The Wichita Public Library has made a positive impact on Brandon Johnson’s life, and he supports this vital community resource.
The Wichita Public Library has made a positive impact on Brandon Johnson’s life, and he supports this vital community resource.
Like a children’s book that centers on themes of community, sharing and generosity, District 1 Council Member Brandon Johnson uses his voice to advocate for all Wichitans.
Brandon’s grandmother was a big influence on his life, and she instilled a love of reading. As a young boy, he visited the old downtown library on South Main as well as the Maya Angelou, Rockwell, and former branch library in Dillons Tallgrass and always checked out four books. Mushroom in the Rain by Mirra Ginsburg, was a favorite. It tells the story of an ant who is joined by others to take shelter while caught in the rain.
“With reading I would always push myself. My grandmother had me tested, and I read at high levels. In 5th grade I was reading at a 10th grade level. She would challenge me and give me harder books. She would say, if you don’t understand something, look it up in the dictionary. I would go to the library to get books that I wanted to read. Since I could read at a higher level, more of the world was open to me.”
With reading I would always push myself. My grandmother would say, if you don’t understand something, look it up in the dictionary.”
“Growing up and being poor, I could come to the library and could get a book to learn about the ocean, the stars, or the planets. If I got in trouble at school, my mom turned the TV off and said I could always read.”
As a father, Brandon encourages his children to read and takes them to either the Advanced Learning Library, Rockwell, or Angelou branches to load up library books. For his two youngest children, he keeps the same formula for book selection: of four books checked out, two are fun or picture books and two are learning or chapter books.
Brandon wishes that more people would be aware of the library and all that it offers. “From access to free computers and Wi-Fi if you’re looking for a job to a wide variety of classes, there are many resources available at the library.”
The library offers a space for everyone. “You can come to the library explore things on your own to develop a deeper understanding. Why do certain authors say what they say? It’s very inclusive.”
Brandon will finish his City Council term at the end of 2025. He continues to be intentional in helping others, improving lives, and strengthening the fabric of the community. He sees the library as a dynamic place for tackling literacy challenges for people of all ages.
“The only thing missing from the library nowadays is signing that book checkout card. I used to love to see who else read the book.”
