All locations are open regular hours, and in-person programs, services, and meeting room spaces are available. For more information about pandemic operations, please visit our COVID-19 page.
Library and Curbside Pickup hours are: Monday–Thursday 11 AM–7 PM @Nichols, 9 AM–8 PM @All Other Locations | Friday & Saturday 9 AM–5 PM @All Locations | Sunday 1–5 PM @Ridgway Memorial Only
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.
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 we replant the wildflower garden at Nichols Branch Library and take a peek at our bee hives as they come out of dormancy. (No worries, we’ll have binoculars available!)
Enjoy themed scavenger hunts at our Hillview and Mt. Washington locations.
Pick up a complimentary mini flower pot printed on our 3D printer at Hillview Branch Library.
Browse our Earth Day, spring, and/or gardening displays at all locations to discover inspiring reads for the season.
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.
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:
May – Yarn Birds
June – Wrapped Washer Necklace
Growth Mindset Kits
Beginning May 15th, visit the library once a week over ten weeks—or on ten separate occasions—to receive part of a growth mindset kit. This kit is designed to help kiddos build confidence, accept change, and handle challenges in a healthy way!
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services grant #LS-250213-OLS-21.
You can log your kit-completion progress in Beanstack!
Available to children of all ages while supplies last!
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!
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!
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.
Create Your Own Farmhouse Scrabble Tiles - Join us to create unique, hand-painted scrabble tiles made from wood. Not only are they fun to make, they also serve as functional and beautiful wall décor that can be personalized to spell out anything you like! Ages 16 & up.
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.
¡Día 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.
Find inspiration and instruction with video classes taught by recognized artists, crafters, designers, and makers! With over 1,000 delectable, quick classes and in-depth workshops, Creativebug is the perfect creative companion for those who like to mix imagination and step-by-step DIY instruction. Explore art, knitting, jewelry making, cooking, home décor, holiday crafts, projects for kids, and more.
Flipster is a next-generation magazine service that lets users browse digital versions of the latest issues of popular magazines for free, courtesy of the library. Magazine categories include arts & crafts, business & money, entertainment, home & garden, science & technology, and so much more! Flipster offers convenient access and a user-friendly reading experience. Magazines can be read online with your computer, smartphone, or tablet or downloaded to your mobile device for offline access.
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.
Learn skills for business and life! Universal Class offers more than 500 lifelong-learning courses covering everything from wellness and personal growth to homeschooling, parenting, hobbies, and finance. Many courses even offer continuing education units (CEUs).
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!
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!
Did you know that the tradition of New Year’s resolutions goes as far back as the ancient Babylonians? That’s nearly four thousand years of people carrying an unfailing belief in goal setting and new beginnings. Inspiring, right?
But unfortunately, New Year’s resolutions are much easier to make than to achieve. Sometimes we don’t even know where to begin. We have a tendency to set huge, unrealistic goals, rather than focusing on smaller, more achievable options. As a result, often people don’t actually believe they’ll stick to their goals, and by February, they’ve given up entirely. Failure in any capacity is very disheartening, and can affect our self-esteem and our drive to keep trying.
Part of that inability to follow through could be because we know what we want to accomplish, but we don’t put much thought into how we’re going to achieve it. 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 likelVisit Sitey.
Just as we did in 2018, 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. Along the way, we’ll also share some helpful tips on how to keep your momentum going!
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:
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.
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.
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.
RESOLUTION #4
We all have that friend that always seems so calm, cool, and collected. He/she works full time, maintains perfect relationships with her family, never misses an event, and has it together so well she’d give you the shirt off her 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. And for a solid perspective on living your best life in 2019, we suggest you check out our Color Your Year Pretty series with local author Stephanie Feger.
Laura says:
This movie shows people the importance of family in our lives. Even though Miguel isn’t allowed to play his guitar and follow his musical passion, he is able to persuade his family that music isn’t bad and uncovers a family secret.
