Our Building Journey officially began 11 years ago, when a grant from the South Central Kansas Library System allowed us to consult an architect to determine the feasibility of adding on to this charming one room former church and school house.

Our Summer Reading program had reached a record high 73 kiddos in 2011, & we were packed in TIGHT for Story Hours! Fast forward to 2022, and our building TRANSFORMATION is a reality!

This truly has been a community and group effort. 

Mrs. A.G. English donated the lot that the Library now occupies to the City, and Irma Smith donated the U.B. Church and School building (originally located in the Valley Center township) to the City for use as a Library in 1958.  Irma also set up an account dedicated to building improvements. It was our job to make that account GROW!

The first memorials specifically dedicated to the Building Fund were for Wayne Spencer & Ralph Soldan. And, over the years, many have chosen to honor friends & family by giving back, striving to benefit generations to come.  All donations are listed on our Thanks & Memorial page.

There have been fund raisers, like the BBQ Benefit at JT Cafe in 2016.  Grants, like America’s Farmers Grow Communities. And, raffles, concessions stands, book sales, annual gifts, donations from local businesses, & much, much more.

Slowly growing. Year by year, inflation edging the “Finish Line” out of reach.

But then, two significant gifts gave us the momentum we needed to seek out a builder. The first was a gift from the estate of Donald and Dorothy Sparks. When the addition is complete, check in for more information on this couple, who valued education and gave so much to their community and their country.

The second gift was a $25,000 Libraries Transform Grant from the South Central Kansas Library System.

This matching Grant is helping us increase awareness and support as we transform this library into a more viable and essential resource for our community.

It is allowing us to add on to this special building- preserving the history in its walls while more than doubling our shelf space & programming area.

The addition will bring us up to ADA compliance, be more energy efficient, giving us more room for books, computers, meeting spaces, artwork by local artists, and most importantly, it will help us expand our active programming for young and old.

The Macksville City Library is a community center for lifelong learning, and  we are excited for patrons & onlookers to see the renewed vitality of the library and its programming.

As the season of giving is upon us, it’s a good time to remember gifts we’ve received!

Thank you to all who have helped make this building TRANSFORMATION a reality!

And, for those looking for ways to give back, check out our Wish List.

Funds still needed & appreciated!