As we announced back in early June, we’re trying to raise $10,000 for the building fund this summer, and all you have to do to help is read (and log your hours)! Over 350 people have signed up. Over 230 have started recording hours. We reached our halfway point of 5,000 hours on June 29. We are so excited for how enthusiastic participation has been and appreciate everyone who is participating. But we have to make it to 10,000 hours by July 31 to get the $10,000, so let’s not slow down! And it’s not too late to join us
Author: berryvillelibrary
Guest Blogger: Penelope the Goose
Our year-long Your Library Card, Your Ticket to the World program has been a fun way to highlight different places across the globe. I’ve been writing posts that highlight books in these settings, but our faithful, fashionable, and intrepid library goose Penelope has actually been seeing the sights herself. (If you’ve been to the library, you’ve no doubt admired Penelope and her elegant wardrobe as she guards the circulation desk.) She’s been posting regular updates on our Facebook page, but she also wanted to share a quick blog post. And who am I to say no to our favorite goose?
[Note: There is some vigorous debate among the library staff about whether or not our dear Penelope is a goose or a duck, and she is kind of evasive on the topic herself. . . .]
Your Library Card, Your Ticket to the World: Mythology/Fairy Tales
Our library theme for 2020 is Your Library Card, Your Ticket to the World–because with the library, you truly can travel around the world without ever leaving the comfort of your own home. Every month in 2020, we’ll be landing at a new place on the globe. In June, we’re in London, but that’s mainly just a Harry Potter tie-in, so in honor of the Imagine Your Story summer reading theme, I’ll be highlighting books that evoke or engage with myths and fairy tales from around the world.
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Parasite (2019)

Note: Due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in our county, we’ve had to close the building to the public again. However, we are still doing curbside service. Please check out our website for more information on how you can continue to check out items like the movie reviewed today. Thanks for your patience and cooperation!
The Kim family lives in unremitting poverty in Seoul, South Korea, though it’s not for lack of trying. Still, they subsist on meager wages from a pizza box folding job, and the most exciting part of their day is scoring free Wifi for their phones. That is, until son Ki-woo (Choi Woo-shik) scores a job tutoring for the wealthy Park family. He sees a good opportunity–not only for himself but the rest of the family–and starts plotting to insinuate his parents (Song Kang-ho and Jang Hye-jin) and sister (Park So-dam) into the Park family’s life as well. Complications ensue.
Book Buzz: Bad Days, Orc Princesses, and Cold Cases
Every month, we’re profiling new-ish releases that are getting critical and commercial buzz. Usually, I profile a sample of various random new books, but this time around, I noticed 3 books that are all the first in a series, and the summer is as good a time as any to try a new series. Starting a new one might be a wiser move than what I’m doing–rereading an old favorite (George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire . . . because I like to suffer. 😉 )
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Want to Help Us Raise $10,000 for a New Library Building?
It’s time for summer reading, and if you’re a long-time library user you know the drill: go to the library, sign up, log your reading and activities in a paper booklet, get prizes. But this year we have some cool new additions that will let you participate without ever leaving home (except to pick up prizes) and will let you help us raise a very cool 10G for a new library facility.
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Your Library Card, Your Ticket to the World: India
Our library theme for 2020 is Your Library Card, Your Ticket to the World–because with the library, you truly can travel around the world without ever leaving the comfort of your own home. Every month in 2020, we’ll be landing at a new place on the globe. In May, we’re in India.
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Berryville Library Update

Hey, everybody, some of you already know this but just confirming that as of today, Tuesday, May 26, the library is partially reopening. This is part of a phased reopening–we are expanding our hours of operations and the services we are providing–however, we are not completely returning to normal. We still must have procedures in place to ensure social distancing and sanitation. So, exactly what does that mean?
Knives Out (2019)

Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is a fabulously wealthy murder mystery novelist who lives in a big spooky house with his strange family of leeches, I mean, relatives. That is, until he’s found dead. Was it a suicide? The police think so, though quirky private detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) isn’t so sure. There’s a long line of potential suspects, starting with Harlan’s greedy, grotesque family, who all have a motive for murder. Complications–and zaniness–ensue!
My coworker Kelly had recommended this movie to me when it first came out–a recommendation that was also seconded by Jen–and thanks to you both! I’m so glad I watched it! I haven’t had this much fun watching a movie in, well, a while.
Come and Get It (via Curbside Service)!
Though our building remains closed to the public, we’re still providing items to patrons–and we’re also still getting new items (though the timing of their arrivals is still sometimes disrupted by the pandemic)! I love when new items come into the library–I like to scope out what is new and, um, am not above snatching something that looks especially interesting if nobody else has a hold on it. And I know a lot of our patrons love to browse our new shelf. Of course, that’s not possible right now since patrons can’t come in, so I thought the next best thing would be to bring the new shelves to you–digitally. 🙂
