Barton County Library

Barton County Library. The library serves the residents of Barton County, Kansas, with a collection of over 75,000 items, including books, DVDs, CDs, and other materials. It is a member of the North Central Kansas Libraries System and participates in the Kansas Library Catalog project, which allows patrons to access materials from other libraries across the state, including the University of Kansas and Kansas State University. The library also collaborates with other regional libraries, such as the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library and the Wichita Public Library, to provide a wide range of resources and services to its patrons.

● History

The library was established in 1921, with the support of the American Library Association and the Kansas State Library. Over the years, it has undergone several renovations and expansions, including a major renovation in 1995, which was funded in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The library has also received support from local organizations, such as the Great Bend Rotary Club and the Barton County Historical Society. Today, the library is a vibrant community hub, offering a range of programs and services, including author readings, book clubs, and children's storytime, in partnership with organizations like the National Book Foundation and the Association for Library Service to Children.

● Services

The library offers a range of services, including interlibrary loan services, which allow patrons to borrow materials from other libraries, including the Library of Congress and the New York Public Library. The library also provides access to online resources, such as JSTOR and EBSCO, and offers computer classes and other technology training programs, in partnership with organizations like the Microsoft Corporation and the Google Inc.. Additionally, the library offers test preparation resources, including materials for the SAT and ACT, and provides support for small business owners and entrepreneurs, through partnerships with organizations like the Small Business Administration and the Kauffman Foundation.

● Collections

The library's collections include a wide range of materials, including fiction and nonfiction books, audiobooks, ebooks, and digital media, such as streaming services like Hoopla and Kanopy. The library also has a large collection of local history materials, including books, photographs, and manuscripts, which are preserved and made available through partnerships with organizations like the National Archives and Records Administration and the Library of Congress. The library's collections also include materials in Spanish and other languages, serving the diverse community of Barton County, Kansas, and providing access to resources like the Spanish-language Wikipedia and the Latin American Library Association.

● Locations

The library has several locations throughout Barton County, Kansas, including the main library in Great Bend, Kansas, and branch libraries in Hoisington, Kansas and Ellinwood, Kansas. The library also offers bookmobile services, which bring library materials to rural areas of the county, in partnership with organizations like the American Library Association and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The library's locations are also used as community centers, hosting events and programs, such as author readings and children's storytime, in collaboration with organizations like the National Book Festival and the Association for Library Service to Children.

● Community Programs

The library offers a range of community programs, including summer reading programs for children and adults, in partnership with organizations like the Collaborative Summer Library Program and the American Library Association. The library also hosts author readings and book signings, featuring authors like John Grisham and Nicholas Sparks, and provides support for literacy programs, such as Reading Is Fundamental and the National Literacy Directory. Additionally, the library partners with local organizations, such as the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce and the Barton County Economic Development Council, to provide resources and support for small business owners and entrepreneurs, and collaborates with organizations like the Kansas Department of Education and the National Education Association to provide educational resources and programs for the community. The library also participates in national initiatives, such as the National Library Week and the Banned Books Week, to promote literacy and a love of reading, in partnership with organizations like the American Library Association and the Freedom to Read Foundation. Category:Libraries in Kansas