Sharon Peters LeAnn Petrie Dr. Lorne and Mrs. Norma Phillips Janet Pionkowski H. Pat and Jerry Powers James and Leslie Prentice Margery Purcell Valerie Reif Dr. Raymond Reinert H. Jane Rhys, PhD William and Kathy Rich Pauline and J. U. Ricks Elizabeth Ross Dr. Larry and Mrs. Kathleen Rotert John Roth Charity Rouse Lane Ruehlen Saeedeh Salmanzadeh Mark and Nancy Saylor Julie and Robert Schloetzer Jeanie Schuler Darci Scott Douglas Sheafor, MD Marsha Sheahan Ronald and Patricia Shurtz Patricia and Jim Simonson Larry and Joyce Sims Marlene Sinnott Joan Smith Richard D. Smith Martha Spacek John and Barbara Stauffer Virginia Stice Viola and William Stolte Ann Strecker Mary and Ronald Strong Rick and Holly Stuart Franklin and Judith Theis Judith and David Thompson Nell Thompson Joyce Thompson Phyllis Todd Rosemary Torrez Olive Ubel Charles Underwood Roger and Karen Viola Tanya Walsh Marilyn and Howard Ward Elizabeth Watson Steve Watson Mary Lou Weidenbach Robert Welch Rebecca Wempe John and Nancy Whiffen Ethelda Wilch Patricia Wild Stan and Linda Williams Kathleen Wilmore Clarene Molzen Wilms Jeanne Worthington Linda and Dale Wulfkuhle Ted Yungclas Beverley Zimmerman Kari Zimmerman $1 - 99 Pauline Adam Joyce and Gerald Adcock Dorothy Alexander Kevin and Nancy Alexander Judy and Bill Allman Nancy Anderson Tiffany Anderson Henriette Area Bruce Baker Fred and Gloria Baker Carol Ball Natalie Barbee Jack and Gloria Barron Robert and Barbara Barron Millard Bass Terry and Robert Bernatis Elaine Biggs Dennis and Audrey Bosley Elaine Bowen Ann Boyle Martha Buchholz Jane Buckley Dawn Buttery
Mary Campbell Donna and Marion Cox Donald Dimmitt Marge and Jerry Eaton Marilyn Ellenz Marsha Ericson and Tom Long Gail and Tad Estes Mary Feltner Dean and Pam Ferrell Dennis Flohrschutz Jane and Paul Fortin Kelly Foster Anna Frantz Diana and Jim Frownfelter Ada Gabe Karon Gambrill Jennifer Gassmann Anna Marie Gates Austin J.W. Gay Ann Gay Jane George Stephen and Suzanne Germes Megan Glenn Marcene and James Grimes Allen Gutovitz Carol Hanrahan Max and Gerry Ann Hartsook Ted and Anne Heim Max and Marilyn Herman Janiece Hernandez Carla and Rod Hogan Shirley Holmes Mary Hoover Ed and Sue Houghton Ruth and Joseph Hovorka Kaitlan Howarter Star Hummer Debra Jackson Ruth Jacobsen Rene Jenkins Stacey Johnston Anne Jones Terry and Emily Jones Grace and William Jordan Ronald and Cindy Kahmeyer Janice Kast Mary Kasten Shawn Kennedy-Lee Marion Kieffer Marsha King Debra Klueter Donald and Kathy Koch Lynda Krump Thelma Landrum Gladys Law Janet Loebel and Pedro Irigonegaray Patricia Maffucci Jan and Tom Mansfield Lawrence and Elizabeth McKamy Joseph McKinney Ken and Jackie Brey Meyer Caitlin and Philip Michael Carolyn and Larry Miller Rome and Jean Mitchell Amy Mitts Roxana Montgomery Kyle and Sarah Moreland Francis and Mary Mulryan Richard Mulryan Edward Navone Teresa Naylor Karen Overbey Gary Oyler Donna Parr Nora Patton-Taylor and David Taylor Alice and Clarence Payne Michael Perkins Bunliang Phammawaro Dave and Julie Pope Susan Quinn Nancy Ratch Jeanne Roberts Marcia Robinson Peggy Rose Jack Salisbury Sara Schafer Susan Schafer Stephen and Teresa Schiffelbein
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
T
he library has officially adopted the community goal: every child in our community will be ready for kindergarten. With your help The Library Foundation will make that goal a reality. Exciting things are coming for Shawnee County children, as we enhance our commitment to get kids acquainted with reading in those crucial first years. A mobile early childhood learning center will travel throughout the community, bringing an interactive play-based environment to impressionable young minds right where they live. This colorful, hands-on learning center will cultivate the most essential skills necessary for kids to be ready for school with a strong emphasis on parent engagement education. Yet to be named, the vehicle has been ordered and should arrive by fall. The Foundation is providing direct support for a large part of its cost and will also provide ongoing financial support for materials, programming, and providing professional screenings (vision, hearing, language). Funding for the Harder IREAD Kindergarten program began two years ago through Dr. Robert Harder’s memorial gifts. The program started at Lowman Hill Elementary where Dr. Harder volunteered and then expanded in 2015 to reach students at Stout, McCarter and Meadows. With
additional support, the library hopes to expand in 2016 to William’s, Scott, Ross and State Street schools. Library supporters are encouraged to adopt a kindergarten class to bring the program into their neighborhood. When children have a bounty of books, they fall in love with reading. That is one reason why the library, in partnership with the United Way of Greater Topeka, wants to bring the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to Shawnee County. The most significant factors influencing a child’s early educational success are an introduction to books and being read to at home prior to beginning school. Access to age appropriate books is the first step in growing children into lifelong readers and successful, selfsufficient adults. The Dollywood Foundation underwrites the costs of the books and a $25 annual donation to this program pays for postage so that one child can participate in this program. We are seeking partners to join us to build a sustainable program. The Read With Me program has been in place for a number of years at the library. Babies (0-18 months old) in the Read with Me program receive a t-shirt to celebrate their first library card. Parents get a booklet on how to get the most out of reading to a pre-reader. The Library Foundation will continue to fund this library program. 54