maurasudkamp – Kenton Library

Kenton County Public Library’s School Services Coordinator

maurasudkamp — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 18:36:27 +0000

The Kenton County Public Library has a School Services Coordinator. Although the Library has always provided services to local schools, this position allows the Library to coordinate our services as a system and assist schools and families with the changing needs during the pandemic.

Lise Tewes, who has been with the Library since 2000, has taken on the position of School Services Coordinator. Lise has worked as a children’s librarian and program coordinator for Kenton County Public Library. She was a teacher in the area for five years.

Some of the duties of the School Services Coordinator include:

Creating a systemwide School Outreach Team of programmers to carry on our work in a comprehensive way.
Provide in-house and virtual programming.
Create a webpage of resources for students, parents and teachers.
Be a one-stop shop for people to contact for information about school services.
Provide library cards to as many teachers and students as possible.
Promote all online services (databases, eBooks, programming, etc.) and provide training to schools.
Coordinate IT support to schools on resources when needed.
Maintain consistent contacts with our districts to make sure we are providing them with as much assistance as possible.

“Services to schools and homeschool families have always been an important part of the work of the Library, as well as the work that I have done for 20 years at the Erlanger Branch,” says Tewes. “We know that the needs of students and teachers are enormous right now, due to the pandemic and the movement of instruction to a virtual environment. My new position will allow the Library to focus on this need, as well as make it easier for school administrators, teachers, and homeschool families to connect with the Library.”

Library Executive Director Dave Schroeder says Tewes is the perfect fit for the School Services Coordinator position. “Her time at the Library, as well as her background as an elementary school educator and experience as a parent provides her with the perspective needed to best meet the needs of educators.”

Tewes encourages educators to reach out her so she can assist in this challenging journey. She can be reached at Lise.Tewes@KentonLibrary.org or by calling 859-962-4147.

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps: The Earliest “Street View”

maurasudkamp — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 18:51:50 +0000

Have you wondered what your town or neighborhood looked like 100 years ago? Want to know what that large building at the end of your block was originally used for? If you answered yes, you will want to check out the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps. In 1867, the Sanborn Map Company, which is still in business today, began making detailed fire insurance maps to help “insurance agents determine the degree of hazard associated with a particular property.”

The map key for the 1909 Sanborn Map of Covington. Notice the level of detail in the building material and types of windows.

[i] The Sanborn Company estimates they created maps for 12,000 cities and towns in the United States[ii]. The maps are very intricate and detail the size, shape, placement and number of windows and doors, property boundaries, and type of business or industry located within a structure. They are also coded to reflect the various types of building material used and to distinguish residential from commercial property.While the maps are no longer used for insurance purposes, they are now a wonderful way to supplement your historical and genealogical research. They are also essential tools for anyone interested in the history of their home or a particular structure. The maps can be used in conjunction with city directories and newspapers to locate the homes of individuals or businesses in a town and even on a specific street. Because the maps were constantly updated, researchers can track changes that took place in towns, business districts, and neighborhoods. Street addresses and street names have also changed over time, and sometimes more than once, so the maps are an excellent way to find the original address for a specific home or business.

The Local History and Genealogy Department, located on the 2^nd floor of the Covington Branch, has Sanborn Maps in original map format, on microfilm, and digitally through the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps Database for Kentucky. The Kenton County Public Library has two original 1909 Sanborn Map books for Covington and other Kenton County cities, including Ludlow, Bromley, and Independence to name a few. Both volumes include revisions and additions up through the early 1950s. The Library also has Sanborn Maps on microfilm for miscellaneous Kentucky cities for 1946-1992. Included are maps of Covington for 1963, 1964, and 1980 and Newport for 1963 and 1969.

Sheet 33 from the February 1886 Sanborn Map for Covington. Compare this to a current map and see the many changes that have taken place in the built environment.

The Kentucky Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps Database, 1867-1970, includes maps of Covington for the years 1886-1910. Please note that not all cities in Kentucky are represented and that there may be additional maps available for larger cities (i.e. Lexington and Louisville) and fewer for the smaller towns. The database can be accessed at home with your Kenton County Library card or by visiting one of the Kenton County Library Branches. Additionally, many of the original maps for Kentucky have been scanned in color and are available through the Kentucky Digital Library.

If you are interested in the history of fire insurance maps, be sure to see Diane L. Oswald’s “Fire Insurance Maps: Their History and Applications” (K 368.11 O86f 1997) and the Library of Congress Geography and Map Division. Incidentally, the Library of Congress holds roughly 700,000 Sanborn Maps in their collection.

In addition to Sanborn Maps, the Local History and Genealogy Department has an extensive map collection for Kenton County and the Northern Kentucky area. Many of the maps have been digitized and are available on the Library web site. Other maps can be viewed by visiting the Department. Next time you are curious about a structure in your neighborhood be sure to take a stroll through the Sanborn Maps. You might be surprised at what you discover!

The block where the Public Library now sits as it appeared in 1909. See how much the Scott Boulevard block has changed? Now look at your neighborhood.

[i] Ristow, Walter. Introduction to the Sanborn Map Collection, Library of Congress, accessed July 23, 2014, http://www.loc.gov/rr/geogmap/sanborn/san4a1.html.

[ii] The Sanborn Map Company, now simply known as Sanborn, is still in the mapping business today, http://www.sanborn.com.

Biking in Northern Kentucky

maurasudkamp — Mon, 09 May 2022 18:27:38 +0000

There are many ways to explore beautiful Northern Kentucky and its surrounding areas. One of our favorite ways is to experience it on a bike! Biking groups hit the roads for a day or for weekend adventures. Families can leisurely explore hidden bike paths in our NKY parks. Bike trails sprawl across the countryside and merge into city areas which allow access to everyone making cycling a recreational sport for all! Here are some links to check out before making plans for your next biking excursion! Maybe some will peak your interest and get you back on a bike!

Books:

Mountain Biking in Kentucky
Be Safe on Your Bike
The Bicycling Big Book of cycling for beginners : everything a new cyclist needs to know to gear up and start riding
Bike safety : a crash course
The Bike Lesson
Duck On a Bike

Safety:
How to have a safe family bike ride

Local Bike Shops:
Reser Bicycle
Montgomery Cyclery

Bike Rental:
Cincy Red Bike

Road Routes & Trails:
Trail Link
OKI
Map My Ride
Licking River Greenway

Groups:
BG Cycling
Team Cycling and Fitness

“Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of riding a bike.” ~ John F. Kennedy

Participate in Our Reading Challenges

maurasudkamp — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 02:55:29 +0000

Learn more about and sign up for our reading challenges here.

All About Our Blog and News

maurasudkamp — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 03:33:13 +0000

What are staff members reading? What hidden features of the Library should I know about? How do I start doing genealogy research?

Blog and news posts are here to keep you in the know and answer your most burning questions.

Finding Blog posts

You can find all Blog Posts links anytime in the Information column of the footer at the bottom of our website. These links will take you to a page of all posts of that type ordered from newest to oldest.

What will I find on the Blog?

You're actually reading a blog post right now! Way to go.

On our Blog, you'll find posts about everything from highlighted Library services, upcoming events, to staff reading recommendations.

Posts are created by Kenton County Public Library staff members (unless otherwise noted).

Categories and tags

We've divvied up our content into a few different categories so you can easily explore the stories you're most interested in.

When you're viewing a blog post (like you are right now!), you'll see several Categories at the left hand side at the top of the blog, such as: Adults, Birth to 5, Kids, Homework Help, etc. You can click these category links to find more posts on similar topics. And, at the bottom of the blog, you'll find more specific Tags, such as: Archives, Movies, Genealogy and more. Again, you can click on these tags to find more posts on similar topics.

We have different profiles that contribute to our blog. You'll see a variety of posts from each of these profiles, and can visit them independently (and bookmark them!) to see posts only of that nature:

What will I find in News?

In our News posts, you'll find of-the-moment updates from Kenton County Public Library, including:

Announcements
News releases
Service updates or outages
Changes to open hours
Special event announcements
Corporate and Board news

You can find all of our news posts on our press release page here.

All About Pages

maurasudkamp — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 03:12:31 +0000

Websites are composed of a collection of pages, and our site has many, many, pages for you explore. This post focuses on a few of those pages, in particular, that will help you discover and explore new and surprising content tailored to your interests.

Where to start:

Whether you're looking for the latest in e-books for adults, teen events, or blog posts highlighting the latest reading apps for kids, check out our Explore pages for Adults, Teens and Children.

You can find them by clicking the Explore tab of our website's main menu and then going under By Age.

Services pages

If you're looking for more specific content, we have several support, interests and technology pages that can be found by clicking the Services tab of our main menu.

Digital Library pages

If you're looking for all the digital content you will find it under the Digital Library tab in the main navigation. From ebooks, to databases, apps you can download and more!

All About Staff Lists

maurasudkamp — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 16:19:26 +0000

What's a Staff List?

We're here to help! Our staff compiles suggested lists that are available for viewing on our website. These carefully curated Staff Lists span many interests and ages, and are intended to help you find your next great discovery. We create new lists every month based on popular literature, current events and holidays, new additions to our collection, and more.

You'll know a list has been created by staff if it says "Staff-created list" at the top.

You can find staff lists all over our website on different pages! Here are just a few examples of where you can find them:

Staff Profiles:

Do you enjoy a list made by a specific staff account? (Example: KCPLChildrens, KCPLAdults, etc.)

You can look at that account to see if they have created more lists!

If you look at the list, at the top right corner you can see what account created it. For example, KCPLChildrens created the one below. Click on the account.

Once you are on the staff account page you can see additional lists under "lists shared."

We hope you like our Lists and enjoy new discoveries through reading them. And, if you're keen, you can begin organizing your own shelves to consider creating a list. Learn more here:

City Directories: The Phone Book Before The Telephone

maurasudkamp — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 18:49:16 +0000

Researching the history of your house and curious about the former occupants? Or possibly searching for an ancestor that lived and worked in Covington from 1880-1889? A city directory, think phone book before the telephone, is a wonderful resource for genealogy and local history research. The directories, beginning in 1834 for Covington, contain an alphabetical listing of local residents and businesses. Later directories include separate sections for business, advertisements, and streets. City directories are particularly useful for genealogists and other researchers because not only do they list the head of household and home address, but often the first name of the spouse, other members of the household, occupation, and place of employment. In many cases, the directories note when an individual has been widowed and the first name of the deceased spouse.

Want to buy a book in 1900? Head to Carrie Mendenhall or Mrs. Wm. Metzger!

Want to know who lives in Jones Flats apartments? The criss-cross directory was a great way to look up your neighbors.

A very useful section, which first appears in the 1931-1932 Covington City Directory, is the Directory of Householders or Street and Avenue Guide. This is a reverse directory that lists the streets alphabetically along with the location, intersecting streets, and the address and name of each resident. This is an excellent resource when researching a building without knowing the name of the former resident or business.

Residents of Covington in 1886 had a wide variety of jobs for instance Jane B. Walter was a book sewer.

The business directory, later titled the “Yellow Pages,” is another great tool for researchers. The entries are classified by type of business rather than name. For example, the 1900-1901 Covington City Directory includes businesses under such headings as Bee Supplies, Bicycles, Blacksmith Shops, and Boarding Shops. This section is quite helpful when one knows the type of business, but not the name, or wants to see the type and numbers of businesses in a given time and place. Did you know Erlanger had 2 plumbers and 3 restaurants in 1931?

Directories often have a City Guide section that provides detailed information on the community, local government, public officials, churches, newspapers, banks, parks, postal rates, and/or community organizations. This information can be used to create a portrait of the community where your ancestor lived.

Style, color, images, and slogans were more popular in the Business Advertisements section of the Covington 1961 City Directory.

The directories, in print and/or microfilm formats, can be found in the Local History and Genealogy Department. The collection currently holds directories for Covington, Newport, and vicinity for the years 1834, 1839-1840, and 1856-present. In addition, Cincinnati City Directories are available for 1902-1935 and 1956-present. Various directories are available on microfilm for the following Kentucky cities: Ashland, Bowling Green, Corbin, Danville, Frankfort, Hopkinsville, Lexington, Louisville, Maysville, and Paducah. Ancestry.com, available by visiting the Library, has digitized directories for many U.S. cities, including Covington, Newport, and Cincinnati.

Visit the Covington branch to see how the city directories can help you unlock clues about your family or house!

Written by Bill Stolz, Local History and Genealogy Department, Covington

Explore the Bernheim

maurasudkamp — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 18:26:03 +0000

Go for the Forest Giants, stay to enjoy the scenery.

Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, aka the Bernheim Forest, is located about 2 hours south of the Covington Branch of the Kenton County Public Library. It is a perfect way to spend a day, in any season. Take water, snacks, sunscreen, and bug spray for a fun day visit. There is no admission fee to visit, only a suggested donation.

When my family took to the road for a visit to the Bernheim, it was only to see the Forest Giants. They are amazing pieces of art that I have been eager to see, ever since I first discovered a Forest Giant, Isak Heartstone, in Breckenridge, Colorado. Go for the visit with Mama Loumari, Little Nis, and Little Elina, but stay because the Bernheim is amazing. It is a hidden gem in Kentucky. With over 40 miles of trails, ranging from easy and accessible to difficult, spread over 16,137 acres of beautiful Kentucky forest and meadows, the Bernheim is home to 2,100 species of wildlife.

We went in mid-October with plans to visit again very soon. At the time of our visit, the Bernheim Forest’s 3 million trees had not yet begun their autumnal color changes. To view the fall foliage, I would recommend visiting in early November, although according to their facebook page, hints of color change have begun to happen.

My family walked the Forest Giants Trail, which is 2 miles in length. It begins from the backside of the Visitor’s Center. You can follow the giants’ footprints to find Little Nis, Mama Loumari, and out to Little Elina. The Forest Giants Trail is described by the Bernheim as easy, on varying terrain of paved, gravel, and grassy meadow trails.

We also hiked the Two Ponds Loop, which at .70 miles of moderate terrain, was a mix of paved, dirt, and boardwalk-type trails. We hiked the Lake Nevin Loop Trail, 1.3 miles of easy classified terrain. We stopped at a lake viewpoint and enjoyed our picnic lunch that we had brought with us.

As we were leaving for the day, we noticed a lot of children and adults riding their bikes on Arboretum Way. Biking is only allowed on the Bernheim’s paved roads. My daughters decided that we should bring our bicycles with us on our next visit. I think we will.

There is so much to explore at the Bernheim. One visit certainly isn’t enough to experience it all. Be sure to explore the art installations around the forest. Ask about the Golden Eagle Love Birds, too.

For more information or to plan your day trip, visit bernheim.org. The address is 2075 Clermont Road, Clermont, Kentucky 40110. The Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest is open year-round, except New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

Beyond Acadia: 10 Places to Visit in Maine Outside the Park

maurasudkamp — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 18:01:31 +0000

Acadia National Park is a national treasure. If you haven’t made the trek, then put it on your bucket list. I first made the trip over thirty years ago and have been there almost every year since. During those trips my family and I have visited many other places beyond the park and the tourist destination of Bar Harbor. Here are a few recommendations – with links to informational websites.

1. Roque Bluffs State Park
We stumbled on this gem while on a drive up the coast. Located just over an hour north of the turn off to Acadia (Ellsworth, Maine) this secluded spot is perfect if you want some peace and quiet. The beach sits surrounded by islands and peninsulas, so the surf is gentle. Sit in your beach chair and let the beauty of nature heal you. Bring some water shoes because the rocks near the ocean can be sharp if you want to get your feet wet. Swimming is permitted, but the water will be cold. Across the road, adjacent to the parking lot are picnic areas as well as a pond suitable for warmer swimming. Kayaks for the pond are also available to rent. A series of rough walking trails take you around the pond and into the woods nearby. Another trail winds through a field that may be yielding blueberries if you are lucky. Be aware, there is a small entrance fee requested as it is a State Park.

2. Portland
Portland could be a vacation by itself. There are many shops and restaurants that line the waterfront, and boat tours of all types are available. Walk along the Eastern Promenade to enjoy views of both land and sea. A very nice children’s museum is located in town as well as a chance to ride a narrow-gauge railroad along the coast. If you like minor league baseball check out the Sea Dogs, the AA affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. So many things to see and do here!

3. South Portland/Cape Elizabeth
If you like lighthouses, then the area south of downtown Portland is your spot. Bug light is a small lighthouse that shares a park with a monument to the great shipbuilding history of Portland. A bit further south you can visit the Spring Point Ledge lighthouse that is accessible by walking across the breakwater located on the grounds of the Southern Maine Community College. The remains of Fort Preble are also here. Continuing further south you will come to Fort Williams, home to the iconic Portland Head lighthouse. Finally, the area known as Cape Elizabeth has Two Lights State Park – with two more lighthouses to visit!

4. Old Orchard Beach
Located along the coast about a half hour south of Portland, Old Orchard Beach, or OOB, is a great place to visit if you have young ones to keep entertained. The area boasts three great family attractions. First is the Palace Playland, billed as the country’s only beachfront amusement park. A small set of rides and lots of arcade style games are located near a public beach. A walk along the beach will bring you to the pier. This historic landmark juts 500 feet out in the Atlantic and is lined with restaurants and souvenir shops. Finally, located just a few miles inland near Saco, ME is the Funtown Splashtown USA water and amusement park featuring over 30 attractions.

5. Boothbay Harbor Area
If you are traveling up Route 1 and want another side trip then head out towards the coast just past the lovely little town of Wiscasset to the Boothbay peninsula. There is much to visit here including the Maine State Aquarium. But for us, when our kids were little, the highlight was the Boothbay Railway village. A circular set of narrow gauge railway tracks surrounds a set of historic buildings. The kids can ride the train then run between the buildings after a long car ride.

6. Pemaquid Point
If you turn towards the coast north of Portland you can make your way down the Pemaquid peninsula to the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse park. The lighthouse was built in the 1850’s and is still in use today. There is a small fisherman’s museum on the grounds as well as a nice picnic area. If you are interested in geology the rocky coast is remarkable for the folded igneous rock formations.

7. Bucksport
Bucksport is located along Route 1 just south of Bangor along the Penobscot River. Your destination here is the combination Penobscot Narrows Bridge & Observatory and Fort Knox. The bridge spans the Penobscot River and boasts an enclosed observatory atop one of its towers that offers a 360° view of the area at a height of 420 feet. Signs will help you find local landmarks and on a clear day the view is spectacular.
Right next door and bordering the river is Fort Knox. This incredibly well-preserved landmark was built after the war of 1812 to protect the area against another incursion by the British. Small garrisons of troops occupied the fort during the Civil War even though it was unfinished. A great place to learn some history and enjoy great river views.

8. Campobello Island & Quoddy Head
If you want to venture even further north then head up Route 1 a couple of hours past the Acadia region to the town of Lubec. There you can visit two iconic lighthouses and learn the history of the Roosevelt family retreat on Campobello Island. Take the turnoff south of Lubec to visit Quoddy Head State Park and see the iconic red striped lighthouse that sits on the easternmost point of the continental United States. If you have your passport then cross over the bridge in Lubec onto Canada’s Campobello Island. This island was the summer home of many prominent New York families, including the Roosevelt clan. You can tour some of the houses, including FDR’s, and take in the history of a time past. Explore other parts of the island including another iconic lighthouse, the red crossed Head Harbour Lightstation that sits on the northern tip of the island. Picnic areas, trails, and coastal views galore.

9. Freeport
A fan of outlet stores? Freeport has you covered. The most famous one is, of course, L.L. Bean but you can find just about anything in this town located just north of Portland. Shop, dine, and if you need a nature break visit nearby Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park and look for osprey along the water.

10. Schoodic Peninsula
This one is a bit of a cheat since the Schoodic area is part of Acadia National Park. However, to get to this part of the park you will have to either drive around or ferry across Frenchman’s Bay from the Bar Harbor area. The trip is worth it. Located just outside the town of Winter Harbor, the Schoodic Peninsula boasts the rocky coast and crashing surf that epitomizes Maine. If you sit and watch you will see lots of seabirds, boats of all sorts, and very possibly a seal or porpoise cruising the area just offshore. There is even a lighthouse just offshore on tiny Mark Island!
Picnic tables dot the drive around the area, but the best spot is Frazer Point which lets you watch lobster boats and pleasure craft navigate the waters around Winter Harbor. Hiking trails and a new campground are also available. I recommend dinner at the Pickled Wrinkle!