WPS Library Media and Textbook Services

04/21/2026

The Wichita Public School Service Center was buzzing today for the 2026 Middle School Battle of the Books! 📚 This was a showcase of incredible dedication from 10 district teams who mastered 24 books. That's nearly 6,000 pages of literature!!

Under the intense 20-second clock, these readers demonstrated elite recall and teamwork. While the Robinson Rams walked away undefeated, every participant was a champion of literature. We are so proud of the grit and sportsmanship displayed by all! 🏆

A Special Thank You:
This event was a success thanks to Library Media and Textbook Services. A huge thank you to our captivating host, Andrea Brainard, and a heartfelt "Happy Retirement" to our remarkable supervisor, Gail Becker. This was Gail’s final WPS Battle of the Books, and her legacy of literacy will be felt in our district for years to come. ❤️

04/04/2026

At the heart of every Wichita Public School is a library, and at the heart of every library is a dedicated librarian.

Happy National School Librarian Day! Today, we recognize the educators who create safe, welcoming spaces where curiosity knows no bounds. Whether they are teaching engaging lessons or helping a student find the perfect story or assisting staff with innovative resources, our librarians are the heartbeat of our school communities.

This work is truly a team effort, and we extend our gratitude to our excellent library clerks who also work to serve our school communities. Thank you to our library professionals for opening doors to new worlds every single day! 🌟📚

03/24/2026

We are so incredibly proud of the connection we made today between our WPS students, local military families, and the wonderful author Lisa Wheeler.

Located just miles away from McConnell Air Force Base, our Woodman Elementary community has deep roots in service. When Lisa Wheeler shared her brand-new book, It Takes a Family to Serve, she wasn't just reading a story, she was celebrating the bravery, dedication, and heart of our own WPS families. It was powerful to see our students see themselves and their loved ones in her words.

Bringing authors into schools isn't just about literacy; it’s about making stories real and dreams feel attainable. We are deeply grateful to Watermark Books & Cafe for coordinating this visit as part of their Authors in Schools program.

And we have a final, heartfelt thank you to the Wichita Foundation. Because of their amazing generosity, every single 2nd-grade student at the visit walked away with their very own signed copy of Lisa's book to take home and treasure.

Thank you, Lisa, for your "thank you" to our military families. It was a day we won't forget!

03/04/2026

At USD 259, we believe that teaching students how to navigate information is some of the most powerful instructional work we do!

On March 3rd and 4th, our elementary Library Media Specialists (LMS) gathered for professional development focused specifically on the "why" and "how" of teaching essential research skills.

Shaping How Students Learn: We don’t just teach facts; we shape how students learn by helping them develop strong questions, evaluate sources, and think critically about the media they consume. Whether it’s investigating a curious question from a favorite story or solving a real-world problem, our goal is to give students literacy skills they can use for a lifetime.

Professional Collaboration in Action: During our session, our team participated in a "Skim and Scoot" which is a modified gallery walk where librarians shared their best research lessons with one another. We also spent dedicated time co-developing and fine-tuning new lessons using research models like "Super 3" and "Big 6" to ensure every student in our district receives high-quality, standards-aligned instruction.

When students can articulate what they’ve learned and parents see these standards in action, the value of a certified school librarian is clear. We are proud to be a district of choice that prioritizes 21st-century and lifelong skills!

02/25/2026

Earlier this month, Mychal Threets visited two of our Wichita Public Schools and made a powerful impact on students and teachers alike. He’s a champion of books, libraries, and mental health and shares his message of library joy and belonging everywhere he goes. He made a special connection with an Isely student and talked about it in this video! Thank you, Mychal! Author visits + School Libraries = Inspired, Engaged Student Readers (Watch the TikTok video! 🙂)

1374 likes, 44 comments. “This Braille library letter means the world 💚🌎 Video Description: Mychal visited a school library to talk about his & Lorraine Nam’s picture book, as well as about Reading Rainbow. He received a treasured letter from a library kid, written in Braille. The letter t...

02/13/2026

✨ Building the Heart of Our Schools: A Day of A to Z Learning! ✨

Today was one of our absolute favorite days of the year, the USD 259 Library Inservice! 📚 Only twice a year does our entire district library staff get to come together, and we made every second count.

We kicked off our morning at West High with a powerful session inspired by the "Alphabet of Emotions." We used the idea of "Building Blocks" to reflect on the A-Z of our impact:

A is for Appreciation – Recognizing every story our students share.

B is for Belonging – Ensuring our libraries are safe havens where every child feels seen.

C is for Connection – Building those vital bridges between students and the resources they need.

But the "Building Blocks" didn't stop there. We spent the day in high-level sessions designed to make our libraries the best they can be:

🎨 Creative Mastery: We dove into Canva Tips & Tricks, learning how to turn our spaces into vibrant hubs that ignite student engagement.
⚙️ Technical Excellence: We mastered Destiny 23.5 and Canvas LMS integration to ensure our libraries remain the tech-forward backbone of our schools.
📚 Students in the Stacks: We held deep collaborative conversations on elite strategies for book selection, ensuring our collections are perfectly curated for the students we serve.
📖 Literacy Leadership: From the William Allen White Award previews to expert Collection Development with the BER seminar, we are bringing the very best in literature back to our buildings.

Most importantly, we spent time in Connect & Collaborate sessions processing our learning together because we know we are stronger as a team. Whether we’re discussing the latest YA titles or working on library signage and lesson presentations, we are moving FORWARD together.

We left today feeling inspired, refreshed, and ready to continue the incredible work of building curious, empathetic thinkers! 🌟

02/12/2026

Our librarians LOVE partnering with Watermark Books & Cafe to welcome authors into our Wichita Public Schools. Earlier this week, author/illustrator Alex Willan visited Griffith and Gardiner Elementary, shared his newest book, Valentines are the Worst!, and led students in a drawing activity.🎨✍️

Author visits in elementary schools spark students’ curiosity and help them see writing as something creative and achievable. Meeting a real author makes books feel more meaningful and inspires young readers to imagine their own stories and possibilities. These interactions build confidence, encourage literacy, and create lasting excitement around reading and learning. 📚❤️

02/11/2026

We couldn't agree more! Mychal’s visit was such a powerful reminder of why we do what we do. Our WPS librarians work tirelessly to ensure every student feels they belong, and having your support helps that mission thrive. Thank you for celebrating our librarians alongside our amazing students!

02/10/2026

What a day of "Library Joy" for the Wichita Public Schools, Isely Traditional Magnet and Cloud Elementary! 📚✨

We were so honored to host Mychal Threets, the host of Reading Rainbow and a true champion for literacy! Mychal shared his heart, his passion for stories, and his wonderful new book, I'm So Happy You're Here: A Celebration of Library Joy. His message that everyone belongs at the library is one we will carry with us all year long.

A massive thank you to Watermark Books & Cafe for coordinating this visit and bringing such an inspiring creator to our students.

We are also beyond grateful to the Assistance League of Wichita and Wichita Foundation for their amazing donations. Thanks to them, every student walked away with their own copy of Mychal's book to keep the joy of reading going at home!

Thank you, Mychal, for reminding us all why we love our libraries. We are so happy you were here! 🌈📖Wichita Public Schools

01/30/2026

January 21–29: What an incredible week at the School Service Center as we celebrated reading, teamwork, commitment and perseverance during Battle of the Books 2026! A total of 42 teams, made up of 168 enthusiastic students, proudly represented their WPS elementary schools. Congratulations to every participant, and a heartfelt thank-you to the librarians, teachers, and families who supported our readers. We are so proud of you! Wichita Public Schools

01/29/2026

The final rounds of Battle of the Books 2026 were hosted by our good friend of libraries, Carol Hughes from @100.5 The Twister. Teams from Gammon, Irving and Riverside competed with pride! 📕Wichita Public Schools