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Public Library News & Notes
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Serving Kentucky's Need to Know
| August 2016
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Greetings,
This issue of Public Library News & Notes is full of examples of accomplishment.
You will read about one library employee who was only one of four librarians nationwide to be awarded a significant scholarship. Another library employee, a director, was honored with an important award in her community, the first library director from her library to have been recognized with this award.
The Human Library is a program that you will want to read about. It is an accomplishment to bring such a one-of-a-kind, innovative program to a library.
Several library/community partnerships are highlighted, and the featured libraries offered wonderful opportunities for their communities through these partnerships.
I hope these articles will inspire you to continue seeking innovative programs and services for your library users.
Happy reading,
Paige Sexton
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Youth Services Director Awarded Prestigious Scholarship
 Trimble County Public Library Youth Services Director Amanda Neace is the recipient of a Bound to Stay Bound Books (BTSB) Scholarship. Neace is one of only four recipients to receive the scholarship nationwide for 2016.
The BTSB scholarship provides financial assistance in the form of four $7,500 annual awards for the education of men and women who intend to pursue a MLS or advanced degree and who plan to work in the area of library service to children. Amanda is working toward her MLS on the Youth Literature & Services track.
"I'm just over the moon happy," Amanda said. "When I read that Judy Moody author Megan McDonald was the very first recipient of the scholarship in 1985 I was even more excited."
Some of the factors considered in selecting scholarship winners are academic excellence, leadership qualities and desire to work with children in any type of library.
Amanda has served as the Youth Services Director at the library for three years and represented Kentucky public libraries well.
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Chamber of Commerce Honors Hancock County Public Library Director
Hancock County Public Library Director Tina Snyder was chosen as the Hancock County Chamber of Commerce's "Person of the Year" for 2016.
"I was really surprised but honored to be recognized by the Chamber of Commerce," said Tina.
The award presentation was held Monday, June 6 during the Annual Chamber of Commerce Dinner.
Pictured below are Snyder, Chamber President Tim Meserve, and Chamber Director Pam Bolen.
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Human Library First of its Kind in Kentucky
The Daviess County Public Library hosted the first Human Library in the state of Kentucky Saturday, June 11 from 1-5 p.m. The program allows people to walk in off the streets and check out a different kind of Book: a living person.
These living Books have experienced prejudice or marginalization because of their sexuality, ethnicity, race, religion, occupation, and health/disabilities. By checking out one of these human Books, the library's patrons had 30 minutes to talk to them and ask questions that may not have been acceptable in usual societal situations. The goal of these one-on-one conversations is to break down the boundaries of intolerance and begin to build a level of understanding.
Lisa Maiden, Information Services Library Associate, attained a partnership with the international Human Library Organization from Denmark by filling out an application to be able to host the program. Authorization took six-to-eight weeks. Lisa advertised the Human Library and sought volunteers to participate as human Books. Facebook and the local newspaper were used to find volunteers.
Sixteen Books participated: Atheist (2), Biracial, Bisexual/Pagan, Feminist, Lesbian, Multiple Personality Disorder, Muslim, Refugee, Silent Disability: Fibromyalgia, Transgender (female to male), Transgender (male to female), Unitarian Universalist Woman Minister, Vegan, and Young Black Woman.
The library's videographer Mike Dunn pre-interviewed most of the Books to compile a promotional video for the the library's YouTube channel, at ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NIVydALdXM. The video received nearly 10,000 views and close to 300 likes.
Forty people came in and asked to check out a Book, and most everyone checked out more than one Book during the program. The Books participated in 64 different conversations and most were checked out at least three times. The event served as a soft launch for the library to evaluate the program and how to prepare for the next Human Library which will be held for an extended period of time (from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) on October 15, 2016. Lisa invites all library directors and staff to come and experience this unique program.
The community feedback was overwhelming. The library received many positive comments on the promotional video, and all of the attendees had positive comments about the experience. The Books were surveyed and each agreed that it was a worthwhile experience and stated they would gladly participate again.
For questions on arranging to host a Human Library at your facility, contact Lisa Maiden at the Daviess County Public Library.
Human Books in action:
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Getting to Know Paige LaGrange
 Paige LaGrange, Director of the Cumberland County Public Library, is a native of south central Kentucky. Her formative years were spent in Allen County, where the majority of her family still resides. She moved to Cumberland County approximately six years ago with her husband and sons and has worked in various capacities for the Cumberland County School District.
Her education includes a Bachelor of Science from Western Kentucky University and a Master of Business Administration from Strayer University. She is also a veteran of the U. S. Army. Some of her interests include nature, theology, fitness, nutrition, natural health and cooking.
Paige is looking forward to deepening her roots in the community and serving the people of Cumberland County through the various programs offered by the library. She loves public libraries because of the marriage of order, knowledge and friendship that can be found there. She also loves how there are so many avenues to indulge one's curiosity whether it is for companionship, an escape, or to learn something new.
Other tidbits about Paige include:
- She is often sad when she comes to the end of a fiction piece, feeling like she's losing a new friend when the story ends. This is partially why she spends so much time with non-fiction.
- She loves quotes!!
- Coffee is her weakness.
- She always checks the dates on coins before she spends them. She can't spend a coin that is older than she is ("I can't explain why, it's just a thing," she said.)
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McCracken County Library's Adult Summer Reading Program Highlighted Local Flair
 The Summer Reading program at the McCracken County Public Library was a great success, with the library offering its adult patrons a dozen engaging programs dealing with community interests such as local history, sustainability, cycling, technology, and arts and crafts.
The theme of this year's lineup was "Locally Grown" and was a celebration of all the things that make Paducah unique. The library partnered with local businesses, educators and artists to offer programming that had something for every member of the community.
"Our vibrant and diverse community was the star of our adult summer reading program this year," said Sarah McGowan, Adult Services Manager at the library. "Locally Grown was the library's way of promoting all that's so great about Paducah right now. We are so pleased we were able to celebrate everything that makes our area special through these fantastic programs while also encouraging literacy and use of our fabulous collection of materials."
The library launched the adult summer reading program with a live performance by award-winning local blues act Alonzo Pennington Band. Subsequent programs included an herb gardening class and an information and craft booth at the Paducah Farmer's Market Berry Fest.
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Mary Wood Weldon Memorial Library Rolls Out New Bookmobile
 Mary Wood Weldon Memorial Library staff are excited about the success of the library's new bookmobile.
The vehicle features an automated awning which will allow the library to expand services and programming offered through the bookmobile outreach program.
The vehicle is a Sprinter van with the following additional features: wheelchair ramp/lift, removable book carts, transit-style doors for easy entry, separate rear HVAC system and back-up cameras.
The bookmobile was outfitted by Farber Specialty Vehicles in Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
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Third Year for One Book, One Summer Program
 For the past three years, Boone County Public Library has partnered with Boone County Public Schools on an initiative called One Book, One Summer. The goal of One Book, One Summer is to build community and excitement among children over the importance of reading by providing common ground for conversations. A committee built of librarians, principals, media specialists, and parents come together to select one title for each grade level. The books must be appropriate both in content and in readability for the range of students within each grade. Each school provides these titles to the students free of charge. Some schools are able to use PTA funds to provide books to the students to keep, with others lending the titles to children over the summer. In addition, the Boone County Public Library purchased 100 extra copies of each title to add to its circulating collection to accommodate those who still needed a copy of the book. The students were encouraged to read these titles over the summer and attend library programs that were planned for the months of June and July. Teachers were also encouraged to facilitate conversations around these titles during the first weeks back to school. In 2016, all elementary schools in the Boone County School System provided the One Book, One Summer title to their students free of charge.
One Book, One Summer is now an integral part of the Boone County Summer Reading program. If you would like to learn more about the One Book, One Summer initiative, please take a look at the library's Summer Reading brochure.
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Customer's Story is "Why we are here!"
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Brennen Neeley and Mary Lou White
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Scott County Public Library staff member Mary Lou White prepared college letters of recommendation for teens, her task stirred some mixed emotion. From Mother Goose and Dr. Seuss, she guided them from one reading level to the next, but one particular story stands out in her mind.
She first met 13 year old Brennen Neeley, when he made a polite request for books on "astrophysics". "At first I just thought he wanted attention" but after she showed him the books, he spent hours studying them. More than a place to spin out the time, Brennen bonded with the library staff.
For Mary Lou, his self-motivation inspired her, because it put him on track to enter Duke University as a proud first generation college student.
Brennen, an upbeat person, downplayed periods when his family experienced a fragmented, stressful time. They moved to Georgetown, within walking distance of the library, but moved again. The summer he was 13, he walked a distance of three and half miles, each way, to go the library.
White laughed recalling the day he asked about astrophysics. "It's the middle of summer, the kid is in here every single day, and I thought to myself, this isn't typical of kids during the summer, hanging around the library and reading science books." She persuaded him to join the Teen Advisory Board (TAB), a self-led and self-governing library program for teens.
Brennen recalled his first meeting. He saw one tall, intense teenager off in a corner by himself, another singing at the top of her lungs while her friend danced around the room. "I've found my people," he said, smiling.
His favorite programs included the Murder Mystery Theatre program, and a debate themed around the non-fiction book Area 51, which resulted in an actual alien attack (teens gone wild) after presentations were complete.
Brennen scored a perfect 36 ACT score in reading and applied to seven colleges, including Johns Hopkins. He chose Duke, and Mary Lou wishes him luck with a twinkle in her eye and a little pang in her heart. It's a small price to pay for mentoring a 13-year-old kid who just couldn't put down those science books.
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Waggin' Tales Leaves Participants Begging for More
 The Hardin County Public Library Children's Department partnered this summer with the Hardin County Animal Shelter to provide a program titled "Waggin' Tales".
Every second Monday throughout the summer children ages five to ten who were registered for the program met at the Animal Shelter to read books to the shelter dogs. The books were provided by the library, and a Friend of the Animal Shelter was also present during each session to coach the children regarding how to behave with and what to expect from the dogs.
Benefits of the program for the children include continued summer reading practice with an audience that did not intimidate, and for the dogs, the extra attention doesn't go amiss, helping them to become better socialized and trusting toward potential adoptive families.
The first session, held on June 13, was filled to capacity with thirty children, and proved to be hugely popular with the children and dogs alike!
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KDLA Welcomes New Trustees
KDLA would like to welcome the following new trustees: - Curt Bessette, Boone County
- Chris Lange, Boone County
- William Doug Christopher, Clark County
- Dr. Harry G. Enoch, Clark County
- Tyler Shelton, Cumberland County
- Fran Smith, Cumberland County
- Fredia Blackwell, Estill County
- Dianne Brammell, Henry County
- Thomas Minton, Henry County
- Marlene Bielecki, Letcher County
- Mary McMasters, Martin County
- Tony High, Monroe County
- Carlie Proffitt, Monroe County
- Kay Epperson, Powell County
- Tim Simpson, Rowan County
- Rebecca Nelson, Scott County
- Rodney Vinegar, Scott County
- Kenneth Wright, Scott County
- Shirley Halcomb, 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 502-564-1753.
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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