If you haven’t been to storytime with Mr. B yet, be sure to add it to your list before summer ends! With stories, bubbles, music, dancing, and more, it’s an OCPL event you won’t want to miss.
In just a few short months as a librarian at the Ohio County Public Library, Michael Brambila, or “Mr. B”, has quickly become a household name among local families. But who is Mr. B—and what makes him such an incredible storyteller?
Growing Up & Experiencing the World
Mr. B brings a rich blend of experiences and education that have shaped who he is today. His background in theater, education, and living in various places around the world makes him a wonderful addition to the Ohio County Public Library’s Children’s Department.
Mr. B was born in San Diego, California. From Pre-K to 1st grade, Mr. B lived in Japan with his family. After living in Japan, his family moved to Temecula, California.
Mr. B attended Chico State University and majored in musical theatre. After college, he moved to New York City and worked at TKTS, a discounted Broadway and off-Broadway ticketing service, and stayed in New York City for three years until the pandemic hit. During his time in New York and working at TKTS, he was able to see many musicals and experience working in Times Square.
After leaving NYC when the pandemic struck, he moved to Lemoore, California, where his parents were living. It was during this time that Mr. B began working in educational settings, and his path started to shift. He had worked with an after-school program and as a substitute special education aide.
He then took a position as a Pre-K paraprofessional. “That was where everything changed,” Mr. B said. “The chaos was something I loved.”
Mr. B fell in love with the problem-solving and world-changing aspects of working with the younger generation.
While he was living in Lemoore, California, he was also involved in a theatre group that helped give theatre experiences to children who may not otherwise have the opportunity. “We would supply the costumes, the music, and hold auditions for the kids,” Mr. B shared.
Moving to Wheeling, WV
Mr. B’s parents decided to retire in Wheeling, where his mom grew up, and Mr. B decided to move here with them. His parents were drawn to Wheeling because his mom had a special connection to the area from childhood, and his father always wanted to enjoy a beautiful piece of land. “My grandpa on my dad’s side was an immigrant from Mexico, and I do believe it was a dream of my father to have a piece of land, which in a way represented the American dream,” Mr. B shared.
Ohio County Public Library Children’s Department
Mr. B joined the OCPL Children’s Department staff in February 2025. He has expressed how this job encompasses all of his passions and experiences into one job—from musical theatre, to storytelling, to impacting the next generation. This is a role that was practically made for Mr. B.
“This job in particular…” Mr. B shared about working at OCPL, “… if we don’t get kids to love reading and enjoy the art of storytelling… then that’s a real tragedy.”
[In regard to the summer reading program at OCPL] “If we can get kids in the door and get them to see some of the resources we have, then maybe we can get them to start checking out books—and that’s great. Their access to reading could change their whole lives,” Mr. B shared.
The Wheeling area is incredibly fortunate to have such a strong Children’s Department at the Ohio County Public Library. They offer a wide variety of high-quality activities and programs for children of all ages and interests—and it’s all free! In addition to their daily programs, the department continues to enhance the space with new toys, books, and resources in their “Library of Things.” They’ve also been working to create a warmer, more inviting atmosphere. If you haven’t visited the OCPL Children’s Department in a while, be sure to add it to your list! To explore their program offerings, check out the Ohio County Public Library website.
Mr. B took time to recognize how fortunate he is to work with such an amazing team at the OCPL.
“I’ve learned so much from Carrie. She’s so great on songs, and her energy is unmatched. It’s been great getting to learn from her and work with her,” Mr. B said.
“Nettie has worked here for almost 30 years, and her skill set is great. Her crafts are amazing,” shared Mr. B.
“Ms. Dianna is so organized, and she does such an amazing job keeping all of the books and shelves organized,” said Mr. B.
He alsoexpressed how well-balanced their department is, with every member of the team bringing a different skill set and working so well together, providing the community with high-quality library programming.
Upcoming OCPL Events
There’s still time to attend the amazing programming that the OCPL Children’s Department is offering before the summer ends!
Thursday, July 31st from 6:00–8:00 P.M. is the End of Summer Reading Pool Party at Wheeling Park Pool—and it’s free!
There are three more opportunities to attend Storytime in the Park with Mr. B at the Oglebay Amphitheater on Thursday mornings from 10:30–11:00. You don’t want to miss it!
Can’t make it to Thursday storytime in person? Check out the OCPL storytime online! The first story was posted this week, read by Mr. B!
Thank you, Mr. B!
It goes without saying—we’re incredibly fortunate to have Mr. B in Wheeling! With his vibrant personality, musical theatre background, and passion for his work, he’s such an incredible asset to the library and the community. Be sure to check out his storytime before the summer ends! And don’t be surprised if you start hearing about Mr. B once school starts—he frequently visits local schools as part of the library’s outreach efforts. Thank you, Mr. B, from the whole community, for what you have brought to this area. We are most certainly grateful for you and the whole OCPL Children’s Department!
Q&A with Mr. B
What is your all-time favorite children’s book?
A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon
What is your favorite read-aloud book?
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, because I get to be the wolf and that’s really fun.
If you could live in any fictional world, what would it be?
The world of Harry Potter.
What is your favorite section in the Children’s Department at the OCPL?
The picture book section.
What do you enjoy the most about Wheeling?
I love taking walks and getting lost in the beautiful nature of West Virginia. Oglebay Park is amazing. The nature of West Virginia is incredible. I enjoy that immensely.
