Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library Online Catalog

GOAL OF THE

POTTAWATOMIE-WABAUNSEE REGIONAL LIBRARY

The goal of the Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library is to have the best use of its collection used by the greatest number of persons.

 
OBJECTIVE OF THE

POTTAWATOMIE-WABAUNSEE REGIONAL LIBRARY

The objective of the Pottawatomie-Wabaunsee Regional Library is to select, organize, preserve, and to make freely available to the people of the communities printed and other materials, within the limits of budget and space, which will aid them in the pursuit of education, information, research, recreation and in the creative use of leisure time.

The Library seeks to promote endeavors which will stimulate and expand the reading interests of both children and adults and to coordinate this work with that of educational, social, and other groups in the community in a co-operative effort.

COOPERATION WITH OTHER LIBRARIES

The Board of Trustees recognizes that no single Library can meet all demands in its community, therefore, the Library has entered into an agreement with the North Central Kansas Libraries System, under the Regional Systems of Cooperating Libraries Law (KSA 75-2547 et seq.) to have the System provide Library service to all citizens within the Pottawatomie-Wabaunsee Regional Library area.  The Library also agrees to cooperate with the Kansas State Library and the Regional Systems to provide interlibrary loan as an essential service to Library users.

Regional Library Headquarters Staff  

306 North 5th Street
St. Marys, KS 66536
Telephone / Fax: 785-437-2778                           

Director: Judith Cremer
e-mail: cremerj@oct.net

Assistant Director: Patti Peterson
e-mail: petersonp@oct.net

Bookkeeper / Secretary: Julie Homan
e-mail: pwrlbk@oct.net

Processing Consultant: Deborah Eichem
e-mail: eichemd@oct.net

Collection Development: Theresa Heath
e-mail: pwrlcd@oct.net

Processing Clerk: Vicky Jones
e-mail: jonesv@oct.net

Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library Board of Trustees

PWRL’s Board of Trustees is composed of eight members. The Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee County Commissions each appoint three members to serve on the Library Board, and the County Commission Chairman from each county is also an ex-officio voting member of the Board.  

Library Board members serve a maximum of two consecutive, four year, terms. The regular monthly meeting of the Library Board is held on the last Wednesday of each month at 5:30 at the St. Marys Library, unless otherwise ordered by the Board.

Board of Trustee Members - As of May 31, 2011

Position 1: May 1, 2010 - April 30, 2014

Office:         Board Member                    

                    Deb McClain-Williams
                    12081 Dry Creek Rd.
                    Olsburg, KS 66520

Position 2:  May 1, 2010 - April 30, 2014

Office:         Secretary

Donna Tranter
16880 Elm Creek Rd.
Harveyville, KS 66431

Position 3: May 1, 2012 - April 30, 2016

Office:         Chairman

                    Ruth Messer
                    103 Missouri Ave, PO Box 501
                    Alma, KS 66401

Position 4: May 1, 2011 - April 30, 2015

Office:         Board Member

                    Linda Tessendorf
                    711 High Street
                    Onaga, KS 66521

Position 5: May 1, 2009 - April 30, 2013

Office:         Treasurer

                    Peggy Adams
                    34373 Maple Hill Rd., P.O. Box 670
                    Maple Hill, KS 66507

Position 6: May 1, 2012 - April 30, 2016

Office:        Member

                    Nancy Perry                            
                    1213 Pawnee Dr.
                    St. Marys, KS 66536

2012 Pottawatomie County Commission Vice-Chairman                                                            

Position:    Ex-Officio Library Board Member           

Pat Weixelman
4745 Hwy 99
Wamego, KS 66547

2012 Wabaunsee County Commission Chairman

Position:         Ex-Officio Library Board Member

                        Rodney Allen
                        15504 SW K-4 Hwy.
                        Maple Hill, KS 66507

Interlibrary Loan

Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library has access to library materials from other libraries in Kansas through a statewide borrowing network. Patrons of the Library must contact their local library location and request books through them.  Borrowing Libraries should use standard Interlibrary Loan procedures to order materials.

Copy Fees / Fax Fees

Copy fees for various sizes and types of copies are as follows: 

Standard Copier: 

• 8 1/2" X 11" = $ .15 per single sided page

• 8 1/2" X 14" = $ .15 per single sided page

• 11" X 17" = $ .25 per single sided page

Computer Printer:

• LaserJet printer copies = $ .15 per printed page (black and white)

• InkJet printer copies = $ .75 per printed page (both black and white and color)

Fax Fees:

• Outgoing = $2.00 for the first page, $1.00 for each additional page

• Incoming = $1.00 for each page

Copies made from materials that can be checked out are charged at the above rates.  The first (2) copied pages made from reference materials that do not check out are free, then the above charges apply.  All pages printed from library computers must be paid for at the above rates. Copies from other libraries and inter-library loan are charged at the above rates unless the lending library charges a higher rate.  Due to the expense of copier toner, there is no reduction in cost when the patron provides the paper. 

 Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library History

The Pottawatomie-Wabaunsee Regional Library began as an 18 month demonstration project conducted by the State Library of Kansas. The project ended on November 6, 1962, with the voters of Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee Counties approving the establishment of the Regional Library by a 2 to 1 margin. The Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library is today the only two-county public library in Kansas.

The St. Marys Branch Library became the headquarters for the Regional Library, and the Onaga Library was established as a Branch in 1962. The Alma Branch  Library was added in 1963, and the Eskridge Branch was added in 1967.

The headquarters of the library moved to the former Hill School gymnasium in 1983.  The old gym was purchased and renovated by Mrs. Regina Simon.  She then presented the building to the City of St. Marys for the use of the library.  The former stage area is now the reference room, called the "Regina Simon Room", in recognition of Mrs. Simon's generous gift of the building.

PWRL originally operated a bookmobile that stopped at many of the rural communities in both counties. Due to the cost of the service, and a reduction in use, the Bookmobile ceased operation in 1995. The Board determined at that time that a new means to provide Library service to the rural areas was needed. As a result, three Mini Libraries were established as service outlets in Harveyville, Olsburg, and Westmoreland in 1981. A forth Mini Library was opened at Alta Vista in 1996.

Mini Libraries are access points for Library service. Their purpose is to provide residents in more remote areas of the two counties with direct, but limited, Library service. Materials at Mini locations are continually rotated from PWRL’s shared collection of more than 100,000 items, and a fresh and balanced selection is maintained at each location.

Today PWRL strives to provide free and open access to information and deliver the best   possible Library Services to the residents of Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee Counties.   The Library serves a population of 24,139 residents in Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee counties, has a legal service area of 1612 square miles, and maintains libraries in the rural communities of Alma, Alta Vista, Eskridge, Harveyville, Olsburg, Onaga, St. Marys and Westmoreland. 

The Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library is established under K.S.A. 12-1231 et seq.  The Library is supported by a mill levy on the two counties, excluding Wamego and the part of Manhattan in Pottawatomie County.  The division of the budget between the two counties is based on population and valuation in each county, per K.S.A. 12-1234(b)  

New Books at the Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library

 to view a listing of the newest books in the Pottawatomie-Wabaunsee Regional Library system. Note that the letters in the left hand column indicate the location of the book in our system. Patrons may borrow any book from the list by requesting the title at their local library location. This list is updated frequently so stop by and look again! 

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Links to Sites of Interest

Pottawatomie County US Gen Web Project Collection of Genealogical Material with a focus on PT County, KS	Wabaunsee County US Gen Web Project Collection of Genealogical Material with a focus on WB County, KS
Pottawatomie County Homepage for Pottawatomie County, Kansas	Wabaunsee County Information Homepage for Wabaunsee County, Kansas
Kansas Government Information on Kansas - Official State Homepage	Kansas Communities on the Web Links to Kansas Community Homepages
Kansas Heritage Group  Information on Kansas - History and Culture
Kansas State Library - Blue Skyways    Information on Kansas Libraries	PWRL Online Library Catalog - Search Catalog for  Library Material - Make requests Online!! Ask staff for details.
Kansas Library Card Online Databases -  Ask staff to apply for a Kansas Library Card	Kansas Library Catalog Ask staff for details.
Adult Series Database -  KDL What's Next? Searchable Database -	Medline - GoLocalKansas health and wellness information for Kansans
Junior Series & Sequel - MCPL Searchable Database -	Kansas Health Online health and wellness information for Kansans

Note: The listing of any website does not constitute an endorsement of that site or its contents.  The user assumes all risks and liability for information used. The nature and content of these pages are subject to change without notice. All listings are believed to be correct and reliable, but accuracy or completeness can not be guaranteed.  

Here's an idea worth considering:  Did you know that you can contribute to the library and honor a special person or event at the same time?  When funds are donated for books or other library materials in honor of a friend or loved one the library purchases the materials of choice with reinforced library binding so that it can withstand the rigors of many readings. The library staff would be happy to help you pick out the perfect book to honor the memory of a special friend or celebrate a special occasion such as the birth of a child or grandchild.  A customized book plate with your message can be put in the front of the book and your gift will benefit the entire community for years to come. Ask library staff at your location for more details, and consider giving a gift that will continue to inform and give pleasure to each new reader who discovers it at the Library!! 

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