Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City, MO

Web site: www.kclibrary.org
Press Contact: Henry Fortunato, henryfortunato@kclibrary.org, 816- 701-3514

Giant spines featuring classic world literature titles decorate the exterior of the Central Library’s parking garage, photo by Mike Sinclair.

A champion of literacy, community, and education, the Kansas City Public Library (KCPL) has established itself as an institution committed to offering programs and materials that speak to all ages, races, and genders, thereby providing the community of greater Kansas City, Missouri, with much more than a place to borrow a book. Founded in 1873, an eight-dollar bookcase and a set of encyclopedias its only holdings, KCPL has grown into 10 locations—including its newest and largest facilities, the Central Library and the Plaza Branch—that operate 64 hours per week, with an annual circulation of nearly 2.6 million books and other materials.

Creating and fine-tuning programming for its diverse population of patrons is of the utmost importance to KCPL. To fulfill this goal, the library conducts annual community needs surveys, solicits feedback as part of interactions with its customers, and partners with a diverse array of stakeholders ranging from homeschoolers to homeless shelters. Community members, in turn, feel comfortable approaching library staff with ideas and concerns, which the library is then happy to address.

For children, KCPL’s programming includes the Books to Go project, which delivers books monthly to more than 7,000 preschool-aged children through Head Start programs and other similar venues. Once Upon a Time, an interactive exhibit presented at the Central Library in winter 2008, brought to life fairy tales from around the world (including Lon Po Po and Beauty and the Beast) through kid-sized activity areas that encourage imaginative play by allowing participants to dress like the characters in the stories.

More than 30 percent of the Kansas City population is African American, and the library strives to institute programs that delve into the African American experience for the benefit and education of all Kansas City area residents. One such program is Imaging Blackness, an Indiana University Black Film Center/Archive exhibit of 43 film posters from 1915 to 2002 that tracks the representation of African Americans in film.
Adhering to what it describes as a “liberal arts–type” philosophy, KCPL offers its constituents programs that reinforce the idea of lifelong learning through an extensive menu of monthly events featuring presentations by historians, novelists, economists, and journalists. A leading example of this programming is the library’s focus on examining American history by hosting scholarly forums, public dialogues with reenactors, and panel discussions. Attendees are then asked to reflect on the presentations and bring up any questions or concerns for discussion.

The library also takes great pride in its offerings of wireless Internet access and computer competency courses in its effort to help all of its constituents remain connected. Classes range from e-mail basics to advanced computing tips, and are open to any interested persons at a number of locations. KCPL’s Web site is another important part of its technological offerings and provides constant access to historical materials, newspapers, periodicals, and fiction and poetry databases.

The Kansas City Public Library strives to serve its community by promoting reading, bringing together community cultures, and bridging the digital divide, and in so doing, has created an ideal place for Kansas City residents to gather, work, play, and learn.

“Public libraries are the heart of our communities and through innovative programs like ‘Books to Go’, this institution is not only a central gathering place, but is spreading a love of learning throughout the community,” said U.S. Senator Kit Bond (R-MO). “It is only fitting that Kansas City Public Libraries is recognized for this vital work.”

“It was my great honor to nominate the Kansas City Public Library for this award. Through their efforts they have let loose imaginations, inspired change and become a cornerstone around which our entire community gathers. A city can only be as good as its public libraries, and we all take pride that ours is among America’s very best. My sincere congratulations to Crosby Kemper, all his staff, volunteers and supporters,” said U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO-05).

Community Member Edward Pace
Couple Raises Children on Books, Not Television
Every Friday evening, Edward Pace, his wife, Swana Lansdown, and their five children (aged 10, 9, 8, 5, and 4) attend Family Fun Night at the Plaza Branch of the Kansas City Public Library. The kids love watching and putting on puppet shows, meeting people from Asia, Holland, Africa and other places, and learning about a wide variety of subjects from Harry S. Truman to Cinco de Mayo. Each child has a library card and a personal relationship with the branch librarians.

The family also visits the library together to select books for their nightly routine of reading at home. They check out books, audio books, movies, and other materials, and participate in programs. The library provides a quiet place to study, not only for the children but for Pace, who graduated from college in May, and Lansdown, who is still in school. Their relationship with the library plays a major role in developing the children’s literacy skills and supporting the family’s lifelong learning goals.

“I’m a very proud father. What makes it even better are the people you meet in the library,” said Pace, who also mentors at-risk youth and often takes them to the library. “It’s like pulling a tooth to get them to come the first time, but most of them end up coming back to the library for the Friday programs.”