TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4th | The Maker Lab at Central Library will close two hours early at 5:00 PM. Thank you for your understanding! FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7th | All BCPL locations will be closed for our biannual Staff Development Day.
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.
We are now accepting applications to participate in the Homemade Homegrown Market, which kicks off on May 17th. Please review the Vendor Regulations before you submit your application.
Fall is finally here, and with it cooler temperatures, changing leaves, and—of course—Halloween and Thanksgiving! This year, between our Halloween Costume Swap, Pumpkin Walk, HallowFest activities, and dozens of other fun events, we are absolutely batty about Halloween. (Stay tuned for Thanksgiving event announcements later this month!)
But the fall season is about so much more than the holidays. There’s pumpkin spice lattes to drink, orchards to visit, and bonfires to enjoy. In honor of all the fun fall traditions, we’ve compiled a Fall Checklist of our own to showcase some of the ways BCPL can help you enjoy the season to its fullest.
1. Pick your Halloween costume
Join us at Central Library on Saturday, October 5th for our Halloween Costume Swap! Or if you have costume items you no longer use and can’t attend, drop your early donation at any BCPL location. If you miss the costume swap (or don’t find your perfect Halloween ensemble there), we still have lots of books for inspiration or you can use a BCPL sewing machine to make something yourself in our Maker Lab or at CrafterSpace. We even have a sewing machine you can check out from our Library of Things!
Spooky season isn’t complete without a scary-movie night! Check out your favorite scary shows and movies on DVD or Blu-ray, or discover a new favorite to stream in Kanopy’s 31 Days of Horror collection or browse the Best of Hoopla Horror (you can filter to find kid-friendly titles!).
Explore timeless favorites like Monopoly or discover the latest releases like Bamboozled. Whether you’re into strategy, wordplay, or cooperative adventures, we have options!
Grab a Hiking Kentucky GO! Tote to discover beautiful landscapes with everything you need right at your fingertips. Packed with trail maps, field guides, and essential hiking gear, it’s the perfect addition to your next outdoor adventure. You can also take a leisurely walk with the family outside the Central, Hillview, or Lebanon Junction locations to experience our StoryWalk® installations.
Walking not your thing? Just get outside to enjoy some fresh fall air! The backyards at our Hillview and Lebanon Junction locations and the garden courtyards at Central Library make especially nice spots to settle for a cozy read while the weather stays nice.
Prepare for late fall and winter by knitting or crocheting your own fall accessories—or give painting, screen printing, calligraphy, or event planning a try! Check out a book, watch a video tutorial with Creativebug, or join our Hooked on Crochet group at Hillview to get started.
Attend one of our Pumpkin Decorating events! We’ll supply the pumpkins, paints, and other decorations; you supply the creative spark to make your pumpkin light up. We also have books you can check out for inspiration and pumpkin-carving kits in our GO! Totes collection.
Psst.. You can pick up your own checklist bookmark at any BCPL location!
Can you think of more fall library activities we’ve missed?
E-mail Tracy at [email protected], and we might add your suggestion to our online list. Check back later this fall or follow us on social media for more falltasic things you can explore with BCPL this season.
We’re starting a new, no-pressure book club at Central Library for kids ages 8–12!
Kids will begin the books together by listening to the audiobook at the monthly meetup, making it easier than ever to discover and get started with a great new book. But first we want to know what books and authors the kids want to see featured. Participants (or their grownups) are invited to share their suggestion for upcoming Listen Here book club selections here.
Do you want to learn how to design websites or make a custom phone app? Need some help getting there or just want to meet up with other amateur coders to learn and work together? We’re working to develop code clubs and events at BCPL, and we’d love to know what interests YOU!
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New Year’s resolutions can be much easier to make than to achieve. That’s why BCPL wants to help you set and keep your New Year’s goals! Throughout the winter, 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!
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, 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.
Check your blood pressure at one of the tabletop machines at the library—or check out a portable monitor from our Library of Things.
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!
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:
Take your curiosity to the next level with specialized GO! Totes like Space Exploration or Louisville for foodies, travelers, and amateur historians. Each tote is packed with books, activities, and tools to dive into your favorite topics.
Take a deep dive into a variety of topics with The Great Courses, available with a Hoopla Binge Pass or via Kanopy. We also have some physical copies you can check out!
Learn an instrument—including voice classes!—with ArtistWorks.
Try a new hobby on for size! Our new Hobby Hunting series is the perfect, low-commitment way to see if hobbies ranging from gardening to genealogy to photography are the right fit for you.
Take a course or workshop, ranging from public speaking courses (and SO MUCH MORE) on LinkedIn Learning to a vast selection of tutorials for ALL THE CRAFTS with Creativebug. And Universal Classcourses 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:
Grow your career by streaming The Great Courses “Professional Skills” series on Kanopy or learn Career Management Skills with LinkedIn Learning.
Fall is finally here, and with it cooler temperatures, changing leaves, and—of course—Halloween and Thanksgiving! This year, between our Halloween Costume Swap, Pumpkin Walk, Spooktacular Saturday, and dozens of other fun events, we are absolutely batty about Halloween. (Stay tuned for Thanksgiving event announcements later this month!)
But the fall season is about so much more than the holidays. There’s pumpkin spice lattes to drink, orchards to visit, and bonfires to enjoy. In honor of all the fun fall traditions, we’ve compiled a Fall Checklist of our own to showcase some of the ways BCPL can help you enjoy the season to its fullest.
1. Pick your Halloween costume
Join us at Central Library on Sunday, October 15th for our Halloween Costume Swap! Or if you have costume items you no longer use and can’t attend, drop your early donation at any BCPL location. If you miss the costume swap (or don’t find your perfect Halloween ensemble there), we still have lots of books for inspiration or you can use a BCPL sewing machine to make something yourself in our Maker Lab or at CrafterSpace. We even have a sewing machine you can check out from our Library of Things!
For the final touch to their Halloween look, teens can attend our Gore Galore: Create Chilling Looks event for a crash course in SFX makeup!
Prepare for late fall and winter by knitting or crotcheting your own hat or scarf. Check out a book, watch a video tutorial with Creativebug, or join our Twisted Stitches group at Hillview!
Attend one of our four Pumpkin Decorating events! We’ll supply the pumpkins, paints, and other decorations; you supply the creative spark to make your pumpkin light up. We also have books you can check out for inspiration and pumpkin-carving kits in our GO! Totes collection.
Make something adorable and seasonal in our Maker Lab. One of our drop-in projects for October is creating fall-themed socks using our sublimation printer! We have a selection of sizes available while supplies lasts. As a drop-in project, participants must choose one of four pre-selected sock designs, but you can also schedule an appointment with a Maker Lab Assistant and learn how to make something with your designs and materials.
Spooky season isn’t complete without a scary-movie night! Check out youe favorite scary shows and movies on DVD or Blu-ray, or discover a new favorite to stream in Kanopy’s 31 Days of Horror collection or browse the Best of Hoopla Horror (you can filter to find kid-friendly titles!).
Take a walk outside the Central, Hillview, or Lebanon Junction locations to experience our new StoryWalk® installations. Or find your own local hiking adventure with our Hiking Kenutcky GO! Tote.
Walking not your thing? Just get outside to enjoy some fresh fall air! The backyards at our Hillview and Lebanon Junction locations and the garden courtyards at Central Library make especially nice spots to settle for a cozy read while the weather stays nice.
Psst… Starting Friday, October 6th, you can pick up your own checklist bookmark at any BCPL location!
Can you think of more fall library activities we’ve missed?
E-mail Tracy at [email protected], and we might add your suggestion to our online list. Check back later this fall or follow us on social media for more falltasic things you can explore with BCPL this season.
We need your help planning for SummerQuest 2024! As we look forward to next year’s program, we’d love to hear what you did (or didn’t) love about your 2023 SummerQuest experience. We appreciate any feedback are are willing to share.
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.
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.
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.
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!
This holiday season, Bullitt County Public Library is delighted to present a variety of free programs we hope will entertain, elevate the holiday spirit, and, of course, excite the kiddos. From visits with Santa to special community gatherings and holiday-themed movie nights, we’ve got something planned for all ages!
We also have a number of resources available for checkout, whether you want to watch a holiday classic to boost your Christmas cheer, settle in with a holiday-themed mystery for a cozy night in, or get advice on planning the perfect holiday gathering.
Fall is finally here, and with it cooler temperatures, changing leaves, and—of course—Halloween and Thanksgiving! This year, between our Pumpkin Spooktacular, Slightly Batty Halloween Wingding, and dozens of other fun events, we were crazy about Halloween.
But there’s still plenty to celebrate and be thankful for this fall season with Thanksgiving just around the corner. Then, before you know it, winter and Christmas celebrations will begin!
At BCPL, we envision an interconnected community in which every person experiences an enriched quality of life… and that’s where you come in!
Please join with us to create a Pumpkin Spooktacular for our entire community to enjoy. Enter our contests to create the most spooktacular pumpkin of them all, vote for your favorite pumpkins to determine our winners, and attend special events—including decorating parties and an illuminated tour of our pumpkin path after dark. It’s all happening this Halloween at Hillview Branch Library!
Pumpkin Spooktacular Contest
INDIVIDUAL & FAMILY PARTICIPATION
Individuals or family groups are invited to submit one decorated pumpkin for our Pumpkin Spooktacular walking trail. Decorate your pumpkin using whatever materials you like—the sky’s the limit. But no carving or puncturing of your pumpkin is allowed.
You may enter a library-supplied pumpkin from one of our decorating parties, or you can purchase and decorate a pumpkin at home.
PUMPKIN DROP-OFF: If you choose to decorate your pumpkin at home, submissions must be dropped off at Hillview Branch Library on Friday, October 25th or Saturday, October 26th during regular library hours between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
PRIZE: In addition to bragging rights, the patron contest winner(s) will receive a $25 Walmart gift card.
BUSINESS & ORGANIZATION PARTICIPATION Bring on the jack-o’-lanterns! Local businesses and organizations can get in on the fun too. Participating organizations may submit one carved pumpkin. You bring the carved jack-o’-lantern; we’ll provide the illumination!
PUMPKIN DROP-OFF: Friday, October 25th & Saturday, October 26th | 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
VOTING: October 26th–30th Voting kicks off on Saturday, October 26th during our Nighttime Walkabout! Library patrons and visitors who can’t attend the Nighttime Walkabout can still visit the Pumpkin Spooktacular walking trail and vote for their favorite pumpkin until 8:00 PM on Wednesday, October 30th. Then we’ll tally the votes and announce the winners on Halloween!
Pumpkin Spooktacular Events
Pumpkin Decorating Parties Come decorate a fun or spooky pumpkin to be showcased in our Nighttime Walkabout!Â
Nighttime Walkabout Visit the library after dark to take a stroll along our pumpkin path filled with spooktacular creations provided by members of the community. Costumes welcome!Â
Saturday, October 24th | 7:30–9:30 PM | Just drop in!
…And don’t forget to vote for your favorite pumpkins!
Saturday, October 26th (opens 7:30 PM)–Wednesday, October 30th (closed 8:00 PM) Voting will be open during Saturday evening’s Nighttime Walkabout and during regular library hours thereafter.
As part of its mission to empower the community, Bullitt County Public Library provides hands-on opportunities that fuel creativity and foster a passion for learning, exploring, and self improvement. By engaging the imaginations of our patrons—from birth through adulthood—and by providing opportunities and tools that allow patrons to discover and nurture their creative interests, we aim to create an atmosphere where community members can find an enriched quality of life and easily connect with others with similar interests.
Spark your creativity with these recommeded monthly programs:
Please click the link for further details, including meeting dates, times, and locations.
Artsy Afternoons - Whether you enjoy making an awesomely creative DIY project or prefer the traditional style of acrylic painting, there will be something for every artist to enjoy as we dive into a different work of art at each session. Ages 5 and up.
Creative Play - Explore fun social activities designed to encourage children to engage with their peers, exert more independence, and use their imagination through cooperative learning, creating, and play. Ages 3–5.
Makerspace - In August, join us to build happy little trees and make happy accidents as we paint along with Bob Ross. Ages 12–18.
Pinterest Wars - Test your inner crafter by battling through Pinterest Wars as we recreate popular Pinterest crafts with a twist. Ages 5–11.
Storytime - Early literacy through stories, songs, and a simple craft. Ages 3–5.
Storytime with Hoopla - Experience storytime like never before through a magical combination of children's books and technology. Plus, we'll have fun crafts and activities to reinforce stories and new concepts—just like at any other BCPL storytime! Ages 3–5.
Teen Lounge - Play on our gaming laptops, explore the world of virtual reality, create your own art projects, tinker with a variety of technology and engineering tools, get your game on with an assortment of board and card games, and share the experience with your friends. Ages 12–18.
Special Fall Events:
Please click the link for further details, including meeting dates, times, and locations.
Cornucopia of Stories - Enjoy thoughtful holiday stories and create fun cornucopia crafts to take home. Children of all ages & their families.
Crochet for Beginners - Learn to crochet—including the basic stitches, buying materials, and pattern reading—in this four-part class for beginners. All materials will be provided. Ages 13 & up.
¡DÃa de Muertos vuelve a la vida! - After our special storytime celebrating the Day of the Dead, decorate your own altar candle and sugar skull. Children of all ages.
DIY Holiday Cards - Give your holiday greetings a personal touch this year! Explore the useful design software Microsoft Publisher as you create your own custom holiday cards. Ages 16 & up.
DIY Santa's Cookie Plate - Join us for an evening of imagination and creativity as you make a keepsake plate you can use to offer Santa his special treat year after year! Children of all ages.
DIY Thanksgiving Plates - Come together as a family to start a new tradition and decorate personalized plates to dress up your holiday table for many Thanksgivings to come. All ages.
DIY Wood Ornaments - Come together as a family and join us to decorate beautiful, rustic wood ornaments. Ages 5–11 and their families.
Falling Snow Art - Create a rustic, magical piece of hanging art using precut wood planks, paint, and stencils. Ages 18 & up.
Holiday Crafting Afternoon - Bring your friends and family to create unique ornaments and decorate our Christmas tree as a community. All ages.
Holiday "JOY" Frame Trio - Create a little comfort and joy as you make a festive frame trio! Ages 12 & up.
Louisville Ballet Storytime - Let us whisk you away into the magical world of ballet with a special storytime featuring a real-life ballerina from the Louisville Ballet and a fun, ballet-inspired craft. Ages 0–5.
Pumpkin Spooktacular - Enjoy our no-carve pumpkin decorating parties, or design a pumpkin or jack-o'-lantern for our illuminated pumpkin trail. There's a contest, too! Ages vary.
Yer a Wizard! - It's wizarding month all month long at our Hillview branch, and we have all sorts of crafty, Harry Potter-inspired events planned. Ages 5 & up.
Learn from a Grammy winner! ArtistWorks offers instrumental and voice lessons from world-class professionals covering Bluegrass, Blues, Classical, Country, Jazz, Rock, and more. 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. Continue Reading ArtistWorks
**IMPORTANT NOTICE** Our direct subscription to Creativebug ended on June 30th. However, library patrons may continue to access the same great content with the Creativebug BingePass from Hoopla. Continue Reading Creativebug
LinkedIn Learning is a premier online learning resource featuring tutorials from recognized experts in their fields covering technical skills, creative techniques, business strategies, career development, and more. Learning is self-paced and courses and tutorials are broken up into short videos, so it’s easy to squeeze in just a few minutes of learning a day if that’s all the time you have. Please note: The Library ID is bcplibky if you need it to sign in to your existing account. Continue Reading LinkedIn Learning
Learn skills for business and life! Perfect for both serious students and casual learners, Universal Class offers more than 600 lifelong-learning courses covering everything from wellness and personal growth to homeschooling, parenting, hobbies, technology, and finance. Real, human instructors grade assignments and provide feedback, and many courses even offer continuing education units (CEUs). Continue Reading Universal Class
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, and we offer a wide variety of resources and upcoming events to help you get motivated for and excited about the brand new season!
Tracy says:
A searing work that still lingers at the edge of my thoughts more than five years later. Through the deaths of five young men in her Mississippi community over the course of four years, the National Book Award–winning author explores the realities of poverty and blackness in America. Ward’s account is candid and beautifully wrought, and she manages to maintain a light, humanistic touch without glossing over the gritty details.
Take BCPL’s Black History Month Challenge this February! February 1st–28th
Visit Beanstack now to get started. The challenge begins February 1st!
Learn more about African-American history, culture, milestones, and achievements… You can choose from over 40 activities. Activities range from exploring African-American art and literature to learning more about the Black experience in Bullitt County’s past to enjoying tasty cuisine or an impromptu Motown dance party.
You can read, listen, watch, or even create for your chance to win awesome prizes! Three lucky winners will be selected in a random prize drawing, and winners will get to choose their own prize.
Prize choices include:
Tickets to Keystone Cinemas in Mt. Washington
Tickets to Rave Movie Theaters in Okolona
Tickets to Jim Beam Distillery Tour in Clermont
Tickets to Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
Tickets to Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville
Tickets to the Frazier History Museum in Louisville
How to Participate:
STEP 1: Register for an account in Beanstack (if you haven’t already) If you already have an account but you forgot your login credentials, stop by any BCPL location for help retrieving your info.
STEP 2: Complete activities to earn badges. Badges are earned by completing any activity in a selected category—and you’ll have several activities to choose from in each category!Â
STEP 3:Earn at least 3 badges to be entered in the Black History Month Challenge prize drawing! …And you can earn more badges for more chances at winning!
3. Enjoy a fall treat
3. Enjoy a fall treat
