November 2017
Mission: The Friends provide volunteer service, advocacy, and funding to WPL.
Your quarterly news & updates
President's Message
I remember seeing a poster that said — Friends are the family you choose!

I feel that way about our Friends of the Wichita Public Library! The organization, nearly 75 years old, has around 1200 members, an active volunteer base, an enthusiastic board, and an incredible half-time Operations Manager AND works with a nationally recognized for excellence public library staff!
 
As you probably already know the Friends are gearing up for the BIG move to the new library next year ( see below for further details). We are planning an extravaganza used book sale tentatively in March 2018. If you think our $5.00 a bag sales was a good deal get ready for the blow-out special sale next spring!
 
Check our Facebook page and website for updates and more information. Want to help us with the gargantuan used book sale next spring? Go to our website:
wichitalibraryfriends.org for information on how to be a member and to apply to become a volunteer.
 
What are your questions? Ask us on our Facebook page:
 
Sincerely,
 
Vikki Jo Stewart, President
Friends of the Wichita Public Library
Getting to Know...
Melissa Baum, Friends of the Wichita Public Library Operations Manager
By Janet Fowler
Melissa Baum was hired as the first employee of the Friends of the Wichita Public Library in July, 2016 as the Operations Manager. She works 20 hours per week managing all bookstore and book sale tasks.
Melissa is a native of Wichita. She graduated from Northwest High School, attended Missouri State University where she received a Bachelor Degree in Business Management. Then she attended Baker University and received her MBA. 

She is active in her church, loves to travel and go to the movies. She enjoys reading a variety of genres and appreciates it when a volunteer suggests a good read. One unique fact about Melissa is that her family of 2 sisters, mother and grandmother all live on the same street in west Wichita!
 
In addition to her part-time position with FWPL, she is the Operations Manager for a Super Hero, Kid Power! Kid Power Cares, Inc. presents a Broadway style musical program performed across the nation educating children and families on the importance of good nutrition and exercise.
 
As though she isn’t busy enough, her third part-time job is teaching Marching Band Flag Team students at Rose Hill High School. One of the highlights of her life was marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with the band from Missouri State.
 
Melissa says that the best thing about FWPL is the members and volunteers. She believes that enabling volunteers to work within their strengths will make any organization successful and that is one of her goals for working with the Friends. Of course, her other goal is to sell books to get them into the hands of the public and financially assist the Wichita Public Library.
Melissa loves Wichita and she is very excited for our city that we are moving into the new Wichita Public Library where we are bringing traditional media together with today’s technology.
 
The Friends of the Wichita Public Library is very fortunate to have Melissa as our Operations Manager. Her knowledge, skills, commitment and energy is a valuable asset to our organization. 
Thank you, Melissa, for all that you do!
Advanced Learning Library Update
From Cynthia Berner
Director of Libraries at Wichita Public Library
Have you driven past the intersection of McLean and Second streets lately? If not, it is worth a trip in order to see the progress of the Advanced Learning Library!
 
Painting is underway in many parts of the building. Features such as special decorative elements in the children’s pavilion, glass walls for collaboration rooms and the computer training area are in place or will soon be completed. Paving and concrete work around the building is also making good progress.
 
Library staff expect to be open for business as normal in the current Central Library through the end of March. As soon as the building is complete and all of the shelving is in place, service will be suspended in order to begin work on the move. The goal is to be open for business by the start of summer.
 
To enable you to watch the construction progress, the Library has created a special section on its website dedicated to the Advanced Learning Library. There you will find a live webcam feed as well as regularly updated pictures of the interior construction progress.
ALL Picture Gallery
Friends of the Wichita Public Library | 223 S Main Street, Wichita, KS 67202 | 316-261-8500 |  fwplbooks@gmail.com | WichitaLibraryFriends.org