What the Library Means To Jessica Suhr

Jessica Suhr is passionate about books, reading, and the Wichita Public library.

Jessica’s love of reading was inspired by her mother, Dana Hensley, a retired Wichita Collegiate School Head and founding member of Phillips Fundamental Learning Center. As a child, Jessica read so many books that her mother made regular trips to the Rockwell branch or downtown library. “Going to the library encouraged my love of learning from an early age,” she recalls.

Now a family law attorney at Ward Law, LLC, Jessica credits reading with helping her connect with clients from diverse backgrounds. “Reading helps you understand others and put yourself in someone else’s shoes,” she says. “It’s an important skill to have vocabulary and emotional intelligence to relate to people.”

Reading helps you understand others and put yourself in someone else’s shoes. It’s an important skill to have vocabulary and emotional intelligence to relate to people.”

Jessica serves on the Wichita Library Foundation Board of Directors, valuing the library as more than a place to borrow books. “The library offers technology, educational resources and community programs, making knowledge accessible. It’s a welcoming space for all, regardless of someone’s background.”

The library offers technology, educational resources and community programs, making knowledge accessible. It’s a welcoming space for all, regardless of someone’s background.”

A long-time member of the Junior League of Wichita, Jessica invited fellow members of the JLW book club to the VIP Meet and Great with author Kate Quinn at the Library. The author’s book, The Astral Library, was a recent selection of their book club as eight Junior League members attended the event.

Jessica travels with girlfriends who incorporate their love of reading by visiting the independent bookstores in the city. Jessica also enjoys discovering new bestselling authors when she attends events at Watermark Books & Café.

An avid reader across formats, Jessica consumes about seven audiobooks and 70+ physical books a year. Though her husband isn’t a reader himself, “he supports my habit”—he and his brother built custom glass and metal shelves for a home library.

Beyond reading, Jessica is active in community service: she chaired the Board of Directors for Rise Up for Youth and previously served on the Board of the Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).