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Public Library News & Notes
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Serving Kentucky's Need to Know
| July 2016
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Greetings,
The Kentucky Talking Book Library was fortunate to enjoy a visit from Kentucky Poet Laureate George Ella Lyon recently.
Ms. Lyon was born in Harlan, a coal mining town in southeastern Kentucky. Her books frequently take place in Appalachia.
She received her B.A. at Center College, her M.A. at University of Arkansas, and her Ph.D. at Indiana University-Bloomington. She has taught writing at the University of Kentucky, Centre College, Transylvania University and Radford University.
She is an accomplished author and the recipient of many awards including the Jesse Stuart Media Award (Kentucky School Media Association), Best Books of the Year citation (Publishers Weekly), Book of the Year award (Appalachian Writers Association) and Kentucky Bluegrass award.
As Poet Laureate Ms. Lyon often visits Kentucky public libraries for events, and is happy to do so. You may want to consider inviting her to an event at your library.
Happy reading,
Paige Sexton
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Kentucky Poet Laureate George Ella Lyon Keynotes KTBL Volunteer Luncheon
 The Kentucky Talking Book Library (KTBL) held a Volunteer Luncheon on Friday, June 3, celebrating the efforts of its dedicated group of volunteer narrators, monitors and proofreaders. Each year, these volunteers contribute hundreds of hours to record approximately 40 books by Kentucky authors, or on topics of interest for Kentucky patrons who are visually or physically unable to read print and would otherwise not have access to these titles.
The keynote speaker was Kentucky Poet Laureate George Ella Lyon, author of With a Hammer for My Heart and Where I'm From, as well as numerous other books and collections of poetry. Lyon presented a selection of poems and songs from Where I'm From, Many Storied House, and Voices from the March on Washington.
The KTBL is producing a digital recording of Lyon's book of poetry, Where I'm From. Lyon recorded the centerpiece poem in the KTBL studio before the luncheon and a volunteer narrator will record the remainder of the poems this year. The complete audiobook will be available nationwide through KTBL and the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), a branch of the Library of Congress. NLS is a free braille and talking book library service for people with temporary or permanent low vision, blindness, or a physical disability that prevents them from reading or holding the printed page. Through a national network of cooperating libraries, such as KTBL, NLS offers books in braille or audio format by mail or instantly downloadable via website or app. Contact KTBL at 1-800-372-2968 for more information, or visit the NLS website That All May Read.
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Marion County Public Library Has a New Friend and Mascot
 Meet Rex Marion - he recently moved to Lebanon and is an avid reader, library user and book lover.
He's a retiree from the La Brea tar pits and museum where he was a display specialist. His travels upon retirement have taken him far and wide. It was by chance that his decision to tour the bourbon trail took him through Marion County, and even more coincidentally he shares his last name with the county!
He fell in love with the community and people. He decided this was where he was meant to be so he stayed. While he's not a paid member of the library he is an active Friends of the Library participant and he often volunteers his free time helping their cause. Library staff took such a liking to him that they've claimed and named him honorary staff member and library mascot.
Starting this summer you'll see Rex out and about in the community at library events and just getting to know more about his new home. If you would like to make Rex welcome you can friend him on Facebook or follow his Instagram feed. On Facebook he's Rex Marion and Instagram: rexiemcpl.
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Annual Teddy Bear Picnic Kicks Off Summer Reading Program
 The LaRue County Public Library kicked off its summer reading program with the annual Teddy Bear Picnic held at Lincoln Birthplace National Park.
Local magician Dinky Gowen entertained the crowd with a well-received magic show. Dinky often gives the library credit for his love of magic through the library books he read as a child.
The Friends of the Library provided watermelon for the 175 people in attendance to enjoy after the show.
The library has been having the Teddy Bear Picnic at the park for over 30 years. The tradition was started by retired Youth Librarian Kathy Crawford with one family in attendance.
Library staff was also pleased to have KDLA Regional Librarian Chris Bischoff in attendance at this year's picnic.
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Library's Groundbreaking Ceremony a Community Event
The Grayson County Public Library held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new library Monday, June 6.
Building the new library has been in the works for many years. Plans for the structure began after the first architect interview in 2011. Funding for the library came from a RHS-CF loan of $4.6 million and an Applicant Contribution of $308,000 for a total cost $4,908,000.
The new library will be more than double the size of the present library at 17,500 square feet. It will feature an increased book collection, more computers, study rooms, and a drive-through drop-off and pick-up box. The new library will also feature parking for 99 cars and include three handicap spaces.
"We're just so excited; we'll be able to do more for the county that we weren't able to do before due to space constraints," said library director Lisa Jones.
At the groundbreaking ceremony speakers Terry Loper, area director of USDA Rural Development, and Kindra Ewing Jones, president of the Grayson County Public Library District Board of Trustees, addressed the crowd. Each expressed their pleasure that construction for the new library was at last underway.
Following the speakers' comments, board members donned their construction hats, armed themselves with shovels and tossed loose dirt, representing the beginning of construction on the new library. Next, youth services librarian Laura Lindsey led a group of older and a group of younger children in turning over loose dirt with their shoves as well.
After the ceremony, Jones invited celebrants to enjoy donuts and coffee at the present location of the library.
"We've had such great community support, we're so thankful for that," she said.
The new library is expected to open summer of 2017.
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Metcalfe County Public Library Celebrates Readers
The Metcalfe County Public Library held its annual story hour graduation/awards day on May 18 for those going to preschool and kindergarten next year.
The ceremony included nine graduates. Forty-three children were registered for the program. All children received a "listening award." Total attendance at the graduation was 80.
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McLean County Public Library Holds Birthday Celebration Week
The McLean County Public Library (MCPL) celebrated its fifth birthday with a week of events May 24-27.
On Tuesday, MCPL celebrated with 186 children and adults enjoying waterslides. Wednesday, 52 children and adults joined in as the library shared cake and cupcakes. The fun continued Thursday with the library's upstairs Art Gallery being turned into a putt putt golf course. Many families came in throughout the day to play a round or two.
To close out the week and say thank you to library customers, MCPL provided a free concert with local band INSULATED along with a Cruise-In. For a Cruise-In, owners of antique automobiles bring their cars and park them on the street. Dash Plaques were given to the first 25 that pulled in.
Cruise-In events are very popular in the area and usually have prize give-aways and drawings. The library gives away Dash Plaques with many of the car owners collecting the plaques from various library Cruise-In events.
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Children wait their turn while director Aimee Newberry sprays the slide.
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Director Newberry serves cake to attendees.
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The Overton Family and McKenna Crowe playing a round of putt putt.
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INSULATED, a band from Owensboro, performs on the last day of the week-long celebration.
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Green County Public Library - 50 Years and Beyond
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Patron Peggy Jones (left) and retired librarian Ruth Perkins look through the many scrapbooks kept by Green County Public Library staff for the past 50 years.
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The Green County Public Library marked a big milestone - 50 years of service to the community - with a day-long celebration on June 3. The event was filled with live music, prize drawings and refreshments. Keepsake scrapbooks with pictures and articles covering the entire history of the library were given out to the more than 200 people in attendance.
The library opened in a newly constructed building on South Main Street on March 21, 1966. County residents had approved a tax petition to support the library budget. At the time, those who signed the petition were commended for taking a forward step for the county by providing better opportunities for Green Countians.
Federal funds were allocated for 64 percent of building, land and equipment costs. The new location provided more space and for a larger variety of materials to be used by library customers.
Before the Green County Public Library was established, the public library was known as the Jane Todd Crawford Library. The early library, opened in 1933, was located in the old courthouse (built in 1804) on the square and ran entirely on donations of materials and time.
The next big move the public library would make was 10 years ago, to a newly renovated building on West Court Street. Again, many people felt passionately about the library and what benefits it offers the county, wanting to have the best facility possible. The library reopened on June 1, 2006 with double the space of the building on South Main. One of the most welcomed additions was the community room, used by the library for programs and group meetings.
Over the years, many people have graciously given of themselves to make the library a place of learning and growth. The current library staff and board hope that tradition continues for another 50 years and beyond.
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KDLA Welcomes New Trustees
KDLA would like to welcome the following new trustees: - Virginia McKenzie, Bath County
- Terri Anderson Young, Breathitt County
- Brownie Wallace, Breathitt County
- Mitzi Buchele, Breckinridge County
- Carol Harrison, Crittenden County
- Sheila Stearman, Green County
- Mike Fletcher, Laurel County
- Belinda Boggs, Letcher County
- Rachel Norton, McCracken County
- Franklyn Pottorff, Montgomery County
- Jo Lisa Way, Pulaski County
- Ray Tucker, Jr., Pulaski County
- Joe DeSpain, Taylor 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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