Each year, Whitman County Library closes for the first full week of August to perform maintenance projects and other tasks that are difficult to accomplish while the library is open. This year, we'll be closed Monday through Aug. 12.
While we'll working on the normal tasks like shampooing carpets and waxing floors, the library also has a couple of exciting projects in the works.
Thanks to grant funding of $15,000 from The Innovia Foundation, formerly Inland Northwest Community Foundation, WCL will be expanding technology access and instruction throughout the library district through our branch libraries, local schools, day cares and the other locations we serve.
Last year, WCL averaged 50 STEM-related programs every week that served thousands of participants. These ranged from assisting people with downloading free e-books to teaching software coding classes in school classrooms. Unfortunately, the library did not have enough equipment or staff to meet the public's demands. With this grant, Innovia will help us plug the funding gap, allowing for increased programming in the coming year.
What does Innovia's donation mean for our closed week tasks? It means we'll be purchasing a 3D printer, Makey Makey kits, K'NEX Engineering kits and Little Bits circuit sets. Most importantly, staff will be working on the curriculum and scheduling of classes for all ages.
Since 1974, Innovia has granted more than $42 million to our 20-county region with a mission of fostering vibrant and sustainable communities. Whitman County Library has been fortunate to be a part of these efforts receiving funding for renovation projects in Endicott, Colfax and Uniontown.
Another exciting project scheduled for closed week is the installation of brand new carpet in the Palouse branch. Thanks to generous support from the community and the Xenodican Club, the library's spotted, thread-bear carpet will become a thing of the past.
Support from the Xenodican Club is not new for the Palouse Library. The group was a social club of about 20 members who in 1920 decided to start that town's library. Members went door to door collecting books and volunteered in a donated space in the Parrish House that served as the first library.
The Xenodicans talked the city into helping support a larger library. In 1947 the Palouse Library officially joined the Whitman County Library District. Thankfully, the Xenodican's involvement and support has never wavered. To this day, members continue to hold cleaning days, raise funds for library projects and programs, and help out wherever they can, like with this new carpet.
During closed week, the Palouse Library is seeking volunteers to help move the books, shelves and furniture out of the building and then replace them when the carpet installation is complete. Please contact manager Bev Pearce at (509) 878-1513 or palouse@whitco.lib.wa.us if you are interested.
If you reside within Whitman County Library District and are interested in library technology classes or simply need one-on-one assistance with your technology questions, contact James or Nichole at (509) 397-4366 for more information.
Finally, I want to remind you that even though Whitman County Libraries are closed Monday through Aug. 12, residents can still download free e-Books and audio books or request items from the online catalog at www.whitco.lib.wa.us. And of course, amazing public libraries in Moscow and Pullman remain open and at your service.
Kristie Kirkpatrick is the director of the Whitman County Library.
