Comments About the Summer Reading Program

"Every year I have parents tell me that they see an improvement in their child because our program got them to read. It makes me feel good to know that I helped someone."

"The best part is they are still reading after our program is finished!"

"No matter what you do, summer reading, story time, etc...It’s always nice to feel as if you somehow made an impact on a child."

"We had several young people who attended the SR program on Monday morning, then came back for the P.M. program with their parents. Our library was a very busy place this summer and we hope to build on this with many more programs for all ages."

"A Mother told me that she absolutely loved the way we did Summer Reading. Her children, especially one of her sons, did not like to read at all, but since they had been coming to Summer Reading he was really enjoying using the library, checking out books and reading!"

"I think summer reading is vital to small communities where there are a big number of low income families. For some of these people, the programs the library offers are the only form of vacation they get during the summer and they look forward to it each year."

"I feel we made an impact by doing a program for the ADHD children. When I was contacted, my first response was to say no, because I had no experience with ADHD children. I am so thankful I didn't have the heart to say no. I would have been the one who missed out on a blessing!!!"

"The children had to keep a journal (provided by the library) and one of the children enjoyed writing in it so much that her mother had to go buy her another one so she would turn hers in. She has since decided that the library is a pretty fun place to be."

"Since we have recently remodeled our library, a lot of patrons have not had the opportunity to come and see us. There was a local daycare who heard such wonderful things about our program that they brought all their children for a tour of the building. They all left to go home and tell their parents that they wanted library cards."

"The theme for this year was absolutely wonderful! There was so much historical information to tie into that programming was EASY, even for a busy branch librarian like myself, who has many shoes to fill besides children's programming. Also, the children learned about history in a fun environment. They had a positive learning experience to get them ready to go back to school."

"Children love to have the chance to read what they select for a change of pace from the required reading for school. What better opportunity to do this than during the summer months, and then receive a variety of rewards as a result."

"It promotes use of the library all year long by the entire family."

"Highlights: We have several home schooled children in this area-- our programs provide a wonderful opportunity for these children to be around their peers. Other highlights include watching a typical mouthy, 13 year old girl who wants to look cool constantly and hates to read transform into the reading buddy everybody wants to have on Reading Day. There are other things I could mention, like watching teamwork develop among a group of middle schoolers (a miracle) or seeing families who can't afford vacations use our library for their summertime fun, and know we're doing a good job when a small child drags a parent away from the video section into the children's room saying, " I want a book, Mama!" Now that's a good day."

"We have truly bridged the gap between children who may have seen the library as an unwelcoming place. Stereotypes in the community, not only with the children but their parents as well, were broken down this summer and we’re seeing a lot of new faces at our door. This is especially great in the fact that many of those kids are middle schoolers that are just starting to pull away from the idea of learning as fun."

"Some of these kids are actually showing up after daycare hours dragging parents that don't seem to have ever been to a library themselves. Their enthusiasm has rubbed off and the parents couldn't help but want to see what all the fuss was about. We signed up quite a few new patrons this summer and it looks as if they are starting to see the importance of books beyond just school!"

"We had several Taiwanese children come to every program in order to interact with the other children and to better their command of the English language."

"I had more kids reading more books than ever before! We even had children coming in from neighboring counties that don't have summer reading! Of course, we had lots of Moms who appreciate our reading incentives; we can get them to read when they can't, which is what we're all about!"

"I told the children in all my school visits that if over 1, 300 registered and participated, I would kiss a REAL cow. Well we had over 1,660 and I got to kiss that cow in front of the library!"

"One boy in particular has a very hard time feeling accepted by the other children, this gave him a chance to work beside some of them and learn to relax and not feel like an outcast."

"A grandmother commented on how she was very appreciative to have activities for her grandchildren to do during the summer. She said it helped her from constantly trying to entertain them, and that it was something they really enjoyed."

"The overall response gives kids an incentive to read fun books without pressure to take a test or to score points. The rewards are fun things to do!"

Comments About the Summer Reading Workshops

I cannot stress enough how important the workshops and the manuals have been to me.

Usually can get a lot from the workshop, plus the manual is icing on the cake.

Great work putting this together and helping me....a first time planner....get started. Since my Children's Services Librarian was new, the manual and workshop were most beneficial.

I think the manuals are great. I usually find over half of the materials I use when planning my program. The manuals are like the clothing size (one size fits all).

I thought the manual was well done and can be used for other programs throughout the year. It is a big help to me.

Comments About Archival Services' Research Staff

"Thank you very much for your kindness and your efficiency."

"Thank you for a quick response. This has been very helpful and will save me a lot of time."

"This letter is to thank you for the cleanly reproduced copy of the marriage records of my grandparents. It had ended four months of letter writing trying to verify my grandfather’s second marriage. I also appreciate the promptness with which you located this document and sent a copy to me."

"Thanks for all of your efforts and help. I have managed to get what I needed for now. You have been so helpful.

" Thank you so much for your help!"

"Thanks for sending me those statistical abstracts."

"I am most thankful for your very kind, quick and complete help in this matter. The material that I received today was exactly what I needed. I cannot say how thankful I am for your help and kindness in this matter. The People of the Great State of Kentucky can be very happy to have someone like you working for them. Again, I would like to thank you for your excellent work and for your endeavours in this matter."

"You are incredible. Thank you and your staff very much. This will help immeasurably.
I will remember you and will appeal to you should I hit a brick wall, once again."

"Thank you for your quick response. Today I mailed a request. This will be our starting point, and depending on what we find out from this first request, then I may have more."

"We hope to make it back to your place sometime. The first time we were there in mid September, you were within minutes of closing for the day. But, we found the people there to be friendly and helpful, although we didn't have time to do any real research."

"Kentucky has very beautiful, well kept public buildings. We were impressed with everything we've seen so far in Frankfort. We just need more time to get to everything!"

"YOU are amazing..!! I can't thank you enough!!"

"Many, many thanks for your patience and help on my recent visit to the Kentucky Department for Libraries & Archives. It was good of you to find the pertinent microfilm rolls for my search, but trying three different copying machines to get the best copy is certainly above and beyond the call of duty. Your suggestion to find Thomas Hart Shelby's will and finding it was icing on the cake. You made for a very successful research visit."

"Thank you so very much for helping us with our research. We couldn’t have done it without your help. Everyone, even the guard, was so nice and helpful."

"Your services are one of the best uses of my tax money I’ve seen. Therefore, contribute any change from this check to the State Treasury. If payment is short, bill me for the remainder."

"Thanks very much for the copies from the previous cases. It’s like receiving a present in the mail. I very much appreciate your help in copying the materials."

"Thank you for sending the copies. They are a great help."

"Thank you very much for your attention to my request. I enjoyed working at the Archives. It is an efficient and pleasant operation."

"I cannot tell you how helpful and courteous the staff at the archives were to me and the other patrons while I was there. They are extremely competent and helpful. You provide a wonderful service and helped make my trip to Kentucky very successful."

"Thank you all for all that you do."

"Thank you for the extra copies of the case. They were very helpful in my genealogy."

"Thank you for all the help and co-operation you’ve given me in this matter."

"Thanks so much for your prompt and kind attention to this request."

"Thank you for locating the case. My family and I are grateful for your competent diligence."

Comments About the Kentucky Talking Book Library

"John and I wish to thank you for such a super service…There is always a very pleasant voice to answer the phone when we call…My husband would be at a tremendous loss without your services and so would I."

"In the past 10 years I have had more than 3200 books from your library. I don’t know how I could have passed so much enjoyable time without getting the books. I have been treated very kindly when I call. Keep up the good work! I brag on you to everyone I see."

"… I am able to pursue a class on religion which would otherwise be unavailable to me. Thank you for this excellent reading aid."

"My muscular dystrophy condition does not allow me to turn book pages and hold books for any length of time…Your library is giving me the opportunities to learn about health, politics and other subjects again."

"My mother passed away recently, but she enjoyed the books on tape many hours. Thanks so much for making her life a little brighter."

"Although prison life for blind and physically handicapped inmates can virtually sever us from being informed of free world events, KTBL has always been available to dispense a variety of news, health, education, sports, and spiritual guidance information."

"This library service has made a significant difference in our lives.”

“I do appreciate the books and videos very much and would probably have gone crazy by now if it had not been for them. I can walk, do dishes, cook, do laundry, lay in bed, ride in a car or whatever and listen to my books….There are things that are missed or not understood in movies that the descriptive ones tell you. Hope this service never stops.”

“(My mother) has enjoyed the tapes for many years. Thank you so much for the many, many hours of enjoyment you provided her by allowing her to read although she could not see.”

Comments About KDLA's Bookmobile Conferences

"Great networking, great morale booster."

"The Marketing segment was great! I now have several ideas for advertising the Bookmobile service."

"I had also realized that my bookmobile was starting to be used by more seniors and less younger people. I really saw it from a different view and saw and heard ideas for handling this."

"Marketing & safety were great! I learned a lot and wrote down many ideas to take back to my library."

Comments About the "Widening Circles" Children's Conference

"The conference gave me content, ideas, suggestions, and loads of information that I will be able to incorporate into existing and future programming, work space, and practices."

"It always helps me to talk with other people that do the job you do and to share different ideas and try someone else's ideas of what works for programs and attitudes."

"I feel as if I have been rejuvenated. I have wonderful ideas I can take back and incorporate into my work now. I feel as if I have been given a creative license and I plan on using it."

"Lots of new ideas to try & very excited to try them & share what I learned. Being a new librarian, it was nice to hear & talk with more experienced librarians; interesting seeing what challenges are at other places in the state."

"Gave me a needed reinforcement of what I'm already doing. Also gave me “permission" to make small changes which I think will improve my service to my community and clientele. I was particularly impressed with all the presenters in that they know so much."

"I always feel so excited after this conference with all the info- I can't wait to get back and use it."

"Thanks again for the “balm” for burnout."

"Sometimes I need a kick in the pants to rekindle my enthusiasm…"

"I needed this shot in the arm."

"Feeling very validated and rejuvenated to go back."

"Conferences like this one renew my spirits and my love and my commitment to my job by giving me more energy and excitement to seeing things get done. Thank you so much for providing such conferences for us to attend and be renewed."

Comments About KDLA's Public Awareness Leadership Institute

"I was very impressed that Jim Nelson took the time to drive all the way down to welcome and encourage us. It made me think this Institute is an important step for improving Kentucky's libraries overall."

"These sessions have been tremendously helpful. If there is the possibility of continuing this in the future, I think others will appreciate it."

"This is the most beneficial workshop format I have ever attended. (This also includes the many meetings I attended as a teacher.) Great speakers. Enthusiasm is contagious."

"Excellent sessions! Very useful presentations by all the speakers. Handouts used are very helpful and I am looking forward to the additional ones to be mailed. 'Homework' assignments (project and individual) are a great experience."

"Great, great, great! One of the best things that KDLA has provided to help me!!!"

"Totally worthwhile investment of my time, and state money."

"Super!"