by Beth Krebs-Smith, Library Director, Edgerton Public Library In 2019, I suffered a kidney bleed that could have cost me my life had I not gotten to the emergency room as quickly as I did. The cause? Extremely high blood pressure that I didn’t know I had. I was not a regular visitor to my… READ MORE
Category: Member News
A New Library in the Making: Independence Public Library
WiLS New Business Development and Consortia Manager Sara Gold visited Independence Public Library to learn about their new building, currently under construction. Here is her story. March 30th was a perfect spring day to pay a visit to Kayla Mathson, Director of Independence Public Library. The library is currently housed in downtown Independence in a… READ MORE
Ideas to Action 2025: Read, Paint, Quilt – A Celebration of Local Art
In September 2025, Ridgeland Area Library was awarded an Ideas to Action Fund award for their project, Read, Paint, Quilt: A Celebration of Local Art. The plan for this project was that the library would host a colorful community art show and a fun barn quilt painting class where everyone is able to explore creativity… READ MORE
Ideas to Action 2025: Passport to Play – Fostering Global Citizenship Through the Power of Play
In September 2025, Prairie Lakes Library System (PLLS) was awarded an Ideas to Action Fund award for their project, Passport Packs: Check Out the World. Here, PLLS Programming Consultant Kate Davis provides an update from the mid-point of the project. Teaching kids about the incredible cultures around the world is more important than ever, but it… READ MORE
The School Library as the Hub of Learning
The School Library as the Hub of Learning At this year’s American Association of School Librarians (AASL) conference, I had the privilege of speaking with many school librarians who described their role in an especially powerful way. They see themselves as the conduit between classroom learning and the wider world. From this central position, librarians… READ MORE