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Public Library News & Notes
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Serving Kentucky's Need to Know
| April 2015
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Greetings!
I hope you enjoy the story of Jane Fields, who proves to us that it's never too late to learn new technology skills. I often say that I am not a digital native like my sons are, and it's harder for me to learn technology skills. Well, Ms. Jane has set me straight!
This month's newsletter also features some very innovative and interesting programs that you might want to try in your library.
Additionally, as the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives continues to promote library/school/community partnerships, you'll enjoy reading about a few partnerships that are achieving great success.
Does your library participate in partnerships? What opportunities are right there for you to initiate?
Happy reading,
Paige Sexton
Editor
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Senior Receives Tech Assistance
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Jane Fields (L) receives individual instruction from librarian Melissa Gibson.
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For Christmas, Scott County Public Library customer Jane Fields received an iPad. Ms.Fields, who is 97 years-young, needed instruction to learn to use the device and knew exactly where to go to get it.
"I was honored when my grandchildren gave me an iPad," said Ms. Fields.
She requested assistance at the library, and spent 30 minutes in a one-on-one session with library staffer Melissa Gibson. Ms. Fields learned how to use email, how the camera feature works, and how to put contacts in her email list.
"She was determined to learn how to use her iPad to communicate with her family," said Gibson. "She is an inspiration to all!"
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Library Accepts Historic Donation
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Jim Dempsey with the donated table.
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The Robertson County Public Library was honored recently with the donation of an antique 1800s drop-leaf table belonging to one of Robertson County's founders, Duncan Harding.
The table had been passed to his great-great-grand-daughter, Eliza Harding Watson and from her to great-great-great-grand-daughter Nancy Taylor North. The table was delivered to the library by Jim Dempsey of Cincinnati, a cousin to Ms. North.
Duncan Harding, originally a resident of Kentontown, was a prominent businessman, landowner and legislator in 1853, and was later a key activist in the formation of Robertson County.
The table is on display in the library's reading room.
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Frugal Fridays Bring Old-Fashioned Skills to Library Customers
 It's thick, yellow, faintly lemon-scented, and it fills a five-gallon bucket that Esther Mason stirs with a whisk nearly three feet long. It looks like pie filling, but it's homemade laundry soap, just one of the "recipes" Mason stirs up as part of the Frugal Fridays program at Pineville-Bell County Public Library.
Mason, a circulation clerk at Pineville-Bell County Public Library, calls the Frugal Fridays program "old-time skills with a modern twist." The program, typically held once a month, aims for frugality and sustainability. Through the course of a year, Mason teaches customers to make their own laundry soap and dish detergent, lye soap and seedlings, ice cream and cornmeal. Some of the customers who attend the laundry detergent program say they are interested in learning the skills that came naturally to their grandmothers. Others want to make cleaning products that are free of unpronounceable chemicals. Some are just curious, but most all are there for the program's hook - cheaper alternatives to household products they use most. That, says Mason, is what motivated her to begin making many of the products she shares during the Frugal Fridays program. "I began looking for cheaper ways to do things when my husband lost his primary job," Mason says. One of the first costs she cut was the cost of laundry, using a recipe for laundry soap she found online. The recipe, as Mason demonstrates to the program attendees, is simple: borax, washing soda, a grated bar of old-fashioned laundry soap like Fels-Naptha, plenty of water and some elbow grease. Mason estimates that her laundry soap costs users about one cent per load, a tenth or less of the cost per load for commercial laundry products. Mason estimates that customers who use all the ideas that they learn at the Frugal Fridays program can save an average of $150 per month. It's no wonder her program is one of the library's most popular adult programs! |
Paranormal Society Utilizes Library Resources in Investigations
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The LCPL Paranormal Society's logo is a nod to the local high school mascot, the bulldog.
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Last year, the Lawrence County Public Library (LCPL) decided to develop some interesting new programs. As a result, the library started the LCPL Paranormal Society. The group is led by a local paranormal expert, Dr. Ron Enders, and includes an employee from the library and several community members.
The library purchased and is circulating a paranormal equipment kit including an EMF (electromagnetic field) meter, ghost box, voice recorder, thermal pad, and infrared pen.
The society is currently investigating historical homes and sites in the community using genealogical references from the library. The society's long-term goal is to partner with the tourism committee and create a local historical ghost tour of Louisa.
"This program has garnered a lot of interest from our community and is an opportunity for us to circulate some atypical items," said library director Carlie N. Hillman.
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See the Art, Meet the Artist Program Bridges Gap
 Athena Gentry, adult programming coordinator for the Madison County Public Library, noticed that while Berea is a mecca of crafts and expert artists and artisans with all levels of expertise, many Berea residents aren't exposed to local artists and artisans. The many local art galleries and workshops, craft and art fairs all have associated costs which seem intimidating and out of reach for many. Gentry decided to bridge this gap between local residents and the artistic community by exposing the public to art and artists in the least intimidating way. The result is a partnership with the Berea Arts Council to create a unique program for the community. See the Art, Meet the Artist features monthly displays at the library from a chosen artist or artisan. At the end of each month the artist or artisan comes to the library to give a presentation or workshop. "The display is seen all month at a place that has more foot traffic by such a diverse public that it just makes perfect sense," said Gentry. "Meeting the artisan puts a face on the art, while the presentations provide an intimate understanding of the person behind the art and the road on which they traveled to get to where they are."
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Library Unveils New Digital Collections
The McCracken County Public Library has published fifteen unique, digital collections of local history that are now available for viewing at digitalcollections.mclib.net. Contained within the library's digital collection: - Photographs of Luther F. Carson's Coca-Cola bottling plant
- Postcards of scenes, buildings, landscapes, and people from early twentieth century to present day Paducah
- John M. Massey's photographs of rural McCracken County and downtown Paducah buildings from the 1970's and 1980's.
- Hugh Edwards' photographs of early twentieth century Paducah and the Carnegie Public Library
- Photographs of Rudy's Department Store in downtown Paducah
Also included within the digital collection is the Mary Wheeler Collection, a compilation of photographs, manuscripts, and sheet music that document the lives, music, and culture of the former Ohio River steamboat workers. |
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Image from the McCracken County Public Library digital collection of local history.
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Library Partners with God's Pantry to Provide Snack Program
 The Lewis County Public Library partners with God's Pantry Food Bank in Lexington to provide a snack program, distributing healthy snacks to the children of Lewis County. Students can visit the library in the afternoon hours during the week to receive a healthy snack and drink free of charge. On Saturday mornings, children may stop in and receive a nutritious breakfast during library hours. The snacks are provided to both library cardholders and non-cardholders.
The program began as a Summer Snack program in 2014. During the summer months, an afternoon snack was offered to all children in Lewis County. The library partnered with local elementary school Family Resource Centers to ensure coverage of the county. Deliveries of snacks were also made to the area apartments and housing developments to reach more children. During the course of the summer, over 10,000 snacks were distributed to Lewis County children.
 Advertising was key to getting the word out about the program. The library distributed flyers to all students in area schools. Contacts within the Family Resource Centers were utilized to guide children toward the program. Flyers were also hung within the library, and ads were placed in the local newspapers.
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Focus on Friends
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| | Lexington Public Library created a chain of library customers signatures for the Declaration for the Right to Libraries. The chain was approximately 4,000 links. |
Friends of Kentucky Libraries (FKL) has encouraged libraries to participate in two important advocacy efforts: Meet and Greets and the Declaration for the Right to Libraries. Thanks to the hard work of library staff and local Friends groups, these two efforts have brought additional attention to the important role that public libraries play in Kentucky communities.
In 2014, twenty-two libraries reported holding Meet and Greets with a total attendance of 1,750. Libraries used many creative approaches as they invited public officials, candidates and library supporters to come together to see (and in some cases, learn about) what the public library offers. The importance of these gatherings cannot be stressed enough and FKL asks more and more libraries and Friends chapters to make plans for 2015.
The Declaration for the Right to Libraries provided an additional advocacy tool. Kentuckians of all ages were invited to sign the Declaration to show support for quality libraries. Declaration signings were incorporated into Meet and Greets and as part of everyday library programs and activities. Signings were also held in several schools and online signatures were collected via FKL's web site. In addition to Governor Beshear and all of the state's Constitutional officers, over 20,000 Kentuckians signed the Declaration. Even though the annual Library Legislative Day was cancelled due to inclement weather, legislators received both a copy of the Declaration and a report on the impressive signature tally.
FKL appreciates the enthusiasm and cooperation of those taking part in these efforts. We look forward to more advocacy excitement and opportunities in 2015.
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Welcome New Trustees
KDLA would like to welcome the following new trustees:
- Adam Bowling, Bell County
- Sandra Wood, Bracken County
- Don Blincoe, Fulton County
- Joanie Rogers, Gallatin County
- Lee Mullins, Gallatin County
- Brenda Hall, Green County
- J.D. Pruitt, Green County
- Carla Dye, Harlan County
- Douglas Stephens, Kenton County
- Robin Milby, LaRue County
- Dina Chaffin, Lawrence County
- Sam Schmidt, Martin County
- Jessie Trotter, Meade County
- Stephen Mayer, Meade County
- Bill R. Paxton, Muhlenberg County (Harbin Memorial Library)
- Faron Sparkman, Perry County
- Rachel Massey, Robertson County
- Commie Jo Hall, Simpson County (Goodnight Memorial Library)
- Diane McKinney, Trimble County
- Diane Pierce, Trimble 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 502-564-1753.
Please send story ideas and articles for Public Library News & Notes to editor Paige Sexton at paige.sexton@ky.gov or call 502-564-1753.
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