WHS Carpentry Program Building Literacy
The Winfield Public Library’s Little Free Libraries have been rebuilt and refreshed thanks to the Winfield High School Carpentry Program. The project was completed by the lead student Sander Flower as part of an Independent Study under the direction of instructor Justin Hogan and assistant George Lowe. This project aims to promote literacy, community engagement, and access to books for residents of Winfield.
In 2019, the original libraries were a project of the Friends of the Winfield Public Library and were also built by the Winfield High School carpentry program. “We are glad to continue our involvement in this project as it is important for students to see their work benefit the community” said Justin Hogan, WHS Carpentry Instructor. The WHS Carpentry program is a key partner in other community outreach efforts including work on the Habitat for Humanity houses and the House of Hope.
Tabitha Hogan, director of the Winfield Public Library notes the importance of the partnership, “we are incredibly grateful for the continued partnership with Winfield High School, their volunteerism allows us to reach more people in Winfield, spreading literacy and the joy of sharing stories.”
Little Free Libraries are small, publicly accessible book exchange boxes where individuals can take a book to read or leave a book for someone else to enjoy. They serve as an entry point to the library that promotes literacy and a love for reading while fostering a sense of community connection.
The libraries are at Winfield Housing Authority, 1417 Pine Terrace; Winfield City Hall, 200 E. Ninth Ave.; Cowley County Historical Museum, 1015 Mansfield St.; the 12th Avenue and Alexander Street area, near the Canterbury Village apartments; and the Broadway Recreation Complex.
For more information about the Little Free Library project please contact Tabitha Hogan at (620) 221-4470 or director@wpl.org.
Winfield Literacy Collective – Now Open
Winfield Public Library was selected nationally among 100 libraries for the Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries, an American Library Association (ALA) initiative that helps library workers better serve their communities.
The competitive award comes with a $20,000 grant that will help the library implement the Winfield Literacy Collective, a teen and adult literacy program.
“We are grateful to be chosen for this opportunity,” said Library Director Tabitha Hogan. ”This grant will allow our library to address needs identified through community conversations and by the Legacy Foundation’s A Closer Look at Cowley Kids Data Walk project. We believe this project will help us to meet the needs of Winfield residents and help us build a happier and healthier community for our families.”
There are many reasons that adults and teens struggle with reading and writing. One, often undiagnosed, reason is dyslexia. Recent research by International Dyslexia Association estimates that 1 in 5 individuals are dyslexic. Many have never been diagnosed as there are myths around dyslexia including that it is limited to those who see backwards letters. Dyslexia can take many forms and impacts people in different ways. While impacting reading, it can also limit the ability to learn another language, do math problems, and memorize. According to the Winfield Literacy Collective Reading Facilitator, Kim Hutto “it is never too late to improve reading and text skills, we can help.”
The program is for all teens and adults who struggle with reading and writing including those who are learning English as a second language. The Winfield Literacy Collective aims to help learners improve their reading skills and maximize tech tools to manage real-world tasks. The program is confidential and designed to be offered in person and online in one-on-one sessions at times convenient for participants.
The Winfield Literacy Collective is currently accepting learners. The program will begin in March 2024 for participants. If you are interested in getting involved as a volunteer or would like to participate as a learner, please contact Ruth Bumgarner at (620) 221-4470 or visit wpl.org for more information.
“Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries is an initiative of the American Library Association (ALA) in collaboration with the Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL).”
Winfield Public Library Launches “Branch Out”
A Campaign to Kick off 2024 Programs
Winfield, KS – For Immediate Release: The Winfield Public Library, located at 605 College Street has recently announced the launch of a new logo and branding campaign called “Branch Out”, along with the unveiling of their strategic plan which outlines their goals and objectives.
The library’s mission is to support everyone in their enjoyment of reading and the pursuit of lifelong learning, to connect and enrich their community with welcoming spaces, relevant programs, and friendly, knowledgeable staff, and to provide equitable access to information through books, programs, and resources is the cornerstone of an intensive effort of the Library Board of Directors and staff.
Winfield Library Director, Tabitha Hogan, expressed her excitement about the new branding campaign and how it ties in with the goals of the strategic plan. “We are thrilled to unveil our new logo and branding campaign and love what “Branch Out” thematic programming will mean to our community. The bolder color scheme and modern concepts reflect who we are and how we plan to grow going forward. The new logo reflects the library’s commitment to innovation, creativity, and dedication to providing the best possible resources and services to the community. The design is sleek, modern, and easily recognizable, making it a perfect fit for the library’s mission.
The tagline, “Branch Out”, focuses on thematically on growing programming and services to encourage the community to explore new ideas, topics, and perspectives available at library. The library’s staff has been working hard to develop new programming that aligns with the “Branch Out” campaign and the new strategic plan. The first program of the year is the 2024 Reading Challenge announced in January. Interested readers can visit the wpl.org website to learn how to get involved. In March, a new teen and adult literacy program will launch providing support for those who want to improve their reading and spelling skills.
“We believe that the Winfield Library Strategic Plan represents our growth goals for the future and reflects our programming and community outreach that are an integral part of our efforts to serve Winfield and surrounding areas. We look forward to the rollout of targeted services and programs including a new Literacy program and updated accessibility tools.” Hogan continued.
In addition to the new branding campaign, future plans include a new user-friendly website layout that will feature sections for adult and children’s services, a community calendar and other library resources like notary services, and public meeting room access with the goal of making sure the entire community knows what the library offers.
The community is invited to “Branch Out” and visit the library, which is open seven days a week, to learn more about the new branding, strategic plan, and current programs for adults and children.
Located at 605 College in Winfield, KS on the historic Baden Square, the Winfield Public Library has served the local community since January 1913. Dedicated to supporting life-long learning for over 111 years, the library offers a wide range of programs and community resources to everyone. Learn more at www.wpl.org.
Media Contacts
Library: Tabitha Hogan, thogan@wpl.org 620 221 4470
Branding: Andrea Ball, andrea@plantiworld.com 301 335 2715
Attachments:
Strategic Plan Summary
Logo Artwork
Strategic Plan Update
We are delighted to share our updated strategic plan which guides our direction to provide innovative services and programs to engage our community.
During 2023, based on your feedback from our surveys and community input sessions, our team, and the library board charted our direction for the next five years.
Click here to view the Strategic Plan Summary.
We are excited about the many ways we will fulfill our mission:
- to support everyone in their enjoyment of reading and the pursuit of lifelong learning
- connect and enrich our community with welcoming spaces, relevant programs, and friendly, knowledgeable staff
- to provide equitable access to information through books, programs, and resources
Our work toward achieving this mission has already begun with improved accessibility services, more technology help, and class offerings, a Teen & Adult Literacy program, and more opportunities to connect with each other and books. We hope you stop in and see how you can “Branch Out” at your library soon.
2024 Reading Challenge
The 2024 Reading Challenge is here! Read any 12 books, ebooks, or audiobooks that match the 12 challenge topics. Tracking cards are available at the library. Ready to meet the challenge topics?