Your Donations at Work

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       The drenching rain for our kickoff of Summer Wonder in June wasn’t exactly the way we envisioned things. Some quick adaptability on the part of the library staff made it possible for everyone to still have a great time, setting the tone for the whole summer.

      The Cascade branch of KDL ended up with record breaking numbers, with over 20% more adult completers for the Summer Wonder Learning Challenge this year! They also saw an increase in the school participation for Summer Wonder, meaning the staff’s outreach visits to the schools are working.

      The Friends had helped fund the successful “Concerts in Cascade” program, with attendance at the events ranging from 324-409 attendees. As it turned out, Windbreakers, the band the Friends sponsored, had the most attendees at 409. 

      As noted in a previous newsletter, outreach is an important part of the library’s mission. And, this year, they tried a new approach to their partnership with the YMCA by bringing in a presenter, Angelina Bertoni, for bubble science. This was widely popular with both staff and the participants. 

      If you're interested in the numbers, here are a few that present a picture of just how active the library and its staff have been this summer:

• 52,051 library visits were recorded over the summer, with July welcoming nearly 19,500 visitors.
• 2,165 people completed Summer Reading, a 17% increase over last year. Adult completers increased by 33%!
• Cascade hosted 109 programs with 10,506 attendees.
• 23 family programs drew 3,840 attendees, making them one of the summer's strongest areas of participation.
• 2,970 people attended 27 school age programs, while 44 children's programs welcomed another 2,350 attendees.
• More than 11,000 Wi-Fi sessions were recorded, reflecting continued demand for Cascade as a place to connect, work, learn, and access technology.
• The library continued to grow its active user base, with 6,535 accounts active in the previous month, a 3% increase over the same period last year.
• Cascade also attended 18 outreach events, connecting with 1,837 community members outside the library.

What’s on tap in October?

Soiree in the Stacks and Local Author Fair 

• October 23 from 7-9pm. Join the staff after hours for an atmospheric dance with crafts, local authors selling their wares, a sword fighting demo, and more.

Saturday Programs 

• My Time Storytime: Enjoy stories, music and rhymes in an environment where kids can be themselves no matter their ability. Designed for children ages 0-5 with their caregivers, but all ages are welcome.
• Rhyme Time: Enjoy stories, music and rhymes while building early literacy and social skills. Designed for children ages 1-3 with their caregivers, but all ages are welcome.  
• Loose Parts Play: Give your young child’s imagination room to grow through open-ended play with a variety of manipulative materials.

Author Visit – October 8

• Author and Journalist Michael Finkel will be at the Cascade branch of Kent District Library for a discussion and Q&A followed by a book signing. Books available for purchase from Schuler Books on site. Registration opens September 17 at 9am on the KDL website. Space is limited. 

Truth About Earthworms on Earthworm Day – October 21

• Earthworms are more than garden helpers — they shape soil, ecosystems and even forests in surprising ways. This talk uncovers their biology, origins, benefits, invasive counterparts and their hidden impacts.

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