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Public Library News & Notes
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Serving Kentucky's Need to Know
| October 2014
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Greetings!
This edition of Public Library News & Notes is full of articles on innovative and creative programming in Kentucky public libraries. Articles feature programs for communities, families, adults, teens and children. The more your customers investigate your library, the more they will see what it has to offer.
I hope you get some good ideas to try in your library.
Happy reading,
Paige Sexton
Editor
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Library Hosts 7th Annual Chicken Rodeo
The William E. Durr library (Kenton County) hosted its 7th annual Chicken Rodeo during the third week of September. A favorite among patrons and easy to host, the event consists of children chasing chickens across a finish line. Chickens never seem to run in a straight line so it can be very challenging to coax one where you need it to go. The idea was borrowed from the Kenton County Fair. It was so much fun the first time, the library has been doing it ever since. The entertainment factor of the program matches the themes of many children's events at the Durr branch.
This year the library was fortunate enough to be elected as destination point of the Kenton County Farm Tour. Luckily, the tour was scheduled the same day as the rodeo. The day was filled with entertainment and education. At 11AM, the library showed a barn quilt presentation via Power Point, 1PM the Chicken Rodeo began and at 2PM children's performer, Farmer Jason shared his catchy, nature-inspired songs with the patrons. Overall, it was a very successful day. Many new patrons visited the branch to take part in the festivities.
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Re-purposed Book Craft Program Draws Adults In
Save money on materials by using available resources. If your library is like the Hardin County Public Library (HCPL), you often receive donations of books that are more than gently used. You not only can't use them for the collection, but also can't get rid of them at book sales. HCPL has until recently been sending these books to be recycled, but recently began offering one Altered Book craft class each month, putting these materials to good use.
The library started with book wreaths, creating wreaths of three layers, taking a total of 48 book pages. The only other requisite materials are a glue gun, stapler, and cardboard circle of 6 inches in diameter.
The library provided some embellishments for the wreath center, but at the next month's class discovered something that looked even nicer in the center - book flowers. These took only five book pages, a stamp pad to fan over the petal edges, and a glue gun. Next the library did mod-podge pumpkins. HCPL found perfectly sized pumpkins (around 6 inches in diameter) at the dollar store, and cut book pages into strips, brushed them with with mod podge, and pressed onto the pumpkins. Add a small branch for the stem and place a bit of moss around it.
Once attendees got past the idea of defacing books - after being assured that this was a happier fate for the books than the alternative - they had a great time ripping, cutting, stamping and gluing. Some of these projects are so addictive the library's adult programmer found herself making them at home several times!
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Ban-Nanza Film Festival Celebrates Banned Books
 The Hopkins County-Madisonville Public Library celebrated Banned Book Week by showing three popular films, each based on a book that has been banned. "To Kill a Mockingbird," "Twilight," and "The Hunger Games" were shown on three separate evenings. Each event included a brief book/film trivia session, followed by the movie. Admission was free and popcorn and soda were provided to attendees.
The film festival was a success, with those who attended having a good time and requesting that the library repeat the film festival next year.
"The festival was a good vehicle for an in-library program," said library director Joel Meador, "and attracted some new customers to the library."
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Library Introduces STEM Programming For Teens
 Local teens got a hands-on experience with building a computer at the Marshall County Public Library's Teen Tech Workshop held on Tuesday, Aug. 26. The workshop was part of the library's efforts to include more STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) elements in their programs for students.
"Libraries across the United States are starting to focus their attention on STEM programming," said Tammy Blackwell, Young Adult librarian. "We all recognize the need for students to have a strong grasp of STEM concepts before they head out into a workforce where more and more jobs are dependent upon technology."
According to Blackwell, the libraries of today are redefining themselves by looking at the needs of the community and finding new and inventive ways to meet needs when and where they can.
"I think the Change the Equation organization says it best, 'A literate nation not only reads. It computes, investigates, and innovates.' The modern library wants to encourage all forms of literacy, and one way to do that is through STEM programming."
During a recent Teen Tech workshop ten middle and high school students learned how computers function by disassembling old computers that no longer work. The session was led by Zach Martin, the library's Digital Media Coordinator.
"Programs like this not only teach the students about technology and how to use it, but it also gives them an opportunity to meet other people who share similar interests," says Martin.
The library plans to offer two to three tech workshops for teens each year in addition to their regualr teen programming. For more information on teen programming at the library, visit www.marshallcolibrary.org.
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OCLC/Redbox Awards Event Grant to Carter County Public Library
The Carter County Public Library was awarded a grant from OCLC/Redbox to host a special film event in the community. Only a few libraries in the country were chosen for this grant, and it was an excellent opportunity to provide a quality program for the the citizens of Carter County.
The event took place on Sept. 6 in Grayson at the Grayson Branch of the Carter County Public Library and at Veterans' Square Park. The event included several science activities, crafts and educational booths geared toward families and children.
Exhibits included soil conservation, Kentucky Educational Television, Carter County Public Schools Space Art, Carter County 4-H Lego Wizards, Carter City 4-H Insect Exhibit, and insurance information. The library also had several drawings for baskets, such as "Family Clean the Car Basket" and "Family Dinner Night Basket". The film, "Back to the Future," had to be rescheduled due to inclement weather. The event had a large turnout and was very well received. Many people brought their children and had a wonderful time. The library is pleased to continue to offer fun, educational events that enrich the community.
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40-Year Milestone Celebrated
 Wanda Gower recently celebrated 40 years of working at the Logan County Public Library. "I hope the next 40 years are just as good to me!", she said.
What library happenings are Gower excited about right now? - "A few of Logan County Public Library's employees went to Scottsville to see how their check-out system works, to decide if we wanted to purchase it. To learn how it works, we checked out real books to real people. The Scottsville staff took the rest of the day off!"
- "The Gathering of the Yarn class has become one of our most popular programs. What started off as one person's hobby (some say obsession) has evolved into something that knits well here."
- "Snack Craft continues to be the happening event on Thursdays. So happening that even the parents are doing their own crafts."
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Kentucky Book Fair Grants Top $350,000
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Judith Gibbons, KBF Grants Chair (center), gives Aimee Newberry, director of McLean County Public Library (left) a $1,000 check from the proceeds of the 2013 Fair. Angela Smith, McLean CPL Outreach Coordinator is also pictured.
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Eight grants were announced at the Kentucky Library Association Conference on Sept. 18 to public and school libraries across the Commonwealth from proceeds of the annual Kentucky Book Fair.
Since the KBF's inception in 1981, more than $365,000 has been awarded to school and public libraries. Each year about 4,000 people attend the event in Frankfort, which attracts nearly 150 authors who autograph and sell copies of their latest books, resulting in approximately $140,000 in gross sales.
"The conditions are so sad in these libraries; reading the grants made me cry. I wish that we could fund them all," said one grants committee member.
Connie Crowe, KBF manager, added "As we approach the 2014 Kentucky Book Fair, let's remember, our ultimate goal is to provide grants to public schools and libraries, so every purchase made at our event essentially puts a book in the hands of a Kentuckian."
The Kentucky Book Fair is helping libraries across the Commonwealth better serve their communities.
Eight libraries were approved for grants totaling $7,500:
- Green Hills Elementary School, Harlan County, $1,000, to replace old, worn out paperbacks with new fiction books for grades four - eight.
- J.B. Atkinson Academy School Library, Jefferson County, $1,000, to purchase science, social studies and arts and humanities books aligned with common core standards.
- Kentucky School for the Blind, $750, to expand the non-fiction collection for special needs students.
- McLean County Public Library, $1,000, to buy new story books for children ages two - seven.
- Owsley County Junior/Senior High School Library, $1,000, to purchase high interest career books suitable for the middle grades.
- Paducah Tilghman High School, McCracken County, $750, to grow their urban/street fiction collection for teens.
- Rocky J. Adkins Public Library, Elliott County, $1,000, to update the children's and adult non-fiction sections.
- Seneca High School, Jefferson County, $1,000, to enhance the language collection to meet the needs of a diverse student body from 42 countries.
Kentucky Book Fair Inc., a nonprofit organization, was founded to coordinate the event, with proceeds supporting Kentucky's libraries. The 33rd annual KBF is Saturday, Nov. 15, from 9AM - 4:30PM, at the Frankfort Convention Center. A Children's Day is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 14. Also, on Friday librarians may purchase books for their collection development at reduced prices.
For more information, visit www.kybookfair.blogspot.com.
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Welcome New Trustees
KDLA would like to welcome the following new trustees:
- Lanna J. Stone, Allen County
- Brenda Jenkins, Butler County
- Lorna Saylor, Greenup County
- Frank Heaberlin, Johnson County
- Doris Cothron, Livingston County
- Trina Vaughn, Livingston County
- Ricky Jones, Marshall County
- Cloia Collins, Rockcastle County
- Shirley Halcomb, Wolfe County
- George Pilgrim, Wolfe County
- Barbara Stone, Wolfe County
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The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives helps libraries provide equitable access to quality library and information resources and services, as well as helps public agencies ensure that legislatively mandated documentation of government programs is created, efficiently maintained, and made readily accessible. For more information, visit http://kdla.ky.gov or call 502-564-8300 ext. 315.
Please send story ideas and articles for Public Library News & Notes to editor Paige Sexton at paige.sexton@ky.gov or call 502-564-8300 ext. 315.
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