Between work and home: Lee’s Summit has three library branches offering ‘third space’

Libraries have long been known as a place to check out a book or browse through newspapers, magazines and other resource materials. Lee’s Summit’s three libraries are continuing to expand this access to information and ideas by offering services such as digital resources, educational events, book groups, homework help, free notary services, literacy education, career support and public meeting rooms.

“We call the library the ‘third space’,” said Emily Becker, Mid-Continent Public Library community relations manager, “because it’s somewhere besides work and home that you can spend time at no charge and with nothing expected of you. We are warming and cooling centers when the weather is bad, and a gathering space for friends and community groups.”

Within Lee’s Summit, MCPL libraries include the Colbern Road and Oldham Parkway branches — with both buildings receiving major renovations in the early 2020s — and the Blue Parkway branch, which opened in 2020.

The three local branches are part of the 33-library Mid-Continent system, a tax-supported district covering Jackson, Clay and Platte counties for more than 50 years. Among the three Lee’s Summit libraries, nearly 1 million items were circulated during the 2022-23 fiscal year with the facilities recording more than 400,000 visits and around 26,000 people attending programs.

“The Lee’s Summit branches are an important resource for our community and consistently rank among MCPL’s top sites in terms of circulation,” said Bob Johnson, a Lee’s Summit resident and MCPL Board of Trustee member representing Jackson County. “Among the 33 branches, Oldham Parkway ranked second, Colbern Road fourth and Blue Parkway at seventh.”

Digital materials at the libraries are continuing to grow in popularity.

“MCPL offers a huge variety of digital resources and services, making it easy to access books, movies, magazines, etc., without ever leaving the comfort of home,” Becker said. “You can download eBooks and eAudiobooks from the library to your computer, phone or eReader device. The library has subscriptions to local publications, so you can access these through our website, and we also have resources that give folks access to many of the most popular national and international publications, such as ‘Vanity Fair’.”

Individuals have the option of signing up for a library card online, she added, and can use their library number immediately to begin checking out these digital resources.

Other lesser known offerings at the library include WiFi and Chromebook laptops, available for check out, as well as the Library-By-Mail service, which sends materials directly to the homes of those unable to visit their local library branch. In addition, MCPL’s Excel Adult High School program provides participants with the opportunity to earn a high-school diploma.

“The local libraries are available to meet the public’s needs with options such as passport services five days a week, voter registration and the hosting of Red Cross Blood drives throughout the year,” Johnson said.

“One of our most valuable digital offerings is our Live Homework Help resource, which connects students to a live tutor for one-on-one help in nearly every subject,” Becker said. “This is an amazing resource – it’s been many years since some of us have been in school, and tutoring services can be expensive.”

Although many people know about the library’s book groups, offered in-person at the branches or virtually, they may not be familiar with MCPL’s Book Group Service.

“This service allows you to start your own community book group,” she added, “and MCPL will provide up to 10 copies of select titles for you to do so.”

Meeting rooms are available at all branches, and community members can reserve these rooms at no charge. Rooms at the Lee’s Summit libraries vary in size and are designed to accommodate from approximately 10 people to more than 200.

Programs and offerings for children have long been an important component within the library system.

“For kids, the libraries offer a variety of programs and events as well as 11 weekly storytimes among the three branches,” Johnson added. “East Lee’s Summit (Blue Parkway) hosts a monthly Sensory Sensitive Storytime with smaller attendances, lower lighting, softer music and more interactive elements than stories.”

The Colbern Road library is one of three MCPL sites known as “destination branches,” which provide services beyond a traditional library, Becker added.

“They are home to MCPL’s Square One Small Business Services team, which helps local entrepreneurs connect with the resources they need to start or scale up their businesses,” she said. “Although the Square One team travels to meet clients wherever is most convenient for them, their offices are based at this MCPL branch.”

The Colbern Road branch is also home to one of three in-library coffee shops throughout the MCPL system. The shop, which was included in the 2020-21 renovation is operated by Post Coffee.

For more information about the MCPL, go here.