Kenton County Public Library

Notary Services Now Available at Erlanger Branch

2007-08-29T20:21:00.000-04:00

We just wanted to give notice to our patrons that there are now two staff members at our Erlanger Branch who are new Kentucky State Commissioned notaries. Branch Librarian Susan Banks, and Reference Assistant Justin Meyer are now both able to acknowledge documents and administer a jurat. Not sure what that means? Essentially, if you have a document that requires the signature or assistance of a notary, we can help! This also includes many evenings and weekends! Before making a special trip, however, please call our Reference Desk at 962-4002 to ensure someone is in.

Kenton County Fair

2007-07-13T09:54:00.000-04:00

Come out the Kenton County Fair the Week of July 16th and say hi to the library folks staffing our booth. I'm looking forward to the new midway this year. We'll be out there in the evenings most nights. Don't forget to look for our car in the demolition derby!

Scott Westerfeld

2007-07-03T10:38:00.000-04:00

I have just finished reading a trilogy by Scott Westerfeld that was fantastic. The first in the trilogy is titled Uglies, the second Pretties, and the final book is Specials. It is a story that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where everything seems wonderful for Tally Youngblood. She is about to turn sixteen and then she will receive the long awaited Pretty operation, which every citizen in her town undergoes taking them from 'ugly' to 'pretty'. As the story continues, she finds out the hard way that this Utopian society she lives in isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be, and in fact is quite dark. I would highly recommend this series, and all three books can be found in the Young Adult section under Weste, S.

Teen Events

2007-05-07T11:26:00.000-04:00

Just a reminder of all the great events happening for teens at the library this week. Today is the monthly ErlAnime! club that meets every first Monday of the month. It goes from 6:00 until 8:00 and the group will discuss the latest things developing in Anime and Manga. On Tuesday the 8th at 6:30 until 8:00 is the Hands in Clay program led by local artist Rhonda Gushee. And Wednesday night at 6:00 is the popular Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero program. Come one come all! Check out the teen scene at the Erlanger Branch Library.

Summer Reads

2007-05-07T09:03:00.000-04:00

Hey, teens! Are you looking for a new mystery series to read this summer? I found just the one for you! There are two titles in the Echo Falls Mystery series by Peter Abrahams. The first is Down the Rabbit Hole, and the second is Behind the Curtain. Both books follow the adventures and misadventures of Ingrid Levin-Hill, a thirteen year old Sherlock Holmes fan. In the book Down the Rabbit Hole you meet Ingrid and her family, and start to learn the many interesting characters in her home town Echo Falls. There is a murder shortly after she leaves her shoes at Cracked-Up Kate’s house. In an attempt to keep herself from getting into trouble, she solves the crime through logical deductions that would make Sherlock proud! In the second book she starts to investigate her fear that her older brother Ty is on steroids, and tries to find those that provide him with them. In her investigation, she gets kidnapped! All these things happen while she deals with Algebra 2 issues, family problems, and staring in the local town plays. She’s a busy girl with a busy mind, and they are always a fun read. You can find these titles in our Young Adult section under the call letters YA Abrah P.

Such a Pretty Girl

2007-04-24T09:44:00.000-04:00

I have just finished reading a great book by Laura Weiss titled Such a Pretty Girl. While this book is in the Young Adult section under YA Weiss, L I am not sure I would recommend it for anyone under the age of fourteen. It deals with the tough subject of child molestation and the after affects told in a first person narrative. It follows a fifteen year old girl Meredith as she deals with the fact that her father, who was put away in jail for nine years because of raping her and other young boys, is getting out after only three years for good behavior. It is obvious to her and those around her that he is up to his old tricks, and he is focused upon her. The thing that really gets you about this book is the realistic reactions by her family and neighbors. It deals with some really tough issues, such as strong denial and desperation by her mother who is unwilling to accept her husband’s sickness, and those of the neighbors that shun the family for the father’s sins. It’s a fantastic read, and goes by quickly. If you are looking for a realistic fiction book, I would highly recommend picking this up!

From Covington to the Silver Screen

2007-03-12T15:06:00.000-04:00

Actress Una Merkel was born on December 10, 1903 in Covington. Una left Covington to pursue an acting career in Hollywood and New York. She started her career as a double for Lillian Gish in Way Down East. She earned a Tony Award for her work on the play, The Ponder Heart.

Una is only one of the important Northern Kentucky natives that can be found on our biography page in the genealogy section of our website.

Artist Dixie Seldon

2007-03-05T14:20:00.000-05:00

To help celebrate Women's History Month, I have another interesting woman with Northern Kentucky roots.

Dixie Selden was born on February 28, 1868. Her love for art led her to attend the McMicken School of Design in Cincinnati in 1885 (later evolved into the Cincinnati Art Academy). Dixie Selden studied painting under Frank Duveneck and Henry Farney.

The Library owns two Selden paintings including Balloon Ascent at Night (right) and Woman Hanging Laundry. Woman Hanging Laundry is personally my favorite painting owned by the Library. I always enjoy seeing the everyday lives of women in art.

-nicole

Covington Woman Braves Alaska

2007-03-02T09:19:00.000-05:00

If you thought we've had a cold couple of weeks here in Northern Kentucky can you imagine Alaska in the early 1900s? Emma Lee Orr packed her bags and left for Alaska in 1903. She had some amazing experiences including a picnic in the midnight sun and riding in a dog sled under the aurora borealis.

Ms. Orr's family donated her pictures, books and photographs to the Library. We've scanned some of the pictures and digitized her oral history. You can find it on our Kentucky History & Genealogy page. Don't forget that March is Women's History Month. I'll be posting about other interesting Kentucky women later this month.

Academy Awards

2007-03-01T15:06:00.000-05:00

After recovering from the fact that Little Miss Sunshine didn't win best picture I thought maybe I should watch some of the competition. I looked at the nominees on the Academy Awards website. I checked the online catalog to see if we had some of the movies. We do have most of them but I did make a request for Half Nelson. Many of the nominated movies are on our most popular list, but if you don't see it there just do a DVD title search on the online catalog. All you need is the popcorn.

-nicole

Mark your calendar for another Based on the Book

2007-01-08T11:08:00.000-05:00

In celebration of Women's History Month, the Erlanger Branch of KCPL will be hosting a Based on the Book program on Wednesday, March 28th at 6pm. This time we will be watching and discussing Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club, the story of four Chinese women who meet in San Francisco in the late 40's and begin a friendship and a storytelling tradition that will carry into the lives of their daughters.

Registration is now open on our website for this program. Click on "Programs", and then on "Adults".

LibraryThing

2006-12-21T15:33:00.000-05:00

Have you ever realized that a book you've just checked out is one that you've already checked out? Or, you wish you could remember which of the many books by a favorite author you've read? Wouldn't it be nice to be able to keep a nice, easily accessible list of the books you've read, liked or disliked, and even a brief reminder of what it was about? Guess what? There is a way! There is a website called www.Librarything.com and it is absolutely free to use! On this site you can easily add a title with a little note to yourself, and then you can view all books you've read. You can also connect to other users that have read the same books. Did I mention it's free?

Snarky and Southern: A Review of "Stop Dressing Your Six-Year-Old Like a Skank: and Other Words of Delicate Southern Wisdom"

2006-11-07T12:14:00.000-05:00

Normally, parenting humor is not my cup of tea. But Celia Rivenbark's latest title, Stop Dressing Your Six-Year-Old Like a Skank: And Other Words of Delicate Southern Wisdom, was too intriguing to pass up. Rivenbark, author of We're Just Like You, Only Prettier: Confessions of a Tarnished Southern Belle and Bless Your Heart, Tramp: and Other Southern Endearments, is the spiritual comedy twin of Dave Barry. Her commentary on the absurd in everyday life, her unconventional parental reactions to the antics of her daughter, Sophie, and her gleeful bashing of the current 'celebrity culture' is hilarious and spot on. A must read!

Read more abou Celia Rivenbark at http://celiarivenbark.com/

Great book for readers of Kentucky nonfiction

2006-11-06T15:02:00.000-05:00

In the 1960s, there was Harry M. Caudill's Night Comes to the Cumberlands. In 2006, we have Erik Reece's Lost Mountain: A Year in the Vanishing Wilderness: Radical Strip Mining and the Devastation of Appalachia. Part environmental writing, part Caudill-esque 'biography of a depressed area', this tale of Reece's year-long observation of strip mining in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky is as maddening as it is riveting. Reece follows the progress of the destruction of a single mountain in 2004, while exploring reasons why this part of the country has remained entrenched in poverty for decades. Informative and a quick read, this is a book not to be missed.

Based on the Book Movie for November

2006-11-03T16:50:00.000-05:00

If you didn't make it to our last two Based on the Book movie nights, you get another chance on November 29th at 6pm. We will be screening The Age of Innocence, based on the classic novel by Edith Wharton. Winona Ryder, Michelle Pfeiffer and Daniel Day-Lewis star as the "Old New Yorkers" caught in a tragic love triangle.

Registration is requested, but not required. Please call 962-4002 or 962-4123. Snacks will be provided!

NaNoWriMo

2006-11-03T16:23:00.000-05:00

NaNoWriMo = National Novel Writing Month

The folks over at NaNoWriMo are encouraging people to sign up and begin writing their Great American Frantic Novel. Writing began on November 1st so we're already a little behind. This could be a great start for someone who wants to write a novel but can't seem to get going. Plus, you can tell all your friends you wrote a novel.

Here is a bit from their website: It's all about quantity, not quality. The kamikaze approach forces you to lower your expectations, take risks, and write on the fly.

If that isn't your style, try one of our many writing or book discussion groups.

-Nicole

Value of Library Services

2006-10-06T11:06:00.000-04:00

As someone who loves a bargain, I had a lot of fun with this Library Use Value Calculator. It gives you an idea of how much money you save using the Library's services instead of buying items. I save almost $300.00 a month according to the calculator. Money saved $300.00, Sharing Books at Lullaby Laptime -- Priceless

-nf

Dexter Morgan

2006-10-03T12:00:00.000-04:00

Who exactly is Dexter Morgan? Other then the main character of the new Showtime series called Dexter you mean? He’s the main character in a series of books by Jeff Lindsay, starting with the title of Darkly Dreaming Dexter that was published in 2004. The sequel Dearly Devoted Dexter came out in 2005. Which brings us back to who exactly is Dexter Morgan? He is a blood splatter specialist for the Miami Police. He is also a cold blooded killer-- with a conscious of sorts. Early in his life his foster father, who was a police officer, interceded when he realized what Dexter was growing up to be a serial killer. He trained him to only go after those that were guilty and slip through the cracks of the justice system. These books are very dark, but also very funny. Dexter is a great narrator, always bringing dark humor to every situation that would normally be viewed as horrible. If you are looking for a great read, and want to be entertained while mildly disturbed, this is the series for you.

Who Owns It?

2006-08-18T15:12:00.000-04:00

Find books locally using Worldcat.org

Worldcat.org launched last week and I’ve added it to my list of frequently used sites. Searching local libraries is now as easy as entering your zip code. Once you find a neighboring library you can click on the link and go directly to their catalog. Did I mention that it is lightening fast? Yep, no waiting around for your search, results are returned almost immediately.

Off the Shelf Video Podcasts Now Available

2006-08-09T15:32:00.000-04:00

Want to learn more about what is going on at the Library? You can now download and watch our television show, Off the Shelf. You can also subscribe to our RSS feed, or use iTunes.

This show airs on Insight Cable every week on Monday and Wednesday at 9:30 pm, and then again on Saturday at 4:30 pm on Insight Channel 21.

-Nicole

Help the New Orleans Public Library!

2006-07-15T11:12:00.000-04:00

The city of New Orleans is still rebuilding and renewing itself, almost a year after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The city's libraries were hit especially hard. If you didn't see the article in The Erlanger Recorder this past Thursday, two librarians from KCPL recently spent some time helping out with the clean up at the Algiers Regional Branch Library in New Orleans, and the message they brought back from this experience is that there is still much to do.

You can also help the New Orleans libraries through financial contributions and materials or furniture donations. Please see their website for more details about how to help and what they need: http://www.nutrias.org/~nopl/welcome.htm

More "Based on the Book"

2006-06-15T15:56:00.000-04:00

If you aren't able to make it to our Based on the Book program on June 28th, take heart! The Kenton County Library has many other book-to-movie combos for you to enjoy. Here's a list of some to try:

1.) Empire Falls by Richard Russo -- the film stars Paul Newman and was an original HBO movie

2.) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen -- even if you're on the waitlist for the popular 2005 version, why not try the fabulous A & E special featuring Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy?

3.) Whale Rider by Witi Tame Ihimaera -- this movie is the debut of Keisha Castle-Hughes, the youngest actress to ever be nominated for the Best Actress Academy Award

4.) Daphne Du Maurier's classic Rebecca -- brought to the big screen in all its gothic glory with Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine

We have many other movies that are based on books. Check out our online catalog for more titles, or ask at any of the reference desks for assistance!

Book Review for the Summer

2006-06-02T10:32:00.000-04:00

Looking for a good book that deals with a sensitive subject in a funny way? Who knew that suicide could be a topic that could bring so much laughter! A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby is a book that successfully brings a lighter side to such a dark subject. Four people as different as can be are brought together by a common desire to end it all. In London the only place to do it correctly is on the roof top of Toppers’ House. One New Years Eve, Martin, a disgraced TV morning show host, Maureen, a single mom of a severely disabled son, Jess, an emotionally messed up teenage girl, and the only American JJ, a failed rock star, meet. It starts with such a dark tone, told in a first person point of view by each character in turn, but ends the night with a light outlook. It starts with Maureen realizing she forgot that the top of the building has a large fence in place to discourage jumpers such as her. She notices that Martin came prepared with a small latter and wire cutters. She goes over to ask him when he’s finished if she could borrow the latter so she could climb over the fence, scaring him so bad he almost falls from the roof. It’s a different thing to fall from the roof if you are intending to jump Martin is quick to point out. As those two discuss who will jump first because it’s only right they do it alone, Jess and her loud mouth enter. The two keep her from jumping, because they feel she is too young to do that when JJ enters the picture with a couple of pizzas to deliver. That is how the book goes, everyone filled with intentions, good and bad, being bungled because of the other three in the group. It is an enjoyable book that doesn’t just make light of suicide, it takes a deeper look into the motives of the four characters, and what led them to the rooftop that night. I would say this is a great book to start for the Summer Reading Club 2006!

Based on the Book

2006-06-01T15:46:00.000-04:00

Join us in Erlanger for a viewing and discussion of the movie The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio on Wednesday, June 28th at 7pm. We will be comparing the film to the book by Terry Ryan. If you haven't read the book yet, now is the time to do so--you may pick up a copy at our reference desk. Registration is required for this program and space is limited. Please register online at http://www.kentonlibrary.org/events/index.php?ptype=1&loc=0&kw= or call us at 962-4002 to sign up.

Unearthing Roots

2006-05-02T15:44:00.000-04:00

Have you ever wanted to learn more about your family's history but just don't know where to start? Or are you already delving into your ancestral past and coming up empty-handed? Then Basic Genealogy may just be for you! Join us at the Erlanger Branch on May 30th at 6:30pm for an introduction to basic genealogical research, using both print and online resources. Space is limited and registration is required. Call 962-4002 to register or sign up on the Adult Programs page on our website: http://www.kentonlibrary.org/events/index.php?ptype=1&loc=0&kw=genea

Book Review: A Dirty Job

2006-04-28T20:44:00.000-04:00

You may have heard of an Alpha Male, but what about a Beta Male? In Christopher Moore’s latest bizarre literary romp, A Dirty Job, he describes the Beta Male as “the kind of fellow who makes his way through life by being careful and constant -- you know, the one who's always there to pick up the pieces when the girl gets dumped by the bigger/taller/stronger Alpha Male.” However, it just so happens that the humble Beta Males in this story become heroes to all of humankind by fighting the forces of darkness threatening to take over San Francisco (and the rest of the world!).

Moore is known for his quirky, off-beat writing, including such titles as Practical Demonkeeping, Island of the Sequined Love Nun and Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal. In A Dirty Job, Moore continues to offer more crazy characters and laugh-out-loud dialogue. If you like Robert Rankin, Jasper Fforde and Chris Genoa, you will want to add Christopher Moore to your Must Read list.

Volunteers Needed for 5k race

2006-04-19T11:05:00.000-04:00

Volunteers are needed to help at the second annual Racing to Read 5k Run & Walk at the Kenton County Public Library, benefiting the Library’s Foundation. The race will take place on Saturday, June 10 at the Mary Ann Mongan Library branch at in Covington.

Volunteers are needed from 7:30 a.m. until approximately 10:30 a.m. and from 8:15 a.m. until approximately 11 a.m.

Those arriving at 7:30 a.m.will be asked to help with registering participants, distributing food and drinks, and assisting at the finish line.

Volunteers arriving at 8:15 a.m. will be asked to assist on the race course by cheering and directing participants along the course.

Have fun and earn community service hours!

If you are interested in helping at the Racing to Read 5k Run and Walk, or for more information, please contact Robin Klaene at 859-962-4083 ext 4204 or Robin.Klaene@kentonlibrary.org.

Great book to read

2006-04-11T12:11:00.000-04:00

Do you remember the most terrifying scene in Jaws? I do too, and I’m not talking about the scene between the main character and the shark. I’m talking about the scene where the captain of the small ship they use to track the giant shark speaks about his experiences during World War II. You know the one, the scene were he gives chilling detail about his own horror shortly after the USS Indianapolis is sunk by a Japanese Submarine in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The one where over 300 men floated for five nights and four days waiting for a rescue that wasn’t coming? The one where the sailors battled dehydration, hunger, madness and sharks picking the sailors off one at a time? Yeah, that’s the scary scene I’m talking about. Did you know that the captain of the USS Indianapolis was wrongly convicted of a court martial for something he was not at fault for, and that for over fifty years the surviving sailors fought to have his name cleared unsuccessfully? That was until a young boy of 11 came along named Hunter Scott. He started his research for a school history project after watching that chilling scene in Jaws, and then proceeded to change history over a span of six years in the late 90s. In the book Left For Dead by Pete Nelson the entire story of what happened leading up to those terrifying five days, what happened during, shortly after, and then the crusade that a young boy led to finally right a wrong done by the navy all those years ago.

Feeling Artsy?

2006-04-06T11:12:00.000-04:00

The Library owns many works of art, including paintings by famous artist Frank Duveneck. You can view most of our artwork online at our Virtual Art Gallery. Each year the Northern Kentucky Heritage League sponsors an art contest and most of the winners of that prize are on display at our Erlanger location. The next time you're in Covington, look up and check out the Local Heroes Mural. While you're in Covington visit the Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center, at the former home of the Library. They have recently finished up an incredible renovation to their theater and their galleries always have something interesting to see.

Authors who just wouldn't quit

2006-04-04T11:25:00.000-04:00

While their story lines could not be more different, both Ron McLarty and Khaled Hosseini faced a similar problem when it came to publishing their first books. McLarty, the author of The Memory of Running, promoted his work online after being repeatedly rejected by numerous publishing houses and eventually caught the eye of seasoned horror novelist Stephen King. Hosseini was also concerned about the success of his novel, The Kite Runner, after its release met with a very lackluster response. However, many book clubs and reading programs soon discovered Hosseini's book, giving it a much needed grassroots push into the spotlight.

You can read more about the authors who wouldn't give up here:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4502278

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060404/ART02/604040329

Get Curious with Louise Borden

2006-04-03T19:28:00.000-04:00

Calling all Curious George fans! Learn about the harrowing journey of Curious George's creators from the Nazis during WWII. Louise Borden, author of The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H.A. Rey, will be at the Erlanger Branch of the Kenton County Public Library on Tuesday 4/4 at 7pm to recount this journey, and discuss her book!

It's going to be a fantastic program!

Venus

Author David Drake Vists Kenton County Public Library in Covington

2006-04-03T14:23:00.000-04:00

David Drake will make a speaking appearance at the Mary Ann Mongan Library, Kenton County Public Library in Covington, Kentucky on April 26th at 2:00 p.m. A full-time writer since 1981, Mr. Drake was attending Duke University Law School when he was drafted. He served the next two years in the Army, spending 1970 as an enlisted interrogator with the 11th armored Cavalry in Viet Nam and Cambodia. Upon return he completed his law degree at Duke and was for eight years Assistant Town Attorney for Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He has written over fifty novels including the Hammer’s Slammers series, Ranks of Bronze, his very popular Isles series, Lt. Leary Commanding, and his newest release Fortress of Glass.

Sorry for the rather short notice but that sometimes happens with authors on tour and promoting their newest books. We hope to see you there!

For more information, contact Gary Pilkington at 859.962.4073 or gary.pilkington@kentonlibrary.org

Just in time for April--a different kind of Easter egg hunt

2006-03-31T15:42:00.000-05:00

Native Louisvillian and artist Jeffrey Scott Holland will be hiding 10,000 green plastic Easter eggs around Louisville, Cincinnati, Chicago and surrounding cities in the month of April. Each egg will contain art created by Holland, and all lucky egg-finders can register their found piece at http://www.jeffreyscottholland.com/.

You can read more about "Project Egg" here:http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060326/SCENE05/603260325/1011/SCENE

Happy Hunting!

What exactly is a blog?!?

2006-03-31T15:21:00.000-05:00

For the uninitiated, a blog is simply an online journal, diary or newsletter. You can start your own personal blog through a website such as Blogger (www.blogger.com) or eponym (www.eponym.com/). The KCPL blog will be your source for library news and events, community happenings and other interesting and exciting information!

Welcome

2006-03-31T11:24:00.000-05:00

Hi, and welcome to the new Kenton County Public Library blog.