But, a few years ago, we thought, “What about the adults? Shouldn’t we include them in our fun summer plans?” And that is how our adult summer reading program was born.

The adults get to start a week earlier than the kids, and the program runs more than a month longer. We figure adults are busy people – working and taking care of the kids – and finding time to read might be a bit harder for them.

So, get ready adults: “Groundbreaking Reads” starts on Memorial Day!

That’s when you can start counting the books you read, and getting rewarded for telling us what you thought of them. You have until Labor Day (Sept. 2) to read, read, read!

It’s simple to participate – click on the summer reading link on the home page, or click here. (this will be active starting on Memorial Day). Once you get registered, then you write a brief review (25 word minimum) telling us, and other summer reading participants, what you thought of the book. That’s it.

Reviews forms can also be found at any library branch (after Memorial Day). Each review submitted gives the person one entry in the drawing for the grand prize – a tablet computer!

The Groundbreaking Reads theme ties in with this year’s programs for kids (Dig Into Reading) and teens (Beneath the Surface). The rewards are focused around the theme, too:

For 5 books read, adults will get a shovel-shaped packet of mint seeds, which can be planted directly into the ground.  When adults read 10 books, we will give them a foldaway “Groundbreaking Reads” bag. At the 20-book level, the reward is a set of headphones. When adults read 25 books, we will reward them by letting them select a book or audio book of their choice (up to a $25 value). BCPL Friends are once again graciously paying for the book rewards!

And finally, at the 30-book level, we will give adults a one-year family membership to the Highlands Museum & Discovery Center, so they can go “dig into” all the cool stuff at the museum.

Speaking of the Highlands Museum, it will once again be the site of a month-long photography exhibit connected to our adult summer reading program. The theme this year is “Groundbreaking Images,” and it will be on display at the museum from Aug. 2 through Sept. 3. More information and entry forms will be available soon.

The program will end with a Groundbreaking Party on Friday, Sept. 6, at the Main Branch. That’s when participants will get the rewards they earned throughout the summer. We will also draw for the grand prize, and give away some neat door prizes.

Summertime is here. It’s a great time to get caught up on your reading – and have some fun and get some cool stuff at the same time. We hope many of you will take part.

In what is fast becoming one of our favorite times of the year (we have many), Get Caught Reading Month is a time for BCPL staff to go on the hunt in the community to find people reading – anywhere and everywhere.

The month-long observance has been around since 1999, when the Association of American Publishers launched it to help communities promote a love of reading. BCPL started celebrating it four years ago.

What we do is simple: Every day in May, we send a staff member out into the community, armed with an “I Got Caught Reading by BCPL” t-shirt and a camera. We go to parks, ball fields, the mall, laundromats – anywhere folks might be reading a book, ebook, magazine or newspaper. When we find someone, we politely introduce ourselves and explain to the reader that they have been “caught.” Then we give them the t-shirt and snap their picture.

The campaign has gotten so popular we have people calling or texting staff to alert them to where they would be reading that day. We appreciate that, but the idea is for it to be a random quest.

BCPL is one of hundreds of libraries and schools nationwide that have embraced the Get Caught Reading campaign – all in different ways. Many schools will give students extra time each day for leisure reading, and then take pictures of the students “caught reading” and put them on posters.

That’s the whole idea of Get Caught Reading Month – to recognize and encourage leisure reading. If your child isn’t old enough yet to enjoy reading on his or her own, then reading to them is a great first step.

Research indicates that early language experience actually stimulates a child’s brain to grow, and that reading to children gives them a huge advantage when they start school.

Many authors and celebrities have lent their support to the Get Caught Reading campaign. There is a “What Are You Reading?” campaign on Youtube, featuring more than 30 author videos, and many celebrities appear on posters supporting the campaign.

The movement is so popular that in 2008, the American Association of Publishers launched a Get Caught Listening campaign, which aims to communicate the pleasures of audiobook listening in all audio formats, and promotes the value of the medium as a beneficial learning tool supporting literacy and education.

So, read or listen, we don’t care. But wherever you are doing it this month, we will be looking for you.

This is one time it’s OK to get caught!

This is the highest rating a library can receive in Kentucky. Exemplary libraries are those that “exceed expectations,” according to the Kentucky Public Library Standards. Only five libraries in the state have this distinction.

BCPL’s board and staff have been working hard on attaining exemplary status since the standards were first announced a few years ago.

Standards provide a guide to excellence, and define the kind of public library services that should be available for Kentuckians. The KPLA Standards stress ongoing planning and evaluation in seven key areas: governance and administration; human relations; collections; services; facilities; technology; and marketing/public relations.

Standards define the kind of public library services that should be available for Kentuckians. There are three Kentucky Public Library Standards:

•  Essential: a library that would be meeting the basic needs of the community
• Enhanced: a library that is providing enhanced services
• Exemplary: a library that exceeds expectations.

Part of BCPL’s strategic plan was to attain Exemplary Status by 2013.

“This award represents many hours of hard work and planning by those who are dedicated to providing the best possible library system for the people of Boyd County,” said Debbie Johnson, president of the BCPL Board of Trustees. “Many thanks go to the staff … as well as to the past and present members of the board. This is a prime example of what we can accomplish when we focus on a goal and work together.”

BCPL Director Debbie Cosper said achieving exemplary status confirms what Boyd County residents already know: “We have a terrific library that offers so much.”

The designation shows that Boyd County Public Library is a forward-thinking and responsive organization, Cosper said. “It documents that the library has an engaged and informed board, provides well-trained and state-certified staff, and maintains and updates policies and procedures regularly,” she said. “It also means that the library provides a balanced collection that is current and informative, that the library is at the forefront in technology across the state, and that it offers a wide range of programming for all ages.”

According to the KPLA Standards Committee, the standards help maximize the library’s role in the community by focusing its resources. “Planning is the keystone for a dynamic, evolving organization … The most effective tool for evaluating a library’s progress and defining goals for future development is a written plan,” according to the introduction to the Kentucky Public Library Standards: Direction and Service for the 21^st Century.

Warren County Public Library also received exemplary status this year. Kenton County was the first, in 2011, followed by Boone and McCracken last year.

This year, at BCPL, we have another reason. On Valentine’s Day – the big day of love itself – we will be showing off all the improvements made over the last few months to the Catlettsburg Branch.

The branch closed at the end of September for a major overhaul. Patrons in the eastern end of the county have been patiently waiting since then for their “little branch” to reopen.

We hope everyone in Catlettsburg – and elsewhere in the county – will join us on Thursday, Feb. 14, to tour the new and improved branch. It’s located at 2704 Louisa St., just downriver from the Boyd County courthouse.

There will be cake and other refreshments throughout the day. We will also be having a drawing to give away an eReader.

So, what’s been done? A lot.

The former dress shop – home to BCPL for nearly 30 years – got a new roof, and new wiring, lighting and ductwork. By moving the ductwork, there is a lot more height in the middle of the building. There is also a bit more room in the parking lot, because the air conditioning unit went up on the roof.

The branch also has new ADA compliant restrooms, and new paint, carpet and furniture, along with a nice-sized meeting room, something the branch has lacked.

Patrons will also notice a new front desk (complete with book drop), positioned on the other side of the room so staff can greet people when they come in. There is a small children’s space, new office and work space for staff, and comfortable seating and study spaces. And, of course, there are still public computers, and loads of shelving filled with books, movies, magazines, newspapers and music.

All that in 2,400 square feet!

TSHD Architects of Ashland was the project’s architect, and Portco (located in Portsmouth, Ohio) was the contractor. The contract included “green” specifications, which means we recycled as much of the material removed from the building as possible, and installed energy efficient lighting and fixtures.

KPC Architectural Products of Lexington did the public space layout, including furniture, the new circulation desk and shelving.

Altogether, the project cost around $170,000 for the physical remodel, and another $60,000 for interior furnishings. The funds had been in the library’s capital outlay budget for about three years.

When the weather improves, we will need to do some drain and elevation work in front of the building. But that won’t interrupt operations at all.

We are very excited about the project, and hope patrons will love it too. Please stop by and let us know what you think.

But we think it’s a perfect combination. It lets people win prizes while learning more about all the materials and many great services Boyd County Public Library offers.

So, all during February, we play Library Bingo – and give prizes to everyone who gets “five in a row.”

It’s simple to play: just complete the library “task” listed on the square, and have it initialed by a staff member.  You can “bingo” vertically, horizontally or diagonally. After you do, take your card to a staff member and select your prize. Then get another card and start again. Simple, right?

Prizes include pens, pencils, magnets, ear buds, water bottles, leashes, READ lanyards, key chains and book lights. There is no limit to the amount of times you can win.

So, what exactly is on a Library bingo card? There’s a free space, of course, but instead of letters and numbers, it’s full of fun and cool stuff you can do at BCPL. Some will take just a second or two; others a bit longer.

It’s a win-win situation. Now, when you do all your regular library “stuff” (and probably discover a few things you weren’t aware of along the way), we will reward you with freebies. What could be better?

Here’s a sampling of the Library Bingo squares:

• Listen to an audio book
• Use the suggestion board at the Main Branch
• Pick up a tax form
• “Like” BCPL on Facebook
• Request an item for the library collection
• Print from a computer
• Attend a library program
• Use a database
• Make an Interlibrary Loan request
• Read an e-Book
• Download music from Freegal
• Visit Youth Services (and spin the pirate wheel or say hi to the fish while you are there)
• Pick up a flyer
• Return an item in the book drop.
• Use Mango Languages

There’s also the “Say Hi to Barb” square, which means you need to give a greeting to Barb Biggs, our new Branch Manager. You can find her most days at the Kyova Branch, and after the Catlettsburg Branch reopens on Feb. 14, she will be working there, too.

Bingo cards are available through Feb. 28.

Fashion Week 2013 is just around the corner (Feb. 7 to 14), in New York. It’s a week when all the top designers will reveal their fall and winter fashions on the runway at Lincoln Center.

Now, I’m no fashionista. Not by a long shot. But I do know that Fashion Week is a big deal. The latest designs are showcased by big-name designers, and all the collections are covered in big-name magazines, such as Vogue.

The most prominent fashion weeks are held in the four fashion capitals of the world: New York, London, Milan and Paris.

Now we can add Ashland, Ky., to that list.

Style from the Stacks is Boyd County Public Library’s contribution to Fashion Week. In our event, on Saturday, Feb. 9, we will showcase fashion inspired by books or libraries. We’re not promising that Diane Von Furstenberg or Tommy Hilfiger will take notice, but we think our event will inspire a lot of fun ideas for men, women and children.

It’s easy to take part: Use your imagination to create an item of clothing, footwear, jewelry, accessory or entire outfit from books, papers, magazines, CDs or any other material you’d find in a library. Or, you can put together an ensemble inspired by a favorite book.

Are you a fan of Holden Caufield, the 16-year-old dropout from J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye? You can pay homage to the misanthropic teen by incorporating a classic preppy look with oversized fits and loose clothing. Or make reference to Holden’s teen angst by going grunge – with enough fleece, flannel and knitwear to warm New York City in the middle of winter.

Catcher in the Rye is also known for its unacceptable language, so how about an outfit that incorporates words and letters in a creative (and acceptable in the library) sort of way?

Let’s try another classic: Anna Karenina, the 19^th-century novel by Leo Tolstoy. Many top fashion designers have recently found inspiration in the 1800s (perhaps prompted by the latest film version) and Fashion Week 2012 runways were full of brocade, fur and lace motifs. Even commercial retailers, such as Banana Republic, got in on the Anna-inspired action.

So, how can you add Anna to your wardrobe (without wearing an entire period costume)? You could contrast the two classes in the book by combining “high society” fabrics such as velvet, fur and lace with “low society” materials like wool, felt and leather.

Other books have inspired fashion designers, and you can get ideas from them, too. Jane Marple is a popular Japanese clothing line that pays homage to the elderly private eye in Agatha Christie’s novels (see photo). Shaftesbury 21 is an Australian company specializing in children’s styles named after either a character or a place from one of the Bronte sisters’ novels. Andemerging designer Prabal Gurung’s fall 2011 line was inspired by the heartbroken Miss Havisham from the classic novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.

You could also design something based solely on a book cover you like. Take for example, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath and the sweater (see photo) from Scottish designer Jaggy Nettle.

Or maybe you are a fan of the Harry Potter or Twilight books. Simply dress as your favorite wizard or vampire.

It doesn’t have to be extravagant. Or expensive. No high-priced fashion in Style from the Stacks. Just let your imagination run wild!

We ask that anyone who wants to participate in Style from the Stacks fill out a simple entry form – available at any branch, by Monday, Feb. 4 – just so we can have an idea of who is participating. You can also use the entry form below.

We will have a few fashion-savvy judges on hand for the show, and the winning submissions will be displayed at The Highlands Museum & Discovery Center.

If you have any questions, please call Amanda Clark at 606.329.0518, ext. 1140.

We call it Hands that Touch a Heart, and this is the ninth year we’ve been doing it at BCPL. It’s a simple idea: kids, teens, parents – anybody – who visits the library between early January and early February takes a few minutes to make a homemade Valentine. Then, we play Cupid and deliver them. The end result is the smile on the faces of all the local soldiers and area nursing home residents who receive them.

Our 2013 campaign starts this week and runs through Friday, Feb. 8. Card templates and decorating supplies are available anytime at the Main and Kyova branches.

When we started this program, we only delivered to residents of local nursing homes – about 400 or 500 each year. Then, a few years ago, we thought it would be nice to include local servicemen and women who are deployed overseas, or just not home with their loved ones, and who might not receive a card on Valentine’s Day. So with the help of www.anysoldier.com, we found a way to get cards made by local kids into the hands of local soldiers.

Once we added the military recipients, we knew we’d need a lot more Valentines. But, our great patrons, along with local schools, church groups, scouts, and other community organizations, helped fill the need. Last year, we made 2,400 Valentines. That’s a lot of smiles!!

We call it Hands that Touch a Heart for a couple of reasons. First of all, a handmade card is a gift that comes from the heart. As a parent, I am always much happier to get a card or gift hand-crafted by one of my kids than I am to receive a store-bought card. The knowledge that they put the time and effort into my gift makes it extra special.

Seeing the smiles on the faces of the nursing home residents when they get their homemade card is truly priceless. On some past deliveries, I noticed that the person still had the card we’d brought them the year before on display in their room.

We also gave the campaign its name because the card template we use encourages kids to trace their hand and then decorate it.  Sure, sometimes it ends up looking more like a turkey, but with a bit of coloring, glitter, stickers, and a personal message, it is a work of art nonetheless.

Kids love to come into the library and make the cards. Many of them will make one on every visit, so by the time the month-long campaign ends, they might have half a dozen cards ready for delivery. Parents are great to help too, and we welcome it.

This program wouldn’t be near as successful as it is without all the help we get from schools and outside groups. We hope they – and others – will take part again this year. It’s easy to do: just contact Amanda Clark at 606.329.0518, ext. 1140, or aclark@thebookplace.org and tell her how many card templates you need and where to send them. We just need you to drop the finished cards off at Main or Kyova by Feb. 8.

We hope you can help use your hands to touch someone’s heart this year.

Last fall’s move to uniform story hours for toddlers and preschoolers was not well-received by parents and caregivers, so Boyd County Public Library is switching back to its previous times.

The 2013 story time programs include Toddler Time at the Catlettsburg, Main and Kyova branches; and Preschool Story Time at Main and Kyova. The Catlettsburg programs will resume as soon as the branch reopens in February (an exact date has not been set).

Toddler Time is a 20-30 minute program featuring songs, short stories and active play, and is designed for those just starting to walk through age 3. Activities are adapted by trained library staff to match the attention span of toddlers. In 2013, Toddler Time will take place on Mondays at 10:30 a.m. at Catlettsburg; and on Fridays at 11:30 a.m. at Main, and at 1 p.m. at Kyova.

Preschool Story Time, for ages 3 to 5, is a 30-45 minute program featuring books, songs, and games. The stories are longer and more complex than the ones in Toddler Time. It will be on Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m. at Kyova, and one Wednesdays at 11 a.m. at Main.

The Main Branch is located at 1740 Central Ave., Ashland. The one in Catlettsburg is at 2704 Louisa Street. The Kyova Branch is in the Kyova Mall, across from Elder-Beerman.

The Library can also arrange special story times for home school groups, day cares, etc. To set something up, please call (606) 329-0518, ext. 1300.