Patio Party for Grand Opening Event
Winfield Public Library Celebrates Patio Grand Opening with Community Event
The Winfield Public Library is excited to announce the Grand Opening of its newly refreshed Patio on Friday, April 24 at 5:30 p.m. Community members of all ages are invited to join the celebration and explore this welcoming outdoor space designed for reading, gathering, and enjoying library programs in the fresh air.
The Patio was designed by Agora Architecture with construction completed by Commerce Construction. Making the Patio a truly useful and inviting outdoor area for the community was a key request heard during the library strategic planning listening sessions. This project represents the library commitment to listening to community voices and turning that feedback into meaningful improvements.
The Patio project was made possible through generous grant funding and community support. This includes two significant grants from the T Mobile Hometown Grants Program and the South-Central Kansas Library System, along with generous contributions from the following donors:
Gary & Mary Brewer
Carnegie Corporation
Todd DeMint & Madeline Norland
In memory of Shirley Marsh Everhart
Friends of WPL
Galaxy Technologies
GE Aerospace
IdeaTek
RCB Bank
RISE Cowley
Greg & Julia Thompson
The Chris Tyler Family
Union State Bank
VJ Wilkins Foundation
…and many more individual donors in our community
The event will begin with a brief presentation introducing the Patio project and recognizing the work and support that made it possible. Guests can enjoy refreshments while they mingle, explore the space, and connect with library staff and neighbors.
Following the presentation, attendees will be treated to live blues music performed by Clayton Crawford, the Winfield Whirlwind, a favorite regional musician known for his energetic style and deep local roots.
The Winfield Public Library is thrilled to offer this new space as an extension of its mission to bring people together, foster creativity, and support lifelong learning. The entire community is welcome to celebrate this milestone with an evening of music, refreshments, and connection.
For more information, please contact the Winfield Public Library at your preferred contact information.
Citizen Science at the Library
Did you know everyday people can help real scientists anywhere in the world with their research? As part of a national effort to engage citizens in 2.5 million acts of science this April, Winfield Public Library is partnering with SciStarter to host three Citizen Science events. We’ll kick things off with an informational come-and-go event on Saturday, March 14. Drop by between 10:00am and noon to learn more about Citizen Science, the events in April, and how everyday people can contribute to scientific progress.
What is Citizen Science? Saturday, March 14 from 10:00am-12:00pm
Library staff will be available to assist with registration through SciStarter, Zooniverse, and StallCatchers, which will help save time and effort during the April events.
Mark your calendars for these upcoming Citizen Science Events! In partnership with SciStarter, the library will host the following interactive events where we will connect virtually with participants around the country AND the scientists behind these research projects:
Voices of Freedom with the Smithsonian Institute Friday, April 10 from 1:00pm-3:00pm
Play a Game to Help Alzheimer’s Research Thursday, April 16 from 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Earth Day Animal Spot-a-Thon Wednesday, April 22 from 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Backyard Birds
On Saturday, March 7 at 10:00am WPL will host an introduction to identifying and attracting birds common to our area. Participants will learn how to identify common species by sight and sound, as well as simple ways to attract more species to their own yards.
Local bird enthusiast Rex Herndon will guide us through the basics of bird watching, with a special focus on getting comfortable with binoculars, field guides, and identification apps.
A follow up program will be held on location at Chaplin Nature Center on Saturday, March 28 at 10:00. Please note: participants must provide their own transportation to Chaplin.
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.
