Apr 01, 2022
Brent Schondelmeyer and Jim Staley
Libraries Here and Now

Do people still use libraries?

We’d like to think most people know the answer to that question, but we answer it enough to know that the modern library remains a mystery to some. We’ll talk about what changes libraries have made to stay relevant in our modern world, and about the ecosystem of public libraries that makes Kansas City a great place for readers and learners alike.

Brent Schondelmeyer is a trustee of the Mid Continent Public Library having served in a variety of roles including board president. He is deputy director of the Local Investment Commission (LINC) - a non-profit that serves children and families in Jackson, Clay and Platte counties. He has a strong interest in history and is on the Executive Committee of the State Historical Society of Missouri. He has been a journalist, a published author and strong supporter of the arts.

Jim Staley is the Community Relations and Planning Director for Mid-Continent Public Library. His job is to ensure the library remains a relevant resource for the community, and that all users understand the access to information and inspiration that the Library provides through its 33 physical and virtual branches. Outside of work, Jim is a member of the Waldo Brookside Rotary Club.