KCPL – Page 2 – Kenton County Public Library

Paying & Preparing for College Update

I wrote the post Paying & Preparing for College when my daughter Andi had just started her junior year of high school. Last month she started her junior year of college at Northern Kentucky University so I thought I would do an update. At the time of my last post, Andi had no idea what she wanted to do with her life, where she was going to go to school or how to pay for it. I was worried. I don't think I'll ever stop worrying about my kids but Andi's college isn't at the top of the worry list any more. She is majoring in Social Work with minors in Spanish and social justice and a focus in women gender studies. She has a high GPA, a part-time job, belongs to a few clubs and tutors high school students in Spanish. She has a full plate for sure. Andi touring NKU So you might be wondering how she made her decision on where to go and what to major in. She worked at a nursing home in high school and knew she loved the interaction with the seniors and their families. One night while going through a book I highly recommend, College Board Book of Majors, she started down the path of social work. At this point we had been on a few college tours and she was leaning toward Northern Kentucky University. Andi reached out to the social work department at NKU and scheduled a day to shadow a social work student. She was able to meet with people in the department and attend a couple social work classes. This helped her make a final decision and commit to NKU. A [...]

By Gina Stegner|September 11th, 2019|Categories: blog, Featured Post, KCPL|Tags: college search, FAFSA|0 Comments

Feeding Bodies and Minds @ the Library

Summer is time for family fun and relaxation. The break from the demands of the school schedule gives families the chance to spend more time together and, hopefully, enjoy some new adventures. Unfortunately, the break from the school schedule also means a break from the scheduled meals that school provides. And for many families, that can be very difficult. A recent survey of families across the nation showed that 40% of families struggle to provide enough food for their children during the summer. In an effort to help families who struggle with food insecurity during the summer, the Kenton County Public Library has partnered with 3 local public school districts to provide locations for serving free lunches for children. This partnership has been ongoing at the Erlanger Branch for 6 years, and at our Covington and Durr branches for 4 years. How does the summer feeding program at the Library work? The funding for the program comes from the USDA. No Library funds are used in any way. The meals are prepared by the Food Service staff at our local public schools. The Erlanger Elsmere School District prepares food for the Erlanger Branch. The Covington Independent School District provides meals at the Covington Branch. And the Kenton County School District provides food at the Durr Branch. Cold food is kept cold in coolers, and hot food is kept warm in portable warmers. The meals conform to the same nutrition standards that apply to the school lunch program. Lunch is free for all children ages 1-18. Adults 19 and up can purchase a meal for a small fee. There is no income verification, ID check, or paperwork involved. Every child who comes into the serving room is served a free lunch, with no questions asked. Lunches are served [...]

By NIcole Frilling|May 23rd, 2019|Categories: Featured Post, KCPL|1 Comment

2019 Summer Reading – Universe of Stories

This year's Summer Reading Celebration is filled with exciting programs, fun prizes, social media giveaways and so much more! We are so excited about the theme: Universe of Stories and the super cool glow-in-the-dark T-shirts children can win just for reading! The program will run June 1-August 31. Children can pick up a booklog at any of the three branches - Covington, Independence or Erlanger or enter online. Read or listen to five books or 2.5 hours and win a book prize! After 10 books or 5 hours of reading, return the log to receive a glow-in-the-dark Universe of Stories T-shirt or a drawstring bag (while supplies last) and a raffle ticket for a chance to win one of three grand prizes: a technology basket, science basket or art basket. Keep reading for more chances to win the grand prizes! Teens who read or listen to any book or magazine or attend any program can enter online or at any of the three branches. One winner per branch will be drawn for weekly prizes. Adults who read or listen to any book or magazine or attend a book related program can enter to win prizes online or at any of the three branches. Prizes are awarded bi-weekly. The Summer Reading Celebration will kickoff on Saturday, June 1 with free Snappy Tomato Pizza at all three branches. The Covington Branch will feature Kona Ice, a video game truck, Hands-on Space Explorers and a Planetarium show! The Erlanger Branch will host a bounce house, face painting, Tech Toy Time, an iSpace presentation, Rocketry Workshop and more. The Independence Branch will offer a petting zoo, pony rides, the Cowboy in Space, Mark Wood and his out of [...]

By Gina Stegner|May 21st, 2019|Categories: blog, Featured Post, KCPL|0 Comments

Kentucky Gives Day & the Library

Did you know that Tuesday, May 14 is Kentucky Gives Day? Kentucky Gives Day is an opportunity for Kentuckians (near and far) to come together to make donations to Kentucky charities in an effort to raise as much money as possible in 24 hours. If you would like to give of your time, talent or treasure, please consider the Kenton County Public Library. There are several ways to give: Volunteer The Library's Volunteer Program seeks to provide opportunities for volunteers to make meaningful contributions to the operations of the library, help to expand and enhance library services, strengthen ties to the community and build public awareness of the diverse services provided by Kenton County Public Libraries. To find out more about the Library's volunteer program, click here. Friends of the Library The Friends of the Kenton County Public Library is a volunteer membership group that supports the Library primarily through used book sales. Future book sale dates are: August 11-17 at the Covington Branch library September 23-29 at the William E. Durr Branch library December 1-7 at the Erlanger Branch 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 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 [...]

By Robin Klaene|May 13th, 2019|Categories: About Us, blog, Featured Post, KCPL|0 Comments

Making @ The Library: Fairy Gardens

With summer in full swing it’s time to work on the garden! (when it’s not 100 degrees out). Have you ever heard of a fairy garden? A fairy garden is a small “garden” with whimsical figurines like dwarfs, fairies, cottages and other small items. They are lots of fun to create! Did you know you can make a fairy garden using 3D printed figurines? Small figurines can be pretty pricey at the store but using the 3D printer at the STREAM center allows you to print out small items to put in your fairy garden! Below is how I created my fairy garden: I started with a pot, some soil and 2 small moss plants from the garden store. I then went to the STREAM center for some help! The STREAM center staff showed me a website called Thingiverse were you are able to download 3D modeled objects to print. I found small mushrooms, fairies, stepping stones, a bridge and more. I filled out a 3D print request form and gave it to the STREAM center staff and they gave me a call when my prints were completed. I specifically asked for them to print some of the objects in white so that I could paint over them. I decided to add a rock and also a plastic cap (from an old drink) to create a pond. Some of the items I 3D printed: 3D printed fairy & bridge: The completed project: Whether it’s a fairy garden, pencil holder, chess set, key chain, etc. There are SO many things that you could 3D print. I suggest checking out Thingiverse OR 3D modeling your items and then contacting the staff at the STREAM center. They [...]

By Maura Lambert|May 6th, 2019|Categories: Featured Post, KCPL|0 Comments

Covington Makerspace

The Covington branch has a makerspace? Why, yes they do! The Covington branch of the Kenton County Public Library makerspace currently consists of the following equipment that is available for the public to use. A 2.25” Button Maker A light box for taking quality photographs of your small but valuable possessions (either for insurance purposes or perhaps to list and sell them on an auction site such as eBay) A laminator that will handle business card sized paper up to standard 8.5x11 paper A large format printer. The printer can handle print jobs from 17 inches wide up to 24 inches wide. Its rolls of paper can be used for long, banner-like jobs as well (indoor only, sorry!) A high-quality photo printer for family photos, individual photos or even larger individual photos (up to 8x10) A 58-inch cutter (for trimming those poster prints you make with our large format printer) An assortment of office related items from 3-hole punches to paper cutters to a heavy-duty stapler A Cameo Silhouette paper and vinyl cutter for making fancy designs and imprints A heat press to make yourself or you family a fun design on a t-shirt, bag or even a baby onesie! A sewing machine for minor repairs or major projects. All these items are available to use by patrons, though some may require training by staff for best outcome. We have helped many patrons with advice on how to craft some interesting items and some patrons have become regular users of the above equipment. The Cameo Silhouette has been used to make paper crafts for parties, vinyl stickies to personalize water bottles as well as heat transfer images for clothing and bags. The heat press has [...]

By Gina Stegner|April 30th, 2019|Categories: blog, Featured Post, KCPL|0 Comments

Every book has the potential to be the perfect book

Nothing makes me happier than a patron coming up to the desk, excited over a new book they discovered. Except, of course, when they come back and tell me how much they loved it! A love of books is a must for working at a library, and it then feeds into a new obsession: readers’ advisory. Readers’ advisory is basically getting the right fiction or nonfiction book into a reader’s hands (or onto their e-reader). This can happen over time, with your librarian seeing what you check out and making recommendations occasionally based on that, or it could be a request from you at that time for them to find items based on your current wants and needs. As a reader myself, I use readers’ advisory every day, whether I’m at work or not. Loving a book, then scouring to find out what others recommend reading next until the author writes another. Or (le gasp!) maybe the author no longer writes due to ending a series or retiring for various reasons. Even the most voracious reader, however, doesn’t always have time or energy to go to the library, or maybe wants to be able to find books with ease. In that case, what’s needed is a simple lesson in readers’ advisory! You start with a simple series of questions, trying to figure out what would satisfy that book tooth. (There’s such a thing as a sweet tooth, shouldn’t there be one for people who yearn for books?) 1) Mood This is the most important question. Do you want something by a tried and true author, or are you wanting to dip your toes into a new genre? Do you want something scary, romantic, hopeful, sad? [...]

By Gina Stegner|April 23rd, 2019|Categories: blog, Featured Post, KCPL|0 Comments

Giving to the Library

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. 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. Support [...]

By Robin Klaene|April 10th, 2019|Categories: blog, Featured Post, KCPL|0 Comments

Top 10 Little Known Library Services

Staff of the Kenton County Public Library get a lot of "I didn't know the library had that!" when responding to questions. In celebration of National Library Week, the following is a list of the top 10 little known library services: 1. Free Meeting Spaces Whether you have a need to gather 400 or four people, the Library has a meeting space for you. Spaces are free to reserve, and many have A/V capability. The use of meeting space is provided free of charge to individuals and groups for civic, educational, and philanthropic purposes. To learn more or reserve a space, go to kentonlibrary.org/aboutus/meeting-room-policy 2. Tool Lending In partnership with the Center for Great Neighborhoods, the Library offers Empower Tools. Anyone with a Kenton County Public Library card will be able to borrow tools for up to a week. Items available will include everything from a moisture meter or a pressure washer, to an electrician’s kit and a hand cultivator. Tool lending is free, but there will be a $5 late fee for every day a tool is past due. For a list of tools, visit, kentonlibrary.org/tools. Empower Tools operates from a storefront located at 305 Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011. 3. Notary Services Notary service is free and available at all locations. Please call to confirm availability (859) 962-4000. The Covington Branch requires an appointment for notary services. For more information including ID requirements, see kentonlibrary.org/notary-services. 4. Free Scanning Services Digitize and preserve your family photographs, documents, films and slides in the Local History and Genealogy Department at the Covington Branch. To arrange a one-on-one photograph scanning appointment call (859) 962-4070. All branches offer a public scanning [...]

By Robin Klaene|April 8th, 2019|Categories: blog, Featured Post, KCPL|0 Comments

No Library Fines or Fees in April

For the first time in more than a decade, the Kenton County Public Library is offering amnesty of fines during April. In celebration of National Library Week and Children’s Book Week, if you have fines on your library card account, visit the Kenton County Public Library and speak to a staff member in April and those fines will be removed. This does not include lost or damaged items. This offer is good April 1-April 30, 2019. National Library Week , April 7- 13, 2019, is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation's libraries and library workers and to promote library use and support. From free access to books and online resources for families to library business centers that help support entrepreneurship and retraining, libraries offer opportunity to all. Additionally, the Library will observe Children’s Book Week from April 29 to May 5, one of the longest-running national celebrations of books for young people and the joy of reading. “Libraries are evolving and changing daily,” said Dave Schroeder, Executive Director. “Many people are still of the mindset that it’s a quiet place full of books. While the library still has books, it also offers an array of programs and events for all ages, maker spaces, professional workshops for job seekers, and is an office to those who can work or study remotely.” “We wanted to remove any barriers that were prohibiting people from using their library,” stated Schroeder. There are over 157,000 people with a Kenton County Public Library card. Of this, there are 34,864 borrowers with fines greater than $10, which is the limit that prevents them from being able to check items out.” “April is a great time for spring cleaning. We [...]

By Robin Klaene|April 2nd, 2019|Categories: blog, Featured Post, KCPL|1 Comment