HISTORICAL SCRAP  BOOKS AVAILABLE TO VIEW AT THE LIBRARY

The Alma Branch of the Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library will be open from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Saturday June 6th so the Library may participate in the Wabaunsee County 150^th Anniversary Celebration. The Eskridge Library Friends group will be on hand during the day. The group will be selling framed copies of vintage advertising plates rescued from the Strand Theater. Copies of the Eskridge Library Friends cookbook will also be available for purchase.

The Library, in keeping with the festivities, will have the Nelson Scrapbooks available for patrons to view. The scrapbooks were compiled by Alta Vista native Bat Nelson, and contain clippings from local newspapers highlighting area residents, organizations, and events over a wide span of years. The Nelson scrapbooks give researchers unique access and document important slices of the life and history of Wabaunsee County .

As a whole, the Nelson scrapbook collection is a valuable resource for anyone interested in community events or local history. Library staff at the Alma Branch Library is experienced in the research process, and are always prepared to assist patrons in their search for information. The books are considered reference materials, and as such are not available to check out. However, staff at the library can assist patrons with making copies of any individual articles.

If you would like to look at the scrapbooks, please visit the Alma Branch Library, 115 W. 3^rd, Alma , KS , or call 785-765-3647 for more information.

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For Immediate Release, May 12, 2009

 SUMMER READING PROGRAM SCHEDULED AT THE LIBRARY

The Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library is gearing up for our annual Summer Reading Program. As families begin their seasonal journey toward the time when there is ‘nothing to do’, we encourage parents to remember that the Summer Reading Program at the Library may be the answer to their problem! Registration for the summer reading program began on May 11th. Children may begin checking out and reading books on May 26th and they must reach their reading goals by the programs completion on July 25th.

The 2009 summer reading theme encourages participants to “Be Creative at the Library.” Children through the eighth grade may participate at any PWRL location, including libraries in Alma, Alta Vista, Eskridge, Harveyville, Olsburg, Onaga, St. Marys, and Westmoreland. Pre-readers are invited to join the program with a parent or helper who will read to them as members of the Read-to-Me Club. Each child will be asked to check out library books that are appropriate to their reading level and record them to earn credit in the program.  All participants will earn prizes for their efforts.

Studies show that children who continue to read during summer vacation perform better in the fall when school resumes. The Library’s summer reading program provides a chance for your child to keep up their reading momentum, and have fun at the same time. Don’t miss this great opportunity to sign your child up, and take some time to read along with them. Summer reading is fun for the whole family! 

A number of special activities will be scheduled at various PWRL locations during the summer to help promote the summer reading program and give children the opportunity to exercise their creative side. Ask at your local library for details on additional activities and events as the summer progresses. All programs are free and open to the public.

PWRL is also in the process of re-registering all library patrons, so come get a NEW LIBRARY CARD today!! The card can be used to gain 24/7 access to PWRL’s online library catalog with 100,000 items available to borrow. Subscription databases with full-text magazine and newspaper articles can also be found. This wealth of information offers something for everyone, and should give our patrons a head start in their quest to ‘be creative’ this summer!!  

For more information about the summer reading program, or any aspect of library service, call the St. Marys Headquarters Library at 785-437-2778 or go to our website at http://www.pottwab.org.

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For Immediate Release, April 21, 2009   

BOARD/STAFF FUNCTION AT THE LIBRARY

Pottawatomie-Wabaunsee Regional Library will hold a Board/Staff Function at the St. Marys Headquarters Library on Tuesday, April 28 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library will immediately follow the function. In order for all staff members to attend, our Alma, Eskridge, and Onaga locations will close at 4:00 p.m. that day. St. Marys Headquarters will close at 3:00 p.m. to set up for the event. Please note this change in schedule when planning your next trip to the Library.

Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library maintains locations in eight communities across the two counties encompassing a total service area of 1,620 square miles.  The ultimate benefit of PWRL’s unique cooperative approach to library service is that every resident served has access to a much larger and more varied share of resources, materials and services than would be possible if each community was individually responsible for providing the resources required by its residents.

In the effort to maintain quality service and insure the smooth operation of the Library as a whole, each location must act in concert with every other. The distance between locations is a barrier to this process, and the potential for individual locations to become isolated is great. The Board/Staff function allows both staff and Board the opportunity to come together and connect. All members of the PWRL system are asked to attend, put names to faces, and to see how each individual’s efforts contribute to the Library’s continued ability to provide essential library services to the residents of Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee Counties .

If you have questions about the Board/Staff Function, our any aspect of Library services, call Judith Cremer, PWRL Director, at 785-437-2778. 

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For Immediate Release April 10, 2009                                                                          

Celebrate National Library Week and Get a New Library Card

Spring is here! What better way to start the season than with the smartest card of all—a new library card! The Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library will begin issuing new library cards and re-registering all patrons this week, just in time for National Library Week! The library is replacing the old purple paper cards, used since 2000, with a new hard plastic wallet size library card and a key tag card to add to your key ring or backpack. A barcode will replace the old library card number system, completing the updated look, and making the new library card fully compatible with PWRL’s new automated library system.

National Library Week, April 12-18, is a time to celebrate the contributions libraries, librarians and library workers make in schools, campuses and communities nationwide. It’s the perfect time for PWRL to kick off a campaign to encourage residents to come in, get a new library card and discover how worlds connect @ the  library. 

Why is a library card the smartest card? Regular library patrons and library staff would be quick to tell you that a library card opens the way for a whole world of possibilities. It is the key to a wide range of services, not the least of which is free and open access to a limitless supply of books and other materials. PWRL’s new automated online catalog, accessible through the library’s web page at http://www.pottwab.org, can help patrons find just what they need when they need it. This basic library service can be a lifesaver for families who, in a tight economy, suddenly find themselves scrambling to make ends meet. 

PWRL Patrons can now use their new library card to gain 24/7 access to the library’s collection. When a patron sets up an online account, he can view account information, request materials online, and renew borrowed items. Using a simple search, a patron can also gain online access to a wealth of digital information. A select set of online subscription databases are available for patrons searching PWRL’s new online library catalog. Magazine and newspaper articles on topics ranging from health to genealogy, and from business data to Chilton auto-repair can be found. Approximately 80% of this information is full-text, and can be viewed and printed exactly as the article was originally published. It should be noted, though, that this feature is only available to validated library cardholders.

Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library invites the public to visit their nearest PWRL location, sign up, and be among the two-thirds of Americans that carry the smartest card of all. Getting a library card only takes a few minutes, and library cards are free to any resident of Pottawatomie or Wabaunsee County .  Library Staff is ready and waiting at all PWRL locations to help patrons through the process.

Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library is the only two-county public library in Kansas , and has locations in eight different rural communities within Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee Counties . The Library’s service area covers 1,612 square miles and serves a population of 21,960 residents in the two counties. Patrons of the library have access to a shared collection of over 100,000 items. To take advantage of the library’s resources, visit your local PWRL location in Alma, Alta Vista, Eskridge, Harveyville, Olsburg, Onaga, St. Marys, or Westmoreland. For additional information call the St. Marys Headquarters Library at 785-437-2778 or visit the library’s web site at http://www.pottwab.org. 

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For immediate release February 9, 2009

February Is Love Your Library Month at the Library

Okay library lovers, it is time to celebrate your love!

Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library has designated February as Love Your Library Month, and the staff and volunteers at the Library are hoping to feel the love. The month-long celebration is designed to highlight the important role that the library plays in the cultural and economic success of our small communities. There should be plenty of time and opportunity for you, your family, your friends, your colleagues, your neighbors, and the odd stranger, to rediscover your local library.

Residents may celebrate with the Board and Staff of the Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library during Love Your Library Month in the following ways:

PWRL is sponsoring a contest to generate public interest and support for the Library. To participate in the Why I Love My Library Contest, visit your local PWRL library. The contest includes adult, junior, and preschool age categories. The two best entries in each category will receive a new book. Prizes are as follows.

Adult Prizes: The Virgin of Small Plains, by Nancy Pickard (This is the current book chosen for the Kansas Reads… One book / one state program); Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason, by Nancy Pearl.

Junior Prizes: Eldest, by Christopher Paolini; Book Crush for Kids and Teens: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason, by Nancy Pearl.

Preschool Prizes: The Boy who was Raised by Librarians, by Carla Morris (Autographed Copy); Guess How Much I Love You, Sweetheart Edition, by Sam McBratney.

Entry blanks will be available at all PWRL locations. We need to know how we make a difference!! Creativity is encouraged, and preschool participants are welcome to color their love!! Completed entries should be left in the provided contest mailbox. Winners will be selected by the PWRL Library Board of Trustees at their regular meeting on February 26th.

PWRL will also be providing residents an opportunity to offer financial support. The Library “Jewels” Donation Drive is designed to give patrons a chance to become a Library Jewel by donating $2, $5, $10 or more to the library. Donors will receive a custom bookmark and may select a “jewel” to place on the Love Your Library Tree! All donations will be used to purchase books and other library materials to help PWRL better meet and serve the needs of our patrons.

The Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library, with locations in Alma, Alta Vista, Eskridge, Harveyville, Olsburg, Onaga, St. Marys, and Westmoreland, is busier than ever, and library services are in high demand. Reports from across the country in recent weeks have called attention to the fact that in times of economic stress, people are coming back to the Library for help and relief. PWRL’s new automated online catalog, accessible through the library’s web page at http://skyways.lib.ks.us/library/pottwablib/, can now help patrons find just what they need. Residents with a library card can request materials online to pick up at their home PWRL library. This basic library service can be a lifesaver for families who in a tight economy suddenly find themselves with less disposable income to buy books.

PWRL also has computers with high speed Internet connections and software applications that are free for public use. This service is very well used at all PWRL locations. For residents in an uncertain economy who find themselves looking for work, public computers at the library are an invaluable resource. These machines can be used for a multitude of tasks required to help residents get back into the workforce. For starters, filing an unemployment claim in Kansas can only be done through the Internet. Online job searching, the electronic submission of employment applications, and typing an updated resume, can also be easily accomplished at the Library.

Everyone, to a degree, depends on public libraries to fill cultural and informational needs and generally contribute to the overall quality of life in the community. Certain segments of the community, such as schools, colleges, corporations, government agencies, hospitals and law enforcement, have additional access to information through professional libraries to support their ongoing activities. For the community-at-large, though, residents seeking best-selling books for adults and kids, children’s story times, research assistance and reference materials to help answer their questions, public programs, access to computers and the Internet  –the local public library is the best, and maybe the only, place to go.

Unfortunately, hard times don’t stop at the library door, and it is increasingly difficult for public libraries to balance increasing demands with decreasing funding. With this in mind, PWRL is asking all those with an interest and a love for the library to participate in PWRL’s ongoing Love Your Library activities to help offset the pinch!

Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library’s Love Your Library activities have been designed to draw attention and encourage residents of all ages to learn about the Library, its collection, and services. For more information about Love Your Library Month or any aspect of PWRL library service call 785-437-2778 or log on to the library’s website at http://skyways.lib.ks.us/library/pottwablib

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For immediate release February 1, 2009

 STORYTIME SESSIONS RESUME AT THE LIBRARY

The 2009 Spring Preschool Storytime at the St Marys, Alma, Eskridge, and Onaga Branches of the Pottawatomie-Wabaunsee Regional Library is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, February 3rd. Children ages 3 - 5 years old are eligible to enroll.  Weekly Storytime sessions will be held every Tuesday from 10:00 to 10:30.   

Storytime is a great time to visit the Library. Each 30 minute program delivers a range of programmed activities to participating children, including reading and storytelling experiences, fingerplays, games, and songs.

Your young child will be introduced to group participation, new books and stories, and the magic of storytelling. Older children will enjoy hearing old and new favorite stories, and participating in group activities.

Class size is limited. Sign up now at the nearest Branch Library or call 785-437-2778 for St. Marys; 785-765-3647 for Alma ; 785-449-2296 for Eskridge or 785-889-4531 for Onaga to register your child.

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For Immediate Release, February 1, 2009

  Bluegrass jam session at the Alma Branch Library

The monthly Bluegrass and acoustic music jam session led by Ron Schultz and Charles Gann will be held Saturday February 7^th from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library’s Alma Branch Library. Participants are encouraged to bring their acoustic instruments and join in. The public is welcome and invited to come and listen. Last months jam session drew another large crowd of enthusiastic participants to the Library. Plan now to come join the fun!!

For more information, please contact the PWRL Alma Branch Library at 785-765-3647 or St. Marys Headquarters Library at 785-437-2778. For specific program details contact Ron Schultz at 785-765-3814 or Charles Gann at 785-765-3640.

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For Immediate Release, December 8, 2008

 Open Houses planned at the Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library

An Open House will be hosted at the Eskridge Branch of the Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library on December 12^th from 10-4 p.m. The PWRL St . Marys Headquarters will be holding their holiday open house on December 18^th from 2-7 p.m., and the PWRL Alma Branch will host their open house on December 19^th from 1-4 p.m. Please come in and reconnect with the Library at any of these locations sometime during the day. Refreshments will be served.

Not only does the Library have lots of great books and audio books waiting to be checked out, but we also now provide the public free Internet and wireless Internet service! Staff will be waiting at the Library to help you find the perfect material to read during these cold winter nights. Or you can explore our new online catalog and take your pick from the 100,000 items available at all locations of the Library.

PWRL’s new library catalog can now be searched online from any computer with an Internet connection. Users can access the catalog by going to the Library’s website at  http://skyways.lib.ks.us/library/pottwablib, or the catalog can be searched directly at http://pottwab-verso.auto-graphics.com  Patrons using the online library catalog have the ability to set up their own online account, search the catalog, and place reserves on any title owned by the library, at any location. Library staff at the patron’s location of choice will notify borrowers when the material is available to be picked up for their use.

Please plan to stop by and visit with staff during the open house nearest you to learn more about the new expanded and improved access to the Library’s full collection that has become possible with the library’s move to an automated system, and stock up on your winter reading while you’re there!

If you have questions about this, or any aspect of Library services, call Judith Cremer, PWRL Director, at 785-437-2778.

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For Immediate Release, December 1, 2008

 Open House at the Onaga Branch Library

An Open House will be hosted at the Onaga Branch of the Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library on December 7^th from 1-3 p.m., during Onaga’s Christmas Frenzy. Please come in and reconnect with the Library sometime during the day. Refreshments will be served.

Not only does the Library have lots of great books and audio books waiting to be checked out, but we also provide free Internet and wireless service! Staff will be waiting at the Library to help you find the perfect material to read during these cold winter nights. Or you can explore our new online catalog and take your pick from the 100,000 items available.

PWRL’s new library catalog can now accessed online from the Library’s website at  http://skyways.lib.ks.us/library/pottwablib or search the catalog directly at http://pottwab-verso.auto-graphics.com  Plan to stop by the open house on Sunday to learn more about it and stock up on your winter reading!

If you have questions about this, or any aspect of Library services, call Judith Cremer, PWRL Director, at 785-437-2778.

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For Immediate Release, December 1, 2008

Bluegrass jam session at the Alma Branch Library

The monthly Bluegrass and acoustic music jam session led by Ron Schultz and Charles Gann will be held Saturday December 6^th from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library’s Alma Branch Library. Participants are encouraged to bring their acoustic instruments and join in. The public is welcome and invited to come and listen. Last months jam session drew 50 enthusiastic participants to the Library. Plan now to come join the fun!!

For more information, please contact the PWRL Alma Branch Library at 785-765-3647 or St. Marys Headquarters Library at 785-437-2778. For specific program details contact Ron Schultz at 785-765-3814 or Charles Gann at 785-765-3640.

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For Immediate Release, November 1, 2008

Changes at PWRL Onaga Branch Library

In response to numerous patron requests and to allow additional access the Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library (PWRL) Onaga Branch Library will be experimenting with Saturday morning hours for the next few months. Beginning November 8^th, the Onaga Branch will open for business on Saturdays, 9:00 -10:30 a.m. The Library will continue its regular weekday schedule with hours on Mondays, 9:00 a.m. -7:00 p.m. and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

Additional changes at the PWRL Onaga Branch Library include a trio of new library staff members.  Deborah Stallard-Parry has joined the Library as the new Branch Librarian. Deb is a native of Onaga, and is actively involved within the community.  Joining Deb in providing quality library service is Emma Gilsdorf, who has been hired as the Assistant Branch Librarian.  Completing the new trio, Joye Platt has been hired to serve, along with Nellie Sumner, as a Substitute Librarian for the location.  When the opportunity or need presents itself, please come into the Onaga Branch Library and meet the new staff.

Earlier this year, PWRL was awarded a matching grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  This grant has allowed still more change at PWRL and the Onaga Branch. The grant provided funding for the purchase of computer hardware & software for public use.  Patrons of the Onaga Branch Library will now have access to five desktop computers with high speed internet connections, software applications and printing capabilities. For still more computing options, Onaga will also soon have a laptop computer, courtesy of the Gates Grant, for patrons to use at the Library.

The Pottawatomie-Wabaunsee Regional Library, of which the Onaga Branch is a part, also possesses a new online catalog, which is up and running in all eight of the rural library locations served.  This catalog contains PWRL’s full holdings at all locations, and has records for over 100,000 items available for patrons to borrow. The catalog can be accessed at the library via the public computers and elsewhere through a standard internet connection.  A link to the catalog is available on the library website at http://skyways.lib.ks.us/library/pottwablib or it may be viewed directly at http://pottwab-verso.auto-graphics.com.

Library patrons can now set up and view their individual Library accounts online through the Internet.  Patrons have an array of options and tools available through this automated system. Using the new online catalog, patrons may view a list of items currently checked out, renew borrowed items online, view a list of items previously checked out, search the catalog, and place a reserve to borrow materials that may be located anywhere in the PWRL system. The requested materials will be routed to the patrons PWRL location of choice.  The PWRL Library Catalog can also provide authenticated patrons with access to the statewide full text magazine and newspaper indexes using a single keyword search. This feature should greatly enhance patron’s ability to complete their research more quickly and efficiently. Logon today and check it out!!

Although the faces and tools used by the Library may change over time, the goal ultimately remains the same.  The Pottawatomie-Wabaunsee Regional Library system is committed to providing the best service possible to the residents of Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee Counties .  If you have questions regarding this, or any aspect of Library services, call Judith Cremer, PWRL Director, at (785)437-2778. For information regarding the Onaga Branch, please contact the Library at (785)889-4531.

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For Immediate Release, November 10, 2008

Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Program at the Library

Activities to support the fourth annual Kansas Reads… to Preschoolers program will be held statewide during the week of November 17^th – 22^nd. Kansas Reads to Preschoolers week is a project of the State Library of Kansas and the Kansas Center for the Book with additional sponsorship by Kansas Parent Information Resource Center (KPIRC), the Kansas Association of Child Care and Resource and Referral Agencies (KACCRRA), and the Kansas Public Health Association (KPHA). The goal for this week is that every Kansas Child between the ages of 0 – 5 (all 226,453 of them) will be read to sometime during the week.

Kansas Reads…to Preschoolers was created to highlight the importance of reading to children as well as to promote the library as a renewable resource of reading material.  One book is chosen to act as the main focus for the week’s special reading events and a multitude of local activities featuring the chosen title are scheduled statewide.  This year the book, Bear Feels Sick by Karma Wilson, was chosen as part of a general health and wellness theme and for its endearing focus on friendship.  This story incorporates beautiful illustrations that children of all ages can enjoy.  In the story Bear wakes one morning feeling sickly. When his animal friends come, they do everything they can think of to help him feel better, from giving him hot tea to singing lullabies. Children statewide will identify with Bear’s predicament and be comforted by his experiences.

The Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library will join with public libraries and private organizations across Kansas to reach out to all Kansas preschoolers to help accomplish the reading challenge set by the Kansas State Library.

Special readings of Bear Feels Sick will be held during the regular storytime sessions at each of the PWRL Branch Libraries in St. Marys, Alma, Eskridge, and Onaga. Additional readings will be held at PWRL Mini locations at the following dates and times. These events, held in conjunction with the Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Program, are open to all children ages 0-5. Children younger than age 3 will need to be accompanied by a parent or other caregiver. Please contact your local library at the number listed below, or contact the St. Marys Headquarters for more information.

• St. Marys Headquarters Library, 306 N. 5^th , St. Marys , KS 66536 , 785-437-2778
• Tuesday November 18^th – 10:00 a.m.

• Alma Branch Library, 115 W. 3^rd, Alma KS 66401, 785-765-3647
• Tuesday November 18^th – 10:00 a.m.

• Eskridge Branch Library, 115 S. Main, Eskridge KS 66423 , 785-449-2296
• Tuesday November 18^th – 10:00 a.m.

• Onaga Branch Library, 313 Leonard, Onaga KS 66521 , 785-889-4531
• Tuesday, November 18^th – 10:00 a.m.
  
• Alta Vista Mini Library, 310 Center, Alta Vista , KS 66834 , 785-499-5542
• Wednesday, November 19^th – 5:00 p.m.
  
• Harveyville Mini Library, 128 West Oak, Harveyville , KS 66431 , 785-589-2414
• Wednesday, November 19^th—4:00 p.m.

• Olsburg Mini Library, 318 N. 2^nd, Olsburg , KS 66520 , 785-468-3347
• Thursday, November 20^th – 10:30 a.m.

• Westmoreland Mini Library, 315 Main, Westmoreland , KS 66549 , 785-457-2841
• Monday, November 17^th – 10:30 a.m.
  

Please plan to bring that special child in your life – your child, God-child, grandchild - to one of these readings. Remember that reading sometimes makes all the difference. We look forward to seeing you at the Library!!

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For immediate release October 20, 2008

OPEN HOUSE AND CELEBRATION RECEPTION AT THE LIBRARY

The public is invited to attend a celebration featuring the formal unveiling of the library’s new online catalog at the St. Marys Headquarters of the Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library on October 29^th. The public open house and reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. Roy Bird who currently serves as Director of the Kansas Center for the book at the State Library of Kansas, has agreed to present the evening’s program. He will be discussing the study of history and the valuable perspective and connection that can be gained through such study. This presentation will directly follow the open house and is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.

Roy Bird, in addition to his work at the State Library, is a published author and a speaker in high demand across the state. Mr. Bird writes a book review column called "Kansas Books" in the State Library's newsletter, Kansas Libraries. He has co-authored one book, collaborated on three others, and published ten books of his own, plus over 250 articles and reviews in scholarly journals and magazines, mostly on Topeka , Kansas and Western history and biography.

PWRL's celebration will serve in part to honor all those who have helped the Library to achieve its goals for automation. Dorothy Hoobler and her family, as well as a number of other individuals and organizations, will be recognized as a part of the proceedings for their contributions. Volunteers who have, to date, donated more than 1,000 hours of their time to assist the Library with barcoding the Library’s collection will also be recognized for their efforts to help move the Library forward.

Please plan to join us for the celebration and connect or reconnect with the Library. Refreshments will be served and demonstrations and entertainment provided. This is an occasion to celebrate, an opportunity to reflect and tie up all our loose ends, and sit back and enjoy a job well done. So… please invite everyone you know, and bring them along. We will make a party of it and enjoy the results of all our hard work before we move on to what comes next.

The Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library is the only two county public library in Kansas . The Library currently manages a shared collection of more than 100,000 items. The Library’s service area covers 1620 square miles and has a legal service population of 21,960. The Library has locations in eight different rural communities within Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee Counties . To take advantage of the Library’s resources, visit your local library in Alma, Alta Vista, Eskridge, Harveyville, Olsburg, Onaga, St. Marys, or Westmoreland.

For additional information see the Library’s Web site at http://skyways.lib.ks.us/library/pottwablib.

The Library’s new online catalog can be accessed from the Library web page or directly at pottwab-verso.auto-graphics.com Logon today and check it out!! If you have questions about this, or any aspect of Library services, call Judith Cremer, PWRL Director, at 785-437-2778.  

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For immediate release September 1, 2008

STORYTIME BEGINS AT THE LIBRARY

The 2008 Fall Preschool Storytime at the St Marys, Alma, Eskridge, and Onaga Branches of the Pottawatomie-Wabaunsee Regional Library began on Tuesday, September 9^th. Children ages 3 - 5 years old are eligible to enroll.  Weekly Storytime sessions will be held every Tuesday from 10:00 to 10:30.   

Storytime is a great time to visit the library. Each 30 minute program consists of storytelling, book reading, fingerplays, games, and songs.

Your young child will be introduced to group participation, new books and stories, and the magic of storytelling. Older children will enjoy hearing old and new favorite stories, and participating in movement and music activities.

Class size is limited. Sign up now at the nearest Branch Library or call 785-437-2778 for St. Marys; 785-765-3647 for Alma ; 785-449-2296 for Eskridge or 785-889-4531 for Onaga to register your child

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For immediate release July 1, 2008

For immediate release June 16, 2008

 Library Trustee Earns Certification through the State Library of Kansas Certification Program

State Librarian Christie P. Brandau, announced today that Melanie Abitz, trustee of the Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library, has attained the credentials to qualify as a Kansas Certified Public Library Trustee. This certification is awarded by the State Library of Kansas in Topeka through the Reaching for Excellence trustee certification program.

“Reaching for Excellence” recognizes the importance of well trained and highly skilled library leaders and their importance to Kansas library service,” said Brandau. “I congratulate Mrs. Abitz on taking the step to become a certified public library trustee.”

In 2006, the State Library of Kansas, with the aid of the Kansas Library Trustee Association Board and Kansas Library leaders, initiated an effort to identify core skills needed for public library trustees and to create a certification program to recognize the achievement of those skills. The resulting program, Reaching for Excellence: the Kansas Library Trustee Certification Program, incorporates training requirements drawn from the core skills for Kansas public library trustees. This voluntary program certifies a library trustee for three years and encourages re-certification through further continuing education.

Melanie Abitz has served as a Trustee for the Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library since her appointment to fill un-expired term on the Board in December of 2002. She currently serves as the Library Board Chair. During her tenure, the Library has gone through a great deal of change and growth. As a Trustee she has played an important part in guiding PWRL as the Library began its current automation project. She oversaw a major shift in staffing as the Board hired a new Director, and replaced the Library’s Assistant Director and Bookkeeper/Secretary. Her efforts to uphold the standards of Library service and secure the necessary funding and support required to move the Library forward is commendable, and her contributions have made a difference in the quality of service the Library offers.

PWRL’s Board of Trustees is composed of eight members. The Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee County Commissions each appoint three members to serve on the Library Board, and the County Commission Chairman from each county is also an ex-officio voting member of the Board. Library Board members serve a maximum of two consecutive, four year, terms. The regular monthly meeting of the Library Board is held on the last Wednesday of each month at 5:30 at the St. Marys Library, unless otherwise ordered by the Board.

Board members make a significant contribution of time and energy when they accept a position on the Library Board.  One of their most important jobs is to serve as a link between the Library and their community. To be effective they must bring to their communities what they learn about the Library and the services and resources it has to offer, and be proactive about sharing their knowledge to inform and advocate for the Library. Board members must also bring to the Library relevant information about the needs and expectations of their community so that resources and services can be designed and customized to meet those needs.

“Library Trustees have a big job anywhere, but it is particularly complex at PWRL,” notes Library Director, Judith Cremer. “Because PWRL is one Library, but manages multiple locations in multiple communities, it is sometimes more complicated to weigh and balance the total needs against the available resources to provide the best possible Library service for every user. PWRL’s Board is conscious of this responsibility. Their participation in the State Trustee Certification program shows a willingness to go the extra mile to get the information necessary to do the job with which they have been charged.”

PWRL’s legal service area encompasses 1,612 square miles and the Library is responsible for serving a legal service population of 21,819 residents. Board members commit their time and drive from every corner of the service area to meet each month and conduct business in the interest of sustaining this unique Library. The result is an active and functional Library, in tune with the community, ready and able to support the ever-growing needs and demands of the Library’s patrons.

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For Immediate Release, June 8, 2008 

Library hosts bug program presented by the Milford Nature Center

The Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library is hosting a series of special bug themed programs in June to support the Summer Reading Programs ‘”catch the reading bug” theme. Staff from the Milford Nature Center , a division of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, will present these programs at each of the Library’s eight locations in Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee Counties . Milford Nature Center , located in Junction City , has a mission to provide the public with a better understanding of the natural communities of Kansas . They fulfill this mission through exhibits, hands on demonstration, and special programs. They will be bringing a collection of insects, both live and mounted to educate participants. These programs are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided following the presentation.

Program locations, dates, and times are as follows:

Monday, June 16, 2008, 10:00 a.m., Onaga Branch Library
Monday, June 16, 2008, 11:45 a.m., Westmoreland Mini Library  

Thursday, June 19, 2008, 10:30 a.m., Olsburg Mini Library
Thursday, June 19, 2008, 1:30 p.m., St. Marys Headquarters Library

Wednesday, June 25, 2008, 9:30 a.m., Alta Vista Mini Library
Wednesday, June 25, 2008, 11:30 a.m., Alma Branch Library
Wednesday, June 25, 2008, 1:30 p.m., Eskridge Branch Library
Wednesday, June 25, 2008, 3:00 p.m., Harveyville Mini Library

Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library’s Summer Reading Program is now in full swing. This annual program provides a fun and profitable summer reading experience for participating children. The eight week program is being offered this year from May 27, 2008 through July 19, 2008. Children may register and participate at any PWRL location, including libraries in Alma, Alta Vista, Eskridge, Harveyville, Olsburg, Onaga, St. Marys, and Westmoreland.

The Summer Reading Program is geared to serve children through the eighth grade. Pre-readers are invited to join the program with a parent or helper who will read to them as members of the Read-to-Me Club. To participate children are asked to check out books from the Library that are appropriate to their reading level and record them to earn credit in the program.  All participants will earn prizes for their efforts.

If you haven’t had time to check it out, come to the Library now and “catch the reading bug!”

For more about this program, or any aspect of the Library, please call the St. Marys Headquarters Library at 785-437-2778. Additional information about the Library can also be found by visiting the Library website at http://skyways.lib.ks.us/library/pottwablib/index.htm.

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For Immediate Release, May 5, 2008