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
Category: Member News
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
WiLS 2026 Membership Meeting: Caring for Our Communities
This meeting was held on February 27th, 2026, at 10:00 am online. You can watch the recording on the WiLS YouTube channel or view the slides. Every day, we see how our members care for their communities. Whether in conversations, at conferences, in local news, or in Ideas to Action proposals, we hear how libraries… READ MORE