At least once a month, my daughters and I visit one or more of Wichita’s 9 library branches too stock up on fresh reading material for the upcoming weeks. With two voracious readers to keep satisfied and a budget so tight it makes a corset look roomy, I turned to the library a long time ago to help me avoid financial ruin. The kids look forward to our visits, and so do I, which is why I was more than a little shocked to hear a friend of mine who is a longtime Wichita resident say that she had never darkened the doorway of the library, and that she had no real interest in doing so. After making her repeat herself twice, I went on (and on) at some length about why she was missing out on a really great public service that everyone should be taking full advantage of. I don’t know if I changed her opinion, but I did convince her to let me drag her to the library on our next visit. And just in case she isn’t the only skeptic in Wichita, I’ve made a list of 20 things you may or may not know about the library that will hopefully convince you to pay them a visit and see what you’ve been missing:

1. They have books. This is probably common knowledge, but it never hurts to point out the obvious. No, they don’t have new releases still hot off the presses, but they do have titles available within a very reasonable amount of time after their release date.
2. The also have DVDs, magazines, music CDs, audio books on CD and cassette, and art prints available to check-out. Blockbuster they are not, but you really can’t beat their prices.
3. If you can’t find a title you are looking for at your local branch, you can have it transferred from another branch at no charge.
4. If you can’t find a title you are looking for in the Wichita library, you can request a transfer from a library outsite of Wichita.  The Wichita library does not charge a fee for this service.
5. They have an online catalog. This is such a beautiful thing to me. It’s almost better than bacon. This means that I can peruse the library’s catalog of available books from the comfort of my recliner. A little catalog search tip: Search by author. Yes, you will have to scroll through a list of that author’s books, but I’ve been surprised to find the book I was looking for this way, after coming up empty on a title search. Maybe it’s because I can’t spell.
6. You can check the availability of a book at any of the branches online. If the book is not currently available, you can reserve it for 25 cents and have it sent to your branch when it becomes available. You’ll get a nice little email to let you know when it’s in.
7. The online catalog has the spectacularly useful ability to create and store lists. Search for a book, add it to your list, and check it out at your leisure. I have lists of cookbooks, lists of books for my kids, Sci-Fi novels, etc. See something interesting at Borders? Add it to your list! I often browse the bestseller lists online, pick out what I’m interested in, and add them to my library lists for future reading.
8. You can find a job at the library. Or at least you can find the stuff you need to find a job at the library. Their catalog has a boatload of resources for help in resume writing, writing a cover letter, job hunting, etc., and they have some great links to online resources to help the job seeker.
9. The library always has something going on. Every branch has book discussions, movie nights, concerts, educational programs, craft and art programs, programs for seniors, adults, teens and kids. And it’s all absolutely free.
10. The Comotara branch is actually inside a Dillon’s store on North Rock. I know, not earth-shattering, I just think it’s cool that I can check-out a mystery novel and pick up a gallon of milk at the same time.
11. You can access your account online. This wonderful feature makes it possible to check due dates, sign up for email reminders and much, much more.
12. You can surf at the library. The internet, that is. There is currently a one-hour time limit, but if your Cox high speed is down and you desperately need to check to see if you got that follow-up e-mail from the Nigerian government about those funds you are going to help them transfer to the United States, this service might come in handy.
13. There is a used book store on the ground floor in the Central branch. The books come from donations to the library, and there are some unbeatable deals to be had. They are relatively current and in good shape. If you are looking to whittle down your collection, consider donating. All funds raised go back into the library.
14. The library has an annual clearance sale, where thousands of books go on sale for a quarter each. If you really want to impress a child in your life, take them to the sale and tell them they can get as many books as they can carry. It’ll still be cheaper than a Big Mac and fries.
15. You can return books to any branch, regardless of where you borrowed them from.
16. You can renew your books online, at home, in your comfy pants!
17. The library is a treasure trove for local history buffs and genealogists. Browse microfilm, old newspapers, maps and photographs if you are interested in the history of Wichita and the surrounding areas, or even your own family history. For a peek at what the library has to offer, take a look at the Wichita Photo Archives website.
18. If you have a need to stay current, the library has 30 newsletters available by e-mail or RSS. Topics range from general library events, happenings and news, branch specific newsletters, and updates and reviews on new book, CD and DVD acquisitions in every conceivable category. I subscribed to at least five. Maybe six.
19. The Wichita Public Library can issue you a Kansas Library Card. What is a Kansas Library Card, you ask? This is a very good question, worthy of a direct quote from the website: “The Kansas Library Card is your entry to online library resources, including high quality information and research databases” Yeah; I really have no idea what that means. It sounds a bit like an exclusive country club membership. Or a cult. Just don’t drink the Kool-Aid. Oh and it’s free.
20. And last but not remotely least, sometime in the very near future, the library is getting Wi-Fi! Now all they need is coffee, maybe some biscotti, and I’ll never have to go to Border’s again!

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