Kent District Library tells Wyoming council about scholarships, meals and rising use

Sheree Gilberth Watts, a trustee on the Kent District Library Board who also serves as a Wyoming planning commissioner and a teacher, told the Wyoming City Council on June 2 that the library system has expanded services and community outreach, citing new scholarships, increased visits and expanded meal and digital-access programs.

The library’s director, Lance Horner, said KDL reinvested a $250,000 Jerry Klein award from 2023 into community programs, won a 2024 national medal, and reported usage gains: visits were up 7 percent in 2024 and in-person program attendance rose 14 percent. “We had 2,400,000 people through our doors in 2024,” Horner said. He also said e-book circulation rose 17 percent and that the system provided more than 23,000 meals last summer through a partnership with Feeding America.

The remarks matter to Wyoming residents because the library’s services — free Wi‑Fi, story times, tech tutoring, interlibrary loans and summer meals — directly affect access to education, digital resources and food security for children and families. Watts described the library as “a gateway to curiosity, connection, and community,” and she and other speakers highlighted programs intended to reach residents who lack other supports.

Angie Christiansen, who manages the Wyoming and Kelloggsville branches, outlined services and local activity at the two branches. At the Wyoming branch she said staff provided 72,911 Wi‑Fi logins in 2024 and ran story times five days a week with roughly 16,000 attendees last year. She described MelCat, the state-run interlibrary loan system, as linking about 435 libraries and offering access to roughly 34,000,000 items statewide. “MelCat … allows somebody with a library card access to a potential 34,000,000 items,” Christiansen said, noting the service helps students and local patrons obtain materials not held at the branch.

Christiansen said the bookmobile visits community sites, including UMCOR and the Wyoming Senior Center, and staff visited every school in Wyoming this year to promote summer reading. She invited council members to the library’s Summer Wonder kickoff on June 10 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Horner and Christiansen also reviewed local impacts of KDL awards and scholarships: Horner said the library awarded two $5,000 community-impact scholarships funded by the Jerry Klein award and stressed the system’s intent to reinvest award funds locally. Christiansen described a youth-authored book project that produced bound copies now available for patrons to borrow.

A council member raised a question about snacks served at teen programs; Christiansen said chips are a small treat for programs while the meals provided through Feeding America are balanced and offer vegetarian and peanut-free options. The exchange occurred during the presentation portion of the agenda and did not result in any council action.

Library staff updates also noted facility improvements: Christiansen said a new mothers’ room is furnished and nearly complete, Kyle Vandermuelen joined as the library’s facilities point person, and the Wyoming Historical Commission installed a display case. She asked for and received the council’s ongoing support for library services and programs.

The council did not take formal action on library items at the June 2 meeting; the presentation served as an update and an invitation to upcoming events.