All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

Upshur County Library hopes to brew up excitement with new coffee bar, festive programs

The Upshur County Public Library's new assistant director, Keyth Sokol, poses for a photo in front of the UCPL's new coffee bar. / Photos by Lily Hicks

TENNERTON — The Upshur County Public Library is experiencing a few new and innovative transformations under the leadership of Keyth Sokol, the library’s assistant director.

With just three months under his belt, Sokol is bringing fresh ideas to the county library, creating a buzz of excitement that’s drawing people in.

One of the exciting changes at the library is the introduction of a free coffee bar, adding a warm and inviting touch to the atmosphere. Drawing on his past success with a similar project, Sokol said, “I’ve seen the success that a coffee bar offers. People who didn’t even like coffee were driven into the library, and our program traffic increased.”

Local business Mountain Roaster Coffee has generously supported the initiative, providing the necessities, and Sokol said anyone is welcome to try it.

“Anybody can come in, and we hope that they’ll stay for a while or at least promise themselves they’ll come back,” he said.

Sokol recognizes the importance of dispelling the misconception that the library appears nondescript from the outside.

“It’s like a shotgun building, you know – it goes way back – and there’s tons of stuff in here, and it’s a beautiful inside,” he says. “We represent Upshur County in every way possible; we have something for everybody.”

In addition to the coffee bar, the library is gearing up for the Dec. 2 Dickens Festival, for which Sokol will be hosting a hands-on ornament decorating event at the library on Friday, Nov. 17, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 18, from noon to 2 p.m. A free event targeted toward children ages 18 and under, participants will have the opportunity to unleash their creativity and contribute to the festive spirit.

The official Dickens Festival & Faire tree, set to be displayed in Jawbone Park, will be adorned with those decorated ornaments during the Dec. 2 holiday extravaganza.

Sokol is also keen on promoting the library’s free access to state databases for tutoring and educational resources to UCPL patrons.

“Those databases are all through the state, and we have free access for anybody,” he explains.

Upshur County Public Library staff say the entity is a dynamic space for learning, creativity and a good cup of coffee. You can learn more about their events and future additions at https://upshur.wvlibrary.info and by following them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/upshurwvpl/.

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

Buckhannon Banter: Get the local lowdown for July 2, 2025

This week in Buckhannon, local organizations plan events and clinics — including a big July 4th celebration — and several community initiatives aim to engage residents of all ages.

Emergency agencies stress need for coordinated incident plans during large events with road closures

Emergency officials emphasized the need for incident action plans and coordination with public safety agencies for large events that close major streets, citing upcoming car shows and other street-closure events to ensure fast, safe emergency responses.
BUHS Sports

B-U now in Class AAAA in all sports; moved to new South Region after WVSSAC restructuring

Buckhannon-Upshur High School will compete in Class AAAA — the highest division — for all sports and has been moved to the new South Region under a two-year realignment by the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission.

Stockert Youth and Community Center Board Meeting Agenda: July 3, 2025

The Stockert Youth and Community Center Board will meet July 3, 2025, with an agenda set to discuss organizational matters and upcoming events.

Buckhannon Waste Board Agenda: July 3, 2025

The City of Buckhannon Waste Collection Board has released the agenda for its upcoming meeting on July 3, 2025.

Woman arrested on six felony charges after allegedly shooting at a man in Upshur County

Jocelyn M. Krum, 28, of Charleston, was arrested on six felony charges after allegedly entering a Mt. Lebanon Road residence in Upshur County with a rifle and shooting at a man before fleeing the scene.

Buckhannon man sentenced to 11 to 21 years for Bailey Ridge Road shootout

Austin W. Arbogast, 26, was sentenced to 11 to 21 years in prison after pleading guilty to four felony charges stemming from a March 2024 shootout on Bailey Ridge Road while attempting to retrieve his child.

Mountain East Conference extends invitation to Shawnee State University

The Mountain East Conference has approved Shawnee State University as its 12th full-time member, with the school set to join in 2026 pending NCAA Division II acceptance and expanding league competition in 19 sports.
Davis and Elkins College

Davis & Elkins College students recognized for high academic honors for Spring 2025 semester

Davis & Elkins College has announced the Spring 2025 president’s list, for students earning 4.0 GPAs, and dean’s list, for those earning 3.6 to 3.99, honoring academic excellence campus-wide.