Carnegie Libraries hold a special place in American history and in the hearts of generations of Americans. Andrew Carnegie helped build 1,681 libraries across the United States, including ours. Today, Carnegie Corporation of New York is honoring that legacy with $10,000 gifts to the roughly 1,280 Carnegie Libraries still in operation as part of America’s 250th anniversary.
Learn more about this initiative and find our library on the Carnegie Libraries Across America map.
Life in Kansas During the Dust Bowl
Winfield Public Library will host “Life in Kansas During the Dust Bowl,” a presentation and discussion by Katie Keckeisen on Saturday, January 24 at 10:00am in the library’s Community Room. Members of the community are invited to attend this free program, made possible by Humanities Kansas.
Black Sunday – April 14, 1935 – is an unforgettable moment in history. The photographs from that day of the dust storm in southwest Kansas made headlines across America. How did Kansans respond to this challenging moment in history? Using eyewitness accounts and photographs, this presentation explores the impact and the legacy of the drought and the “Dust Bowl” on life in Kansas during the 1930s and beyond.
Senior Planet Tech Classes
The Arkansas City and Winfield Public Libraries are launching a new program to help older adults in Cowley County learn new skills, save money, get in shape, and make new friends. In partnership with Senior Planet, a national nonprofit which harnesses technology to change the way older Americans age, the Arkansas City and Winfield Public Libraries will be offering classes and workshops about technology, health and wellness, and socialization.
Older adults across the country are utilizing technology more than ever before. Through partnering with Senior Planet’s licensing program, the public libraries will begin to offer Senior Planet’s proprietary curriculum this fall.
Classes will be held weekly at Winfield Public Library on Monday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. and at Arkansas City Public Library on Wednesday afternoons from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
Each hands-on session will use the libraries’ newly upgraded computer systems, so there’s no need to bring your own device. November’s topics include Exploring Online Health Resources and Getting Started with Zoom, while December will focus on Staying Safe Online.
The classes will be facilitated by Breanna Dittert, a member of the American Connection Corps who is hosted by both libraries. Breanna specializes in helping community members build confidence with technology and also offers one-on-one Tech Help for those with specific questions or personal devices.
Teresa Grana to present at WPL
Winfield Public Library, in partnership with Winfield Arts and Humanities and the USD 465 Foundation, is excited to host Teresa Covacevich Grana for Impressions of Mexico: the Journey of Sue Jean Covacevich at 10:00am on Saturday, November 8. The presentation traces Covacevich’s creative journey, her marriage to businessman Nicolas Salazar Covacevich, and her community projects which involved the children of Winfield. The program will also explore the rich traditions of Mexican art and how it infused Sue Jean’s own artwork. Special consideration will be given to the influence of artists Francisco Cornejo, Gerald Murilo, Diego Rivera, and Birger Sandzen. Sandzen visited Covacevich during her time in Mexico, and was a lifelong friend and mentor.
Teresa Covacevich Grana is the daughter of the artist and a cultural historian. A collection of Covacevich’s art, Mexican Impressions, is on loan from the USD 465 Foundation and will be on display at the library through November 15.
The USD 465 Foundation has a collection of over 200 works of art that have been graciously given to our Winfield School District for the purpose of education through exposure to quality works of art. The collection began in 1933 with a gift of a print from Birger Sandzen, as a prize for the winning Winfield student and their school, through a state-wide contest. With over 80 artists currently represented, much can be learned from art principles and design, from various techniques, and as expressions of human creativity that apply to cross-curricular learning.
Legacy Regional Community Foundation Supports Local Libraries with Book Donations Through Child Care Capacity-Building Grant
Winfield, KS — The Winfield Public Library and Arkansas City Public Library have each received a collection of 17 early childhood caregiver books made possible through the “Communities in Action: A Community Child Care Capacity-Building Project” grant awarded to Legacy Regional Community Foundation in January 2025.
This grant opportunity was designed to provide funding for Kansas communities working to address access to affordable, high-quality child care. Locally, the grant supported coalition-building efforts led by Legacy staff to establish and develop the Cowley County Early Childhood Collaborative (CCECC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering public-private partnerships to optimize local resources, funding, and expertise to help area children and families thrive. The grant also provided funding to engage Tabatha Rosproy to further the work started with Cowley ACTS – Childcare focus group toward establishing a childcare center in Cowley County.
The book donations to the Winfield and Arkansas City Public Libraries reflect the grant’s broader mission to support early childhood development and community engagement. Some titles of books added to the library collections included:
The basics of starting a child-care business: the business of childcare (2020) by Marnie Forestieri
The encyclopedia of infant and toddler activities: for children birth to 3 (2017) by Donnat Wittmer, PhD.
The playful classroom: the power of play for all ages (2020) by Jed Dearybury and Julie Jones.
Each of the library directors noted the importance of grants in expanding library resources. Mendy Pfannensteil, Director of the Arkansas City Public Library, shared that the grant significantly expands the library’s offerings on this topic. Tabitha Hogan of the Winfield Public Library added that collaboration between community organizations will help make the collection more visible. Both libraries emphasized their shared goal of providing information related to community initiatives and supporting learning for child care providers, aligning with the broader objectives of the grant and the libraries.
“Funding provided by Child Care Aware of Kansas in partnership with the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund. We are dedicated to building quality child care in communities for Kansas families.”
For more information, please contact:
Tabitha Hogan, Winfield Public Library
Mendy Pfannenstiel, Arkansas City Public Library
Friends of WPL Appreciation Tea
The Winfield Public Library will recognize library Friends, volunteers, and supporters at their second annual Friends of WPL Appreciation Tea, scheduled for 2:00pm on Sunday, October 19.
The tea will kick off National Friends of Libraries Week, October 19 – 24.
“The Friends of WPL do so much for the library – from sponsoring summer programming for all ages, to maintaining the library garden beds, to providing food at special events and more. We look forward to honoring their generosity with an afternoon of tea and good company,” said Tabitha Hogan, Library Director.
Grant Overstake, Kansas journalist, author, and winner of the Audie Award for Young Adult Fiction, will present the keynote.
Unsure if your Friends of WPL membership is current? Contact Ruth Bumgarner at rbumgarner@wpl.org to check your status.
Help Us Complete The Patio @ WPL During Legacy’s “Great Give” – August 1–31, 2025!
This August, your donation to the Winfield Public Library Foundation can go even further thanks to Legacy Regional Community Foundation and a generous match from the Patterson Family Foundation.
We’re building The Patio @ WPL—a beautiful, welcoming outdoor space where people of all ages can gather, learn, and connect. With your help, this space will host:
- Storytimes and book clubs
- Outdoor movie nights
- Workshops and educational events
- A peaceful place to read, relax, or meet with friends
Thanks to the generosity of grants and early supporters, we’ve already raised $50,000 through T-Mobile’s Hometown Grants program and have the reserve funds to make The Patio a reality. We’re moving forward.
With your donation, we can add some nice finishing touches such as comfortable seating, a story walk, interactive play features and decorative elements. Every gift, big or small, helps us realize the full vision of The Patio @ WPL!
One Gift = Triple the Impact!
When you give during the Great Give, your donation will:
- Support the creation of the Patio
- Grow our endowment for long-term sustainability
- Help fund future community projects through Legacy
How to Give:
- When: August 1–31, 2025
- Where:
- In person: Legacy, 1216 Main, Winfield
- Online: www.legacyregionalfoundation.org
Let’s create something beautiful together. Your support will help us finish The Patio @ WPL and ensure it thrives for years to come!
Winfield Area Newspapers Fully Digitized
Thanks to significant funding from the V.J. Wilkins Foundation and generous donations to the Legacy Foundation’s 2024 Great Give campaign, the Winfield Public Library’s microfilm collection from 1922-2020 has been digitized. This collection of area newspapers is fully text searchable through our library website.
Newspapers older than 1922 are available in full digital format online at the Kansas Historical Society. Together, these two resources provide complete digitized web access to Winfield newspapers.
This project also furthers a partnership with the Cowley Courier Traveler and the Arkansas City Public Library to provide access on the website to local newspapers (over 4 years old) going forward. WPL and ACPL will collaborate to cover the cost of future digitization needs.
The V.J. Wilkins Foundation’s mission is to support the community of Arkansas City and Cowley County, Kansas, by fostering a rich cultural environment through arts, music, language, and other endeavors. Their support ensures that Winfield’s history and culture will be accessible worldwide for future generations.
WPL Receives Dollar General Literacy Grant
Winfield Public Library’s Literacy Collective Receives Dollar General Literacy Grant
Winfield, KS – May 13, 2025 – The Winfield Public Library’s Literacy Collective is proud to announce that we are the recipient of a Dollar General Literacy Grant to support our adult and teen literacy program.
Every Tuesday, learners connect with Mrs. Hutto and our amazing volunteer mentors to help achieve their reading and life goals here at the library. There’s been great progress made!
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation believes that everyone deserves an equal opportunity to receive a basic education. They invest in literacy programs that are increasing access, enhancing the quality of instruction, and inspiring and advancing innovation. WPL is proud to have our work recognized and supported!
Find out more about our Literacy Collective: https://wpl.org/learntoread
About Winfield Public Library
Winfield Public Library’s mission is to support everyone in their enjoyment of reading and the pursuit of lifelong learning. We connect and enrich our community with welcoming spaces, relevant programs, and friendly, knowledgeable staff. We provide equitable access to information through books, programs, and resources.
About Dollar General Literacy Foundation
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is committed to supporting literacy and education initiatives across the United States. The Foundation awards grants to schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations to help implement or expand existing literacy programs. For more information, visit Dollar General Literacy Foundation.
2025 Summer Reading Program
Read this summer with WPL – pick up your packets as early as May 17th.
- Kick-Off Party: Start the summer with our Family Night – Color Our Summer! on June 2nd from 4:00pm to 7:45pm.
- Tinker Tuesdays: Get creative with hands-on activities every Tuesday, starting June 3rd, with two shifts available (9:30am-12:30pm and 12:30pm-3:30pm).
- Story Times: Join us for engaging story sessions every Friday and Saturday morning, beginning June 6th.
- Book Clubs: Dive into exciting reads like Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling and Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan on various dates.
- Special Events: Enjoy unique programs like reading to therapy dogs, teen nights, and family nights featuring magic, music, and more!
And don’t forget, we also have an Adult Summer Reading Program! It’s a fantastic opportunity for adults to explore new genres, meet fellow readers, and enjoy a summer filled with great books and engaging discussions.
Dive into a world of adventure, imagination, and discovery this summer with our exciting reading program. Whether you’re a bookworm or just looking for a fun way to spend your summer days, we’ve got something for everyone. Enjoy thrilling stories, earn cool rewards, and participate in fun activities. Here are some highlights:
Don’t miss out on the chance to make this summer unforgettable!