The Bedquilt
Winfield Public Library welcomes Michèle LaRue for a performance of The Bedquilt on Monday, April 28 at 6:30pm in the library’s Community Room.
In this “riveting” program, two vibrant American stories return us to the days when quilts created community. We join a gaggle of townswomen – and meet a solitary spinster – who fashion remarkable art for everyday use.
Dorothy Canfield Fisher’s “The Bedquilt” reveals the suspenseful journey of an unlikely heroine: Aunt Mehetabel. Elderly and unmarried, she is taken for granted by her family…although she is “clever in the way of patching bedquilts.” Mehetabel grows as the story unfolds, winning admiration and finding self-respect. She painstakingly devotes herself to realizing her ideal: “a pattern beyond which no patchwork quilt could go.”
“The Bedquilt,” written in 1906, is introduced by the gleeful account of “A Quilting Bee in Our Village,” penned by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, eight years earlier. In Freeman’s little town, good food, gossip, and games make a successful bee – sewing is just the start.
Professional actress Michèle LaRue tours nationally with her repertoire of TALES WELL TOLD: stories from America’s Gilded Age. In The Bedquilt, she creates a dozen distinctive characters, concluding her program with Aunt Mehetabel’s surprising backstory.
Michèle’s TALES come “from a time when literature was written for the ear.” Before radio’s invention, she explains, “family and friends made their own home entertainment – reading aloud by flickering candle, kerosene lamp, or gaslight. Today, only the lighting has changed: adult audiences still hang on every word. Despite TV and films, the internet and special effects, we still crave simply to listen to a tale well told.”
Michèle premiered The Bedquilt in Victorian Cape May, New Jersey, for The East Lynne Company, mentored by its producing artistic director, Warren Kliewer. She has performed the program twice for the prestigious American Quilter’s Society, whose president declared, “You had the audience in your command. We could have heard a pin drop.” Madison, Wisconsin’s annual Quilt Expo has also featured The Bedquilt and quilting societies in Washington State have brought back Michele three times. “I was spellbound!” they exclaimed in Seattle, and “Riveting – twice – I would love to hear it again!” Visit http://www.michelelarue.com.
A Chicago native, University of Kansas graduate, and New Jersey resident, Michèle is touring the Sunflower State with two programs: The Bedquilt and Places, Please, Act One – theatrical poems by Warren Kliewer. North Newton is honoring his work in a four-day festival, April 24-27. Michele performs Places, Please, Act One on Friday, April 25, 11:00am, at Kidron Hall. She is a decades-long member of both actors’ unions – Actors’ Equity and SAG-AFTRA – and a much-published theatre writer and book editor.
Dorothy Canfield Fisher (1879-1958) has been called “one of the most popular and engaging American writers of the first half of the twentieth century.” Born and raised in Lawrence, Kansas, she wrote more than forty books, including translations and nonfiction, as well as novels and short-story collections.
Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman (1852-1930) spent most of her life in Randolph, Massachusetts. The people she knew and the scenes she witnessed in New England form the background for most of her tales of small-town and rural life.
The Patio @ WPL Coming Soon
Winfield Public Library Announces Creation of THE PATIO @ WPL with $50,000 T-Mobile Hometown Grant and Support from the WPL Capital Fund
Winfield, KS March 20, 2025 – The Winfield Public Library is excited to announce the creation of the Patio, a new outdoor community space designed to foster connections, creativity, and collaboration among local residents. This initiative is made possible thanks to a generous $50,000 grant from the T-Mobile Hometown Grants program, which supports community development projects that enhance local engagement through technology upgrades, outdoor spaces, the arts, and community centers and a commitment from the WPL Board of Directors to support additional funding needs from the WPL Capital Fund. The total budget for the project is $140,000, and the WPL leadership is currently exploring additional funding opportunities.
The Patio @ WPL will serve as a vibrant gathering place for residents of all ages, offering a range of activities and resources aimed at strengthening community ties. The space will feature WiFi access, comfortable seating areas, and designated zones for community gatherings and children’s activities, while also providing access to other library resources.
“We heard from community input sessions that enhancing the library patio was a priority for the library’s 5 year plan. Our response, the Patio @ WPL will provide residents with a comfortable outdoor space at the library, featuring areas for meetings, family gatherings, or simply some quiet reflection. We are grateful for receiving this very competitive, national grant from T-Mobile, which allows us to develop a space that fosters connections among our residents and provides additional ways to access the library’s resources. This project underscores our WPL Board’s ongoing commitment to improving public access to all areas of the library,” said Tabitha Hogan, Director of Winfield Library.
Construction of the Patio @ WPL is set to begin in the late spring, with a grand opening event planned for later this year.
“The WPL Board is excited to make this outdoor space a reality. Our thoughtful funding choices over the past few years, coupled with strategic planning for future building maintenance—and with the generous support from T-Mobile’s grant—have made this possible. I see this space being a haven for families, book clubs, and anyone looking for a breath of fresh air or a spot to recharge and connect their devices,” remarked Kris Trimmer, President of the WPL Board.
“This project exemplifies T-Mobile’s commitment to supporting local connections and enhancing community life,” said Scott Logsdon, Rural Market Manager at T-Mobile. “We’re excited to see how The Patio @ WPL will enrich the lives of residents and provide a platform for creativity and collaboration.”
T-Mobile Hometown Grants is part of the company’s commitment to creating more connected, vibrant communities. The program focuses on supporting local projects that bring people together, fostering innovation and strengthening community bonds.
For more information about the Patio @ WPL project and how to get involved, please visit the Winfield Public Library’s website at www.WPL.org.
About Winfield Public Library:
The Winfield Public Library provides access to information, resources, and opportunities that enhance the quality of life for all residents. Through various programs, services, and community initiatives, the library serves as a vital hub for learning, culture, and community engagement in Cowley County, Kansas.
About T-Mobile Hometown Grants:
T-Mobile Hometown Grants is part of the company’s five-year commitment to creating more connected, vibrant communities. The program focuses on supporting local projects that bring people together, fostering innovation and strengthening community bonds. Since kicking off its five-year commitment to small towns and rural communities in April 2021, T-Mobile has provided more than $16 million in Hometown Grants to 375 communities across 48 states and Puerto Rico. For more information about T-Mobile’s commitment to small towns, visit www.t-mobile.com/hometowngrants. And to see how Hometown Grants are creating change, go here.

Written in the Stars
Winfield Public Library was selected as a Poetry Partner for “Written in the Stars,” a poetry chapbook and initiative of Humanities Kansas.
“As a Poetry Partner, the library has copies of Written in the Stars available for free to the public, and we have a variety of programs scheduled this spring to celebrate both the poetry in the chapbooks and the Kansas night sky,” said Ruth Bumgarner, Adult Services Librarian.
The chapbook features 10 poems that reflect upon the stars and planets of the Kansas night sky with original illustrations by Matthew Willie Garcia. Edited by Megan Kaminski, the chapbook includes poetry by Traci Brimhall, Megan Kaminski, Michael Kleber-Diggs, Hyejung Kook, Ada Limon, Jesse Nathan, Elise Paschen, Naomi Shihab Nye, William Stafford, and Keving Young as well as essays by Megan Kaminski and Christopher Auner.
Copies of Written in the Stars are available at the Winfield Public Library front desk. Copies will also be available at select library programs for adults, including Galaxy Paint Night, April’s TED Talk Lunch Series, The Astronomy Behind the Signs of the Zodiac, and the April 21 Bookn’ with Friends book club. Details of all these programs can be found at the library’s online events calendar at wpl.org. The library will also have grab & go kits to create blackout poetry available to patrons of all ages beginning March 20.
Written in the Stars is made possible by the Friends of Humanities Kansas, the Sunflower Foundation, Kansas Tourism, and the Greater Salina Community Foundation. According to Humanities Kansas, “Kansas have long looked to the stars to define who we are. Ad astra per aspera, “To the stars through difficult,” reveals our aspirational visions grounded in a prairie sensibility. Through poetry, Written in the Stars continues this look toward the celestial to find connections and inspiration.”
Online events calendar
March Newsletter
The Winfield Public Library’s March Newsletter, “Branch Out” is available for your viewing. Find out about our library card policies and upcoming programs and events.
March E-Newsletter
Discover Kanopy: Your New Streaming Service
Using your Winfield Public Library card, you can access Kanopy. With an expertly curated collection of narrative and documentary films we think you’ll enjoy, we’re pleased to bring this streaming service to our community. Go to kanopy.com to get started today, or download the Kanopy app on your Smart TV or web-enabled devices.
For Families, See Kanopy Kids! This special section offers a wide range of educational and entertaining content for children, including animated storybooks, movies, and TV series that are perfect for young viewers. It’s a great way to make learning fun and engaging for kids of all ages. Plus, Kanopy Kids offers **unlimited access**, so your children can enjoy as much content as you’d like.
For the rest of Kanopy’s extensive library, Winfield Public Library cardholders are provided **20 tickets each month**. Each ticket allows you to watch one film, giving you plenty of opportunities to explore and enjoy a variety of content.
February Newsletter
The Winfield Public Library’s February Newsletter, “Branch Out” is available for your viewing. Find out about our library card policies and upcoming programs and events.
February E-Newsletter
Friends of the Library Annual Book Sale
The Friends of WPL will hold their annual book sale February 21 – 23, 2025 at the Winfield Public Library. Donations of used books in good condition will be accepted through February 15. Contact Ruth Bumgarner, Adult Services Librarian, at rbumgarner@wpl.org or 620-221-4470 for more information.
Celebrate Local Authors

WPL’s Celebrate Local Authors day is back for a second year! Join us on Saturday, February 1st to meet authors from around the region, explore their books, and learn about their experiences with publication.
Fill Your Mug: 2024 Reading Challenge celebration
Celebrate a year well-read! On Sunday, December 29 from 2:00pm – 4:00pm, bring your 2024 Reading Challenge mug to the library and enjoy a variety of mug-friendly beverages. 2024 Challenge mugs can be claimed at this time, and Reading Challenge cards for 2025 will be available to kick-off the new year.
September Spotlight: The Civil War & Kansas
Throughout the month of September, Winfield Public Library is hosting several programs around the theme of the Civil War and Kansas. See the events calendar for details on these programs:
Monday, September 9 at 7:00pm – Friends of the Library meeting & program by Kent Melcher
Thursday, September 12 at 6:30pm – The Civil War: it began in Kansas! presentation by Kent Melcher
Saturday, September 28 at 10:30am – Last Stand at Rebel Creek: The Osage as Union Allies in Civil War Kansas by Humanities Kansas speaker Isaias McCaffrey
Monday, September 30 at 6:30pm – Bookn’ with Friends Book Club: The Good Lord Bird by James McBride