Perry County Public Library packs June with summer reading events

Perry County families have a free summer schedule waiting at Perry County Public Library, where June programming includes Story Time every Friday at 1 p.m., the 2026 Summer Reading brochure and separate reading logs for adults and youth.

The calendar also puts library governance in public view. The board of trustees is set to meet June 15 at 4:30 p.m., and the current board lists Ralph Combs as president, Melissa Moore as vice president, James Combs as treasurer, Josh Baker as secretary and Jessica Watts as a member. The library will be closed June 19 in observance of Juneteenth, a reminder that the main branch at 289 Black Gold Blvd. in Hazard follows a steady schedule but still pauses for countywide holidays. Regular hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

That June lineup turns the library into one of Perry County’s easiest summer destinations for parents looking for structured, low-cost activities close to home. Story Time gives younger children a weekly anchor, while the adult and youth reading logs make the summer reading push useful for more than one age group. The brochure and logs are already posted on the library’s homepage, giving families a quick way to plug into the season without having to piece together activities from multiple places.

The library’s reach goes well beyond the front desk. Its state-of-the-art bookmobile travels throughout Perry County on a rotating schedule and is stocked with more than 3,100 books, DVDs, audiobooks and magazines. A dedicated outreach librarian can also bring programs to businesses and community groups, extending library service into parts of the county that may not always make it to Hazard.

Inside the building, the institution functions as both a reading center and a public resource hub. The auditorium seats 168 and includes a large projector screen, curtained stage, microphones and a podium. Patrons can request items, with a limit of five requests per person, reserve meeting rooms and use exam proctoring services. The library also offers wireless printing, priced at 10 cents per black-and-white page and 25 cents per color copy.

For students, adults and anyone digging into family history, the database collection adds another layer of value. Cardholders can use Ancestry Library Edition, MyHeritage Library Edition, NewsBank, Kentucky Virtual Library, World Book, EBSCOhost, Teen BookCloud and Scholastic Teachables. The genealogy room holds non-circulating local-history material tied to Perry and surrounding counties, including census records, microfilm, marriage and death records, cemetery guides, newspapers and books. All facilities and meeting rooms are ADA compliant, and accommodation requests are due at least 72 hours before an event.