Steubenville-Weirton Amateur Radio Club Donates Books to Library System

For people interested in learning about being an amateur radio operator, a collection of books donated to the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County by the Steubenville-Weirton Amateur Radio Club makes that venture an easier, more comprehensive one.

“Amateur radio is a hobby consisting of people who are interested in utilizing various means of radio communication to connect to each other either locally or worldwide with anything from simple to highly sophisticated radio devices,” explained Gregory Day, who serves as secretary-treasurer of SWARC. “It is a hobby that was first developed in the early part of the 20th century. The American Radio Relay League, the national organization for amateur radio, was established in 1914,” he noted.

The club donated a set that consists of 17 different volumes, six of which are a six-volume set of the same title.

The volumes consist of the following: “The AARL Handbook,” six-volume set, 2023, “The ARRL Antenna Book,” “The ARRL Operating Manual,” “Ham Radio License Manual,” “General Class License Manual,” “Extra Class License Manual,” “Understanding Basic Electronics,” “Basic Radio, “Basic Antennas,” “Your First Amateur Radio HF Station,” “FCC Rules and Regulations” and “Get on the Air with HF digital.”

“These volumes are technical and operational oriented books, helpful to anyone who may wish to become more informed in the radio art through the amateur radio hobby and also to assist them with obtaining a Federal Communications Commission license to operate an amateur radio station and learn how to obtain, build and/or assemble such an amateur radio station for enjoyment of the hobby and even to provide emergency communications to the local community should it ever be needed,” Day explained.

A label inside the front cover of each volume denotes details about the donation from the organization and contact information for those interested in becoming amateur radio operators or joining the organization.

The label reads: “This book was donated to the PLSJC by the Steubenville-Weirton Amateur Radio Club as a community service. If you need any further information on how to become a licensed amateur radio operator, please contact the American Radio Relay League at www.arrl.org or go to WARC’s website at www.swarc.net, including how to become a SWARC member.”

The Steubenville-Weirton Amateur Radio Club meets at 6 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month at the Main Library, located at 407 S. Fourth St., Steubenville.

Aside from Day, whose call sign is N8GD, other leaders of the club on hand for the donation were Rick Shuster, WD8SAB, president; Monte Pettengill, WD8IIJ, vice president; Polly Givens, W8PIK, executive committee; David Kiger, W8DWK, executive committee; and Paul Brandt, W8PAB, club member and a library board of trustees member.