same oath. They spent their college years being trailed by the Secret Service and chased by the paparazzi, with every teenage mistake making national headlines. 

But the tabloids didn't tell the whole story of these two young women forging their own identities under extraordinary circumstances. In this book they take readers on a revealing, thoughtful, and deeply personal tour behind the scenes of their lives, with never-before-told stories about their family, their adventures, their loves and losses, and the special sisterly bond that fulfills them. 

About the authors -

Jenna Bush Hager is a co-host on NBC’s TODAY Show and an editor-at-large for Southern Living magazine. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller Ana’s Story: A Journey of Hope, written after she served as an intern with UNICEF in Latin America. She also co-authored the children’s books Our Great Big Backyard and Read All About It! with her mother. She lives with her husband and two daughters in New York.

Barbara Pierce Bush (born November 25, 1981) is an American activist. She co-founded and is the chair of the board of the nonprofit organization Global Health Corps. Global Health Corps provides opportunities for young professionals from diverse backgrounds to work on the front lines of the fight for global health equity. Unlike most of her relatives (but like her twin sister Jenna), Bush is not a member of the Republican Party. In 2010, Bush and her sister told People that they preferred not to identify with any political party, stating, "We're both very independent thinkers.  On October 7, 2018, she married screenwriter Craig Coyne.

Did you read Sisters First and enjoy it? Please let us know in the comments, on our social media pages, or in person! Also, please call the library if you are interested in joining the book club.

Interested in checking out this title? Check out the copy of our ebook on WV Reads!

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/media/3148678

All images and info are courtesy of Google, Goodreads, Wikipedia, and author webpages.

 

March 8, 2022 - Staff Reviews

The Soulmate Equation

By Christina Lauren

Release Date: May 18, 2021

Ebook Available from WV Reads

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/media/5808586

3 Stars - A slightly original romantic comedy featuring the insanity of dating apps and sites. I'm getting tired of all the novel attempts to put a clever twist on cyber dating and create virtual meet cutes. Anyone else? Jess was an adorable mess, and she and Juno made for a cute mom-daughter team. River was a bit of a tough sell at first but he turned out to be the better half of this quirky couple.

For a few weeks, I devoured this writing duo's books. Now that they've jumped on the comedy circut, I've lost a little interest. The earlier novels from these ladies in my opinion were more entertaining. Jess was odd and a bit tempermental, but she was certainly relatable on some levels. At times though, she was cringey. Her sense of humor was strange and she was not pleased when other women didn't pick up on it. River really had to be the savior of this couple and the book itself. And he almost does it. He's smart, cool, and surprisingly patient.

I did a lot speed reading here as the book is an over 300 page rom-com. Yet, I had a hard time understanding why Jess and Fizzy were friends or why she was so broke. Also, I get we're living in the age of of Tinder hook ups and online dating because the majority of conversations happening do not involve actually hearing someone's voice anymore. But it's so unromantic. I find it startling that somehow the latest regency romances manage to feel sexier than the modern ones. I'm not saying a romance has to be burn your hands steam level to be interesting but chemistry certainly helps. For two supposed science nerds, they sure did have to go looking for the spark. Basically, I think the Lauren team is capable of more than a bunch of genetic science mumbo jumbo and a weird enemies-to-lovers tag. There's a decent story buried under all that filler but apparently that enemies to lover angle is all some readers need to be happy. So it's worth a try, especially if you find the concept of being genetically attracted to someone else intriguing. 

(NS)

March 7, 2022 - New Arrivals

Adult Fiction

The Secret of Snow by Viola Shipman.

When Sonny Dunes, a SoCal meteorologist whose job is all sunshine and seventy-two-degree days, is replaced by a virtual meteorologist that will never age, gain weight or renegotiate its contract, the only station willing to give the fifty-year-old another shot is the very place Sonny's been avoiding since the day she left for college -- her northern Michigan hometown.

 

A Man of Honor by Barbara Taylor Bradford.

Opening five years before the start of A Woman of Substance, A Man of Honor begins with 13-year-old Blackie O'Neill facing an uncertain future in rural County Kerry. Orphaned and alone, he has just buried his sister, Bronagh, and must leave his home to set sail for England, in search of a better life with his mother's brother in Leeds. There, he learns his trade as a navvy, amid the grand buildings and engineering triumphs of one of England's most prosperous cities, and starts to dream of greater things... And then, high on the Yorkshire moors, in the mists of a winter morning he meets a kitchen maid called Emma Harte.

 

Criminal Mischief by Stuart Woods.

After a dangerous adventure has him traveling up and down the coast, Stone Barrington is looking forward to some down time at his Manhattan abode. But when an acquaintance alerts him to a hinky plot being hatched across the city, he finds himself eager to pursue justice. After the mastermind behind it all proves more evasive than anyone was expecting, Stone sets out on an international chase to places he's never gone before. With the help of old friends--and alluring new ones--Stone is determined to see the pursuit through to the end, even if it means going up against a foe more unpredictable than he has ever faced...

 

Adult Non-Fiction

Eclectic Rhythms by Geoffrey K. Fleming.

This biographical dictionary on Huntington artists began simply enough, with a fairly basic question: how many artists have worked in Huntington since it was founded? This question, and the subsequent research upon it, led to the creation of this publication, which documents approximately 600 artists of every kind who have lived and worked in Huntington since 1871.

 

The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe.

Millions of words have poured forth about man's trip to the moon, but until now few people have had a sense of the most engrossing side of the adventure; namely, what went on in the minds of the astronauts themselves - in space, on the moon, and even during certain odysseys on earth. It is this, the inner life of the astronauts, that Tom Wolfe describes with his almost uncanny empathetic powers, that made this book a classic.

 

Easy/Juvenile/Young Adult/Graphic Novel

Star Wars: Smuggler’s Run by Greg Rucka.  J

Set between Star Wars: A New Hope and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, the story follows everyone's favorite pair of smugglers as they fly the Millennium Falcon on a top-secret mission for the Rebellion. Hidden in the story are also hints and clues about Star Wars: The Force Awakens, making this a must-read for fans old and new!

 

Himawari House by Harmony Becker.  YA GN

"When Nao returns to Tokyo to reconnect with her Japanese heritage, she books a yearlong stay at the Himawari sharehouse. There she meets Hyejung and Tina, two other girls who came to Japan to freely forge their own paths. The trio live together, share meals, and even attend the same Japanese-language school, which results in them becoming fast friends. But will they be able to hold one another up as life tests them with new loves, old heart breaks, and the everyday challenges of being fish out of water?"-- Provided by publisher.

Brooke County Public Libraries    Wellsburg (304) 737-1551    Follansbee (304) 527-0860