News and Events
Kansas Family Foundation Grant
The new Continuing Education Scholarship Grant program is now open, made possible through the generosity of a Kansas Family Foundation. As shared in the May/June Newsletter, this first grant will fund 10 Continuing Education Scholarships of $500 per semester with a maximum of $1,500 per student. The scholarship will support tuition and fees for coursework at an in-district or in-state Community College or University, or an ALA-accredited master’s degree program in library science. This is an extension of the System’s internal tuition support program, but open to a wider range of formal education opportunities. The guidelines, policy, and application are available for your review.
System Budget and Plans
For the 2027 budget, the System’s Revenue Neutral Rate and Budget Hearings are scheduled for Friday, August 28 at 1 pm at the SEK Impact Center in Chanute, Kansas.
The Executive Board reviewed and approved the 2027 System Plan and Tentative Budget for the Southeast Kansas Regional System of Cooperating Libraries on May 18, 2026 and the System Librarian, Sharon Moreland, presented it for approval by the State Library of Kansas Board on Friday, June 12 in Topeka.
The System is currently using the approved 2026 Southeast Kansas Library System Plan and 2026 Published Budget (.pdf). For those who are interested, our Strategic Plan was updated in 2024 and progress is tracked on the SEKLS Strategic Plan Dashboard. These past plans are also available for review: 2025 SEKLS System Plan | 2024 SEKLS System Plan.
Substitute Program
Karen Wallace is available to serve as a substitute Director for academic and public libraries throughout the System.
The Program Guidelines outline this new System service. Her hours are paid for by the system, not the library.
If interested, contact Sharon with the request. This is an alternative to the Small Library Attendance Support Grant.
DOCK 2.0 Mobile Maker Space and Digital Literacy Training Project
Lead Contact: Darrin Daugherty
This Grant provides opportunities to share with your community to emerging technologies, educational software, and access to a Digital Navigator for training and program support.
Funded through: Digital Opportunities to Connect Kansans
Learn more by viewing this Living Well’s Tech Talk segment! Press release: Press release
Big news for a small-town libraries in southeast Kansas! All because the local library system landed a substantial grant bringing free access to lots of new technology. Also expanded resources and exciting programs for all ages.
Excellence Award – Excellence Award Winners
