Lexington Public Library

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Whether you're just starting out, changing careers, or returning to the workforce, finding a job can be tough.  We can help you land the right position and answer your questions along the way.

Destination Kindergarten

Destination Kindergarten is the library’s program aimed at preschoolers and their caregivers- trying to help them practice the skills they need to be ready for Kindergarten.  During each Destination Kindergarten event, preschoolers and their caregivers can find a specalized area in the library with fun books, take-home activities, and information about development milestones and school readiness.

See below for more information on upcoming events and take-home packets and activities.

741.5 is written and designed by Lexington Public Library staff member Bill Widener. The inaugural issue came out in January 2017. Sub-titled The Comics & Graphic Novel Bulletin of the Lexington Public Library, its intent is to promote new arrivals to the Library's comics collections. 741.5 takes its name from the numeral designation within the Dewey Decimal System that covers comics and cartooning.

Library meeting rooms are available for individuals, non-profit, for profit, study groups, and community organizations seeking to hold meetings, trainings, and workshops.  Meeting rooms are free of charge.  Sterno and other tools/equipment that have an open flame are prohibited.

From early literacy to beyond, we're here to support your child's education.  Find out about programs like Destination Kindergarten, LPL After School, and Student Success.  Educators can apply for a Teacher Card and request a "bucket of books" or storytime kit.

Communico short description
The title selected for April 23 is "Demon Copperhead" by Barbara Kingsolver.

The son of an Appalachian teenager uses his good looks, wit and instincts to survive foster care, child labor, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses in the new novel from the best-selling author of Unsheltered.

The daytime book discussion group at Beaumont meets two Tuesday mornings a month, except around the holidays. Titles selected for reading include fiction as well as non-fiction, and are usually supplied by the library. The reading schedule is subject to change due to availability of titles. For more information please contact the library at (859) 231-5500 and press 3 to reach the Beaumont Branch.

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Beaumont Branch
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Books, Writing & Authors
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Adults
Digital Archives - Collection
The Brown-Hocker Collection is a community collection of photos and realia from African American events and people in Lexington and Kentucky history. 
 
The objects in the collection are primarily for events in African American schools and churches. However, there are several items pertaining to civil rights activism in Kentucky. The 1964 March on Frankfort, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Jackie Robinson, attracted over 10,000 marchers. The two volumes of “The Kentucky Club Woman” were published by the Kentucky Association of Colored Woman’s Clubs, which represented over 100 Kentucky clubs. There are also several objects honoring the life and legacy of Whitney M. Young, Jr.
 
The Constitution School and Booker T. Washington Elementary School were both segregated schools for African American children in Lexington. Constitution closed in 1972. 
 
 
Digital Archives - Collection - Group
Sample directory page

The library has a variety of directories and yearbooks with local information. In the library's current digital collection, there is a selection of residential and street directories, yearbooks, school directories, and organizational directories. These are all fully word-searchable.

 

New facility will remain at previous location with a larger footprint and expanded offerings

Lexington, Kentucky (August 18, 2022) – The Lexington Public Library broke ground on a new, significantly larger facility in the former Village Branch location on Versailles Road to better provide for the needs of the neighborhoods it serves. The new branch will reflect the community’s vision for a state-of-the-art community hub, one that offers robust resources and a myriad of program and service offerings. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on Tuesday at a media event featuring Library and City officials.

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The title selected for May 7 is "Banyan Moon" by Thao Thai.

Follows three generations of Vietnamese American women reeling from the death of their matriarch, revealing the family's inherited burdens, buried secrets and unlikely love stories.

The daytime book discussion group at Beaumont meets two Tuesday mornings a month, except around the holidays. Titles selected for reading include fiction as well as non-fiction, and are usually supplied by the library. The reading schedule is subject to change due to availability of titles. For more information please contact the library at (859) 231-5500 and press 3 to reach the Beaumont Branch.

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Beaumont Branch
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Books, Writing & Authors
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Adults
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The Books is Better
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Hooked on Books is a book club for people who want to join a book club, but want to choose what books they read. Stop by to discuss your recent read and get recommendations in new genres.

Want to join a book club but don't want to be required to read the same book as everyone else? Stop by the Beaumont to try our book club, Hooked on Books.  Each month, we will discuss books in a different genre and everyone will talk about the book they chose to read. This month we will discuss books that have been turned into tv shows or movies.  Spoilers may occur, so please be advised!

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Beaumont Branch
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Books, Writing & Authors
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Adults
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Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong
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Discuss Cathy Park Hong's National Bestseller, Minor Feelings, An Asian American Reckoning, part memoir, part cultural criticism, which exposes fresh truths about racialized consciousness in America.

Join us for a discussion of Cathy Park Hong's National Bestseller, Minor Feelings, An Asian American Reckoning, part memoir, part cultural criticism, which exposes fresh truths about racialized consciousness in America. Please pick up a copy at any branch location to join in the discussion!

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Beaumont Branch
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Books, Writing & Authors
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Adults
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Off-site book club, closed to new members
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Communico library location
Beaumont Branch
Communico event type
Books, Writing & Authors
Communico age group
Adults
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Magical Realism
Communico short description
Hooked on Books is a book club for people who want to join a book club, but want to choose what books they read. Stop by to discuss your recent read and get recommendations in new genres.

Want to join a book club but don't want to be required to read the same book as everyone else? Stop by the Beaumont to try our book club, Hooked on Books.  Each month, we will discuss books in a different genre and everyone will talk about the book they chose to read. This month we will discuss books with magical realism elements. Spoilers may occur, so please be advised!

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Communico library location
Beaumont Branch
Communico event type
Books, Writing & Authors
Communico age group
Adults
Communico short description
The title chosen for May 21 is "Happiness Falls" by Angie Kim.

Korean American college student Mia Parkson and her twin brother, John, are spending the Covid-19 lockdown at their parents’ house in suburban Virginia. One morning, their autistic 14-year-old brother, Eugene, races home from a hike with their father, his clothing spattered with blood. Their father is nowhere to be found, and Eugene—who is nonverbal—isn’t able to say what happened.

The daytime book discussion group at Beaumont meets two Tuesday mornings a month, except around the holidays. Titles selected for reading include fiction as well as non-fiction, and are usually supplied by the library. The reading schedule is subject to change due to availability of titles. For more information please contact the library at (859) 231-5500 and press 3 to reach the Beaumont Branch.

Communico start date
Communico end date
Communico library location
Beaumont Branch
Communico event type
Books, Writing & Authors
Communico age group
Adults
Digital Archives - Collection

Lexington's school system dates back to the city charter of 1831, and it first school opened in 1834. From a single building in 1834 with about 100 students, today the Fayette County Public School system has over 40,000 students and 68 schools and programs. Lexington and Fayette County combined districts in 1968, shortly before the city/county government merger in 1974.

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.

Digital Archives - Collection - Group
group of children in Grade 5B at Constitution School
The Community Collections consist of objects shared from local community residents and organizations. Individuals have lent items of local significance to the library to give the larger community awareness and access. The original objects are not owned by the Lexington Public Library. 
 
Submissions for the Community Collections are open. If you are an individual or organization interested in possibly lending items to be digitized by the library, please contact elibrarian@lexpublib.org. We consider item age, location, content, relevance, privacy considerations, and item condition when determining items to add. Content donors must be the legal copyright holders if the item is not in the public domain.
 
Kentucky History Awards Icon noting this collection received the award in 2019.

 

The William Stamps Farish, III Theater at the Central Library is available to the community for lectures, live music, community forums, film festivals, small theatrical productions, dance performances, literary readings, debates, and other creative uses.

Highlight

If books are your thing, this is your place.  Browse the newest titles in our collection, take a deep dive into comics and graphic novels with the 741.5 bulletin, request a personalized "bag of books," and more.

Podcast Episode
Alexa and Jenny are joined this week by our middle school expert, Ellie, as we discuss the very popular book Wonder by RJ Palacio. Wonder tells the story of a very special kid named Auggie, as he navigates his first year of middle school, takes on bullies
Grand Opening set for Saturday, March 9

Lexington, Kentucky (January 17, 2024) – Lexington Public Library is proud to announce the Grand Opening of the Marksbury Family Branch of the Lexington Public Library.

Festivities include a Media Day event on Friday, March 8 from 8:30-10am and a Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, March 9 (more details coming soon). The current Village Branch will remain open through 6pm on Friday, February 23.