Who we are:

• Southeast Kansas Library System (SEKLS), a regional system of cooperating libraries
• We are a special taxing district, funded primarily through a mill levy on rural property
• We also receive State Grant-in-Aid

How we started:

• Seven regional library systems were established under Kansas Law (K.S.A. 75-2547, K.S.A. 75-2548) in 1965:
  • to improve library services where it already existed
  • to extend library service to the unserved

Who we serve:

• Member libraries in Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Crawford, Elk, Greenwood,
  Labette, Linn, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson counties
• Our membership includes 55 public libraries, 41 school districts, seven (7) academic libraries, and one (1) special library
• Independence Public Library is an independent taxing district created by K.S.A. 12-1281 and all of the Linn county public libraries are District libraries created under K.S.A. 12-1236
• Coffey County, the sole non-taxing county, has contracted for services in the past
• The region covers 9,503 square miles with a population of 199,794

What we do:

• Provide professional consulting and continuing education to train and advise member library personnel and trustees
• Support resource sharing among our member libraries with statewide courier financial support, interlibrary loan services, technical services and original cataloging support, and by administering the SEKnFind Shared catalog.
• Participate and support the statewide children’s summer library program
• Support the technology needs of our member libraries
• Provide access to the Talking Books program with funding through the State Library

Where we are:

• SEKLS is headquartered in the Iola Public Library
• As outlined in the IPL/SEKLS Agreement, the System Director is a joint employee between the two organizations