Lexington Public Library

Go back to school next week prepared for everything this fall has in store with test prep, home activities, picture books, and more.

Browse the collection at catalog.lexpublib.org.

Join a book club at the library! Whether you're into cooking, mysteries – or (still!) into YA – we have a book club for you. Find your next great read and some folks to talk about it with at the link below:

https://heyor.ca/7ejJnV

LPL After School is back starting August 14! Kids ages 5 – 12 with a caregiver can drop by Marksbury Family Branch and Northside Branch between 3 and 5 for a snack, homework help, and an activity every day after school. Snacks are provided courtesy of our partners at God's Pantry Food Bank!

Every Fayette County Public Schools student receives a Student Success card. This card provides access to our collection and student resources, including online homework help through Brainfuse, interactive study guides and practice exams for the GED, SAT, ACT, and ASVAB through EBSCO Learning, and more.

Check out all resources available to students at https://heyor.ca/l3h3DB

This week’s staff recommendation comes from a new face at the library! Avery, our new Digital Content Coordinator for Lexington Public Library, is deep in an interior design rabbit hole.

She’s painted her hallway three times and needs help picking a color. Lucky for them, the Lexington Public Library is a great place to start!

Her latest picks include Home Story, The Foraged Home, The Right Color, and Furniture Care: Repairing & Restoring Tables. She also found The Noma Guide to Fermentation and made a last-minute decision to start fermenting. Wish them luck!

Find what you’re looking for at the library, and then some!

Did you know the Eastside Branch has new furniture? Grab a book or a game, take a seat, and tell us what you think!

Our librarians are ready to help you discover your library! 📚 🔎

Snapshots from today's healthcare job fair in partnership with Kentucky Refugee Ministries Lexington! Attendees had the chance to learn about opportunities in the healthcare industry and translators were on site to help complete applications. A big thank you to everyone who took part!

What a fin-tastic way to wrap up the summer! 🦈

This week, we had a jaw-some encounter with a baby shark. Thanks to Newport Aquarium's Wave Foundation, kids gathered around to meet our special guest up close. Kids at the Marksbury Family Branch even made Sharkmallows to celebrate. Happy Shark Week!

This week’s staff book recommendation comes from Bad Kitty, who reviewed “Bad Kitty Makes a Movie”, by Nick Bruel.

“Meow, humans! Bad Kitty here. You won't believe what just happened to me. Uncle Murray accidentally made me famous on Viewtube. Can you imagine? I can. I'm purrfect for the big screen!

But this Hollywood business is not all catnip and belly rubs. It is exhausting dealing with paparazzi, learning my lines, and worst of all — no nap time!

If you want to see how I conquered Hollywood (and maybe caused some chaos along the way), check out "Bad Kitty Makes a Movie" by Nick Bruel. It's got all the drama, laughs, and whisker-twitching excitement you could want.”

Do you have concerns about your child's development? Join us for a chat with pediatric occupational therapist, Sarah Melanson about common development concerns and how you can help your child progress at home.

Wednesday, July 31 at 5:30 pm at Central Library. More info:
https://heyor.ca/5DyR6n

Just a regularly scheduled reminder that we don't charge fines or fees! This includes the book you lost under a pile of socks, the book your toddler decorated with stickers, and the DVD you forgot about until the next movie night.

We ask that you bring materials back for the next person to enjoy, but understand that sometimes life gets in the way – it happens to us, too!

Your next movie night is on us! 🎥 Check out a DVD at any LPL location for up to 7 days, then visit any of our libraries to return it – all free of charge!

Browse our DVD collection in-person, or online at catalog.lexpublib.org.

Next week: live sharks at the library! We are excited to welcome our friends from the Newport Aquarium Wave Foundation to learn all about sharks. 🦈

A few things to keep in mind:
- This program requires prolonged attention from the audience; it is not advised for preschool-age children and younger.
- We will be handing out a limited number of admission tickets (adults and children included) to the program at each location.
- Tickets are first-come, first-served at the door. We will begin handing out tickets one hour before the event. We strongly advise arriving early to claim tickets.
- You must be present to receive the ticket (no holding extra tickets).

Schedule:
Beaumont Branch: Monday, July 22 at 10:30 am
Central Library: Monday, July 22 at 1:30 pm
Marksbury Family Branch: Wednesday, July 24 at 10:30 am
Tates Creek Branch: Wednesday, July 24 at 1:30 pm
Northside Branch: Friday, July 26 at 10:30 am
Eastside Branch: Friday, July 26 at 1:30 pm

https://bit.ly/4bQt4lz

This week's staff book recommendation comes from Molly at Central Library. She is reading "Dead and Gondola" by Ann Claire.

Molly highly recommends the book to lovers of mysteries and cats. Join Molly at the Check Meowt Book Club at the Lexington Humane Society tonight at 6pm, where they will be discussing "Dead and Gondola".

New to Lexington or looking to pivot or take the next step in your career? Connect with potential employers in the healthcare sector at our summer job fair, co-sponsored by Kentucky Refugee Ministries Lexington, on July 29 at Marksbury Family Branch from 1:30 – 4:30 pm.

¿Recién llegaste a Lexington o está buscando un cambio o en tomar su próximo paso en su carrera? Conectate con empleados del sector médico en nuestra feria de trabajo de verano, co-patrocinado por Kentucky Refugee Ministries Lexington, el lunes 29 de julio en la sucursal de Marksbury Family de 1:30 – 4:30 pm.

https://bit.ly/3LL9iNT

Registration for STEAM Powered, a four-week program for middle school girls is still open! This free program features hands-on STEAM projects encouraging students to observe, explore, and experiment.

This year's theme is community impact. We will design a project, collect data, take photos, go on field trips, and support the community through maker projects.

The program meets on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays now through August 2 from 1 – 4 pm. Snacks will be provided daily and transportation is provided for field trips. Trans, cis, and nonbinary participants are welcome!

Sign up today! https://bit.ly/3XeAY4i

Hooked on Science with Jason Lindsey aka "Mr. Science" with Hooked on Science starts today!

Science of Pokemon (more info: https://bit.ly/3zA7Drl)
Tates Creek Branch – Monday, July 15 at 11 am
Eastside Branch – Monday, July 15 at 2 pm
Beaumont Branch – Monday, July 15 at 6 pm

Science of Star Wars (more info: https://bit.ly/4d1mzgF)
Central Library – Tuesday, July 16 at 11 am
Northside Branch – Tuesday, July 16 at 2 pm
Marksbury Family Branch – Tuesday, July 16 at 6 pm

Special thanks to the LG&E and KU Foundation for making this program possible!

Join us next Sunday, July 21, at Central Library from 2-3 pm for the 75th anniversary celebration of the Kentucky Room!

Since it opened its doors to the public in August 1949, the Kentucky Room has served local school groups, genealogists, and international researchers looking to connect and learn about the past. The collection has expanded to over 17,000 items, including books, local music, old newspapers, and local objects and records. Staff have created a local history index, digital archive, history podcast, and downloadable walking tours to make these important resources more readily available to the public.

Learn more about the celebration: https://bit.ly/3XYszTe
Explore the Kentucky Room: https://bit.ly/3Wgo05s

You asked and we listened! We are thrilled to announce that the retro pride-themed shirts are now available for purchase! Proceeds go directly to Lexington Public Library Foundation in support of library programs and initiatives.

Shop now at: lexpublib.threadless.com

Next Friday: Trivia Night at Central! We're looking for teams of up to five to try their brains at trivia questions ranging from pop culture to Lexington history.

The winning team will win $25 gift certificates to the Friends of the Lexington Public Library Book Cellar. Gallery Hop starts at 5. Come join us at 6!

Sign up here: https://bit.ly/4csAUTv

Today's book recommendation comes from Piggie, the star of 'Listen to My Trumpet!', by Mo Willems.

"HELLO! Piggie here. I wrote a review of my book! Well, Mo Willems wrote it, but I'm in it! 'Listen to My Trumpet!' is the BEST BOOK EVER! It's about ME and my new trumpet. I play it for Gerald. He's my best friend and an elephant. I play BEAUTIFULLY!

I give it 5 oinks out of 5! You should read it and then get a trumpet. TOOT TOOT!

P.S. Gerald says I should tell you it's also about listening. He's smart for an elephant!"

The Kentucky Room at Central Library recently hosted our "Light Up Lexington" event, where history met STEM! Middle- and high-schoolers illuminated historic Lexington scenes with paper circuits. Access to these rare historical photos and hands-on learning opportunities are just part of what makes our Kentucky Room special.

As we celebrate the Kentucky Room's 75th anniversary, we invite you to explore our rare books, local music, old newspapers, digital archives, and downloadable walking tours, and get to know our expert staff. From school projects to genealogy, the Kentucky Room has been connecting our community to its roots since 1949.

Join us for our upcoming 75th Anniversary Celebration and see how you can use our resources to bring history to life! https://events.lexpublib.org/event/10628308

Can't visit in person? Explore our online archive at lexpublib.org/genealogy-and-local-history

UPDATE: We are blown away by the support for this program! We have added more spots on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. In addition, open studio hours take place every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday afternoon, and every first and third Saturday and Sunday. All cardholders have a monthly credit to use toward materials at our experiential learning spaces, including the Eastside Makerspace. More info here: https://www.lexpublib.org/ebmakerspace

Hey, Lexington teachers! Come get your classroom ready at the Eastside Makerspace with dedicated (and free!) teacher days this month. Print posters and signs on our large format printer, tackle high-volume laminating projects, create pins and magnets for your students, and more. Our experts will be on site and ready to help. Registration now open!

We ask that classroom educators only sign up for one session each.

Available sessions:
Tuesday, July 23 10 am - 1 pm
Wednesday, July 24 10 am - 1 pm
Thursday, July 25 10 am - 1 pm
Friday, July 26 10 am 1 pm

https://events.lexpublib.org/events?n=90&r=days&term=teacher

Life-size dinosaurs are taking over the library this week for a fun, educational meet-and-greet with lots of photo opportunities!

Life-Size Dinosaur Encounter Schedule:
Central Library on July 10 at 11:00 am
Marksbury Family Branch on July 10 at 2:00 pm
Northside Branch on July 10 at 6:00 pm
Eastside Branch on July 11 at 11:00 am
Beaumont Branch on July 11 at 2:00 pm
Tates Creek Branch on July 11 at 6:00 pm

Full details: https://bit.ly/3VYwHA0

Did you know that the first Lexington library was established in 1795, less than 3 years after Kentucky became a state? Or that a famous duel took place in 1889 at the old Lexington Post Office, just a block from where Central Library stands now?

Delve into the history of the Lexington Public Library or uncover the secrets of notorious places in Lexington with our two new audio walking tours, available now at lexpublib.org/walking-tours.

Happy Independence Day! All locations will be closed today, July 4th, but we look forward to seeing you again tomorrow!

A Pride Month for the books! We celebrated with a poetry reading by Willie Carver, Jr., Pride Prom, book club meetings, the Lexington Pride Festival, and more.

Celebrate Pride year-round with book recommendations, podcasts, and walking tours at lexpublib.org/pride.

This month, we're celebrating 75 years of preserving local history at the Kentucky Room. Stop by any time this month to participate in Kentucky Room bingo – complete five activities in a row and trade it in for a limited edition Cricket Press poster!

And join us for a celebration on Sunday, July 21 at 2 pm. https://bit.ly/3XKBwPY

This week’s staff recommendation draws inspo from Sad Girl Summer vibes. J.P. is reading Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides. Naomi and Brooke are reading the Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann.

Join us in reading these cult classics, then come in for a free screening at the Farish Theater of the film adaptation, followed by a discussion.

June 30: Valley of the Dolls - 2 pm: https://events.lexpublib.org/event/10286655
July 28: Virgin Suicides - 2 pm: https://events.lexpublib.org/event/10286842

Soak in the sun this summer with a good book! What's on your to-read list? ☀️

Browse these titles and others at catalog.lexpublib.org.