The mission of the Wellington Carnegie Library is to provide resources and services necessary to meet the evolving educational, recreational, and informational needs and interests of the community. Effectively trained personnel will modify or create new systems as necessary to insure that each member of the community derives the maximum benefits from the resources of the library.

 Lisa Vargas, Children's Services Coordinator     Kile Byington, Children's Library Aide

Books, Magazines and Videos for Preschool, Primary and Intermediate Readers Preschool Story Club Read to Me! 0-3 After School Adventure Story Club Summer reading program Family Night activities Child Start Inc. Resources Age-appropriate Toy Boxes Parent Resource Area Weekly newspaper

“Poetry and Hums aren't things which you get, they're things which get you. And all you can do is go where they can find you.” — Winnie the Pooh

The first library was opened by a lawyer named William Black in 1884-1885, a small lending library. In 1895 Mrs, Lulu Franz-Whitson and W. H. Shulte sponsored a reading room and the various societies took turns operating it. In 1898, the Prentis Study Group was organized and named for Mrs. Noble Prentis of Topeka, wife of a widely known Kansas writer and historian, who was herself a leader in the Women's Federated Club Movement. In 1899, Mrs. Prentis came to visit the club named after her and suggested that the young ladies find some worthwhile project to work on; thus was born the idea of a library for Wellington.

On New Year's Day, 1900, a big reception was held. The gentlemen were invited to attend, the price of admission being a book instead of the customary card. About 200 books were obtained in this manner. The library was opened in the back of a shoe store and later moved to the bank building on Seventh Street.

When the new city hall was being built, the club women were promised two rooms on the second floor, one to be used for the library. The Prentis Study Club asked the mayor to arrange for the city to take over the library. The Wellington Library Association, with a capital stock of $5,000.00 sold at $1.00 per share, was set up. The Women's Federation donated $1,200.00 for furnishings. In March 1908, it was determined to incorporate the library under state law relating to public libraries, but it was voted to maintain the name Prentis Library.

On April 1, 1914, at the spring election the voters approved the support of a public library by a vote of 3-1. In May 1914, the Wellington City Library board held its first meeting and voted to begin the process of erecting a library building. On April 10, 1915, it was voted to buy a site from the Long-Bell Lumber Co. at the corner of Seventh Street and Jefferson Avenue for $3,500.00. The board had begun negotiations with Andrew Carnegie, and on April 19, 1915 the Carnegie Corporation stated that it would give $17,500.00 for a library building.

The name of the architect has been lost, but the contract was awarded to J. H. Mitchell. The building was completed in December 1915, but remained vacant for some time due to a delay in the receipt of the new furniture. Meanwhile, Miss Flower and Miss Hackney, the librarians, cataloged books. The library building was accepted from the contractor on June 12, 1916, was dedicated June 19, 1916, and was informally opened to the public July 1, 1916. (The new furniture had still not been received.)

- Allen Gardiner,   The Carnegie Legacy in Kansas