Reading Program – Harrison County Public Library

Pete the Cat Visits Corydon Elementary School

Reading Program, Youth Activities / By Eden Ransdell / February 29, 2024

Library mascot Pete the Cat visited Corydon Elementary School on Tuesday as a reward for CES being the top school in this year’s Read to Feed Harrison County Winter Challenge. Eden Ransdell, Youth Services Manager, read and sang Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes, while Pete acted out the story and showed off his dance moves. Corydon Elementary students read 6,194 books in the month of January 2024, helping to raise $2,700 for Harrison County Community Services. Way to go, CES!

Read to Feed Harrison County 2024

Reading Program / By Eden Ransdell / December 11, 2023

This New Year, make a resolution to give back to the community. Monday, January 1 is the first day of #WinterRead2024 – READ TO FEED HARRISON COUNTY! The challenge is open to all ages, January 1 – 31. The goal is to read 10,000 books as a community. If the goal is reached, Harrison County Community Services will receive $1,000 from Duke Energy, $1,000 from Lucas Oil, $250 from Eckart Supply, and $200 from REMC. Canned food will be collected at all library branches.

During the Winter Reading Challenge, everything counts! Books, eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines can be used from any source, both library and personal. Check out free books and audiobooks from Overdrive or the Libby app, and enjoy digital materials without wait times on Hoopla. Track your reading with Beanstack to earn badges and explore activities inspired by the book Where We Come From by Diane Wilson. You are challenged to read at least 10 books in the month of January to unlock the badges.

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. If you do not want a Beanstack account, the library will be happy to log your reading for you. Just stop in at any library branch to pick up a Winter Read bookmark. HELP READ TO FEED HARRISON COUNTY!

Shakespeare in the Park Moves Indoors to a Full House

Reading Program, Youth Activities / By Diana Lasky / April 26, 2023

The weather was cool and the ground was soggy, but more than 105 people attended A Midsummer Night’s Dream as it moved indoors to the Harrison County Parks Department office/sanctuary. The public enjoyed the play and the venue (previously Wright Interpretive Center, old Presbyterian Church) just off the Corydon town square. Hilarity ensued as the multiple stories were told and the fairies created mischief.

Attendees of all ages came to the production performed by TheatreWorks of Southern Indiana and directed by Martin French and James Thompson. Library director Alisa Burch welcomed the audience and thanked the Harrison County Parks Department for providing the indoor venue. Other community partners were Corydon Capitol State Historic Site (the original outdoor location) and the Harrison County Visitor’s Bureau which remained open until 8 p.m. with restroom services. Hannegan Roseberry of TheatreWorks of Southern Indiana introduced the play and mentioned that “theater is alive and well in Corydon” noting there were two other local live productions that night in Corydon.

Harrison County Public Library sponsored the Corydon performance of the Arts Alliance of SoIN Spring Tour of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. As the audience exited the building, many complimented the performance and the venue and thanked the actors. For more information about the production, actors and upcoming plays, visit the playbill link.

Pete the Cat Visits Heth-Washington Elementary School

Reading Program, Youth Activities / By Eden Ransdell / February 27, 2023

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!

HCPL Readers Donate 102 Pounds of Food to Community Services

Reading Program / By Eden Ransdell / February 21, 2023

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.

The Results Are In! Read to Feed Harrison County 2023

Reading Program / By Eden Ransdell / February 1, 2023

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.

Read to Feed Harrison County Winter Challenge

Read to Feed Harrison County 2023

Reading Program / By Eden Ransdell / December 7, 2022

Want to help out your community this New Year? Sunday, January 1 is the first day of #WinterRead2023 – READ TO FEED HARRISON COUNTY! The challenge is open to all ages, January 1 – 31. The goal is to read 9500 books as a community. If the goal is reached, 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. Canned food will be collected at all branches.

During the Winter Reading Challenge, everything counts! Books, eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines can be used from any source, library or personal. Try out HCPL’s new app to access eResources and more. Track your reading with Beanstack to earn emoji-themed badges and explore fun activities. You are challenged to read at least 10 books in the month of January to unlock the badges.

HCPL invites you to join us in the 2022 SoIN Big Read, “Ella Enchanted”!

Adult Activities, Book club, fiction, Reading Program, Teen Activities, Youth Activities / By Jessica Stroud / October 14, 2022

Harrison County Public Library is partnering with the Arts Alliance of Southern Indiana (AASI) and other regional partners in the SoIN Big Read, and you are invited to read along with us!

To kickoff the 2022 SoIN Big Read, Harrison County Public Library’s first event will take place this Saturday, October 15th, at the Corydon branch in the Children’s Activity Room at 105 N. Capitol Avenue with public showings of the movie Ella Enchanted (2004) at 10 am and 2 pm.

Free copies of the book will be available to pick up at any Harrison County Public Library branch starting Monday, October 17.

More Harrison County Public Library in-person and virtual book discussion events are coming soon.

“We are thrilled to kick off the SoIN Big Read with our partners, The Floyd County Library, Jeffersonville Township Public Library, Harrison County Public Library, Jeffersonville Public Art Commission, and Community Action of Southern Indiana,” said AASI Executive Director Brian Bell. “The SoIN Big Read will promote a regional community reading event of Ella Enchanted”

Over 1,000 copies of this beloved Newbery Honor-winning story that is sure to enchant readers new and old will be distributed at no cost at locations throughout Southern Indiana. Each SoIN Big Read partnering organization will host book-related programming, movie events, book discussions, workshops, and podcasts with the intention of fostering engagement and discussion of the book.

At her birth, Ella of Frell receives a foolish fairy’s gift—the “gift” of obedience. Ella must obey any order, whether it’s to hop on one foot for a day and a half, or to chop off her own head! But strong-willed Ella does not accept her fate…

Against a bold backdrop of princes, ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, and fairy godmothers, Ella goes on a quest to break the curse forever.

A tween favorite for 25 years, adults who remember the pleasure of discovering this fun fairytale themselves are now sharing this book with younger readers.

For more information about the SoIN Big Read, please click here.

Silly Safaris – Summer Reading Program

Notices, Reading Program, Youth Activities / By Jessica Stroud / June 21, 2022

The Friends of Harrison County Library sponsored Daisy Doodle of Silly Safaris at the Boys and Girls Club for a live animal show on June 20. The Friends raise funds by selling gently used books on the 2^nd and 4^th Saturdays of each month from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. from The Book Box in the library parking lot.

The audience was enthralled with the animals featuring: Remington the Yorkie puppy, an armadillo, a milk snake, a hermit crab, a tarantula, a baby alligator, Hoosier the Eurasian eagle-owl, a tortoise and a rabbit.

All 235 guests were offered a chance to take two fingers and gently pet the backs of Remington, Hoosier, the armadillo, the rabbit and tortoise; and view the tarantula and hermit crab up close.