Exciting news! Access to the BCPL app has been restored with full catalog functionality. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we awaited a resolution between the involved vendors. (Psst… We’re also working on an all-new app with enhanced features! We expect to release the new app in May 2024.)
With thousands of items in our collection, BCPL offers something for everyone to enjoy. We can’t wait to help you discover great books, movies, and more!
Whether you want to build computer skills, master a language, or just learn something new for the fun of it, we offer resources and services to help you become the person you want to be.
Use the menu to the right to learn about all available resources for a particular format (like e-books!), or click on a specific resource icon (like Hoopla!) to begin exploring available titles. With just a few simple clicks, you can access thousands of free e-books, audiobooks, music albums, videos, and more.
Stream quality children's shows—no play credits required!
Switch to Libby!
The legacy OverDrive app will be fully discontinued in early 2023, but Libby offers the same Kentucky Libraries Unbound titles you love with new features and an improved user experience!
Let BCPL help you celebrate Earth Day in a meaningful way!
From the bustling activity of spring cleaning to the weather warm-up, spring is the season of renewal. Flowers bloom, wildlife prospers, and spirits lift. BCPL wants to help you enjoy the season to its fullest, beginning with sharing a variety of programs and resources all about protecting and appreciating nature. From gardening events to upcycled crafts to an online Ecology 101 course, we’ve got you covered!
Follow our progress as the wildflower garden at Nichols Branch Library blooms, and take a peek at our bee hives as they come out of dormancy. (No worries, we’ll have binoculars available!)
Visit the Spring/Wind garden at Central Library. We can’t wait for our seasonal plants to start popping up.
Enjoy themed scavenger hunts at our Hillview and Mt. Washington locations.
Browse our Earth Day, spring, and/or gardening displays at all locations to discover inspiring reads for the season.
January 27th—the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau—is designated by the United Nations General Assembly as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
On this annual day of commemoration, nations and individuals are encouraged to honor the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and the millions of other victims of Nazism. The same UN resolution supports the development of educational programs to remember the Holocaust and to prevent further genocide.
In observance of this important anniversary, we are sharing a few of our favorite stories that help ensure we never forget.
Brandy’s Picks
Night by Elie Wiesel
I’ve read this book every year since first reading it as a sophomore in high school. It is a reminder that we must speak up when we see something that is wrong; our inaction can have a much larger effect than we ever imagine. Elie survived the unimaginable and made it his life purpose to ensure it would never happen again. He shared his story that we may never forget what happened and to try to ensure it’ll never happen again.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz Trilogy by Heather Morris
With each book, you become more and more involved with their stories. Although the characters overlap in the stories, the stories do not overlap; they are each their own stand-alone stories of their own individual experiences. These stories are not always easy to read, but Morris did an amazing job of making sure they are not books you want to put down. I listened to these books as audiobooks, and the narrators do an amazing job of telling their stories; you definitely do not get hung up on the narration and lose track of the book as you do in some audiobooks.
A wounded German soldier of the Reich is returned home to discover that his mother is hiding two Jewish sisters in their attic. He is outraged and feels his mother is a traitor by her act of mercy. He feels the need to turn the sisters in to the Gestapo until he starts to get to know them better and their unfortunate plight.
This is a heart-wrenching love story about an Auschwitz-Birkenau prison camp tattooist who falls in love with a young woman waiting in line for her prison camp tattoo. This is another hope and survival tale based on interviews the author made with the Holocaust survivor tattooist, Lale Sokolov, and the Jewish woman he was determined to marry while trying to survive the prison camp.
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, this visually and emotionally rich tale of the Holocaust reimagines the author’s parents’ deportation to Auschwitz and their post-war experiences in America in a world where the Nazis are represented as cats and Jews are symbolically portrayed as mice.
This is a truly lovely book; haunting and terribly sad because we know it is based on true events, but also inspirational. Ruta Sepetys’s writing is fluid and emotionally evocative. With a few precise words, she is able to make a powerful statement. It is never overdone or cheaply sentimental. The first sentence grabbed me, and I did not want to put this book down as Lina’s story gradually and painfully unfurled.
The novel is written in short chapters, which makes some of the atrocities described a bit easier to digest. Scenes are not truly graphic, but they are vividly and powerfully depicted. But, again, there is a thread of hope and perseverance that runs throughout, as well as a budding love story to provide balance. Also, there are flashbacks to Lina’s life in Lithuania before the deportation to provide respite and clues to explain why Lina’s family was targeted by the Soviets.
The characters, especially Lina, her mother, and a crotchety old man who is with the family on the train and at the various work camps, seemed real. Of course, several first-person accounts and interviews where included in Sepetys’s research. And the author’s own family history undoubtedly made this an intensely personal story.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL: INTERNET ACCESS VIA LEASED LIT FIBER
The Bullitt County Public Library (“BCPL”) in Bullitt County, Kentucky, is now accepting proposals for Leased Lit Fiber bundled with Internet Access to cover the period beginning July 1, 2022 and ending June 30, 2027. The services requested in this document are part of the E-rate filing for BCPL for the 2022–23 funding year and are necessary for enhancing Internet access at our branches. All bids must include the Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) or the bid will be disqualified. Information about the E-rate program can be found at www.usac.org/e-rate.
Sealed proposals will be received in person or by mail/other shipper to the Contact Person: Joe Schweiss, Executive Director, at the Ridgway Memorial Library, 127 N. Walnut Street, PO Box 99 (only if using USPS), Shepherdsville, KY, 40165, until 5:00 PM EST, February 21, 2022. Only signed paper copies of proposals will be accepted. No proposals will be accepted by electronic means (e.g., fax or e-mail).
The Bullitt County Public Library (“BCPL”) in Bullitt County, Kentucky, is now accepting proposals for internal network upgrades at our newest location within the BCPL system. The services requested in this document are part of the E-rate filing for BCPL for the 2022–23 funding year and are necessary for upgraded internet services at our new locations. All bids must include the Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) or the bid will be disqualified. Information about the E-rate program can be found at www.usac.org/e-rate.
Sealed proposals will be received in person or by mail to the Contact Person: Joe Schweiss, Executive Director, at the Ridgway Memorial Library, 127 N. Walnut Street, PO Box 99, Shepherdsville, KY, 40165, until5:00 PM EST, February 21, 2022. Only signed paper copies of proposals will be accepted. No proposals will be accepted by electronic means (e.g., fax or e-mail).
Bullitt County Public Library (“the Library”) will be issuing a contract for snow and ice removal for the coming winter season. The timeframe will be approximately December 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. The Library will be accepting individual bids that cover any or all library locations, which includes the Library’s Annex building. Contractors are invited to submit itemized proposals per location. Sealed proposals must be received at the Ridgway Memorial Library located in Shepherdsville by 12:00 PM (noon) on Monday, October 25th. This will be a public bid opening.
Authors/activists/humans whose work invites is to listen to our body’s wisdom and honor the wisdom of others. Read their books and look for them on Instagram:
New Year’s resolutions can be much easier to make than to achieve. Sometimes we don’t even know where to begin. We have to step back from the emotional side of setting resolutions and create a step-by-step plan for making them happen. Doing so can lessen anxiety, improve focus, and boost confidence—making success far more likely.
This year, BCPL wants to help you set and keep your New Year’s resolutions! Throughout the month of January, we’ll be exploring some of the most common resolutions people make and sharing how you can use your library resources to reach your goals.
No one is perfect, and the path to keeping your goals won’t be either. If you fall behind, be kind to yourself and get right back on the path. Set your plans, but be flexible, too. And remember, small victories lead to big goals!
RESOLUTION #1
We all have that friend that always seems so calm, cool, and collected. They work full time, maintain perfect relationships with their family, never miss an event, and have it together so well they’d give you the shirt off their back if you needed it.
But here’s a secret you may not know—that exterior is a myth. Nobody lives a completely balanced life. Even the person you think has everything figured out! But we have tips and strategies on how you can feel a little more balanced.
Universal Class Courses to consider: Building Self-Esteem, How to Be Your Own Life Coach, Pursuing Happiness: Successful Strategies, Relaxation 101, Single Parenting 101, Stress Management, Time Management 101, & more!
Wellness Momentum Facebook | YouTube Begins January 2nd. Watch Life in Perspective, Grief & Loss, Wellness from the Woods, and more!
RESOLUTION #2
Life is so hectic! You get up, take the kids to school, and go to work, then after a long work day, it’s time to pick the kids up, cook dinner (or let’s be honest, it’s probably take out, right? Who has time to cook?), go to bed, and then do it ALL over again the next day. Where are you supposed to fit in being healthy and active?
According to Harvard University, it’s important to our health to stay active. Physical activity keeps our hearts, bodies, and brains healthy and functioning. We all pretty much understand this, but finding time to exercise, eat better, and take care of our mental and emotional needs is difficult in such a fast-paced society.
Universal Class Courses to consider: Anti-Aging Techniques, Depression Management, Diabetes 101, Drug & Alcohol Abuse 101, Emotional Healing 101, Nutrition 101 & 201, Weight Loss Management, Weight Training 101!
Wellness Momentum Facebook | YouTube Begins January 2nd. Watch Yoga and more!
RESOLUTION #3
Humans have a deep-seated desire to create, learn, and connect to the world around us. Even if you aren’t an artistically inclined person, everyone has hobbies that give them a sense of satisfaction—whether it’s painting a mountain landscape or collecting back issues of National Geographic. Many of us have hobbies we would love to pick up, but can’t seem to find the chance (or the time) to do so.
Believe it or not, your library is a hotbed of opportunities for you to finally check out that hobby you’ve always been interested in.
Recommended Solutions:
Check out a themed GO! Tote that speaks to your interests or hobbies (or your kids’ interests!), like Gross Biology; Mars & the Universe; or Louisville for foodies, travelers, and amateur historians.
Learn an instrument—including voice classes!–with ArtistWorks.
Learn a new language with our Intro to Sign Language series (begins February 1st) or explore dozens of languages with Mango.
Learn DIY skills and ALL THE CRAFTS with Creativebug.
Universal Class Courses range from business skills to UFO Studies!
RESOLUTION #4:
Money is an unfortunate necessity in life. We need it to pay for simple living necessities, like a home to live in, water to drink, food to eat, and electricity to keep us warm. People also have an innate desire to make memories, and while there are many things you can do that don’t cost money, a lot of things we enjoy do.
But man—keeping your finances in order is HARD! Saving money, budgeting money, investing your money: these are things they don’t always teach you in school. There are methods we can use to keep our finances in order, but without the knowledge, we don’t know where to start.
Recommended Solutions:
Schedule an appointment with a reference librarian. You can get help with a job search or your résumé, build computer skills to boost your employability, learn to use Excel to create a budget, and more.
Universal Class Courses to consider: Accounting & Bookkeeping 101 for Everyone, Business Budgeting 101, Debt Reduction, Investing 101, Investing 201, Investing 301, Personal Finance 101, Retirement Planning, Understanding Insurance Types & more!
Do you have a SPECIFIC resolution in need of solutions?
Contact us, and we’ll offer possible solutions to aid your progress.
BULLITT COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY ELIMINATES LATE FEES
SHEPHERDSVILLE— Bullitt County Public Library (BCPL) has permanently eliminated fines on late materials. “No More Late Fees!” Effective immediately, BCPL will no longer charge fees on late materials.
All previous overdue fees fines have already been forgiven. Eliminating fines allows our customers greater access to all of the resources available at the library including books, DVDs, online classes, e-media and more. It’s important to note that patrons will still be responsible for returning items and paying for any lost or damaged materials.
In December 2018, we eliminated overdue fines on all youth materials. Then at the start of the pandemic in early 2020, we suspended late fees altogether.
Now we’re making it permanent!
Effective immediately, BCPL no longer charges fees for late materials. All pre-existing late fines are also forgiven. Simply bring your materials back. Patrons are still responsible for replacement fees if items are lost or damaged.
Why have we eliminated fines?
We believe no one should be denied access to library materials based on their ability to pay fines. Eliminating late fees removes an access barrier to ensure all BCPL patrons can explore, learn, and enjoy equally.
Plus, studies show that eliminating fines encourages patrons to return overdue materials—making them available for others to borrow once again!
Wait… Does that mean I can just keep all the things?
Materials will still have a due date when you check them out, but you will now have up to THREE opportunities to renew items* as long as they haven’t been requested by someone else. If an item reaches 45 days overdue, patrons must either renew or pay a replacement fee; otherwise, patrons will be suspended from checking out additional material until the overdue items are returned.
*Please note, some items, including Blu-rays, DVDs, and Playaway Launchpads, are not renewable.
When will the charges be removed from my account?
Overdue fees should already be cleared from your account, but if we missed something on your account, let us know. If items were not returned, your account will still have charges for the lost item(s). Simply bring your “lost” materials back to the library and all fines will be forgiven.
Has your library card expired?
You can visit any BCPL location to get your account updated or even request a renewal online! If you don’t have a library card, you can apply for a Digital-Only account online or drop by any of our five neighborhood locations to sign up for a full-privileges account.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL: HVAC PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE
Bullitt County Public Library (“the Library”) will be issuing a 12-month contract for preventative maintenance on our HVAC equipment to begin April 2021. The Library will be accepting individual bids on each of our library locations, which includes the Library’s Annex building. Contractors are invited to submit itemized proposals per location. Sealed proposals must be received at the Ridgway Memorial Library located in Shepherdsville by 11:00 AM on Monday, March 29th.
Bullitt County Public Library is seeking proposals from qualified lawn care and landscaping contractors to provide bids for a 12-month service period to begin April 2021. Contractors are invited to submit itemized proposals per location for any or all of the following facilities: Ridgway Memorial Library in Shepherdsville, Hillview Branch Library, Lebanon Junction Branch Library, Mt. Washington Branch Library, Nichols Branch Library, and the Dorothea Stottman Annex in Hillview. Sealed bids must be received at the Ridgway Memorial Library in Shepherdsville by 12:00 PM (noon) on Monday, March 29th.
From September 15th–October 15th, we are featuring stories about Latinx people and books from Hispanic and Latinx authors in our buildings and our online platforms. Here, Lexi from our Mt. Washington branch and Tracy from our Public Relations team share just a few of the titles they’ve loved.
Lexi’s Picks:
Anna-Marie McLemore’s books are amazing. Their writing is phenomenal and is some of the best YA magical fantasy I’ve read. When the Moon Was Ours is my favorite.
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado is a memoir where Machado talks about her experience in an abusive relationship using different narrative tropes to look at all the angles. It’s a heavy read, but deeply moving and a book I think everyone should try to read. The audiobook was especially good.
ArtistWorks offers instrumental and voice lessons from world-class professionals. From beginner instruction to advanced classes, aspiring musicians of all skills levels are provided a guided path of video lessons containing everything they need to reach their musical goals.
Learn at your own speed and enjoy the instructional videos on desktop or mobile devices. ArtistWorks is available as a Kentucky Libraries Unbound/Libby Extra. You will need to log in to KLU/Libby with your library card number and PIN to access Extras. Once your ArtistWorks account is created, it will need to be renewed through Libby every 30 days.
Features include:
Bluegrass, Blues, Classical, Country, Jazz, Rock, and more
Hundreds of hours of high-quality video instruction
Studio quality play-along tracks
Downloadable written materials, tablature, and sheet music
Universal Class offers more than 500 lifelong-learning courses in over 30 subject areas—many of which offer continuing education units (CEUs). Courses are designed and led by professional instructors to build deeper understanding and mastery of subject matter through a variety of mediums including videos, assignments, quizzes, tests, and interactive opportunities with other learners. Universal Class is a great choice for both serious students and casual learners.
Patrons may take multiple classes and learn at their own pace. Universal Class is best accessed through a desktop computer and is available as a Kentucky Libraries Unbound/Libby Extra. You will need to log in to KLU/Libby with your library card number and PIN to access Extras. Once your Universal Class account is created, it will need to be renewed through Libby every 30 days.
A wide variety of courses span everything from homeschool courses for the kids (and parents) to business and accounting to dozens of cooking, baking, arts & crafts, and gardening courses. Examples include:
LIBRARY CARDS EMPOWER STUDENTS AND FUEL ACADEMIC SUCCESS
SHEPHERDSVILLE—Bullitt County Public Library (BCPL) is holding free kindergarten readiness boot camps—called “Kinder Camp”—at two locations beginning Saturday, October 9th.
Kinder Camp is a 10-week series designed to equip preschoolers—and their parents and caregivers—with the tools they need to be ready for kindergarten.
LIBRARY CARDS EMPOWER STUDENTS AND FUEL ACADEMIC SUCCESS
September is Library Card Sign-up Month, a time when Bullitt County Public Library joins the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries nationwide to remind parents, students, and communities that signing up for a library card is the first step on the path to academic achievement and lifelong learning.
We’re still getting our Pirate on this month at BCPL, and our children’s team is sharing some of their favorite pirate stories to prove it. These stories be treasures indeed!
Ms. Angel says:
I could not stop laughing through Louise Pigott’s Squirrel Me Timbers! I just loved the little squirrel and his adventure.
My recommendation is Scooby-Doo!: Pirate’s Treasure by Maria S. Barbo. You all know I love all things Scooby-Doo! A treasure hunt, the possibility of a pirate ghost, and Scooby and the Gang—what more could a person hope for? Grab your Scooby Snacks and get ready for a fun adventure!
Understand the world. Navigate life. Access The New York Times here.
Whether you’re managing finances, tackling tough parenting problems, or simply looking to make sense of this moment, rely on original, quality journalism from The New York Times to lead the way. It’s an essential source for fearless reporting, varied perspectives, and practical advice on nearly every topic—from the vital issues shaping our world to the simple pleasures that make everyday life better.
The New York Times Digital subscription provides unlimited access to current New York Times articles but does not include New York Times Cooking or Crosswords.
Selected articles are also available in Spanish and Chinese.
ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS *Please note, the READ ON link on NYTimes.com leads to a newsletter subscription page. However, you can bypass or navigate away to explore all that the New York Times Digital subscription has to offer!
Inside the library:
Use a BCPL computer or connect your device to our Wi-Fi.
You may use this online form to e-mail your records request. For additional submission options or requirements, please refer to our Open Records Request page.
We are offering our first-ever LGBTQ+ Pride Kits in June 2021. Kits also include a variety of LGBTQ+ identity reading lists, which you can access here or in the kits for as long as they remain available.
Bring home the excitement of some of your favorite library programs and events! Our various Take & Make Activity Kits are designed to provide you with everything you need to enjoy fun hands-on crafts, experiments, and other activities at your convenience.
Craft Takeout
Are you hungry for a new craft? Order up a delicious new project every month. Ages 18 and up. Kits are typically released on the 1st of each month. Supplies are limited.
MONTHLY TAKEOUT MENU:
September – Pumpkin Jar
October – Boho Hoop Wreath
November – Decoupage Coasters
Storytime Crafts Kits
If your kiddos are wanting to take the storytime experience home, these kits may be just what you’re looking for! Our Storytime Crafts Kits are a great way to build on your in-person storytimes at the library or to replace hands-on storytime craft activities if you can’t make it to one of our regular storytimes. They include everything you need to craft your weekly projects, and you have the perfect recipe for at-home family fun and learning for the littles.
Monthly kits for each new month are available beginning at the end of the previous month. Pick them up at any BCPL location anytime throughout the month while supplies last!
The Bullitt County Public Library (“BCPL”) in Bullitt County, Kentucky, is now accepting proposals for internal network upgrades at our newest branch within the BCPL system. The services requested in this document are part of the E-rate filing for BCPL for the 2021–22 funding year and are necessary for upgraded internet services at all locations. All bids must include the Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) or the bid will be disqualified. Information about the E-rate program can be found at www.usac.org/sl.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL: INTERNET ACCESS VIA LEASED LIT FIBER
The Bullitt County Public Library (“BCPL”) in Bullitt County, Kentucky, is now accepting proposals for Internet Access at many branches within the BCPL system. The services requested in this document are part of the E-rate filing for BCPL for the 2021–22 funding year and are necessary for upgraded internet services at all locations. All bids must include the Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) or the bid will be disqualified. Information about the E-rate program can be found at www.usac.org/sl.
INVITATION TO BID: NEW MAIN LIBRARY IN SHEPHERDSVILLE
The Bullitt County Public Library will receive bids from qualified contractors for a General Construction Contract, including site, grading, landscape, architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, and fire protection work for the new Main Library. The proposed work will encompass approximately 45,000 square feet of enclosed area.
Sealed bid packets must be received NO LATER than 2:00 PM EST on Tuesday, June 30th. Packets should be delivered to Ridgway Memorial Library, 127 N. Walnut Street, PO Box 99, Shepherdsville, KY 40165, ATTN: Joe Schweiss. Each contractor shall fax their List of Materials and Equipment, List of Subcontractors, and Unit Prices to Joe Schweiss, 502-543-5487, within one hour of the bid date and time.
All questions regarding drawings and specifications should be submitted to Omni Architects via e-mail, and replies will be issued to all accepted prime builders of record and will become part of the contract as addenda to the Drawings and Specifications in the plan. Questions received less than 72 hours before the bid opening cannot be answered.
Please include both contacts in any e-mail correspondence: