“Saturday Spotlight” at the Frederick Porter Griffin Center: Women’s History Month

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by Kathy Fisher, Head of Genealogy and Local History

March is a special month for many people.  It’s celebrated by basketball fans, Irish-Americans, appreciators of warmer and brighter days, and pie-eating math lovers maybe?  Another group that should garner attention this month is WOMEN… 

From its beginnings, Harrison County has been home to many important women.  Names such as Elizabeth Pennington, Polly Strong, Mary Bugher, Julia Fried Walker, Leora Brown Farrow, Matilda Boone Crosier, Jennie Griffin, and Georgia Stockslager Fisher represent just a few of the females that left their mark here.  You are invited to discover some of their stories (and more) at the Frederick Porter Griffin Center during this Women’s History Month.

Special programming will be offered between 10 am and 4 pm on Saturday March 11th and 18th.  Stop in to learn more!

(If you can’t make it in-person, be sure to view our other women-focused programming videos online.)

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Who’s Awesome! – Nikki Esarey – February 2023

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Congratulations, Nikki Esarey!

Nikki Esarey, the Palmyra lead circ associate is HCPL’s February Who’s Awesome! winner. Nikki was one of 16 nominations for the honor this month.

Carla Ward, who does adult programming and works at the Lanesville Branch, nominated Nikki saying, “Nikki is very helpful in setting up the community room for my card class. She always takes the time to make sure the room is set up right and exactly how I want it. She doesn’t have to go to all that trouble but she always does. I appreciate all she does for me.”

Nikki joined the HCPL staff in July of 2007 as a circulation clerk at Main and in October of 2007 she moved to the reference department. In April of 2008, she was made head of Reference. When the Palmyra Branch opened in 2010, Nikki was named the Palmyra lead circ associate where she excels at innovative, creative children’s programming and excellent customer service. Nikki is an artist who writes and illustrates her own children’s books. Cardinal Publishing will soon be releasing one, “Chicken and Moodles.”  She also makes puppets and puts on puppet shows, is a ventriloquist, creates elaborate escape rooms, leads step-by-step painting classes and more.

Nikki was also nominated this month by Sara Deatrick who said, “She proofs and catches minor mistakes on both adult and children’s handouts/calendars. She is phenomenal! I appreciate her taking the time to do this. My concentration (or lack there of nowadays) makes this a daunting task for me.” 

Each month a winner will be selected by random drawing. A quarterly winner and nominator will receive a small prize in addition to the recognition. 

Other staff members nominated in February were Tiffany Thieneman, Steven Schifcar, Melissa Schellenberger, Bob Olrich, Eden Ransdell, Alisa Burch, Diana Lasky, Savannah Wallace, Ann Allen, Jessica Stroud and Kathy Fisher.

Article by Alisa Burch, Director

 

 

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The Library Brings A Midsummer Night’s Dream to Corydon on April 22, 2023

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Harrison County Public Library and the Arts Alliance of Southern Indiana will sponsor Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 22, 2023, at the Corydon Capitol State Historic Site gazebo and lawn.

TheatreWorks of Southern Indiana will present the Shakespeare comedy directed by Martin French and James Thompson.  This play includes an upcoming marriage, fairy mischief, silly pranks, and multiple plot twists and turns.  During a recent visit to Corydon, French mentioned that there will be audience interaction, even for the younger set.

The library is pleased to be able to host the event at the newly renovated gazebo at the Corydon Capitol State Historic Site.  If there is inclement weather, the play will move indoors to the Harrison County Parks Department Office location (the old Presbyterian Church) at 126 E. Walnut Street in Corydon.  The Blaine H. Wiseman Visitor’s Center restrooms will be open until 8 p.m.

Can love overcome all obstacles during A Midsummer Night’s Dream?  Grab a lawn chair or blanket and join the library on April 22 to find out!

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Pete the Cat Visits Heth-Washington Elementary School

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Library mascot Pete the Cat visited Heth-Washington Elementary School today as a reward for HWES being the top school in January 2023’s Read to Feed Harrison County Winter Challenge.  In each classroom from Pre-K to 3rd grade, Eden Ransdell, Youth Services Manager, read and sang Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes.  Pete acted out the story and led the kids in dancing along.  Each classroom received a special Certificate of Excellence signed by Pete the Cat with their total number of books read.  Way to go, Heth-Washington!

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HCPL Readers Donate 102 Pounds of Food to Community Services

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Harrison County Public Library is proud to announce that the participants of the Read to Feed Harrison County Winter Challenge donated 102 pounds of food to Harrison County Community Services during the month of January!  In addition to these canned good donations, HCCS also received 100 cases of chicken from Tyson, $1,000 from Duke Energy, $200 from REMC, and a $75 gift from Walmart.  These generous donations from the community helped feed 724 households with 1,746 individuals.  Great work, Harrison County!

Pictured above, Kymberli Wilkinson, HCCS Director of Development, accepts a Walmart gift card from Eden Ransdell, HCPL Youth Services Manager.

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“Saturday Spotlight” at the Frederick Porter Griffin Center: Black History Month

Adult Activities, Adult Program, exhibit, Genealogy - Local History, Notices / /
by Kathy Fisher, Head of Genealogy

In July of 2006, a diverse group gathered at Corydon’s historic Leora Brown School to hear the remembrances of a special nonagenarian named Ethel Porter.  The location was appropriate, for Ethel was there to speak about her experiences growing up in Indiana’s segregated school systems.

The library staff was there to capture these stories and the recently uncovered video is now available to share.  You are invited to rediscover this program each Saturday during Black History Month.

Viewings will run on the hour between 10 am and 4 pm each remaining Saturday during February.  Stop in to learn more about Ethel, the Leora Brown School, Harrison County’s rich Black history, and more!

(Don’t worry if you can’t make it in person, the videos will be added to the library programming page on the website at the end of the month.)

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Who’s Awesome! – Julia Phipps

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Congratulations, Julia Phipps!

Julia Phipps, affectionately known by staff as Julie, is HCPL’s first Who’s Awesome! winner. Julia works as a reference assistant and was one of twenty-two staff members nominated in January.

Tiffany Thieneman, public services manager, nominated Julia for the award stating, “Julie was awesome when we had a patron in reference who had a medical issue. Julie’s nursing experience came in handy as she assessed the patron’s condition. Julie stayed calm and was able to provide EMS with information regarding the situation. I was glad Julie was there to help!”

Julia joined the reference staff at Main October 25, 2021.

Each month a winner will be selected by random drawing. A quarterly winner and nominator will receive a small prize in addition to the recognition.

Other staff members nominated in January were Amanda Applegate, Nikki Esarey, Ann Allen, Eden Ransdell, Sandy Harbeson, Melissa Schellenberger, Ann Crecelius, Vee Colantonio, Lynn Hardesty, Bethany Banet, Savannah Wallace, Seren Lindsey, Debbie McClanahan, Steven Schifcar, Liz Dennis, Trevor Smith, Kelly Powell, Alisa Burch, Jessica Stroud, Sarah Dorton and Pat Schwartz.

Article by Alisa Burch, Director

 

 

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The Results Are In! Read to Feed Harrison County 2023

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Harrison County Public Library is excited to announce that 30,418 books were read for the #WinterRead2023 Read to Feed Harrison County Winter Challenge during the month of January.  This is more than three times the original goal of 9,500 books! 1,789 readers participated, including 1,428 students.

Thanks to the hard work of the community, Harrison County Community Services will receive 100 cases of chicken from Tyson, $1,000 from Duke Energy, $200 from REMC, and a $75 gift from Walmart.

Missed out on the challenge?  1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is always open for children from birth through Pre-K.  Track your reading with Beanstack or pick up a memory book from any library branch.  Try out HCPL’s new app to access eResources and more.

If you have participated in a reading challenge with us before, you already have a Beanstack account. The library will assist you if you have any difficulties logging on.

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TALK – Text and Learn for Kindergarten

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TALK is made possible by the Indiana State Library and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Harrison County Public Library is excited to provide TALK – Text And Learn for Kindergarten to our residents.  TALK is an early literacy texting program for parents and caregivers of young children.  Diana Lasky of Youth Services stated, “Our director Alisa Burch has always looked for ways to encourage early literacy practices at home.  This is the perfect way to put early literacy tips directly into the hands of all caregivers.  Anyone can use TALK, no library affiliation is required.”

Interested adults may sign up to receive 2 messages per week with fun activities to do at home to help prepare little ones, ages 5 and under, for school success.

To register, simply:

  1.   Text TALK to 75547 or go to TALK
  2.   Provide the child’s birthdate and zip code
  3.   Choose your language: English or Spanish
    (2 children maximum per phone number)

You’re all set!  You may opt out at anytime.

HCPL staff are happy to help if you need assistance with registration.
Feel free to contact the library at 812-738-4110 for assistance or information.

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