Author Archives: Susan Broady

Dean Connie Foster gave the Student Affairs Working Group from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine a tour of the main branch of WKU Libraries on Thursday, January 19. WKU recently partnered with UK and the Medical Center at Bowling Green to help expand medical education in the south central and western regions of the state.

Warren East Middle School was recognized on Friday, November 11 at the school for being this year’s winner for the School Library Grant sponsored by the Friends of WKU Libraries. This is the third year WKU Libraries has offered the grant to schools in the Barren River Area Development District. The grant is made possible with funds from Friends of WKU Libraries and is given out to one middle or high school annually with different purposes, including improving collections or technology, for professional development funds, to improve students’ research skills, and to offer reading enrichment opportunities.

Library Advisory Council members served as the selection committee for the grant. When reviewing the applications, the selection committee looks at financial need, the nature of the proposal, and the impact it will have on the student body.

Lee Ann Shearon is the Library and Media Specialist who wrote the winning application for the school. According to Shearon, the grant money will be used to improve the technology of the library by purchasing Chromebooks for research and other educational purposes.

“Many students do not have access to technology at home. We have to expose them at school and give as much access as possible to make them college and career ready,” said Shearon.

WKU Library Advisory Council members Laura Eason and Nancy Priest along with WKU Libraries Marketing Coordinator Jennifer Wilson attended an afternoon Veteran’s Day celebration to make the announcement and present the check for $1,000 to Ms. Shearon and Principal David Cloyd. For more information about the grant, contact jennifer.wilson@wku.edu.

Bestselling author Robert Beatty will visit Bowling Green on Thursday, October 20 at 6pm at the Warren County Public Library’s Bob Kirby Branch as part of the annual SOKY Reads one book, one community reading program. Beatty will read from and sign both Serafina and the sequel, Serafina and the Twisted Staff. This event is free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase on site.

Serafina and the Black Cloak, part one in a three-part series, is a mystery-thriller published by Disney Hyperion. The book is set at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina and features the energetic, intelligent heroine Serafina as she solves the mystery of the sinister Man in the Black Cloak. A compelling mix of historical fiction, excellent characterization, and high-energy adventure, the book has excited audiences since its release and more than 25 weeks on the NYT bestseller list. It won the Pat Conroy Southern Book Prize and received outstanding reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and more. 300 copies of the book were distributed to schools throughout Bowling Green, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Graves Gilbert Clinic. Funding from Friends of the Warren County Public Library provided more than 100 additional books given away during various community events during September. As part of his visit to Kentucky, Beatty will also speak at local schools in the area as well.

SOKY Reads is an outreach program of the Southern Kentucky Book Fest, a partnership of the Warren County Public Library, Barnes and Noble Booksellers, and WKU Libraries. To learn more about getting involved in the SOKY Reads program next year, contact Sara Volpi, Literary Outreach Coordinator for WKU Libraries, at sara.volpi@wku.edu.