Pleasanton Lincoln Library

Though we haven’t documented responses from visitors to the new Pleasanton Lincoln Library, we often hear comments like the one above. Those who see it for the first time agree it looks like a library you might see in the city. But we know it’s one of a kind … unlike any library they might have seen before. It’s because of a combination of several factors. We didn’t have a specific plan, we had no funds for an architect and little money to purchase our supplies and furnishings. Sure, we had an idea of how we’d like it to look. Along with Theresa Miller in charge of the project, we spent hours looking at books and magazines for ideas. We visited Habitat ReStores in two cities, thrift shops in many more and garnered wonderful donations of various pieces of furniture, building supplies and salvaged wood.

I traveled to big cities for library workshops and take my camera along to shoot photos of anything we might incorporate in the new library. A short vacation to Texas gave me additional opportunities to gather ideas. At a large World Market there, I shot a photo of the repurposed wood design on the wall above their meat department. Luckily, there were craftsmen on this end that looked at the photo, selected pieces from our collection of salvaged wood from demolished houses in Pleasanton and turned them into the work of art above our front entrance. They were inspired by the result and carried the idea further, applying the technique to the sides and back of the circulation desk in the center of the library.

Necessity is the Mother of Invention, so we purchased “oops” paint from discount stores. Then master mixer Theresa developed a palette to match colors I’d chosen at a high-dollar paint store. Visiting Habitat ReStores for supplies and furniture made our task more challenging. We never knew what we’d find there. We developed a color scheme along the way and sought items to fit into it. The flooring in the kitchen occurred after finding too little of any one tile to cover the entire floor, thus a pattern occurred that’s different than any other.

The result of this patchwork quilt is a library that’s different than any other. So, the comments we hear include those like “Everywhere you look, there’s something interesting to look at,” and “It looks more like a boutique, than a library,” and “This is the best-looking place in Pleasanton.” We hear these comments and smile from ear-to-ear. This is exactly the result we wanted from our vision – a place of which the members of the community can be as proud as we are. Please consider joining our Friends of Pleasanton Library organization to help raise funds to continue our progress. We’d like to install benches near our entrance, build an attractive new sign and develop a garden and play area for everyone’s enjoyment.

Pleasanton Library’s Open House Sat., April 21 gave attendees a glimpse of what the new library would look like. Seventy-five people attended the event which began outside at noon with a Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting. Many Chamber members and all the library’s board members attended, joined by Kansas House Representative Caryn Tyson, Southeast Kansas Regional Library System Regional Director Roger Carswell and SEKLS Library Consultant Kim Rutter. The event was sponsored by our Friends of Pleasanton Library members, led by Chair Maxine Goucher, photographed by Treasurer Jennifer Marshall with guests attended by Teen Liaison Savannah Reynolds. Guests enjoyed a celebratory cake donated by Robin Baker of Baker’s Thriftway, as well as treats from Mary Kay Smith and Brenda Mitchell. Pat Jones mixed up a tasty punch using a recipe from Linda Black with floating lemon and orange slices, served by Sharon Cunningham. The library was brightly colored with balloons and other supplies donated by Dollar General Stores and Casey’s Convenience Stores.

Throughout the afternoon attendees entered drawings for door prizes of books and a lovely floral centerpiece donated by The Flower Boutique. We were able to enjoy another Flower Boutique arrangement sent by SEKLS. Mound City Library also sent a lovely plant to commemorate our new space. The children’s area was graced with a beautiful sunflower quilt lent to us by Mary Grosshart, which we were thrilled to display.

Mine Creek Battlefield Historic Site Superintendent Adrian Zink told the audience about himself and his plans for the battlefield before introducing our special guest author Andrea Warren. She shared the stories behind each of the children’s history books she’s written and gave listeners a preview of the book she’s currently writing about the Border Wars. Warren donated several of her books as door prizes and Zink added one from the battlefield. Warren’s visit was underwritten by Farmer’s State Bank and LTC James Dick.

Afterward, James Beltz entertained us with his accordion as young library patron Alexus Shafer joined him to keep the beat. As the event wound down, our many volunteers breathed a contented sigh of relief. The move has been difficult, but made easier with help from many people. Employee Bonnie Linderman and Library Trustee Frances Marshall worked above and beyond to pack over 10,000 materials, joined later by employee Bob Thomas to re-shelve them. Our remaining construction crew hurried to complete projects before the event, which took place in the middle of our move! Kudos to Theresa Miller, Damien Yarbrough, Bob Maxton, Trace Snyder and Juanita Dillon for making the library look so lovely. Last, but not least, thank you again to Mary Lynn and Kenton Bell for their generosity in sharing remnants of the past by gifting us with materials that give the library its historical flare. Many of these items came from the estate of Howard Tripp, which we gratefully accepted in his memory.

Thank you to all who help us carry on the tradition of a great community library!

Tuesday morning Story Time has been temporarily discontinued. Most of our younger visitors have graduated to pre-school and we’re very excited for them. Thursday afternoon Story Time continues at 4:30 p.m. and we’d love to have your children join us for stories and crafts.

Our Summer Reading Program begins soon … watch for dates and times!

The Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting for Pleasanton Lincoln Library at 752 Main St. on April 21 at noon. Library board members and chamber members are invited to participate in the event, officially opening the doors at the new location.

Special guest Andrea Warren will speak at the Open House at 1:30 p.m., after an introduction by Adrian Zink, new superintendent at the Mine Creek Battlefield Historical Site. Warren writes about young people who have experienced significant challenges in history. All of them have been resilient and resourceful, and have found ways to use their misfortunes to help others. Warren’s presentation will be followed by a short question-and-answer session and she will be available to personalize two of her books for lucky door prize winners.

Warren grew up in Newman Grove, Nebraska, and her small town roots led her to accept this speaking engagement. She graduated from the University of Nebraska with a master’s degree in British Literature. While teaching high school English and history in Hastings, Nebraska, she wrote her first stories for publication. 


She moved to Lawrence, Kansas, to complete a master’s degree in magazine journalism at the University of Kansas. After briefly editing a magazine and working as a newspaper reporter, she began her career as a freelance writer, contributing to many major magazines. She also began writing books. In 1996, Houghton Mifflin published her first nonfiction book for young readers, Orphan Train Rider: One Boy’s True Story. 



Encouraged by the success of this book, she followed it with other books for young readers. They include Pioneer Girl: Growing Up on the Prairie; Surviving Hitler: A Boy in the Nazi Death Camps; We Rode the Orphan Trains; Escape From Saigon: How a Vietnam War Orphan Became an American Boy; Under Siege! Three Children at the Civil War Battle for Vicksburg, and Charles Dickens and the Street Children of London. Her books have won many awards, including the prestigious Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Orphan Train Rider.

A complete set of Warren’s books have been donated to the library by Farmer’s State Bank. Refreshments, tours and door prizes will be available throughout the event, which is open to all.

The library has Wi-fi access. We have seven computers with Internet access available for patron use, plus two computers designed for children over three years of age.. Please remember our computer use policy limits the time for patrons to 30 minutes, with a maximum of one hour. If you have a library card, you may be asked to show it so we can check for overdue materials. Computers shut down 10 minutes before closing.

The Board of Directors meetings are typically held on the third Wednesday of every month at 5:00 p.m. The next meeting will be held Wednesday, May 16 at 5 p.m..

From boutique event space to interesting library space, the new location at 752 Main St. will soon begin another conversion. Shelves are being assembled and book carts will soon be delivered in preparation for the move to our new home. With comfy furniture and beautiful wall décor, it’s looking more like home all the time.

There’s plenty of space to spread out, sit and read, work on computers, snack and chat with friends and gather for meetings and programs. We’ve been planning where to relocate the movies, new books and computers designated for adults and teens. There’s room for everyone and we hope the new library will be a place the whole community can enjoy.

We requested your ideas about how to utilize this space, and we’ve been listening. There’s a clipboard on the checkout counter where visitors to the old library can jot down what programs they’d like to see, what groups could meet in the library and anything else we might do to make this your center for education and entertainment. We’re willing to partner with other organizations to help facilitate these ideas. Visit soon to share your ideas.

Since we will be closed between April 15 through April 29, those who’ve checked out materials due during that time should know they may return them in the drop box at 904 Main St. Our 352-8554 phone number will remain connected, so you may call to renew books during that time as well. Movies cannot be renewed, nor can books that might be on hold for other customers. Our Wi-Fi connection will remain on until April 20 at which time it will be disconnected and moved to the new location. We apologize for any inconvenience, but know the wait will be worth. Have patience with us while we reestablish ourselves in the new library, as we have thousands of items to move.

In the middle of this move, we’ll hold our Open House on Sat., April 21 from noon to 3 p.m. We won’t be able to check out materials, but those who wish to sign up for a card can fill out an application to receive a card. Then when the library opens, they can begin checking out books and movies. The Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting at noon to begin the special day. Refreshments will be served and several volunteers will be on hand to show visitors around. Adrian Zink, the new superintendent from Mine Creek Battlefield Historic Site will introduce special guest Andrea Warren, who will begin her presentation at 1:30 p.m. The children’s book author will speak about her work and a short question-and-answer period will follow. Door prizes will be drawn throughout the afternoon.

Everyone is welcome to attend the Open House and we look forward to seeing our regular customers and new faces as well.

Pleasanton Library’s Spring Bling event was a big success! About 50 guests were treated to a preview of the new library building at 752 Main St. The invitation-only event was held Saturday evening, March 24 as a fundraiser and celebration of the winners of the library’s first Teen Photo Contest. Attendees spent the evening visiting, sampling hors d’oeuvres, specialty desserts and sipping wine in the large new library space, which was decorated for the event.

Decorated with blooming branches, and other spring-related items, the new library was transformed into a spring wonderland Saturday night. Guests brought additional glamour to the event dressed for an evening on the town, in what we hope will become an ongoing tradition in Pleasanton. Donated antiques and framed art were beautifully displayed for attendees to peruse and purchase during the fundraiser. We thank Mary Barbara McKay, Colleen and Marion Troth and Joe Summers for donations of art for this event. We were pleased to receive donations of handmade desserts from Casey’s bakery department and Brenda Mitchell, and wine from Jefferson Hill Vineyards in McClouth, Kansas, and Michele Kauffman of Harter House in Springfield, Missouri.

The Spring Bling event was the culmination of months of effort. Library volunteer Theresa Miller began renovating the new library space with her crew soon after the new library building was purchased by the Pleasanton Lincoln Library board last October. After a short break to recuperate from hip surgery, she resumed the application of her vision and knowledge of renovation techniques to create one of the most unique libraries in Kansas. Guests had many positive comments about the new space, and were amazed at the transformation of the former feed store building. After hearing Theresa share how building supplies were obtained, guests were even more impressed. Utilizing scrap lumber, donated materials and truckloads of supplies from Kansas City Habitat ReStores, the vision has been realized. Essential to this process was Theresa’s work crew which includes several volunteers from her own family, two part-time construction workers and numerous local volunteers.

Winners of the library’s Teen Photo Contest were announced early in the evening while proud parents beamed, photographed their children and shot video of the celebration. Caleb Melugin, Morgan Schmidt, Merisa Kennedy and Breeanna Honeycutt posed with their winning images and accepted prizes from one of the contest’s judges, Steve Myers of Springfield, Missouri. Winners Brianna Laver and Chelsea Cox were not in attendance. Prizes for the contest were sponsored by Labette Bank and the City of Pleasanton, while enlargements of the winning photos were sponsored by Linn County News. The images will hang above the teen section at the new library. Thank you to all our entrants and sponsors.

The old library will be closed for two weeks beginning April 15 to move books and shelves reopen April 30. Books due during those two weeks can be returned in the library’s drop box at 904 Main St. Our Open House will be held Saturday, April 21 from noon to 3 p.m. A Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting will take place at noon, and special guest and children’s book author Andrea Warren will speak at 1:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served, so please join us for this public celebration of the new library space.

Pleasanton Lincoln Library’s First Teen Photo Contest has ended, the judges have reviewed the entries and selected the winners. Thanks to all the students who took the time to put their creativity to work and send in their efforts. We were pleased to discover our local talent!

Entrants were asked to photographically represent how they and their friends use the library. They were allowed to send as many as three entries, though only one entry could win in each category. Prizes were offered and winning images will be enlarged and on display at the new library, open soon at 752 Main St. In addition, the students and their parents were invited to attend a special preview event at the library, where they will receive recognition and prizes.

Winning entries were chosen by the grade level of each student. There was a winner and runner-up chosen in each grade.

The 11th grade winner was Caleb Melugin for his entry of a young girl “captured” reading in a field. One of the judges commented, “The use of the zoom lens in Caleb’s ‘reading in the field’ photo creates the weedy composition. The subject appears to be caught reading a book out in a field with no one around. I like the wind blowing the subject’s hair and the natural composition.”

The 10th grade winner was Morgan Schmidt’s entry of a young reader shot from above. This unique perspective caught the judges’ eyes. Runner-up in this grade category was Brianna Laver’s close-up image of an open book, also a unique perspective.

There were also two winners in the 8th grade category. Chelsea Cox entered a photographic composition of a book with a message that “everyone has a story to tell.” Merisa Kennedy’s portrait of her younger sister reading in the library was chosen as runner-up. 7th grader Breeanna Honeycutt’s image of a schoolmate reading won in her category.

The out-of-state judges were sent the entries electronically. These professional photographers specialize in a variety of subjects – from landscapes to portraits to artistic renditions of nature. Joe Gawinski from Wilmington, Delaware studied graphic design at Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. His work focuses on capturing the picturesque landscapes in his New England town. Steve Myers of Springfield, Missouri, studied photography at Missouri State University and creates unusual images of people using his creative vision. Earl Cockerham of Winchester, Virginia utilizes techniques that artistically enhance the natural subjects he shoots with his camera. We thank all of these knowledgeable judges for their time and effort.

We also extend a big thank you to our sponsors: the City of Pleasanton, Labette Bank and Linn County News. Thank you for funding the prizes for our young winners!

Since the advent of cameras, people have been fascinated by photography. It must have been amazing to see an image of yourself or your loved ones you could hold in your hands, carry when you left home, or hold close while away at war. Many early photos have become heirlooms, often the most prized possessions of a family. They are found in many formats, such as tintypes, cabinet cards and paper snapshots with edges cut like tiny waves and are held together in little booklets. Even with moving images everywhere today, still photos continue to attract our attention.

The intent of the library’s recent Teen Photo Contest is multi-purpose. I borrowed the idea from Garnett Public Library Director Andrea Sobba, who held a contest using a local photographer to judge the entries. My original thought was to contact the same photographer to judge our contest and focus on teen photography. I watched our young library visitors post hundreds of photos of themselves and their friends on Facebook every afternoon after school. They’d spend hours posing for, then editing these photos to add to their page and share with their friends. Some were artistic with added type, altered images shot from numerous angles. Many were almost eerie, showing just one eye, or a protruding pierced tongue.

I often take photos during Story Time and post them on the library’s Facebook page. Several of these photos were enlarged and hung in the library, and the subjects’ relatives visit to see the larger-than-life images. We have a lot of wall space in the new library, and I knew teen visitors hoped to have a space to call their own. So, the idea was born to hold a photo contest to garner some images to decorate the teen area. Advertised on Facebook and at local Linn County schools, we made a call for entries from students grades 7th through 12th. Prizes were offered, sponsored by the library as well as Labette Bank and the City of Pleasanton. Students were encouraged to take photos of “How you and your friends use the library.” These images did not have to be shot in the library, only indicate its use.

Several professional photographers were contacted to serve as judges. They all live a distance away, so there would show no favoritism of one school over another. The deadline for entering was Friday, March 9 and images received have been electronically forwarded to the judges. They are in the process of reviewing entries to select a winner and runner-up from each grade. Winners and their parents will be invited to a special event at the library to receive their awards. Their names will also be announced in this column and on our Facebook page “Pleasanton Lincoln Library.” The images will be enlarged and displayed in the new library for all to see at the Open House, Saturday, April 21 from noon to 3 p.m.

We hope you will enjoy viewing the talents of our local teens as they preserve a small piece of what will become a visual history of Pleasanton. Thank you to all the young entrants and best of luck!