Library History

The Bullitt County Public Library exists as it does today thanks to the generosity and dedication of its employees and supporters, past and present. Our history is filled with the hard work of community organizers and volunteers, locations in donated spaces, and more than a few flooded buildings. We hope that this story is one that continues forever and that all of our patrons know that the Library offers everyone the chance to explore, learn, and enjoy.

New Library Director

September 17, 2022

Tara O’Hagan officially began her tenure as Library Director.

Central Library Grand Opening

September 17, 2022

The new Central Library officially opened to the public.

 

Introducing Curbside Pickup

March 17, 2020

Our Curbside Pickup service (originally known as Curbside Delivery) makes its official debut!

Nichols Branch Opening Day

February 13, 2020

We surprised you and opened with little fanfare at the new Nichols Branch Library, located at 10729 Highway 44 West.

Groundbreaking for Nichols Branch Library

December 4, 2018

Groundbreaking, giveaways, and more! Although early construction was already underway, we hosted a groundbreaking ceremony in the parking lot at Nichols Elementary School.

New BCPL Website Launches!

November 6, 2017

The new website is finally here! After nearly two years of hard work on behalf of our marketing team and web developer, the new site went live.

Mt. Washington Dedication Ceremony

September 9, 2017

Following our soft open of the new Mt. Washington Branch, we threw a celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

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Mt. Washington Opening Day

August 17, 2017

We surprised you and opened with little fanfare at the new Mt. Washington Branch Library, located at 214 N. Bardstown Road.

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Land Purchased for New Main Library in Shepherdsville

May 25, 2017

Bullitt County Public Library purchased 5.42 acres near the Lowes in Shepherdsville to build a new main library.

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Land Purchased for New Nichols Branch

March 17, 2017

The Library purchased four residential properties in Nichols, Kentucky, to combine into a 1.3 acre parcel for the site of a new library branch.

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Mt. Washington Branch Breaks Ground

December 4th, 2015

After multiple delays to the project, a groundbreaking ceremony for the Mt. Washington Branch Library was held.

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Land Cleared

2014

The existing church and parish on the Mt. Washington lot were removed to make way for construction of a 13,000 square foot library.

New Library Director

January 2, 2014

Joe Schweiss took over as BCPL Director.

Read the Library Bulletin welcome »

Introducing Reed the Raccoon!

October 2013

In this month’s issue of The Library Bulletin, we announced a cute, cuddly raccoon as our new Children’s mascot!

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Retirement Reception for Director Randy Matlow

August 25, 2013

A reception was held at Ridgway Memorial Library in honor of Randy Matlow, who retired after 24 years as Director at Bullitt County Public Library. He served from April 1989 to September 2013.

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Land Purchase for Mt. Washington Branch

2013

Land was purchased for a new Mt. Washington Branch Library across the street from the 2002 building.

Technical Services and Outreach & Programs Moves into New Space

October 2012

BCPL’s Technical Services and Outreach & Programs departments moved into the old Dorothea Stottman Branch Library.

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New Hillview Branch Library

April 15, 2012

The ribbon cutting ceremony for Hillview Branch Library was held. The new facility opened for service on the following day.

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Construction begins on new Hillview Branch

April 2011

The 10,000-square foot branch was officially underway in this Courier-Journal article.

Read the article »

New Hillview Branch Library Announced to Replace Dorothea Stottman

March 8, 2011

Plans were announced at the board meeting for the brand new Hillview Branch Library.

Read the press release »

New Lebanon Junction Branch Library

July 11th, 2010

The ribbon cutting for the new 7,700-square-foot Lebanon Junction Branch Library facility on South Preston Highway was held.

Nichols Access

May 2010

The Nichols “Easy Access Library” at Nichols Elementary School was put into operation.

New Lebanon Junction Branch Breaks Ground

September 2, 2009

The new Lebanon Junction Branch Library broke ground.

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Plans for New Lebanon Junction Branch Announced

April 2009

The Library announced plans to build a new facility three times the size of the old.

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Expanded Ridgway Memorial Dedicated

February 11, 2007

The newly expanded, 16,000-square-foot Ridgway Memorial Library was dedicated.

Ridgway Memorial Renovation

2006

Construction began on the Ridgway Memorial Library addition/renovation project.

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Mt. Washington Snapp Street Location Opens

September 29, 2002

The grand opening for the new 6,000-square-foot building was held.

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bcplib.org

1997

The Library website at www.bcplib.org was launched! Flood waters again threatened Ridgway Memorial.

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Public Internet Access

July 1995

The Library began using a computer system to check out materials to patrons, and public internet access was introduced at BCPL.

Computer-based Catalog Introduced

1993

Big changes were introduced to the way the Library handled circulation!

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Ridgway Memorial Renovations

1989

Ridgway Memorial Library underwent renovation.

Mt. Washington Relocation

1988

Mt. Washington Branch Library moved to a small 2,400-square-foot post office building.

Lebanon Junction Branch Library Grand Opening

November 8th, 1987

We celebrated the grand opening of the first Lebanon Junction branch library building.

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Updates to Mt. Washington Branch, Including a Wheelchair Ramp

April 1st, 1987

Read about Mt. Washington Branch Library in The Pioneer News.

See article »

Hillview Library Renamed Dorothea Stottman

April 1984

The North Bullitt Library in Hillview was renamed the Dorothea Stottman Library.

Expansion

1983

The Library was in the red for the first time since the North Bullitt dedication.

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Friends of the Library

1981

A Friends of the Library group was organized. Mt. Washington Branch moved again.

House Bill 44

January 31, 1979

House Bill 44 passed and taxes were held up six months.

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North Bullitt Branch Library

March 13th, 1977

The North Bullitt Branch Library in Hillview was dedicated.

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Lebanon Junction Given Physical Building

1976

The Lebanon Junction Branch Library was moved out of the bookmobile to City Hall.

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Mt. Washington Relocation to Physical Building

1975

The Mt. Washington Branch Library was relocated to the City Hall building.

Mt. Washington Bookmobile

April 1974

The Mt. Washington Star covers Mt. Washington’s original bookmobile!

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New Ridgway Memorial Library Dedicated

January 21st, 1973

The new Ridgway Memorial Library on N. Walnut Street was dedicated.

New Shepherdsville Branch Approved

1971

The library board approved construction of a new 8,000-square-foot facility in Shepherdsville. The Library Services Construction Act funded 62% of the project

Lebanon Junction Bookmobile Established

1967

Following a successful petition drive, Bullitt County Fiscal Court established the library taxing district under KRS 173.720. Lebanon Junction Branch Library was opened as a bookmobile.

Flood at Ridgway

1964

Flood waters invaded the Ridgway home and everything had to be moved.

Ridgway Memorial Library Dedicated

1963

Dr. and Mrs. Sam Ridgway donated a home to be used as the Ridgway Memorial Library.

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Library Legally Established

1961

The Shepherdsville library moved to a small building behind Pike Law Office.

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Mount Washington Branch Library Established

1960

A Friends of the Library group was organized. Mt. Washington branch was opened by volunteers.

Library Funded

1957

The Bullitt County Fiscal Court and the Board of Education each designated $500 annually to fund the library.

The State of Kentucky Establishes Bookmobile Program

1954

The state of Kentucky began its Bookmobile Program.

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Library Closes & Books Stored

1945

The library was closed due to a building program at the church. Books were stored for several years.

First Public Library Established

January 24, 1924

The Bullitt County Woman’s Club established the first public library in the county.

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