Happy trails, Miss Joan

Joan Johnsen – or, as we all know her, “Miss Joan” – is trading her longtime role as Children’s Librarian at our Newport Branch for a full-time role as grandmother when she retires this month.

Miss Joan as Willy Wonka.

Miss Joan as Willy Wonka.

In her 14 years with the Library, Miss Joan has helped a generation learn the joy of reading from story times and special events, such as Summer Reading Kickoff and Early Literacy Fair.

We will have one more opportunity to say thanks on a grand stage when Miss Joan joins our other children’s librarians at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 10 at Tower Park in Fort Thomas for the World’s Largest Storytime. We will be reading “Chicka, Chika, Boom, Boom” at noon in a fun, festive event that’s part of the Childhood Literacy Initiative.

Miss Joan is a cool cat.

Miss Joan is a cool cat.

The difference Miss Joan has made is evident by the love and joy her children and their parents feel for her. “Years ago, my mother-in-law was a teacher at Dayton and Joan had come to her school to promote the library. She started taking another grandchild there and told me how good Joan was. I started taking my oldest daughter, who is now 12, there and was so impressed by Joan. Her love of books and her energy kept the kids’ attention and mine too. She made that 45 minutes so entertaining for the kids. I have no doubt she loved what she did and it showed everytime. She always had a smile on her face. The Library is very lucky to have had her as well as the community,” parent and patron Karen Sower told CCPL.

Best of luck in retirement, Miss Joan, and don’t be a stranger!

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Six @ Six starts with look at “The Good Life”

What is “the good life” and does everyone have an equal chance to share in it?

Dr. Rachael Clark, an instructor in the Northern Kentucky University Department of Psychological Science, looks at residents in an impoverished community to examine hope
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Rachael will share her vision for and experiences with including every social class in her studies to improve the quality of life for all human beings.

She will discuss her team’s findings in “Project Hope & the Study of the Good Life” as the Six @ Six community lecture series begins its 2016 schedule at 6pm Wednesday, Feb. 3, at Carrico/Fort Thomas.

The Six @ Six Community Lecture Series is sponsored by Northern Kentucky University’s Scripps-Howard Center for Civic Engagement. Cost for each event is $6. Call 859-572-7847 or visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com/e/2321754 to buy tickets. Tickets are available at the door if the event isn’t sold out.

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