The Kenton County Public Library invites readers of all ages to participate in the 2025 Summer Reading Quest: Heroes, Myths & Legends, which will run from June 1 through July 31. This free program encourages reading, creativity, and discovery through themed events, interactive activities and exciting prizes.

Participants can track their daily reading using a paper log available at all library locations or the free Beanstack app. Read whatever you want, for however long you want. The goal is simply to make reading a daily habit. As milestones are met, prizes are awarded. Prizes are available while supplies last. T-shirt sizes may be limited.

Youth Prizes (Ages 0–12)

• 5 days of reading: Vinyl sticker
• 10 days: Free book
• 15 days: T-shirt or canvas tote
• Keep going to win a prize from the prize machine and earn entries into a drawing for $50 Visa gift cards – one prize and entry for every 5 days of reading

Adult & Teen Prizes (Ages 13+)

• 15 days of reading: Choice of an insulated water bottle or canvas tote
• Keep going to earn entries into the $100 Visa gift card grand prize drawings—one entry for every 5 days of reading

Teens and adults can purchase a shirt for $10 (cash or check) starting at the kickoff events. Supplies are limited. 

“The Kenton County Public Library has offered a Summer Reading Program since 1931,” said Dave Schroeder, the library's executive director. “When children continue reading over the summer, they are more likely to retain skills and avoid learning loss. And when adults read, they set a powerful example showing young readers that reading is a lifelong habit worth following.”

Celebrate the start of Summer Reading with these kickoff events:

Erlanger Branch – Friday, May 30, 5–7 p.m.

Participate in challenges, meet a princess, face mythical beasts, conquer an obstacle course and enjoy pizza while supplies last. Costumes encouraged!

Independence Branch – Saturday, May 31, 12–2:30 p.m.

Join us for medieval fun featuring archery, swordplay, jousting lessons, an inflatable maze and a royal Knighting Ceremony. Costumes encouraged and free Chameleon Ice Snoballs while supplies last!

Covington Branch – Saturday, May 31, 6–8 p.m.

Join us for a mini-Renaissance Faire fit for a king or queen. Grab a bite to eat, shop local vendors, and revel in royal entertainment, including a bounce house castle!

The Summer Reading Celebration is supported by the Friends of the Kenton County Public Library, the Kenton County Public Library Foundation, Snappy Tomato Pizza, Strike and Spare, We Rock the Spectrum Northern Kentucky, Texas Roadhouse and Chick-fil-A Fort Wright.

Visit kentonlibrary.org/src for full details, prize lists and how to get started.

To become a skilled reader, one needs to combine comprehension and word recognition, as seen below in Scarborough’s Reading Rope. A lot of early literacy is focused on decoding, phonics, and sight words. But often we overlook comprehension and how to build comprehension and fluency skills. 

The best way to have strong comprehension skills is to have solid background knowledge. This means introducing children to a variety of subjects and topics. You can do this by 

• Reading widely about many different interests.     
  • Try pairing nonfiction books with fiction books to expand on topics your child shows an interest in. 
  • You can also check out KCPL’s database Bookflix which provides fiction and nonfiction pairings and activities  
• Building vocabulary

Here are additional activities you can do when reading with your child to help with making connections with what is being read: 

• Prediction    
  • Before beginning a new book, start by talking about the cover. Read the synopsis. Ask your child what they think will happen based on these things.  
  • These questions will get your child thinking and let them know what to pay attention to within a book or story.
• Summarizing/Retelling    
  • After reading a story, go through the following questions:    
    • Somebody: Who is the main character? (Or for younger kids, ask who the story is about) 
    • Wanted: What did the main character want? 
    • But: What was the problem?
    • So: How was the problem solved? 
    • Then: How did the story end? 
• Inference    
  • Ask questions halfway through the story - How is this character feeling? Where is this character going? What do you think is going to happen? 
  • Use clues in the text and pictures to talk about what is happening in the story 
• Make Connections    
  • Ask your child what they know about a topic or situation in the book you are reading. Talk through the information they already know. 
• Read books! 

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For more early literacy information, check out KCPL’s Early Literacy page and check out other blog posts about literacy.

Happy reading! 

Written by Lisa Clark, Youth Collection Librarian 

Don't forget about our Health and Wellness programs. Yoga, Zumba and tai chi are just some of the programs that we offer at our branches. Hoopla also has Health & Fitness videos available for checkout so you can workout at home. The Get Healthy U BingePass has just added Core Power and Power Pilates to their collection. 

This spring and summer give yourself the opportunity to create a new healthy habit for your mental and physical well-being. Check out some of the books below to help you get started.

Learn more about health and wellness at the library!

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Tracing ancestors prior to the 20th century can feel like solving a complex puzzle. So, when I came across 19th-century church minutes from Hardin County, Kentucky’s South Fork Meeting House, I was thrilled to discover a missing piece of my family’s history—an entry mentioning the death of my 4th great-grandfather, Jacob Youtsler. According to the church’s minutes, he passed away a short time before August 1, 1838. After 30 years of searching, I had finally found the answer to a long-standing family mystery. 

This month, KCPL’s Local History and Genealogy Department is shining a spotlight on the often-overlooked value of church records in genealogical research. These historical documents can be goldmines for tracing family roots, especially before the era of official government record-keeping. 

Why Are Church Records So Valuable for Genealogy? 

Vital Records Before Civil Registration - Before governments kept official birth, marriage, and death records, churches were the primary record-keepers. ​ 

• • Baptismal records often include names of parents, godparents, and birth dates.​ 

• • Marriage records provide names of spouses, witnesses, and sometimes parents.​ 

• • Burial records can help identify family relationships and death dates before civil records existed.​  

​Tracing Family Lineage & Connections - Church records help researchers connect generations, confirming family relationships and identifying maiden names and residences. Sometimes, records list multiple generations of a family, making them key resources for genealogy.​ 

Clues to Migration & Ancestry​ - Many churches recorded details about where people came from, helping track migration patterns. For example:​ 

• • Immigrant ancestors may be listed in church membership rolls.​ 

• • Some records note hometowns in other countries, offering a crucial link to tracing roots abroad.  

Community & Social History​ - Churches were central to community life, so their records document more than just names and dates—they capture social structures, religious traditions, and major historical events.​ 

• • Records may list enslaved people, indentured servants, and marginalized communities often missing from official documents.​ 

• • Church minutes and newsletters provide insight into everyday life, social issues, and major events.​  

Unique & Hard-to-Find Information​ - Church records sometimes contain details not found elsewhere, such as:​ 

• • Cause of death (before death certificates were standard).​ 

• • Conversions, excommunications, or confirmations that indicate religious beliefs and life changes.​ 

• • Land transactions (churches sometimes recorded donations or land grants).​  

Preserving Local & Family History ​- Since many of these records are handwritten and fragile, they are now being preserved through microfilm, digitization, and indexing projects—ensuring that future generations can access this rich history. 

Ready to explore your family's story—one record at a time?
Set up a one-on-one appointment with our Local History and Genealogy staff by email at  history@kentonlibrary.org, or call 859-962-4070. We’re here to help guide your research journey. 

Blog written by Local History and Genealogy Department Library Associate Bobbye Winterberg.

List created by KCPL_History

Whether you are new or have been researching for years we have picked some of our favorite genealogy guides to help you with your research.

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• Best for ages 18 months and up
• Free to attend, registration is not required
• Pizza will be served after the concert while supplies last

Celebrate National Library Week, April 6 - 12, 2025 with a visit to the library!

What draws people to the library? Everything! From books and digital resources to job assistance and creative programming, libraries are essential to thriving communities.  

National Library Week, April 6–12, 2025, is a time to celebrate the many ways libraries bring people together, spark imagination, and support lifelong learning. 

Celebrate National Library Week "Drawn to the Library" with newer graphic novels.

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New York Times bestselling author William Kent Krueger will visit the Erlanger branch of KCPL on Wednesday, April 9. There's still time to read (or reread) some of his work before you hear him speak in person. The Cork O'Connor mystery series begins with Iron Lake and goes through Spirit Crossing (#20 in the series!). Ordinary Grace, This Tender Land, and The River We Remember are all standalone novels.

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We all love books and reading, especially with our children, and with KCPL’s digital resources, you can always have a story in reach. It’s helpful to have several different formats and ways to read to your child. 

Check out the following resources to access digital books right from home. 

BookFlix 

• Features hundreds of picture books and pairs fiction stories with nonfiction titles. So, you can read Click Clack Moo and then read about a real dairy farm.  
• Some stories are animated like a movie and there is an option to have the words on the screen as well to read along.  
• Each story and nonfiction book have additional activities and information if your child wants to dive deeper 
• Many titles are available in Spanish as well. 
• Works on mobile 
• Access from home using your library card

TumbleBooks 

• Features a collection of animated talking pictures books and readalongs with longer chapter books 
• Also features puzzles, games, language learning, and quizzes 
• Access from home 

Hoopla and Libby 

• Check out ebooks and eaudiobooks from these resources. You can download the apps on your phone or use the website 
• There’s no waiting on Hoopla titles 

Here’s a list of great picture books you can check out on these apps 

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Hocking Hills is just over two hours from Cincinnati, making it a great last-minute spring break or weekend trip.

Where to Eat

• Kindred Spirits, situated on the grounds of Cedar Falls Inn and Spa, serves exceptional cuisine. Be sure to walk around the property before or after dinner and check out the gift shop next door. I do recommend a reservation for dinner.
• Coffee Emporium is an excellent spot for a treat and a good cup of coffee.
• Grandma Faye's Grocery and Deli is a small grocery store that serves homemade food and is a great place to connect to Wi-Fi.
• Home Tavern Bar and Grille & Hungry Buffalo are nearby restaurants worth checking out.

Adventures

Ziplining

• Hocking Hills Canopy Tours
• Valley Zipline Tours

I've had the thrill of ziplining at both locations, and while each offered an incredible experience worth trying, Hocking Hills Canopy Tours was my favorite!

Hiking Trails

Hocking Hills has some of the most scenic hiking trails.

• Cedar Falls is my absolute favorite!
• Ash Cave is a stunning trail where you might stumble upon groups drumming and dancing (see video below).

• Devil’s Bathtub, located along the Old Man’s Cave trail, is an incredible sight to see. If you start at the lodge, it’s just a few minutes into the trail.
• Rockbridge & Rock Cave are both worth exploring!
• The Hocking Hills State Park website offers information on guided hikes and educational talks.

I have explored almost every trail there and have never been disappointed. 

Additional Activities

• Hocking Valley Scenic Railway

I did the Memorial Day train ride a few years ago. We really enjoyed the scenic ride with historical stops. Be sure to check the calendar and book tickets in advance. 

• Ravenwood Castle 

I recently discovered that Hocking Hills has a castle, and it’s now on my must-visit list!

I haven't tried canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, golfing or rock climbing in Hocking Hills yet, but all of these activities are available.

Shopping & Unique Finds

If you love browsing for treasures, these places are worth a visit:

• Hocking Hills Market
• Hocking Hills Flea Market

Unwind

• The Spa at the Inn at Cedar Falls is fantastic if you're looking to relax with a massage.

Lodging

There is a plethora of lodging to choose from in Hocking Hills and I've stayed at several. 

• The Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls offers a lodge, yurts, cottages, lofts, geodomes and cabins. I have stayed in one of the cabins and loved it. Heads up, there is no TV but the deck overlooking the woods made up for that! 
• The Grand Oak Cabin is perfect for a large group. I stayed here with several cousins and aunts for one of my cousins' 40th birthday. We enjoyed the serene property, open common space and hot tub. 
• Blue Rose Cabins was just a one-night stay. It was honestly so long ago that I do not remember the specifics, but it does have a hot tub.
• Valo Vasha, formerly known as Cozy Cabins, offers a variety of cabin options. We've stayed in them all, but the A-frame is my favorite—likely because it was where we stayed during our first visit to Hocking Hills.

I clearly love Hocking Hills State Park and the surrounding area. Let me know if you have any questions or favorite spots I missed.

Cool Places you can drive to.

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• A discussion about Publishing/Sourcebooks and how a book gets made
• Information about new books coming from Sourcebooks
• Tips on how to be a writer and avenues you could take to become a published author
• Q&A with attendees

Once you've watched the video, check out some of these books the library offers to increase your knowledge even further about the writing and publishing process.

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