Everest KS Public Library- Barnes Reading Room Fund

Goal: $1,200.00

Specific Need

Barnes Reading Room (a.k.a. Everest Public Library) is seeking funds to provide additional books and programs for all ages, outside of what our budget currently allows. Funds may also be used for updates and improvements to our building, with the front door being our next area of concern. Currently the library receives income through tax revenue from the City of Everest and Washington Township. We also apply and receive annual grants from the State of KS and the Northeast KS Library System. With the increasing costs of services and supplies, less of our budget is able to purchase books and provide programming. Rather than ask for additional tax support, we are asking those who love the library to make a donation, which will be used for books, materials and programs we otherwise cannot afford.

Mission

The mission of the Everest Public Library - Barnes Reading Room is to provide information, education, recreational services, materials and programs to users of all ages.

Profile

The Barnes Reading Room has been continuously open since its establishment in 1910. It is located on the west end of Everest, KS Main Street. Although small in size, it is large in pride. The library is open 20 hours per week (2:00-6:30 pm Tue/Wed/Thur, Fri 10:00 am-2:30 pm, and Sat 10 am - Noon). It hosts a summer reading program each June for children birth through 8th grade. This event is well attended and draws in families from surrounding areas. The library also participates in the annual Everest Trunk or Treat, passing out a book to each child, in addition to candy. The current director was hired in November 2022. Since that time, the library has undergone a facelift on the inside and a step repair & new windows on the exterior. Besides weekly patrons from the Everest, Horton, Lancaster & Willis areas, the library participates in the Northeast Kansas Library System (NEKLS) interlibrary loan program. This entails sending Barnes Reading Room books through courier to other libraries throughout Northeast KS. At the same time, these libraries are sending materials requested by Barnes Reading Room patrons to our library for check-out. It is estimated that the Barnes Reading Room is pulling 450 items per month for check-out at our library or another Northeast KS library. Want to see what we are up to? Check us out on facebook at Barnes Reading Room - Everest Public Library!