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Community Reads is our Lexington-wide book group. Connect with your friends and neighbors by reading the selected book, joining in a book discussion or related program, and attending a book talk with this year's featured author.
Meet with a librarian for one-on-one consultation. Please submit the Book a Librarian Appointment Request Form or call 859-231-5500 during business hours to schedule an appointment. Appointments are scheduled Monday-Friday during Library business hours and typically last 30 to 45 minutes.
Lexington, Kentucky (January 16, 2024) – Lexington Public Library is proud to announce their new Black Voices Book Club which is dedicated to discussing literary works by black authors. The Club meets on the third Saturday of each month.
Set at a summer rental on the Chesapeake Bay, a riveting family drama about moral responsibility in the age of artificial intelligence.
Muhlenberg County Black Marriages Book c.1866
All Digital Archives Collections
Etta Evans Gilmore was born in Fleming County, Kentucky, on February 4, 1885, to Robert Evans and Matilda Fawns. She married Henry Steele Gilmore, a Bath County physician, around 1906. Their son Robert was born in 1906 and daughter…
This collection consists of Black community news published under the headline “Colored Churches,” “In Colored Circles,” or “Colored Notes”; and other articles of social interest, including marriages, public events, and obituaries.
The item contains the history of Mount Horeb Presbyterian Church, photos and biographies of ministers and founding members, and a list of member names from 1827-1952.
Compiled by Cyrus Parker Jones, a man formerly enslaved by the Parker family, these funeral notices cover 667 funerals of individuals in Lexington, including seven free blacks. The funeral notices cover the years 1806-1886. Jones…
The Daily Lexington Atlas ran from late 1847 through early 1849 and was Lexington’s first daily paper, and the first to publish information from the telegraph lines. It is described by William Perrin in his 1882 History of Fayette…
The 1906-07 Lexington cross directory contains residential and business information for the city, arranged both alphabetically and by street, with a business listing by category. It also contains city officials and departments, and…
This collection of letters to and from portrait artist Sudduth Goff (1887-1965) is part of the library's Duncan-Goff scrapbook collection.
The Elmer L. Foote Collection is a group of 190 lantern slides. They were created by Elmer L. Foote, a Cincinnati photographer and library staff member whose pictures appeared in the Cincinnati Commercial Tribune.
The item is a history of the theater in Lexington from 1799 to 1850, including names of theaters, actors, personnel, and plays.
Letters to and from Father William T. Punch (1874-1933). Father Punch was instrumental in building the 3rd St. Peter Catholic Church on Barr Street in Lexington, KY.
The item is a brief report on methods to revitalize the Lexington commercial district through the preservation of architecturally and historically significant structures. It includes case studies on the Keiza Barton residence, Giron’s…
This half of the record book contains burial records for St. Paul Catholic Church parishioners.
Program features the activities and accomplishments of the previous year’s Empress and Emperor while providing the layout of the current year’s coronation proceedings. Features advertisements for local businesses and photographs of the…
This letter collection was collected by Judge Kenneth Lyons. The earliest date of the letters is 1862, from Bourbon and Nicholas Counties, Kentucky. Some letters are fragments.
The diary (ca. 1899) of Katherine Pettit, details her settlement work for the Kentucky Confederation of Women's Clubs, made yearly trips to Hazard during this period and was a central figure in establishing the Hindman (Kentucky)…
This issue contains information about Kentucky highways, colleges, and agriculture. It also features articles on Bardstown and the song “My Old Kentucky Home” by Stephen Collins Foster.
The item is a promotional pamphlet containing brief descriptions of various Lexington tourist locations.
The Lexington Weekly Press was published every Wednesday in Lexington, Kentucky, and contained local, state, and foreign news. The paper focused on Central Kentucky’s “agriculture, manufactures and fine stock”, as well as literary and…
The Kentucky Leader was published from 1888 until the name changed in 1895 to the Daily Leader. They focused on local and national news. The Daily Leader was published from 1895-1901 until the name was changed to the Lexington Leader.…
Scans of the Black Marriage records from the Courthouse in Greenville, Kentucky.
This is a handwritten series of lectures detailing Samuel D. McCullough's memories of his childhood and life in Lexington, Kentucky, accompanied by letters and a photograph of his house.
The Eastern Kentucky Review contains articles about Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College. This particular issue contains photos of buildings, graduating seniors, students, clubs, and activities, and includes photos and information…
The Daily Argonaut began in 1895 and seems to have ceased publication in 1899. This collection includes scattered issues from 1895, 1896, 1897 and 1898.
The Independent Gazetteer was founded and printed by James Charless in 1803, with ads appearing in the Kentucky Gazette about its upcoming publication. The first issue was printed March 29, 1803. The paper was later sold to Robert Kay…
The Kentucky Gazette was the first paper established west of the Allegheny Mountains. The frontier paper focused on East Coast and International news, though some local announcements can be found. Later, the paper focused on…
The Kentucky Reporter is the weekly continuation of The Reporter, which changed names in October 1817. It reports on local and national news. 1827 is the only semi-weekly run of this newspaper.
The Reporter was a weekly Republican paper, occasionally semi-weekly when Congress was in session. Continued publication throughout the War of 1812.
The True American was an anti-slavery newspaper started by Cassius Marcellus Clay in June 1845. He ran the paper in Lexington until August of 1845, when he published an article deemed so incendiary that at court injunction was issued…
The item is a yearbook for the United States Army Training Center at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and contains photographs of the officers, NCOs, and graduates of the 8 week basic combat training. There are also many photographs of the various…
This work contains information about French Emigrants to America over the years 1789-1799, and provides a history of the French Revolution. The work was originally in French, and was translated into English by an anonymous translator…
The Lexington Public Library has made an effort to ensure that all of our digital collections are public domain, or that we have gotten approval from the copyright holders to display their work. Most - but not all - of these collections, to the best of our knowledge, have no known US copyright restrictions. Some items in the collection are under copyright but qualify for online display by libraries under Section 108(h) of United States Copyright Law. Some of the collections provided in the Library's Digital Archives are made available under an assertion of fair use, which does not necessarily apply to an individual's use of them.
Join librarians Alexa and Jenny as we talk books. What we're currently loving, what we're hating, and what we can't wait to read next!
The Kloiber Foundation STEAM Lab, located on the fourth floor of Central Library at 140 East Main Street, is a space for youth and families to explore and create using resources and programs related to Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM). Customers ages 7 and under must be accompanied by a responsible caregiver. Planning to bring a group of 10 or more? Please contact us by calling 859-231-5500 ext.1147 or using the link below.
Recurring programs
Lego Club, Maker Station, and Open STEAM Play sessions are available for children and families. The STEAM Lab also hosts weekly drop-in events, Homeschool STEAM activities, and special programming during school breaks. Check out the upcoming events listed below.
The Marksbury Family Branch Makerspace, located at 2197 Versailles Road, is an inclusive space where customers of all ages can come to learn, create, and explore together, free of charge. Outfitted with current high-tech and low-tech tools, the Makerspace is designed to promote education and cultivate a do-it-yourself spirit for the whole family. Customers ages 7 and under must be accompanied by a responsible caregiver. Planning to bring a group of 10 or more? Please contact us by calling 859-231-5500 ext.2822 or using the link below.
Sample projects
Engrave a bookmark for your next read, design matching t-shirts for your family vacation, personalize a coffee mug, embroider a t-shirt, or print fun stickers for your new business.
The Lexington Public Library's virtual book club for our 2016 One Book One Lexington pick, How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon.
Wonderful podcasts and walking tours have been created by our staff. Please enjoy!
Are you interested in enhancing your Spanish speaking abilities? If so, we would like to invite you to our weekly group meeting. Our friendly group is open to everyone who wants to practice speaking Spanish in a supportive and welcoming environment. You will have the opportunity to meet new people who share your interest in the language and culture.
Are you interested in enhancing your Spanish speaking abilities? If so, we would like to invite you to our weekly group meeting. Our friendly group is open to everyone who wants to practice speaking Spanish in a supportive and welcoming environment. You will have the opportunity to meet new people who share your interest in the language and culture.
Are you interested in enhancing your Spanish speaking abilities? If so, we would like to invite you to our weekly group meeting. Our friendly group is open to everyone who wants to practice speaking Spanish in a supportive and welcoming environment. You will have the opportunity to meet new people who share your interest in the language and culture.
Are you interested in enhancing your Spanish speaking abilities? If so, we would like to invite you to our weekly group meeting. Our friendly group is open to everyone who wants to practice speaking Spanish in a supportive and welcoming environment. You will have the opportunity to meet new people who share your interest in the language and culture.
Are you interested in enhancing your Spanish speaking abilities? If so, we would like to invite you to our weekly group meeting. Our friendly group is open to everyone who wants to practice speaking Spanish in a supportive and welcoming environment. You will have the opportunity to meet new people who share your interest in the language and culture.
Are you strange and unusual?
Do you like strange and unusual reads?
Join us at West Sixth Brewing for our monthly Cult Classics Book Club! This month, we will be discussing "We Have Always Lived In The Castle" by Shirley Jackson. Copies of the book are available at the previous month meeting, or the Central Library's front desk.
Are you interested in enhancing your Spanish speaking abilities? If so, we would like to invite you to our weekly group meeting. Our friendly group is open to everyone who wants to practice speaking Spanish in a supportive and welcoming environment. You will have the opportunity to meet new people who share your interest in the language and culture.
Are you strange and unusual?
Do you like strange and unusual reads?
Join us at West Sixth Brewing for our monthly Cult Classics Book Club! This month, we will be discussing "The Last Unicorn" by Peter S. Beagle. Copies of the book are available at the previous month meeting, or the Central Library's front desk.
Are you interested in enhancing your Spanish speaking abilities? If so, we would like to invite you to our weekly group meeting. Our friendly group is open to everyone who wants to practice speaking Spanish in a supportive and welcoming environment. You will have the opportunity to meet new people who share your interest in the language and culture.
Are you interested in enhancing your Spanish speaking abilities? If so, we would like to invite you to our weekly group meeting. Our friendly group is open to everyone who wants to practice speaking Spanish in a supportive and welcoming environment. You will have the opportunity to meet new people who share your interest in the language and culture.
Are you interested in enhancing your Spanish speaking abilities? If so, we would like to invite you to our weekly group meeting. Our friendly group is open to everyone who wants to practice speaking Spanish in a supportive and welcoming environment. You will have the opportunity to meet new people who share your interest in the language and culture.
Are you interested in enhancing your Spanish speaking abilities? If so, we would like to invite you to our weekly group meeting. Our friendly group is open to everyone who wants to practice speaking Spanish in a supportive and welcoming environment. You will have the opportunity to meet new people who share your interest in the language and culture.
