Janet Reynolds, Librarian, Library District #2 of Linn County, and High School Librarian, Prairie View High School, La Cygne, KS (Population served: 2400) Big Talk From Small Libraries 2018 February 23, 2018 http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/bigtalk

1. More Than Summer Lunches–
Social, Cultural, and Healthy
Connections
Partnership for Summer
Lunches in our Community
You and your public library. Together you
can make a difference!

2. La Cygne—City of the Swan on the
banks of the Marais des Cygnes
 Founded in 1869, we will celebrate our sesquicentennial in 2019.
 About 1100 people in community, 2400 in our taxing district.
 First library building was built in 1906, prior to that the Zeta Zeta Club
sponsored lending library in stores. In the 1960’s library moved to new
building and became a city library. In 1976, became a district library and
addition was built on. In 2007 we built new facility.
 Lu scene is how the name is pronounced, mean the swan in French, many
fur traders in the area, and Indian legends recorded about the Swans.
 We are open 45 hours a week, staffed with 3 (35+ hours a week employees)
and 1 part time (17 hrs a week)

3. We’ve come a long ways…

4. A Little Introduction to our community
and library!

5. Library District #2 of Linn County
La Cygne, KS 66040
 This will be our 4th year to do Summer meals
 We’ve been experimenting along the way
 Shelf Stable
 Purchased hot meals from vendor
 Self Prep
 2 sites 5 day a week at library, Fridays only at Linn Valley Lakes

6.  We didn't think so.
 We wanted it to be more than a place they ran in, ate and left.
 If if was going to be hosted by the public library it needed to mesh with our
philosophy and mission.
 We were not getting any extra paid help and our plates were already full of
summer reading activities.
 It was taking time that we would have normally programmed, so it had to
be more than a meal.
Is providing a meal enough?

7. In the beginning….
 Our dream was that kids would come and eat and be exposed to books,
games and mentors.
 Books were easy, games available, but where do mentors come from?
 Summer meals action team created
 Contacted local ministerial alliance
 Contacted civic groups
 Fed shelf stable meals and mentors read while they ate, and taught them
games like Old Maid and Go Fish
 Successful, but needed more

8. Year 2….
 Career Tuesday
 Free book Friday
 Fitness Thursday (grant through Methodist Church Healthy congregations)
 Some entertainment Monday programs.
 Good response

9. Year 3……
 Tweaked some of year 2 ideas.
 Working with funds from grant with First Option Bank we were able to bring in
Entertainment Monday's every week except 2. Friends of library sponsored one
also.
 Career Tuesday, was more consistent and even brought in KCP &L to help with
that. We also implemented a program called "Try it you might like it" once a
week either on Tuesday or Wednesday. Our goal there was to get kids to try
different vegetables, fruits, and foods
 Wellness Wednesday was hosted by SNAP-ED assistant from Marsis des Cygnes
extension and she used the USDA curriculum on summer meals.
 Fitness Thursday was continued by members of the Healthy Congregation
committee from the Methodist church.
 Free Book Friday also evolved into weekend snack bags too. Sponsored by
local churches and community members.

10. VOLUNTEERS
DID YOU KNOW
WHAT YOU’VE DONE THIS YEAR?

11. May 2017
 3 programs
 122 children
 40 adults
 Average attendance 54
 Lunches served 67

12. JUNE 2017
 80 PROGRAMS
 1057 CHILDREN
 418 ADULTS
 AVERAGE 18.4 ATTENDANCE
 575 lunches served in June

13. July 2017
 67 programs
 1144 children
 482 adults
 24.27 average attendance
 557 lunches served

14. August 2017
 3 programs
 44 kids
 23 adults
 22.3 attendance average
 32 meals

15. Partners, Volunteers, Sponsors
 The following folks and businesses have helped this year: Retia & Greg Grant. Shelia, Mark & Nathan Miller, Dian Dotts,
Annette Viner, Celeste, Elizabeth & Sara Porter, Debbie Burchett, Judy Patterson, Jeannette Searl, Tori Harper, Barbara &
George Nunnemacher, Amie Clark, Deb Doering, Judy Vanek, Sherry Mitchell, Deb Meisinger, Toni McIntire, Ursula Lewis,
Laura Paul, Beverly Burke, Pat, Gerry & Hayden Stanley, Mary Ann Taylor, Jim & Glenna Farris, Chris, Becky & Alexis
McCullison, Alexis & Annabelle Shaw, Jim & Mollie Judd, Candy Teagarden, Loretta Teagarden, Cindy Creager, Connie
Eisman, Linda Calvert, Beth Dugan, Joyce Sergent, Doris McElreath, Ron & Sheila Price, Glen Duderstadt, Denise Bellin,
Jeneifer Stainbrook, Donna & Larry Largent, Theresa Northern, Wilma Wobker, Maggie Peterson, Laura Ridenour, Sandra
Pointer, Emma Stone, Zane Bissell, Sue Sanor, Mary Pemberton, Bernita Ala, Vickie Hall, Vicki Atwood, Kris Carothers, Susie
Mahon, Chris Durdee, Larry Stainbrook, Bob & Wilma Stainbrook, Gavin Shaw, Stephanie & Ryan Walker, Pam McCoy,
Brenda Johnson, Michele Rauber, Judy Johnston, Sabrina Benson, Emilie Rauber, Jacob & Charity Dunlop, Kenzie & Taylor
McAtee, Jamie, Trevor & Paityn Curtis, Connie Capps, Katie Jackson, Jerome, Leslie, Spencer, Marissa & Mason Mitzner,
Kathy Goul, Jenn Gant, Carolyn Cochran, Blake Heid, Jim Wilson, Dr. Lindsey Jaccard (Walton) & family, Dan Nasalroad, Dr.
Chelsie Stainbrook, Heartland Rural Electric, First Option Bank, Baehr Foundation, Fontana Church of Christ, Fontana
Christian Church, La Cygne United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, PEO, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church,
Linn Valley Community Church, Linn Valley Property Owner’s Association, Marais des Cygne Extension, Maria McDonald,
Lonna Crook, Ruth Reynolds, Mary Gunn, Chris Abeyta, Friends of Library, Ryan & Stephanie Walker, Maria McDonald, Riley
Fromdahl, and volunteers from KCP& L and La Cygne First Option bank who will be helping the next couple of weeks .

16. What did these people do?
 Mentored lunch program
 Provided classes
 Assisted with classes
 Served lunch
 Fixed computers
 Graded our driveway
 Provided extra trash pick-ups
 Donated paper products
 Donated fresh produce
 Donated food to serve
 Donated equipment

17. Who benefited?

18. This is who!

19. And this

20. And these….

21. And more…

22. Still more

23. And more

24. More…

25. More and more…

26. In July…we continue

27. You made this possible

28. And this…..

29. Still more…

30. YUMMY

31. Fun for everyone

32. Fitness Thursday

34. More fun

35. Winding up summer reading

37. More Please!!!—Try it You Might Like it

39. Lunch week one

40. Playing games

41. Our first entertainer

42. Mentors helping

43. Firefighter—Career Day

44. Fitness Thursday—Frisbee Baseball

45. Lining up for Lunch

46. More Fitness Fun

47. It’s always fun when the men stop and visit
or volunteer!

48. Always had plenty of choices of fresh
fruits and veggies

49. Wellness Wednesday Rap with Miss
Kathy

50. Try it you might like it with Miss Retia

51. Room arrangement

52. Visitor from Kansas Appleseed in July

53. Working on Lunch Across Kansas Mural

54. T-shirt winners

55. Lunch Line and Mentors

56. Playing a nutrition game outside with Miss
Kathy

57. Signage

58. Fitness Thursday

59. Summer Reading Party & Parents meals
provided by donations

60. Just one way to thank our volunteers,
helpers and let them know what kids are
doing.

61. Free Book Friday & Goodie Bags for
Weekend

62. Goodie Bags

63. Our Awesome Volunteers @ Appreciation
Night

64. KCPL Career Tuesday

65. KCPL Volunteers/Career Tuesday

66. We love our volunteers/mentors

67. First Option Bank has helped financially in
the past, this year they mentored too!

68. Another new mentor partner 1st Option
Bank!

69. Last Day of Summer Lunch they got School
Supplies donated by community!

70. • What’s next?
Storyteller Café Shirts for donors,
mentors and more
Changes in way we do things
Community drive for paper products
Change some programming to
make lunch easier
improve career days
allow more mentor reading time

71. Thank YOU!!!

72. Thank you!
Contact info:
Janet Reynolds
lacygnelibrary@gmail.com