Kansas City Public Library

Yesterday at our Central Library we hosted two Naturalization Ceremonies. In the morning 113 applicants from 52 countries became U.S. citizens, in the afternoon 115 applicants from 58 countries became U.S. citizens. We began hosting these incredible ceremonies 8 years ago, and hundreds of people have taken the oath of citizenship at the Central Library. Thanks to our staff, especially our Refugee & Immigrant Services & Empowerment team, and to the U.S. Courts, Western District of Missouri for the incredible honor of hosting these events. Please join us in congratulating our region’s newest U.S. citizens!

This week Historic Kansas City announced that our community-powered investigation series with The Kansas City Star, What’s Your KCQ?, was awarded the George Ehrlich Award for “an outstanding publication in preservation, history, urban design, or a related topic.” Over the past six years, the project has published more than 130 pieces, examining everything from neighborhood sculptures and bells on the Plaza to the Riverside race tracks and Prohibition-era mob bosses. Congratulations to our Missouri Valley Special Collections team! What have you always wondered about Kansas City and its history? Submit your questions, and read our other KCQ stories at kclibrary.org/kcq

For the second year in a row, 15 and Mahomies has awarded a $15,000 grant to the Library for book giveaways during our Summer Reading Program! Earlier this month Library Director Abby Yellman and Foundation & Corporate Philanthropy Sr. Specialist Lauren Kernes accepted the check at the 15 and Mahomies annual gala. We're grateful for their continued support.

On Veterans Day we honor those who have served in our nation's military, including current and former Library staff. During WWII Chief of Stacks Librarian John Rankin Greenlee compiled a scrapbook of staff members' service and it's now part of our special collections: https://lnkd.in/g4-tdA4x #kcHistory #kcLibrary150

Today marks the 25th anniversary of Union Station Kansas City's grand reopening. Thanks to KSHB / KMCI / The EW Scripps Company for visiting our Missouri Valley Special Collections at the Central Library to talk with Special Collections Sr. Librarian Michael Wells about Union Station's history. Watch the story here: https://lnkd.in/gcQ8dMVF #kcHistory #OnThisDay

Last week we hosted our 2nd naturalization ceremony just for children and teenagers at the Central Library. On Tues. Oct. 29 the Library helped welcome 75 applicants from 33 countries as they became our region’s newest citizens. Thanks to our staff, especially our Refugee & Immigrant Services & Empowerment team, and to the U.S. Courts, Western District of Missouri for the incredible honor of hosting these events. Please join us in congratulating our region’s newest U.S. citizens!

Election Day is less than a week away! ??? Early voting is taking place now through Nov. 4 at 5 p.m. Make sure you’re ready to vote, review a sample ballot, find your polling place and more at kclibrary.org/vote

Let the games begin! ?? ?? The soft launch of about 200 circulating board games started earlier this month at our Plaza and Waldo Branches.

One hundred and four years ago today, on October 20, 1920, Irene Ruiz was born. Irene began working as a librarian on the Westside in the 1970s and was an important and caring fixture in the community for decades. Our Irene H Ruiz Branch is named in her honor. Learn more about Ruiz's life and the incredible oral histories she collected with this recent episode of the KCUR 89.3 podcast, A People's History of Kansas City: https://lnkd.in/gTGhVc84

Last week the Kansas City City Council passed a resolution recognizing Digital Inclusion Week and the efforts of Literacy KC, Goodwill of Western Missouri & Eastern Kansas, and the Library to increase Kansas Citian’s internet access. Learn more about the Library’s efforts to address the digital divide at kclibrary.org/TechAccess