Friends Annual Book Sale
The Friends of the Winfield Public Library will hold their annual book sale February 20, 21, and 22 at the Winfield Public Library. The three-day format includes a members-only preview sale, one day of public sale, and a “bag sale.”
On Friday, February 20 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm a preview sale will be open to all current members of the Friends of the Winfield Public Library. Memberships may be purchased at the door; individual memberships are $10 and family memberships are $20.
The sale will then open to the public on Saturday, February 21 from 9:00am to 2:00pm and Sunday, February 22 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Sunday is “bag sale” day, where community members can fill a bag for a flat $5 fee.
Art for All: Birger Sandzen and the Prairie Print Makers
WPL is pleased to host Cori Sherman North, Curator at the Birger Sandzen Memorial Gallery in Lindsborg, KS for “Art for All: Birger Sandzen and the Prairie Print Makers.” The presentation will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, February 7 in the library’s Community Room.
On December 28, 1930 eleven determined souls became charter members of an organization they called the Prairie Print Makers. They posed for a group photograph in front of the Birger Sandzén studio in Lindsborg, KS to make their new association official – though it was not an auspicious time for new beginnings in the wake of the nation’s worst stock market crash.
The aim of this small but mighty group of talented men and women was to produce fine art prints and get affordable art into every home and school. The Prairie Print Makers attracted more than 100 active printmaker members nationwide through June 27, 1966, when the society disbanded. By showing at accessible local venues, the Prairie Print Makers traveling exhibitions contributed to art education and appreciation all over the nation – including collections in the USD 465 Foundation and Winfield Arts and Humanities.
Cancellation Notice
Due to the weather forecast, Saturday’s presentation of “Life in Kansas During the Dust Bowl” has been cancelled for the safety of our attendees and presenter. We’re bummed too!
Unfortunately, the program will not be rescheduled at this time.
Thank you for your understanding, and please stay safe!
Carnegie still supporting WPL 113 years later
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!