Robin Klaene – Kenton County Public Library

Giving Tuesday

Did you know that there are many ways to give to the Kenton County Public Library Foundation? You can support the Library Foundation through Kroger Community Rewards, Amazon Smile, shop for a cause at boonsupply.com and via the general donation page, https://www.kentonlibrary.org/foundation. You can also sponsor a book, brick or wall tile in honor of someone (makes a great gift option for those who love the Library!). General giving: If you would like to make a donation to the Library Foundation, please click here to use a credit card. If you would like to send a check, please make it payable to the Kenton County Public Library Foundation and either drop off at any Library location (Covington, Erlanger or Durr in Independence) or mail to 3095 Hulbert Dr., Erlanger, KY 41018. Please fill out the this document when donating with either cash or check (link to order form online). Say Cheese…Amazon Smile When you shop at smile.amazon.com, Amazon donates to your favorite charitable organization. If you shop at amazon, you can select the Kenton County Public Library Foundation as a recipient to a percentage of your purchase price. Learn more at, smile.amazon.com. Honoring One Through a Book Know a reader? Honor their life, legacy or love of books by putting a book plate in a book of their liking. For a $25 donation, Library staff will work with you to identify the perfect book which will be marked with a special nameplate on the inside cover. Click here to complete online with credit card. If you prefer to pay with cash or check, please download this form and either mail to the library or bring it with you on your next visit. [...]

By Robin Klaene|November 27th, 2018|Categories: blog, Featured Post, KCPL|0 Comments

Library of Things

Telescopes, binoculars, yard games…not what you typically associate with a library. However, that is not the case at the Kenton County Public Library. The Library is broadening its collection of items they provide to the public and are calling it the Library of Things. You might be wondering “what are these things and how can I get them?” The easiest way to check out all that’s offered is to go to the catalog and type in Library of Things. There are nearly 600 items available however you can narrow down your search. To the left of the screen are some categories to search or you can just scroll through the offerings. While there is something for just about everyone in the Library of Things (DSLR camera, giant Jenga-like game, old school gaming systems) here are the top ten requested items: Top 10 Most Requested Items on Hold Super Nintendo entertainment system : classic game console Sega genesis : classic game console Orion SkyQuest XT4.5 Dobsonian Reflector telescope KCPL Wifi Hotspot Maker kit #03 [kit] : Virtual Reality kit Maker kit #02 [kit] : ozobots STREAM kit : ACE 300 metal detector Atari flashback 7 : classic game console deluxe STREAM kit : Canon DSLR camera and tripod Maker kit #05 [kit] : code & go robot mouse Top 10 Most Checked Out Items Wifi Hotspot Portable DVD Player Brother Sewing Machine GoSports Giant Toppling Tower Toss Boss Larger Ring Toss Game CD Player Rollors Baden Champions Series Bocce Ball set Original Molkky ZINK Zero Ink hAppy Smart App Printer RPG Kit Ukulele Kit To place these items on hold, or check out if they are available, all you need is a [...]

By Robin Klaene|August 16th, 2018|Categories: blog, Featured Post, KCPL|0 Comments

Personalizing Your Gifts at the Library

I am not originally from Northern Kentucky but my husband’s family is. And as with most Northern Kentucky families, their roots run deep. As our family runs errands he will often point out where his grandpa lived, his friends’ houses, where he played baseball, where he went to school and such. But on one trip to Covington he drove down Holman Avenue and said his (paternal) grandpa owned a bar there. I didn’t pay too much attention until one day when one of my colleagues gave me an old photo. It was a picture of a city street, probably from the 1950’s. He said he noticed that the name on the bar said Klaene’s. I showed it to my husband and indeed, it was his grandpa’s bar. I’ve had the photo for years and always wanted to make a t-shirt of it as a surprise for my husband. However, I had no clue where to start. Fortunately, in the past few months the Kenton County Public Library has invested in items for their makerspaces. One of those items happened to be a heat press located at the Covington branch library. I made an appointment with a staff member to help me with this project. To make an appointment, call the Covington Reference Desk at (859) 962-4071 and fill out the form below. The project itself was pretty easy. I purchased a few t-shirts from Michael’s Arts & Crafts. I was informed that 100% cotton works best and that polyester does not. I scanned the photo and put it on a flash drive so it was ready to go. Working with Gary and Kathy at the Covington branch library, we pulled up my photo. [...]

By Robin Klaene|August 14th, 2018|Categories: blog, Featured Post, KCPL|0 Comments

Free History & Genealogy Conference

The second annual Kentucky History and Genealogy Conference will be held at the Kenton County Public Library’s Erlanger Branch on Friday and Saturday, August 10-11, 2018. This free two-day event will include more than 30 presentations on Kentucky history and genealogy. Regionally and nationally known speakers will provide information on researching your ancestors in the Commonwealth. Sessions will include information for both beginners and advanced genealogists. More than 30 breakout sessions will take place, including topics on “Headstones and Symbolism,” “Researching Elusive Female Ancestors,” “Preserving Your Family Treasures,” “African American Family Research,” and much more. The keynote speaker of this event is Carrie Eldridge. Eldridge is a historical geographer from the central Ohio Valley. Teaching experience and the love of geography and genealogy led to abstracting county records. Understanding the need for locating lost families resulted in Eldridge creating a series of six atlases which show the migration patterns of America. She will be opening the conference on Friday morning at 9:45 am and will be speaking on the migration trails of early America. “Learning from the experiences and skills of genealogy and local history experts will inspire attendees to continue the research of their own family history,” stated Cierra Earl from the Kenton County Public Library’s Local History and Genealogy Department. There is no cost to attend the conference, but registration is required. Learn more at https://www.kentonlibrary.org/kyhistory2018. The Erlanger Branch is located at 401 Kenton Lands Road, Erlanger, KY 41018. For additional information please call (859) 962-4070.

By Robin Klaene|July 31st, 2018|Categories: Featured Post|0 Comments

PBS’s The Great American Read

THE GREAT AMERICAN READ is an eight-part series on PBS that explores and celebrates the power of reading, told through the prism of America’s 100 best-loved novels (as chosen in a national survey) which will culminate this fall with America’s most loved novel. For book lists and more, visit website. Click on the links below to borrow the Great American Read books from the library. If you choose to purchase any of these books from Amazon, please select the Kenton County Public Library Foundation through the Amazon Smiles program. 1984 by George Orwell A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving A Separate Peace by John Knowles A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho Alex Cross Series, Book 23 by James Patterson Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carrol Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie Anne of Green Gables / L. M. Montgomery Another Country by James Baldwin Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand Beloved by Toni Morrison Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya The Book Thief by Markus Zusak The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz The Call of the Wild by Jack London Catch-22 by Joseph Heller The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger Charlotte's Web by E. B. White The Chronicles of Narnia, Book 1. C. S Lewis The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah The Color Purple by Alice Walker The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas Crime and punishment [electronic resource] by Fyodor Dostoyevsky The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown Don Quixote by [...]

By Robin Klaene|May 22nd, 2018|Categories: Featured Post|0 Comments

Community’s Public Makerspace & Meeting Spaces Open Soon

Crafters, innovators and dreamers will soon have the opportunity to make their visions become reality as the Kenton County Public Library will open its new makerspace, the STREAM Center of Learning, on Friday, January 12. STREAM stands for Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts and Math. The STREAM Center is a new arm of the STEM movement. The STREAM Center is located at the Erlanger Branch, 401 Kenton Lands Road. It will feature dozens of tools and equipment that visitors can use to make and create. Examples of items include: 3D Printer Soldering Irons Embroidery & Sewing Machines Poster Printer Silhouette Cameo Large Vinyl Cutter Looms Raspberry Pi & Arduinos Dremel Tool Welder And much more! The STREAM Center will be open during library hours unless being used for a class or one-to-one sessions. Items are free to use but a nominal materials fee may apply on some items. The STREAM Center is open to all ages; however, children ages 12 and younger should be accompanied by a parent or caregiver. Free programs on using the STREAM Center equipment will be held weekly starting January 17. See the Library’s calendar of events for a complete list. “The STREAM Center is an example of how arts, technology, reading and innovation come together,” stated Dave Schroeder, Executive Director of the Kenton County Public Library. “We are excited to provide a space in the community where makers, business owners, students, educators and hobbyists can come together with a single purpose of creating something for their personal, professional or educational use.” The STREAM Center is made possible in part by Duke Energy, Chas. and Ruth Seligman Family Foundation, Republic Bank, DBL Law, Robert Ehmet Hayes & [...]

By Robin Klaene|December 19th, 2017|Categories: About Us, at the library, Featured Post, KCPL, Press Releases|Tags: #makerspace #STEM #STEAM|0 Comments

DUKE Energy Becomes a Partner in Library’s STEM Efforts

If you have driven by the Erlanger Branch Library recently, you may have wondered what’s going on. Last fall, construction started on three projects at the branch: a makerspace, a large auditorium/meeting room and a separate building to house the administration offices. Far left Executive Director, Dave Schroeder, Board of Trustees (left to right): Douglas Stephens, Louise Canter, Susan Mospens, Casey Ruschman (Duke Energy), Julie Roesel Belton, Dan Humpert On Tuesday, May 15, Duke Energy gave a big boost to this anxiously awaited project. Duke Energy presented the Kenton County Public Library Board of Trustees with a $10,000 grant that will go towards materials and equipment for the new makerspace. Republic Bank was the first sponsor of the makerspace with a donation of $5,000. Schultz Marketing and Communications and The Lawrence Firm, PSC, have also contributed. Many ask “what is a makerspace?” By definition, it is a place in which people with shared interests, especially in computing or technology, can gather to work on projects while sharing ideas, equipment, and knowledge. The Library provides the space, equipment and materials, and visitors are the makers. The Library’s Executive Director Dave Schroeder explains why this space is so important. “As we look toward the future, we realize there is great need for a stronger focus to provide STEM and STEAM related activities. STEAM is an educational approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking[1]. However we at the Library have realized that while STEM and STEAM are wonderful movements, there is one critical component being left out – reading.” Schroeder goes on to explain, “Without having a strong [...]

By Robin Klaene|May 25th, 2017|Categories: Featured Post, Library in the News|Tags: children, education, library, literacy, maker space, reading, STEAM, STEM|0 Comments

Local Librarian Named as a Mover and Shaker

Photo credit: Michael Wilson Ann Schoenenberger of the Kenton County Public Library has been named a “Mover & Shaker” in the library industry by the national publication Library Journal. In its March 15, 2017 issue, Library Journal named 52 outstanding professionals committed to providing excellent service and shaping the future of libraries. Ann was selected for her commitment to the profession and innovation in working with the community. Ann currently serves as a Digital Librarian for the Kenton County Public Library. As Digital Librarian, Ann oversees the Library’s e-newsletter, the library’s marketing segmentation program and chat services. Ann has also been using innovative technology to engage people who may not otherwise use the library. This year’s class of 52 joins a group of talented professionals who are dedicated, innovative, and passionate about their service to the library and their community. The STEM/STEAM movement, which focuses on science, technology, engineering, (arts), and math, has been steadily working its way through schools and libraries across the nation. From this movement, maker spaces have been developed. A maker space is a place where people of all ages can go to conduct hands-on activities and projects with a variety of traditional tools, such as a sewing machine, or by using more current digital technology such as a 3D printer. Ann has worked to make strong partnerships with local web developers, tech companies and the maker community. She encouraged user groups to use the library and hosted Coder & Maker Club workshops on soldering, Raspberry Pi, Arduino, Python and physical computing. Through the use of Coursera MOOCs and help from tech mentors, she offered a complete 12 week "Beginning Programming" course that evolved into a [...]

By Robin Klaene|March 15th, 2017|Categories: About Us|Tags: coder, ebooks, Kenton Library, kentucky, librarian, Library Journal, maker space, press release, STEM|0 Comments

Welcome to Brown Town…Decorating out of the Dark

My family and I just moved into a new house. Initially we thought, “hey, this is the first house we’ve lived in where we don’t have to do anything.” What do they say – famous last words? The house we moved into has good bones. However, despite the large windows, it is so dark inside. The previous owner, though lovely, had a very different decorating style than we do. We are more “beach chic.” By this I mean we like lighter blues, greens, white, with a pop of color here and there. Pictured below is the same living room as above but with a completely different feel. Ditto with the dining room. The house we purchased though is about the furthest thing from beach chic. For one, it’s a Tudor. Now I don’t know about you, but I rarely see Tudors on my beach vacations. The rooms all had dark paint, dark wood windows and dark brown hardwood floors. Knowing our style, a book that caught my eye is Pale & Interesting: Decorating with Whites, Pastels and Neutrals for a Welcoming Home. If you are a fan of either Shabby Chic or HGTV’s Fixer Upper, this book seems to be a blend of those two styles. That being said, we will work with what we have. We have only been in the house since last September. The main focus has to been to paint. Out of curiosity, I searched the phrase “paint your home” on the Library’s card catalog. Nearly 40 titles popped up! Some are new and some are older but all can provide some inspiration. As of this writing, nearly every room in the house with exception of the kitchen has [...]

By Robin Klaene|February 22nd, 2017|Categories: Featured Post, KCPL|Tags: deorating, DIY Network, flea market, HGTV, home, interior design, kitchen, Kitchen Crashers, paint, pinterest, Property Brothers, Tudor|0 Comments

Over 100,000 Local Historical Photos Available Online

Over 100,000 Kentucky Historical Photos Available Online They say a photo is worth a 1,000 words. If that’s true, then the Kenton County Public Library has 100 million stories to tell! The Library’s online historic photo album, Faces and Places, just added the 100,000th photo to its database. The photo, from the former Kentucky Post, is dated March 14, 1975 and features a man named Bill Penick. Why is Bill Penick’s photo important? Because he, most likely inadvertently, is now forever a part of Kentucky history. This photo is just one of thousands preserved digitally for all to see, and share, online via the Faces and Places website, www.kentonlibrary.org/facesandplaces. March 2016 marked the 10th anniversary of Faces and Places, a unique online historical photo album that highlights the people, places and events of Kentucky (and some Cincinnati). Since its inception a decade ago, the Faces and Places website has received over 9.2 million views. There are 100,411 images, 6,508 subject headings and 2,023 comments on the photos. “Comments are important,” stated Elaine Kuhn, Local History & Genealogy Services Coordinator for the Library. “They give us information that might help someone discover something new when doing research.” This online album was created when the history staff at the Kenton County Public Library began digitizing some of its resources. They were digitizing documents and family files so that genealogy researchers around the world could obtain the information they needed without having to incur the cost of travel expenses. The staff then added photos to the mix, therefore creating Faces and Places. The popularity of the photograph collection easily lent itself to a digital format. As such, staff scanned the photos and staff and volunteers did [...]

By Robin Klaene|December 29th, 2016|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: covington library, Faces and Places, genealogy, historical photos, History, homesteads, Hotel Covington, kentucky history, kentucky libraries, Kentucky Post, Riverfront Stadium|0 Comments

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About Robin Klaene