Library District

One of the greatest assets of Pike County is the public library district. Comprised of a main library in Pikeville and four branch libraries at Belfry, Elkhorn, Phelps, and Virgie, the Pike County Public Library District serves the information needs of not only our local citizens but several surrounding counties and states.

The district began in the 1970s with a small library at Stone, Kentucky. This tiny library, now just a memory, was the beginning of a system that is now a hub for a variety of information resources. Current resources include books as well as VHS tapes, DVD's, CD's, audio books, magazines, newspapers, family genealogies, local historical photograph collections and numerous online databases such as West Law, The Kentucky Birth and Death Records, Census Records, and the Chilton Auto Repair Manuals. In addition, they also offer a variety of other services such as the bookmobile, Inter-Library Loans, readers advisory, deposit collections, fax service, photo printing and scanning, copiers and microfilm readers. A list of resources may be viewed by visiting the online catalog at www.pikelibrary.org. This automation system allows citizens to access all of the libraries' materials through their web page.

The new online catalog is not the only technological advance. Patrons can type papers, accessing such programs as Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher, in addition to having the capacity to surf the Internet and check e-mail. The libraries also offer a variety of free computer classes on such varied topics as web publishing, Internet searching, and genealogy. The libraries are still the site for such traditional activities as children's storyhour, crafts, investment information and music classes. For more information about individual programs that are available, patrons may contact their local libraries for time and availability.

• Belfry Public Library 606-353-9429
• Elkhorn City Public Library 606-754-5451
• Phelps Public Library 606-456-7860
• Pikeville Public Library 606-432-1285
• Vesta Roberts Johnson Memorial Library 606-639-9839