Congratulations to our Amazing Staff!

We're hiring! Our library system (KCLS) received a grant from the FCC to hire an Enrollment Guide for 20 hours per week @$25 per hour (contract employee, no benefits) for one year to enroll eligible community members in reduced cost Internet access programs. The Enrollment Guide will travel throughout Kenosha County and conduct enrollment events at libraries and community centers and at community events. The job ad will go out soon, so if you know someone who loves people, is an independent self-starter, and is pretty tech savvy, please encourage them to apply.

Great read to remind us why reading is so important to our psyches: " The Importance of the Coming of Age Novel" from The Atlantic

Congratulations to Kahlil, and Amy Rae for being chosen to participate in the WLA (Wisconsin Library Assn.) Leadership Institute! You are both already wonderful leaders. We look forward to hearing about what you learn.
Congratulations to Kahlil for being chosen as the chair of WLA's Support Staff and Circulation Services Committee and to Heather for her appointment as WAPL (Wisconsin Assn. of Public Libraries) Board Chair! The Wisconsin library community is lucky to have you.

Congratulations to Linda who has been chosen to serve as a mentor to new ALA members,

Last Thursday some of us met with Baker Street Consulting to hear about the capital campaign to raise money for the new Children's Library. (watch the recording here- the sound isn't perfect, but there's lots of good info. It's 30 minutes long so you might want to watch in chunks.) Baker Street will be helping us with big gifts from wealthy individuals, foundations, and corporations. One of the components of the overall campaign is 100 Extraordinary Women which aims to raise the first $100,000 from women in honor of women. People can give to either campaign. Here are a few really important points to help you answer questions from the public:

• Checks to the campaign should be made out to the Kenosha Public Library Foundation (not the library)
• Our total goal is $1 million which will help us build a terrific facility and establish an endowment fund to be sure the library is funded well going forward.
• The new library is funded by federal pandemic relief grants and private donations. The city is not contributing to this project- no local tax money to build the library.
• The KPL Foundation is paying for the consultant services. 
• This library is a response to a literacy crisis in Kenosha. Only 27% of all our 3rd graders are reading at a 3rd grade level. This must improve if we want to have a viable economy and a safe community. The library is taking a lead on this recovery effort. 

Some video of the new space construction! Very exciting!

This week's Bright Spot goes to Jason . Here's the nomination from Brandi: "We would like to nominate Jason for a bright spot. As we know storage has been a bit tight and Jason turned an underutilized space into a dream. Both CPP and YFS are thrilled with the result!
Look how beautiful the second closet in the team space turned out! "

Happy snow/sleet weekend, everyone! Let's all hope this is the last of Old Man Winter!
Barb