COVINGTON — Among the Kenton County Public Library System's newest giving benefactors, count Puff, Sugar and Benji. The animals are just a few of the library's four-legged patrons to be memorialized through the library system's pet memorial fund, said Robin Klaene, library spokeswoman.

        During the past two years, $200 to $300 has been raised in memory of 20 Kenton County pets, Ms. Klaene said.

HOW TO HELP

Don't have a deceased pet? Here are other ways to give.   The Kenton County Public Library System accepts donations from residents, library users, and organizations. All donations benefit the programs and services offered to the community. Giving options include:   • Volunteers: Volunteers are needed for all library functions. Call the business office at (859) 491-7610.   • 21st Century Fund: The 21st Century Fund enables the library to upgrade services and facilities in the new millennium. Local businesses, organizations and individuals are encouraged to donate.   • Friends: The Friends of the Kenton County Public Library raises funds for programs and services. Single memberships cost $10 a year; businesses and organizations, $25 a year; lifetime memberships, $100. The Friends also hold used book sales throughout the year. Volunteers sort and pack books. For information, call Jane Pfarner at (859) 491-7610.   • Historical Donations/Local History Fund: As one of the region's largest sources of history and genealogy, the library relies on the donations or loans of photos, yearbooks, journals, church bulletins and other items to enhance its local history collection. For information call Dave Schroeder, local history librarian, at (859) 491-7610. Memorial contributions to the local history fund also help to purchase research materials.   • Other libraries   To memorialize someone or make a contribution to other library systems, call:   • Boone County: Cindy Brown, director, 384-5550   • Campbell County: Michael Doellman, director, 781-6166 Ext. 6.

               For a minimum donation of $10, a library patron can buy a pet-related book in his price range and include a nameplate memorializing Belle the dog, or Kitty the Cat.

        “It doesn't matter what kind of pet you have. If a pet dies, we can memorialize it,” said Ms. Klaene, who added that Kenton County's three public libraries have books on everything from horses to snakes.

        The pet memorial program was started by Friends of the Kenton County Public Library. Volunteers in the non-profit group raise funds for library programs and services, including materials for the Northern Kentucky Talking Book Library, and the summer reading programs for children and adults.

        “We had seen the pet memorial fund as a success in other libraries, so we decided to try it,” said Jane Pfarner, treasurer and membership chairman of the Friends of the Kenton County Public Library.

40-year tradition
               In 1960, the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County was one of the first in the country to offer a pet memorial program, said Amy Banister, the library system's head of public relations. Today, that library system receives six to 10 pet memorials a month, honoring birds, horses and hamsters, along with the more traditional cats and dogs.

        “This is a way that people can share their love of ani mals with others,” Ms. Banister said.

        For a minimum donation of $15, library users in Hamilton County can have their name and their pet's name inscribed in a book. A permanent book listing all of the pet memorials is kept on display in the library.

        This spring, Kenton County's library system will start distributing bookmarks with information about its pet memorial program to local veterinary clinics and pet supply stores to reach more potential givers.

        Although the Boone and Campbell County libraries don't have pet memorial funds, they would accept memorials in pets' names, if requested.

        “Our memorials have always been for people,” said Cindy Brown, director of the Boone County Public Library System. “But we'd be happy to accept a pet memorial, if someone wanted to make a contribution in their pet's name.”

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