Woodneath Story Center Steven V. Potter Library Director and CEO April 2014

What is Mid-Continent Public Library? One of the largest political subdivisions in Missouri at 1,249 sq. miles and over 760,000 people Lends over 9 million items every year Including books, eBooks, audiobooks, DVDs, CDs Provides access through 35 service outlets including 4 co-located branches & a virtual library Provides access to more online content than every other library in Missouri … COMBINED!

The Need “ Shoal Creek” is one of the fastest growing areas in the metro Neighboring locations saw unsustainable increases in activity

The Opportunity MCPL purchased a unique property in 2008 in the Shoal Creek area of the Northland Three phase project: Library Center Site Restoration Adaptive Reuse of the Home

The Library Center The Woodneath Library Center opened June 22, – 3,000+ people came on opening day – Those people checked out over 4,100 items.

The Site Restoration MCPL undertook a Master Planning process with Ochsner Hare & Hare Discussion with representative stakeholders (one half day) A full day design charrette The plan was adopted by the MCPL Library Board

Woodneath Story Center Vision The Woodneath Story Center will celebrate the art of story and its power to: – help people communicate more effectively. – connect and build community. – preserve personal and cultural histories. – develop creativity and self expression. The Woodneath Story Center will serve as a place where new storytellers, authors and creators will come to experiment with the process of finding, shaping, telling and sharing their story.

Digital Storytelling Film shorts, eBooks, digital book reviews, and music. Written Storytelling Short stories, poems, fiction books, memoirs, biographies, other nonfiction works, poetry, and songs. Oral Storytelling Spoken stories and fables, family and/or personal histories, spoken word poetry, and songs. Three Components

Why A Story Center? - Responds to a strategic goal concerning content creation. - Addresses literacy using a more holistic approach. - Develops a national model for progressive library service. - Fills a market niche. - Provides a cultural centerpiece for the Northland. - Creates a regional resource for the arts and humanities.

Why MCPL? -Active participation in the local writers’ communities. -NaNoWriMo events grow each year at MCPL branches. -Partner in the metro wide digital storytelling initiative. -Partner in the MARC initiative to capture seniors’ stories. -Midwest Genealogy Center is primary regional institution focused on preserving family histories. -Tell Me A Story program collects and archives regional oral histories. -Past StoryCorps sponsor.

Activities, Assets & Needs Activities/Features: -Programming and events focused on storytelling arts -Collaboration/program space -Espresso Book Machine & Print on Demand -Ebook publishing and distribution -Technology lab featuring digital storytelling tools -Recording Booth -Archive of all stories produced at the Center Assets: -Location - Partnerships -Accessibility- Development, Publicity, Distribution -Unique historic venue Needs: -Strong partners to provide programming -Identification of technology and assistance with program design -Funding

Recent Milestones - LSSD and Boys & Girls Clubs fieldtrips - Recruitment of the National Storytelling Network -Memoir workshop from The Writers Place -Leveraging online courses -Establishing the Woodneath Press -Negotiating with our first author

Story Center Timeline June 2013: -Woodneath Library Center opened. -Helix Architecture + Design started preliminary work on the historic home. July 2013 – December Solidify Story Center partnership agreements. -Design Story Center programming model. January 2014 – August Silent phase of the capital campaign. -Renovation work on house begins. -Launch Story Center programming model through the Woodneath Library Center. September 2014 – September Work continues on the house. -Public phase of the capital campaign. -Story Center programming continues. Fall Tentative opening of Woodneath Story Center.

Thank You