Chanute Public Library Newsletter
September 2025
 
Director's Newsletter
September is here and that means summer is officially over! We had an amazing summer, despite some of the changes with a new library space out by the airport, construction around the library for the HVAC project, and heat closing the library for a few days. We truly appreciate the support of our patrons as we finish up the HVAC project, which is estimated to wrap up in the fall. We hope to share exciting news when this happens! 
 
Here are some great statistics from the summer:
  • - We had 17,159 items checked out - 70% were books, 22% were other checkouts like movies and games, 7% were Hoopla ebooks and audiobooks and 1% were physical audiobooks
  • - We had 866 summer reader sign-ups – 73% of kids completed their programs while 68% of teens and 72% of adults completed their programs
  • - We had 97 programs this summer and 1,211 attendees – wow! No wonder we needed a break!
Using the ALA Library Value Calculator, the value of the library’s summer reading programs and services is worth $276,568.20 – but we offered all these programs for free! And yet, I feel the impact and worth of a library is invaluable to our community as we encouraged patrons to read for fun, learn new skills, and explore their creative side with us this summer.   
 
We truly cannot have had a successful summer as we did without our sponsors: Ash Grove, Brooks Home Improvement, Caldwell’s Flooring, Chanute Manufacturing, the City of Chanute, Community National Bank, Dan Midfelt, Dollar General, Emprise Bank, Galt Pest Control, Inertia Health, Jarred, Gilmore & Phillips, Kiwanis, Kustom Signal, Monarch Cement, Orizon, Sheryl Bussell, Southeast Kansas Library System, Tioga Territory, Treca Jackson, USD 413, and Young’s Welding. 
 
Thank you to our sponsors, our volunteers, and to our patrons who made this a wonderful summer! We are looking forward to starting Story Time and Rhyme Time again in the fall, along with Adult Crafts and of course, the Artist Alley Book Sale.

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  • Printed books, magazines, and more
  • 24/7 online access to ebooks, audiobooks, and more
  • Music, movies and TV shows to stream or checkout
  • Internet access, Wi-Fi, and computers
  • Online databases and research materials for students or job seekers
  • And much more!

 
NEW RELEASES COMING SOON


Secret of Secrets
by Dan Brown
The Academy
by Elin Hilderbrand
The Impossible Fortune
by Richard Osman
All the Way to the River
by Elizabeth Gilbert
The Girl with Ice in Her Veins
by Karin Smirnoff
The Librarians
by Sherry Thomas

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!
Artist Alley & Annual FOCL Book Sale
Saturday, September 27th; book sale starts at 9 am
 
Help our FOCL group with our biggest sale of the year - the Artist Alley Book Sale! We'll need help with setting up, manning the booth, and tearing down. If you're interested in volunteering, please contact the library at 620-431-3820 or email jlawrence@chanute.org. 

Follow us on Facebook or find out more information on our website.
 
Fall Hours Start After Labor Day
 
Monday - Thursday: 9 am - 7 pm
Friday & Saturday: 9 am - 5 pm
Sunday: CLOSED

Chanute Public Library
111 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chanute, Kansas 66720
620-431-3820
https://chanutepubliclibrary.org/