Unearth a Story This Summer at Your Library
Get ready—Winfield Public Library’s Summer Reading Program is back! This year’s theme, “Unearth a Story,” invites readers of all ages to dig into adventure, discovery, and imagination all summer long.
Starting May 16, stop by the library to pick up your starter pack and begin your reading journey. Inside, you’ll find everything you need to track your progress, earn prizes, and join in on fun activities.
The program is open to kids, teens, and adults, with events and experiences designed for the whole family. From engaging programs to hands-on activities, there’s always something new to discover at your library.
Make reading part of your summer routine, build new skills, and create lasting memories along the way.
👉 Learn more and get started here: https://wpl.org/srp2026/
Let’s make this a summer full of stories, curiosity, and fun!
Watch TED Democracy Philadelphia: Founding Futures
Join us for a nationwide livestream event exploring democracy’s evolving story
On Saturday, June 13, 2026, our library will host a livestream of TED Democracy Philadelphia: Founding Futures, a daylong symposium featuring 15+ original TED Talks focused on the future of democracy.
Streaming live from Philadelphia leading up to America’s 250th birthday celebration, this landmark event convenes bold thinkers and civic leaders to share ideas and solutions designed to inform and inspire.
Through a collaboration with Visit Philadelphia and the American Library Association, and sponsored by The Pew Charitable Trusts, libraries across the country are hosting satellite livestream events – expanding access to these critical conversations and fostering local engagement nationwide.
We’re proud to serve as a host site and bring this important civic moment to our local community.
Event Details
Saturday, June 13, 2026 at Baden Square, 700 Gary St.
10:00am – 11:30am: Talks, session one
11:30am – 12:45pm: Lunch, catered by Grouse Valley Catering
1:00pm – 2:30pm: Talks, session two
3:00pm – 4:30pm: Talks, session three
Free and open to the public! Whether you join us for all or part of the day, please register online here OR call the library at 620-221-4470 to let us know you are coming.
What to Expect
- Livestream of 15+ brand-new TED Talks from the Stage in Philadelphia
- A welcoming space for shared civic engagement
- Opportunities for reflection and conversation
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:
T-Mobile Hometown Grant Recipient
South Central Kansas Library System
Friends of WPL
Galaxy Technologies
GE Aerospace
IdeaTek
RISE Cowley
Greg & Julia Thompson
The Chris Tyler Family
VJ Wilkins Foundation
City of Winfield
Mary & Gary Brewer
CDS Machine and Powder Coating
In memory of Shirley Marsh Everhart
Todd DeMint & Madeline Norland
RCB Bank
Ed & Kris Trimmer
Union State Bank
Beth & Steve Wilke
…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 two Citizen Science Connected events. We’ll connect virtually with participants around the country AND the scientists behind these research projects. Mark your calendars!
Voices of Freedom with the Smithsonian Institute Friday, April 10 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 offsite on Saturday, March 28 at 10:00 at the home of presenter Rex Herndon. Please note: participants must provide their own transportation to the off-site location in Arkansas City. Call the desk or view the calendar for the address.
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.