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The President's Letter
KDL Applauds Friends' Role in IMLS Award
The Kent District Library System was recently one of five libraries in the country to receive the nation’s highest honor given to libraries that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities.
That’s a pretty big deal. Even for a library that has gotten more than its share of awards and recognition in the past.
KDL Executive Director Lance Werner summed the achievement up by saying, “Being awarded the prestigious National Medal for Museum and Library Service by IMLS is an affirmation of the commitment to learning, connection, and growth that defines KDL. We are honored to accept this award on behalf of the 341 amazing team members who serve Kent County residents.”
And, while it is appropriate that those team members receive most of the credit for the outstanding achievements of KDL, it is also encouraging to know that, even as he was preparing to receive the award from President Biden in Washington, DC, Werner was thinking of the 240 Friends’ behind-the-scenes volunteers who have a hand in the organization’s success.
How do I know that? Well, because I was invited to say a few words about the Friends at a press conference following his return from Washington. When I was first asked to talk about the Friends, I wasn’t quite sure how we fit in. But, when it was explained to me that one of the things that set KDL apart is the depth and variety of programs that it offers, our relevancy became clearer.
KDL offers an amazing array of programs through all if its branches...programs that encourage the development of reading and thinking skills while entertaining participants. But, as we all know, budgets only go so far, and that’s where the Friends come in.
Here at the Cascade branch, the vast majority of what we contribute each year goes directly into funding hundreds of supplementary programs that the creative library team offers to just about everyone in the community...programs that draw thousands of people into the library and enhance the library’s value beyond providing access to books. I mean, what kid doesn’t want to see a live reindeer at Christmas or sit in the cab of a fire truck on Touch-A-Truck Day?
While the funds we provide are small compared to the overall library budget, I’d like to think that their impact is disproportionate...that they afford the library the luxury of some of the add-ons that take an organization from good to great, which is what this IMLS award signifies.
So, yes, the Friends were honored to be included and recognized during the celebration of the award. But, more importantly, we are honored to be part of and a contributor to a world class organization like KDL and the community it serves.
--Joe David
