Next week is National Library Week and the Library has a few things planned.
The big event is our Annual Friends Book Sale. Things kick off on Monday when we will host a Friends Reception for Library Board members and Friends of the Library from 6pm-8pm. This will be your first opportunity to buy books at the book sale. Friends of the Library applications will be available at the door for the low price of $5.00. Beginning the following day on Tuesday and continuing on Wednesday we will be open to everyone from 9am to 8pm. All items are moderately priced. Thursday, the last day of the book sale will be dollar bag day. Stuff all you want into a plastic bag, or your own bag, for $1.00.
The Friends of the Library is a group that has a long history with the library, but a few years ago withered away. We are currently in the process of getting it to grow again. We are looking for people who would like to volunteer to help the library at library events, summer reading, and during the hours the library is open. Volunteers bring a special energy to the library and our something we cherish very much. If you have any questions please go to the link on our website at: www.lmlibrary.org/friends or follow the Friends of the Liberal Memorial Library on Facebook.
The money made from the book sale will go to support other library activities. Most notably our program entitled “A Baby’s Bookshelf.” The way that this program works is that we distribute flyers to all new parents in the Liberal area. When the parent signs up for the program they are able to come to library every two months to pick up a free book for their child. The program runs for the first two years of the child’s life and at the end of the program the child will have 12 books that they can call their own. Early childhood literacy is important to us at the library. Not only do we want every child to start school with a grasp of the essential skills to be effective learners, but we also want them to understand the role the library plays in helping them become better readers. Kids who love reading do well in school, graduate from high school, and become outstanding additions to our community.
At 1:00 pm on Tuesday, the library will be hosting a special cake and refreshment celebration to celebrate the Libraries 60th Anniversary as the “Book Front Library”. Back on April 14, 1955 the library opened up its doors with its new look. A look that saw it showcased in newspapers across the country and on tourist postcards for years to come. In fact, we still get visitors who travel to Liberal just to see our unique building. We hope that you can join us. I have challenged myself to make a cake in the shape of the library, so please stop by and see how well I did or didn’t do in this regard.
National Library Week is a week to celebrate the library and for me as director to celebrate our most important asset: Our Employees. Our staff represents the diversity of our community and the passion that people in our area have for the library. They take on challenges with gusto and never fail to surprise me with the energy they put into everything they do. Join me in saying thank you to them for their efforts.
National Library Week is also a week to celebrate the community to which the library belongs. When I think about what makes our town so awesome I think of things like the Mid-America Air Museum, Dorothy’s House, The Baker Arts Center, the parks, and the Library. I think of the people who visit our library every day. The people wait outside for the doors to open on a Saturday. The kids rushing to our afterschool programs. The participants in our summer reading program. The attendees at our Recipe Swap and Adult Crafts. It takes a town to make a Library and we are proud to serve you.
See you at the library.