During its sesquicentennial year, the Library wasn’t the only institution marking the anniversary. An avalanche of accolades for a century and a half of service came in the form of remarks in the Congressional Record as well as local proclamations, a city council resolution, and a lot of kind words. 

Kicking off a year’s worth of celebrations on December 5, 2023 – the Library’s official birthday – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, now in his tenth term serving Missouri’s 5th Congressional District – added remarks about the Library to Vol. 169, No. 200 of the United States Congressional Record. 

Rep. Cleaver reflected on what he called the Library’s “irreplaceable assets,” such as its ability to shine as a beacon of hope during individual and national times of hardship; the collection, which fuels the love of learning and builds empathy; specialists who not only help people with book-related questions but provide assistance with critical resources like housing and healthcare, tech access, job searches, and more; and a team ready to aid immigrants in acclimating to life in the United States and becoming citizens. 

“Mr. Speaker,” Cleaver concluded, “I ask that you join me in honoring the Kansas City Public Library on one hundred and fifty years of resilience and engagement within Missouri's Fifth Congressional District.” 

A couple months later, at the February city council meeting, Third District councilmember Melissa Robinson praised the Library’s commitment to creating an inclusive place for learning, exploration, and cultural engagement, and for fostering an engaged and informed citizenry.

The Library, Robinson said, “embraced this role as a sanctuary  for Kansas Citians in times of distress, offering solace and support to those seeking refuge, assistance, and community during challenging circumstances.”

In that meeting, Mayor Quinton Lucas awarded the Library a resolution sponsored by Robinson. Lucas and councilmembers set aside politics to talk about the institution that has played a crucial role in the city’s history and joined Robinson in making remarks.

Fourth District councilmember Eric Bunch said people may not understand just how much libraries do for their communities, how they “bring services to the community that are often missed,” because local and state governments don’t have the capacity. 

“The things that libraries provide vastly go beyond what the general public often thinks of,” Bunch said. “They’re really the place where people can go to get services that they depend on, to live the quality of life that everyone deserves.”

As the councilmembers went around the  chamber, some told stories of childhood Library trips with their parents. Others talked about taking their own children to the Library or using the meeting rooms to gather with constituents. Some were emotional about attempts to censor books and thanked the Library for standing up for Kansas Citians’ First Amendment rights.

Addressing the Library contingent that accepted the resolution document, Lucas pointed out that the Library has served the community in all these ways for longer than the Kansas City Police Department has existed. 

In fact, he said, “you are just one generation younger than the city of Kansas City itself, the town of Kansas. You are an institution that has grown with us, has changed with us, has been part of every movement, every issue, every cause.” 

Finally, in April, both Jackson County and the state of Missouri honored the Library with their own resolutions. 

A county resolution additionally celebrated the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Central Library in the iconic, white marble First National Bank Building, noting that the move “stands as a testament to the Library’s commitment to preserving history while embracing innovation and adaptive reuse in the heart of downtown Kansas City.”

At the state level, a resolution concluded with a statement that members of the Missouri Senate, One Hundred Second General Assembly, “join to applaud the history, goals, and accomplishments associated with the Kansas City Public Library and to convey to all of those involved this legislative body’s most heartfelt best wishes as they celebrate its one hundred and fiftieth anniversary.”

All these honors have given the Library team a new lens through which they might catch a glimpse of the next 150 years. 

The Library will continue to champion intellectual freedom in a democratic society. It will also maintain partnerships with our communities to tackle safety, health, and mental health challenges.

 The deep commitment to fostering opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and workforce development will not change, nor will the critical role of advocacy the Library plays at all levels.

Another point that remains fixed is that the Library will remain a valuable asset in addressing some of the city’s thorniest problems and supporting patrons through literacy, intellectual freedom, and inclusion, each a key component of a healthy democracy and thriving populace.