Library qualifies for grant with donation

By SUSAN BERG

Staff writer

It’s been nearly 10 years since Goessel Public Library moved to the new Goessel Civic Center after many years in a small room at the former Goessel City Building, which now houses Goessel Fire Department.

Since that time, the library has expanded to approximately 800 books and more than 400 patrons.

As further proof of the library’s viability to the community, the library recently was awarded a Books for Children grant from The Libri Foundation.

Elaine Schroeder, a longtime volunteer and Friend of the Library, donated $350 which was used to match a $1,061 grant from the foundation.

Sixty-three books were purchases which included award-winning fiction and non-fiction for children, pre-school through young adult.

“Libraries are important,” said Schroeder, a retired Goessel High School English teacher. “I know how important reading is and should be to children.”

She started as a volunteer at the library which turned into a part-time job. In the past, Schroeder had given small donations to the library but this was the first time of making a donation of this size.

“I enjoy seeing children come to the library and get excited about books,” she said. “Reading isn’t the only form of entertainment for children these days. I hope children find it as important and as exciting as other forms. I hope they learn to lose themselves in books.”

Laura Dailey, library director, said many of the library’s patrons come from beyond the town’s borders, serving a rural population.

“Two years ago we expanded the books to include a young adult section,” she said. Those books are for those who are too old for children’s books but are not ready for the adult books.

In addition to books, the library offers magazines, videos and DVDs, and computers available to the public for access to the Internet. Wireless Internet access also is available for those who bring laptops to the library.

Interlibrary loans through North Central Kansas Libraries provides a rotating supply of books for patrons. The books are on-loan for two months.

The grant and donation by Schroeder makes the library more solvent and Dailey is grateful for the funds.

“It frees up more money for other items that would have been spent for children’s books,” Dailey said.

The library may apply for another grant in three years which Dailey will consider.

The Libri Foundation is based in Eugene, Ore., and its main purpose is to provide funds for quality children’s books to rural public libraries.

For Schroeder, libraries have always been important, even in this age of computers and video games.

“Libraries are becoming more valuable as budgets tighten and families look for activities,” Schroeder said.

About the library

Goessel Public Library, 101 S. Cedar, is open from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

A pre-school story time is available at 10:30 a.m. every Friday, September through April.

A summer reading program also is offered in June and July.

For more information, call (620) 367-8440 or goeslib@mtelco.net.