Wichita Public Library
| Wichita Public Library | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1876 |
| Location | Wichita, Kansas |
| Branches | 8 |
| Access and use | |
| Population served | 353,878 |
| Other information | |
| Budget | $7,019,240 |
| Director | Cynthia Berner Harris |
| Staff | 102 |
| Website | http://www.wichita.lib.ks.us/ |
The Wichita Public Library is the local public library system in Wichita, Kansas. It consists of a central library located downtown and nine branch locations in neighborhoods around the city.[1]
Locations
Four district/regional branches (Alford, Evergreen, Rockwell and Westlink) offer a good mix of basic research tools and popular materials for education and entertainment alike while the neighborhood branches (Angelou Northeast, Comotara, Linwood and Orchard) offer mostly popular fiction and media titles in their limited spaces. The Linwood and Orchard Branches are located in recreation centers. The Comotara Branch Library is located inside the Dillons Supermarket and celebrated its twentieth anniversary in 2006.
- Central Library - 223 S. Main, Wichita, KS 67202, (316) 261-8500 (Geographical coordinates: 37°41′3″N 97°20′19″W / 37.68417°N 97.33861°W)
- Alford - 3447 S. Meridian, Wichita, KS 67217, (316) 337-9119 (Geographical coordinates: 37°37′55″N 97°22′21″W / 37.63194°N 97.37250°W)
- Angelou Northeast - 3051 E. 21st Street, Wichita, KS 67214, (316) 688-9580 (Geographical coordinates: 37°43′20″N 97°18′1″W / 37.72222°N 97.30028°W)
- Comotara - Inside Dillons Market, 2244 N. Rock Road, Wichita, KS 67226, (316) 688-9350
- Evergreen - 2601 N. Arkansas, Wichita, KS 67204, (316) 303-8181 (Geographical coordinates: 37°43′49″N 97°20′43″W / 37.73028°N 97.34528°W)
- Linwood Park - Inside Linwood Recreation Center, 1901 S. Kansas, Wichita, KS 67211, (316) 337-9125
- Orchard Park - Inside Orchard Park Recreation Center, 4808 W. 9th, Wichita, KS 67212, (316) 337-9084
- Rockwell - 5939 E. 9th, Wichita, KS 67208, (316) 688-9361 (Geographical coordinates: 37°42′2″N 97°16′3″W / 37.70056°N 97.26750°W)
- Westlink - 8515 Bekemeyer, Wichita, KS 67212, (316) 337-9456 (Geographical coordinates: 37°41′49″N 97°26′30″W / 37.69694°N 97.44167°W)
History
Local business owners funded the establishment of the library in 1876. In 1912, it expanded into a Carnegie library that would remain open until the establishment of the current Central Library and its system of branches in 1967.[2]
On October 16, 2007, the Wichita City Council decided on the preferred site for a new Central Library. The site is at Second Street and McLean (Geographical coordinates: 37°41′15″N 97°20′50″W / 37.68750°N 97.34722°W), and the projected opening date is 2012. [3] [4]
Reference Services and Resources
The Wichita Public Library offers a wealth of resources, including reference in person, by telephone, mail and e-mail . As of 2009, its holdings included more than 1.3 million books and 2.2 million items total.[5]
The Library offers the most research capabilities from its Central Library, located downtown. Many electronic resources are offered from the Library's web page and can be used by customers from home with their Library card. Additional resources are available in partnership with the State Library of Kansas and the Kansas Library Card, such as Audio books, music and more! (downloadable audio books and video) and HomeworkKansas, online tutoring.
Programs
The Library offers a wide range of programs free of charge and open to the public. Annual events include events in celebration of African-American History Month, the Academy Award(R) Shorts, Hispanic Heritage Month and Western Days.
The Library's summer reading programs for youth reach over 10,000 children annually. In winter, the Library offers a reading program for adults.
- Interactive Calendar - See only the programs that interest you by tailoring your search results to a date range, location or age level.
- Programs for Adults - Enjoy book discussions, films, talks, music and more.
- Programs for Children - Your library offers a wide range of activities for children, from birth to age 12. Storytellers, musicians, films and more await children and families.
- Programs for Families Together - Enjoy stories, craft programs, films and more—together!
- Programs for Teens - Youth aged 12–17 can talk about books and films, share their poetry and more. Many teen programs require advance registration.
- Technology Training Center Classes - Take free computer classes and get the skills you need. From the basics of using a mouse and keyboard to doing advanced research, you can count on your library for help!
- Programs To Go ... From Your Library - Library staff can help you with free programs for your organization, club meeting, conference, book discussion group, or community event.
- Brochures - View or print your own copy of the Wichita Public Library's monthly program brochures - from the comfort of home.
Other Wichita Area Libraries
See listing at Directory of Wichita Area Libraries
References
- ↑ "Library locations". Wichita Public Library. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
- ↑ "The Wichita Public Library". Wichita Public Library Foundation. 2005-12-15. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
- ↑ "Wichita Public Library Identifies Preferred Location for New Central Library". City of Wichita. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
- ↑ City decides on site for new library
- ↑ "Wichita Public Library - 2009 Annual Report". Wichita Public Library. p. 26. Retrieved 2011-02-12.