A Message from Our Director
By Eric Norris, Director
I am more surprised every year about how fast the time goes by, it just seems more sped up than the previous year and accelerates more in the later months. And the old cliché once again proves true, time certainly flies when you’re having fun!
2024 was a big year for the Manhattan Public Library: we met goals, exceeded expectations, and started making plans for the year ahead. As we turn the last page of this year, let’s take a quick look back at just a few highlights:
Strategic Planning
Early in the year we developed our strategic plan around the mission to enhance quality of life by connecting the community to information and innovation, and to provide a welcoming, safe, and fun place for all. Our values – Community, Intellectual Freedom, Inclusion, Hospitality, Public Service, and Access – helped shape our mission into six goals:
- Supporting lifelong enrichment, literacy, and well-being.
- Connecting people with community resources and one another.
- Building volunteer and partnership opportunities.
- Making library resources and public spaces more accessible.
- Expressing our value.
- Creating a sustainable infrastructure for Manhattan Public Library.
In a three-year cycle, we will review what was accomplished in the current year, prepare for the upcoming year, and plan out projects for the year after that, around the goals identified above. This will help keep our services and projects relevant and timely.
Summer Reading: “Adventure Begins at Your Library!”
And what an adventure it was for all of us! A total of 3,339 readers signed up for the reading challenge this year and by age group the breakdown was 559 pre-K, 1,518 elementary age, 289 teens, and 975 adults.
The number of readers was similar to last year, but they were challenged more this year as we tried a new prize structure, ranging from 10 hours of reading up to 200 hours total as the highest prize goal, and those readers certainly rose to the challenge. Readers logged 4,682,396 million minutes read, which is twice as much as 2023! I know I’ve used a lot of exclamation points already in this article, but that stat certainly called for another.
Summer Reading was made possible with the help of $5,800 from the Manhattan Library Association for supplies, prizes, and marketing. The Manhattan Library Foundation provided $9,800 for prize books. We received $3,200 from other donors including Pediatric Associates, Community 1st Bank, and Goblin Games. In-kind donations are an important part of the program, providing free food coupons from Vista, Raising Cane’s, Papa Murphy’s, Varsity Donuts, Baskin Robbins, and Sonic, and free entry passes to the Sunset Zoo and the Flint Hills Discovery Center.
A Summer Reading highlight for the year is Kathy Pauls, the volunteer librarian at Riley County Jail, who administered our Summer Reading program for prisoners at the jail with 40 participants.
Community Events
This year we were present at three community events: Manhattan Pride, Juneteeth Celebration, and Everybody Counts. We met neighbors, saw warm familiar faces, and made a lot of new friends. We have toured groups of school children, community organizations, visiting librarians, scouting troops, and the Boys & Girls Club through the library, as well as visiting many classrooms and in-service events in the school district, and KSU students at Hale Library. We also hosted dozens and dozens and dozens of story times, programs, trainings, and community events.
Through the Enjoy & Share program, we have left books to, well, enjoy and share, at various places across town including the Manhattan Airport, Cats Cupboard, Jardine, Islamic Center, Flint Hills Breadbasket, Hale Library, Be Able, Stonecreek Family Physicians, and Shepard’s Crossing. With this program we deliver popular and gently-used books to various locations in the community every month. You can enjoy these books while waiting or take them with you on the go. There’s no need to check the books out, just pass them along to others when you’re finished!
The Manhattan Library Association
The Manhattan Library Association (MLA) is the official name for the Friends of the Library. Through used book sales and membership dues, MLA raises money to support library programs and purchases. MLA is a volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and donations to MLA may qualify as tax deductions.
MLA raises money through two ways, one is Rosie’s Corner where donated books and books withdrawn from the collection are sold at very reasonable prices. Rosie’s Corner is located on the west side of the building, outside of the Community Room right by the old entrance. The second way is the annual book sale, which is held every year in the library, usually in late February. Last year was a big, busy one and sales reached $11,800. The sale is held over three days starting on Friday evening which is open only to MLA members. Memberships start as low as $10 for an individual and $15 for a family.
Expressing Value
And did you know, a homeowner with a $200K property in Manhattan pays less than $10 per month in taxes for access to the library’s vast wealth of resources, from over 1 million resource items to engaging programs and events for all ages and interests, all free of charge. From skills training to language learning to business development, the library empowers individuals and strengthens our community at its very core.
Important Dates to Remember:
- Closed Dec. 24 and 25
- Closing at 6pm Dec. 31 and Closed Jan. 1
- 2025 Book Sale: Feb. 28 – Mar. 2
Don’t miss out on all the library has to offer! Visit mhklibrary.org or follow us on social media for the latest updates, events, and resources.
Happy holidays, and we look forward to seeing you in 2025!
Eric Norris, Director
The cold weather has me wanting to curl up with a hot beverage and read a book, or ten. While I normally will do this without needing any reward, we at Manhattan Public Library do want to reward you for your winter reading! If you haven’t already, head on over to our reading challenges webpage at