A Note From the Director

Again I can say it is great to be a part of a community that loves its library! From the response to our summer programs, to everyday traffic that keeps us “hoppin” to the very generous gift from the Cartee family (see following article).

We want to thank you for making the library vital part of the community. Also as part of being involved in the county, we have made many school visits this month. Sue Evans and Joyce Carter from the McKell branch visited the McKell elementary open house and spoke to all the teachers giving out cards and goodies. The bookmobile with Karen Trussel and myself also paid a visit as well as one to Argillite and Wurtland Elementary. Vicki Hughes children’s services and Stephanie Huffman visited McDowell Intermediate and Russell Primary open house events. Stephanie demonstrated our on line resources and eBook services.

Also noteworthy is that the library has a forward thinking board of directors that believes in its mission statement, developed in the recently completed long range plan. “GCPL provides the citizens of Greenup County with resources for work, school, and personal growth and development. Emphasis will be placed on career development and employment, recreation and leisure and life-long learning”

Since we have just completed our annual report, we thought some statistics might prove our point. Our door counter picked up nearly 135,000 people visiting the libraries with nearly 250,000 books, audios, and DVDs going out with them. Electronic resources including eBooks and eAudios as well as the use of the data bases, numbered over 17,000 and we had 627 programs reaching 13,934 people. Stay tuned for more.

Jesse Stuart Collection

August the 8 was truly a RED Letter day for the Greenup county libraries! At the main branch Mr. Ronald Cartee and family presented the library with a complete set of Mr. Stuart’s books all in first edition and in excellent condition as well as many of them signed and often with personal notes. Dr. James Gifford, CEO and senior editor for the Jesse Stuart Foundation introduced Mr. Cartee and talked about the foundation and its mission of preserving Mr. Stuart’s legacy. Mr. Cartee was greatly influenced by his school principal Mr. Stuart and worked for him as a boy growing up. He told the audience stories of his experiences and how much of his life achievements he attributed to Mr. Stuart. The collection is housed in an archival quality display cabinet that controls humidity and light, both which causes damage to print. “Tim a story” is one of the rarest of the collection. It was published as a newspaper insert in the Cincinnati Enquirer in 1939. A copy of this insert is part of the collection as well as a rare book edition printed in 1968. We are very proud to be the home for this rare and wonderful collection of Mr. Stuart’s works and to share this with the people of Greenup County.

New Look at Flatwoods

As promised Flatwoods Branch has undergone a small facelift. We have changed our computer setup to a rectangle shape and in the process added a new computer for public use. Also the magazines have been moved and a sitting area was created in front of them for those wanting to read magazines or newspapers. There is also a coffee table with an outlet in the middle that has an usb port to charge your devices. A real bonus, more room for our DVD collection, which just keeps on growing. There has also been an addition of a couple of high top tables in the teen area. So come on in and see our fresher updated look.

Join us for International Crochet Day @ Flatwoods on Tuesday September 12th from 1:00pm to 3:00pm All skill levels welcome. Some supplies will be available but you are more than welcome to bring your own.

Summer Reading 2017

Summer reading this year was another great success. I would like to thank everyone that participated in the program and a great big thank you to all of the staff and volunteers that help to make summer reading fun and exciting! We signed up 698 people from ages 2-adult and 417 completed the program with 115 in our area of concentration to prevent the “summer slide” ages 7-12. We had some fun special programs, including Dr. Dino, Batman and Garry Boothe and of course the Greenup County Extension Office provided several programs for all ages again this year!

Fall Story Hour

Story Hour will be a little different this year due to the number of children now attending preschool. Flatwoods and Greenup will both offer a story time, approximately 45 minutes, for ages 2-3 at 11:00am and then a story hour at 1:30 for ages 4-5. McKell will have story hour on Thursdays at 11:00am and it will be for ages 2-5. Also, we will be changing the day for the Greenup Story Hour, this year it will be on Wednesday instead of Friday, also due to the preschool schedule. Flatwoods will begin on September 19th, McKell on September 21st and Greenup on September 27th.

Back To School Family Night

We were able to have our school supply giveaways again this year at all three locations, we had a total attendance of 188 and gave away 155 bags for ages preschool through college-aged children. This is a program we have been providing for the last few years and we are happy to be giving back to our community. This year Tiffany Looney with KEDC was our special speaker and we appreciate her coming to all three libraries to speak to the children and adults about the importance of parent involvement.

Continuing with our Family Nights...

Spooktaculars

We will be having our annual Spooktacular’s again this year at all three libraries. This is a Halloween party for ages 3-12, children (and adults) may come in costume. There will be a costume contest for each age group, we will have games, food, prizes and a “spooky” movie. Signup begins on October 9th and ends on the 16th. We only have room for 24 children at each location, so be sure and get signed up. Greenup-Oct. 21st, McKell-October 23rd and Flatwoods-October 30th. Please take your sign up commitment seriously and notify the library if you are unable to attend as we always have a standby list.

Christmas Ornaments with Pottery Place

This will be our 3rd Annual Christmas ornament party with the Pottery Place. This is a fun night where families can come into the libraries and make keepsake ornaments for free! Everything is supplied by the Pottery Place, you just come in and paint your ornament. When they are ready we will give you a call. Signup begins on November 1st and ends on November 10th. Space is limited so call and get your family signed up. Greenup-November 13th, Flatwoods-November 16th and McKell-November 27. All begin at 6:00pm. Please notify the library of any cancellations.

Author Faire

On Saturday Oct. 7th from 1:00pm-4:00pm at the Main Branch of the Greenup County Public Library. Join with the Library and KYOWA Writers for the annual author faire. Visit with local and other Kentucky authors and participate in a scavenger hunt, register for door prizes, including a Kindle Fire. Authors that have previously attended are Jennifer Johnson, Fonda Warnock, Michael Embry, Chris Frazier, Soc Clay, Kathy Roar and several others. If you are interested in being a part of this faire contact Cathie Schaffer at cathieshaffer@zoominternet.net or call Denise Greathouse at the Greenup Branch.

“Drop Your Drawers” @ Your Library

Over 50 libraries across the state have joined the campaign to help supply the Family Resource Centers with packages of underwear for Boys and Girls mainly sizes 4-16.

A brain child of JC Morgan, director in Campbell County Library, also has acquired permission from the author David Pilkey to use his very popular character from the kids book series “Captain Underpants” in posters and displays.

We are so excited to be a part of this project and have been assured that the supplies are much needed. Parents cannot always go to the school when accidents happen.

Look for the display in each of our libraries and on the Bookmobile, with collections going to the Family Resource Centers in the three school systems of Greenup County. Collections begin November 1st.

Genealogy Corner
by Vicki Evans, Genealogy Librarian

It’s been a very good summer here in the Genealogy & Local History room. We’ve had visitors spanning the width & breadth of the United States. Traveling the farthest was our visitor from Throne Bay, Alaska. Sometimes, I think that I should have award certificates to hand out at the end of the summer, like we do at family reunions. Our visitor that has traveled the farthest is Debbie, Throne Bay, Alaska. The most family members present at one time will be the Warnock Family. Their group of thirteen included eight researchers and five spouses, also known as support personnel.

Another wonderful thing that has happened to the genealogy room is the work done on the list Murders of Greenup County. The Murders of Greenup County is a three page, type written list of exactly what it says, murders that have taken place in Greenup County. The first column lists a name or names, the second column says “killed” the third column has one or more names and the fourth column has a full or partial date. We don’t know who made the list out, we don’t know where it came from or how accurate it is. But, thanks to Bayleigh Wagner, our newest volunteer, we have found that much of the list is true. Bayleigh has compiled a binder with a copy of the original list as well as death certificates that she found for some of the people that were murdered. She is currently working to find newspaper articles as well as court records to substantiate “the list”.

As the weather cools, and the children start back to school, think about stopping in at the Greenup Library and doing some research. Whether researching your family history or checking out local happenings there is always something of interest to be found in the Genealogy & Local History room.

Girl’s Night Out

McKell Branch continues to have Girl’s Night Out on the 4th Thursday of each month at 6:00pm. We serve refreshments and enjoy a new release movie. Our movie for September will be “Going in Style”. For the following months titles please contact the McKell Branch.

McKell Book Club

The McKell Branch started it’s book club meeting on August 16th and will continue each month on the 3rd Wednesday at 11:00am. If anyone is interested please contact the McKell Branch for more information.

Fine Free Days @ McKell

What’s New

Due to the popularity of the Clay flower art program in May, the Boyd county library and Mrs. Anne Stevens of the Greenup County Extension office have partnered once again to bring an art program to the libraries in October. It is planned for Oct. 15 at 2:00 at the Greenup main branch and at the Main branch of the Boyd county library on Oct. 22 also at 2:00. Details of the program are still in the planning stages so watch for more information but plan to be a part of the Sunday afternoon “seasonal art series”

HOOPLA. Our electronic collections have experienced increased use every month with over a 1000 items being downloaded. The library is planning on adding an additional service very similar to this but with more titles of books, audio’s, music and movies. These are offered as a simultaneous use which means several people can borrow the same item at the same time. No Waiting! There may be some restrictions on the number to be downloaded at any one time, but that has yet to be determined. HOOPLA will be another free service offered by your library.

Update on New library cards….We are now issuing the newly designed library card with a duplicate key ring card attached. The library hopes to offer the option of receiving notices sent to your cell phone or email. Those notices would include items due soon, items on the hold shelf and program reminders.

Most readers are familiar with the struggle that comes after finishing a good book or series; the search to find a new one. Book Page (available at all branches) aims to help solve this problem by offering monthly lists of books reviewed by the magazine's editors. The selected books are divided in columns with themes that change every month. This month’s edition features “Stranger than Fiction” a collection of chilling true crime including Erik Larson’s “The Devil in The White City” a bestselling take on America’s first serial killer. If mystery is more of your forte then look to the “Whodunit” column for page turners like “Paradise Valley” by C.J. Box or “Blame” by Jeff Abbott. The publication also contains book reviews, interviews with authors and provides a helpful heads-up on upcoming releases. Stop by the library to pick up a copy of this month’s edition while supplies last.

Library Con

We had a great time at this years Library Con and we are already looking forward to next year. We had around 200 people in attendance who enjoyed all of our diffrent activities including a petting zoo.

Here are our Cosplay Contest winners!

Calendars