From TED Talks and National Geographic to Ken Burns and the Royal Opera House, the Library is proud to bring you Access Video, your one-stop shop for all the best streaming educational videos on the Web.

Access Video offers a great mix of high-quality video in a simple, intuitive interface. You can browse for your favorite subjects like music & dance, business & economics or culinary arts, or simply browse what’s offered by your favorite video brands, including the History Channel, BBC and PBS. Access Video makes it easy to bookmark your favorites for later and build personalized playlists with the click of a button.

It’s free to stream Access Video with your Johnson County Library Card. Start watching now »

Are you still trying to get your hands on a copy of last summer’s blockbuster book? The Friends of Johnson County Library are here to help! The Sizzlin Summer Book Sale is June 5 - 8 at Metcalf South Shopping Center, with a special Friends of the Library Preview Sale on Tuesday, June 4, 6 - 9 p.m. Anyone can gain entry to the preview sale with a current Friends of the Library membership card — memberships are only $20 for an individual and $25 for a family membership. Join now online » or purchase a membership that night.

One of the region's largest and best used book sales, book lovers will find amazing deals on previously-owned books, audiobooks, VHS tapes, DVDs and more, most priced 50 cents to $3.00. Entry Wendesday — Sunday is free and open to the public.

Metcalf South Shopping Center
9635 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS 66212
Wednesday, June 5, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Thursday, June 6, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Friday, June 7, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturday, June 8, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Cash, check, Visa, MasterCard and Discover happily accepted. All proceeds from the book sale go toward supporting the Library and helping the Friends continue to promote and help the Library. For more information, call (913) 826-4301.

We see you all stocking up on Library books and heading to the pool, which can only mean one thing: Summer Reading is finally here! This year the Library’s Summer Reading Club is for ALL ages, which means that kids, teens and adults can all participate to win great prizes. Get started online right now, or visit us at any Johnson County Library location to participate the classic way with paper and pencil.

Summer Reading Club lasts from now until August 3, 2013, and the total amount you read is up to you. You can set your own goals to track the number of books, pages or hours you’ve read, and you can count comic books, magazines, eBooks, audiobooks and more. Read whatever you like best — we just want you to have fun reading this summer!

Readers in all age groups will be eligible to win prizes throughout the summer, and will also be entered in an end-of-summer grand prize drawing to win great incentives like tablet eReaders and SkyZone Jump Passes. For more information, call (913) 826-4600.

We are proud to offer Freegal, where you can download hundreds of thousands of pop, rock, country and classical songs from Sony Music.

• Download up to three songs each week that are yours to keep forever!
• Downloads are all in MP3 format that is compatible with any MP3 player, including iPod, and can be loaded into iTunes.
• Try the Freegal iPhone or Android app.
• New songs added daily!

Start listening now »

All you need is a Library card and PIN.

Your year-long quest for the perfect book bod continues this May with Mystery Boot Camp. Mysteries are works of fiction that ask readers to help solve a puzzle, and mystery fans are also often drawn to the charismatic and complex detectives at the heart of the investigation. And many character types have been allowed into the detective club over the years: police detective, private investigator, amateur detective, forensic scientist, government agent and even personified pet, to name a few. Many of today's mysteries are organized around this dual love of story and character.

Follow along with us on Facebook all month for mystery reading recommendations, quizzes, polls, infographics and discussion. All you need is a Facebook page — no extra sign-up necessary.

Kansas City Star’s Jim Fussell will talk with Jeff Matovic about their new book Ticked: A Medical Miracle, a Friendship and the Weird World of Tourette Syndrome.

When Jeff Matovic burst into the office of Dr. Robert Maciunas, he had very few options left. Matovic had suffered for years from Tourette Syndrome, his full-body spasms and outbursts getting progressively worse, to the point that he saw suicide as a viable option. Drugs, physical therapy, prayer — nothing was working. But Dr. Maciunas was a pioneer in deep brain stimulation (DBS), a new therapy that had worked to correct other brain disorders. Could it fix Matovic’s Tourette’s? All Matovic had to do was convince Dr. Maciunas that he was a perfect candidate for the procedure. That, and have several electrical leads — a "brain pacemaker" — implanted into his skull.

Author Jim Fussell is uniquely qualified to tell Matovic’s story — he suffers from Tourette Syndrome as well. Fussell’s job as a feature writer for the Kansas City Star brought him in contact with Oprah Winfrey, who first told him about Jeff Matovic, the "Miracle Man." As Fussell learned about Matovic’s remarkable journey, he vowed to seek him out. This is their story.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013
7 p.m.
Blue Valley Library
No registration required

Free and open to the public. For more information, call (913) 826-4600.

An interactive storytime for adults! Our new Page to Stage series uses creative arts therapies to help those experiencing memory loss.

Using the children's book Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool, participants will share in storytelling and theater-based activities triggering positive memories. This pilot program is cosponsored with Stratford Commons, a Memory Care Community.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013
10:30 a.m.
Blue Valley Library
No registration required

Free and open to the public. For more information, call (913) 826-4600.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2013 National Library Week Bookmark Design Contest! Together with the Library, the Friends of the Johnson County Library are pleased to announce the winners from each category:

• Preschool-Kindergarten: Ethan Yowono, 6, Olathe, KS
• Grades 1-2: Eleanor Glenn, 7, Overland Park, KS
• Grades 3-4: Tristen Bogart, 8, DeSoto, KS; Joy Haney, 8, Gardner, KS
• Grades 5-6: Melina Peshoff, 11, Leawood, KS; Thanh Thanh Nguyen, 11, Overland Park, KS
• Grades 7-8: Jamey Albert, 13, Leawood, KS; Allison Stewart, 13, Lenexa, KS
• Grades 9-12: Camille O’Leary, 16, Mission, KS
• Adults, ages 18 and up: Krista Gordon, Leawood, KS

See the winning designs »

The ten winners were selected from over 600 entries. Each of the 2013 winners will receive a $25 cash prize, gift certificates to the Friends of the Library book stores and copies of their bookmarks at the April 17, 2013, Awards Ceremony at 4 p.m. at the Central Resource Library during the Library Board Meeting.

The 2013 winning designs have been printed onto bookmarks and will be available at all Johnson County Library locations while supplies last. For more information call (913) 826-4301.

It's OK to be excited. We're now offering Naxos, the world's most extensive classical and jazz online music library.

• Over 80,000 classical discs and 1.2 million classical tracks
• Over 6,000 jazz discs and 65,000 jazz tracks
• Create personal playlists
• Try the Naxos Music Library iPhone App or Android app
• Naxos Music Library Jazz iPhone App also available

Start listening now »

All you need is a Library card and PIN.

Are you inspired by someone who makes Johnson County a better place? Say 'thank you' by nominating them for the Pinnacle Award.

The Pinnacle Award was launched by the Johnson County Library Foundation in 2002 to recognize excellence in the arts, and has since grown to include advocacy and public engagement, business and entrepreneurship and literacy and education. Each year, the Library Foundation honors community leaders — picked by you — who demonstrate excellence in these four areas.

The Library Foundation welcomes your nominations on their website. Nominations are open through Thursday, July 11, 2013. If you need help filling out the online form, please call (913) 495-7579 and our Foundation staff will be happy to help. All nominations will be considered by the Pinnacle Award committee, appointed by the Johnson County Library Foundation.

Pinnacle Award winners will be honored at the 2013 Pinnacle Award Recognition Dinner on Thursday, October 17, 2013. For information on Pinnacle event tickets and sponsorships, call (913) 495-7579.

Nominate someone who inspires you »

Did you know every square inc­h of skin has about 32 million bacteria on it? You can learn all about your health with our comprehensive medical database, Consumer Health Complete.

Here are five more unusual facts you might not already know about the human body:

• Tongue Print: Don’t stick out your tongue if you want to hide your identity. Similar to fingerprints, everyone also has a unique tongue print!
• Shedding: Your pet isn’t the only one in the house with a shedding problem. Humans shed about 600,000 particles of skin every hour. That works out to about 1.5 pounds each year, so the average person will lose around 105 pounds of skin by age 70.
• Sneeze Speed: The air from a human sneeze can travel at speeds of 100 miles per hour or more — another good reason to cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze — or duck when you hear one coming your way.
• Nail Growth: If you’re clipping your fingernails more often than your toenails, that’s only natural. The nails that get the most exposure and are used most frequently grow the fastest. Fingernails grow fastest on the hand that you write with and on the longest fingers. On average, nails grow about one-tenth of an inch each month.
• Need for sleep: If you say that you’re dying to get a good night’s sleep, you could mean that literally. You can go without eating for weeks without succumbing, but 11 days is tops for going without sleep. After 11 days, you’ll be asleep — forever!

Learn more about the human body and your health with Consumer Health Complete »

(facts source: http://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body)

Crushing on libraries? We think you’ll like our new tech savvy look. National Library Week is April 14-20, 2013, and we’re celebrating with our MakerSpace, eBooks and free music downloads.

In 2012 the Library had 2.52 million visitors to the 13 library locations, and 1.96 million virtual visits through the library’s webpage. That’s more than attended Royals, Chiefs and the Nelson Atkins combined!

But we’re keeping up with your demand for books and music you can download straight to your phones and tablets, too:

• eBooks: 4,600 titles available to download straight to your phone or tablet.
• eMusic: millions of free songs through Freegal. You can download up to 3 tracks per week, and then you own them forever!
• MakerSpace: a collaborative space at the Central Resource Library with cool equipment including a 3-D printer, recording studio, green screen, sewing machine and much more.
• And coming soon… eMagazines through Zinio which will let you download over 250 popular magazines straight to your phone or tablet.

During his 18 years playing for the Royals, Frank White became a beloved figure in Kansas City. He appeared in five All-Star games, won eight Gold Glove awards for fielding and batted cleanup in the 1985 World Series.

In One Man’s Dream: My Town, My Team, My Time, White reflects on his long-time career in baseball before his messy split with the Royals in 2011. Join us for an evening of White’s stories and anecdotes about his legacy hitting a World Series homerun, being the premier second baseman of his generation and becoming a Kansas City legend.

Saturday, April 27, 2013
2 p.m.
Central Resource Library
Registration requested »

Free and open to the public. For more information, call (913) 826-4600.

What do you want for the future of Johnson County Library? We’re itching to know! Help us shape our next strategic plan by sharing your vision, reading what community members are saying and joining the Library Conversation. Let the ideas begin»

These previously scheduled classes have been canceled. If you would like assistance with eBooks, please contact us. We will be happy to schedule a time for an in-depth consultation.

We all know how hard it can be to say goodbye to our old books. Rest assured your gently used books will find a great home when you donate them to the Library.

The Friends of Johnson County Library operate two bookstores, one at Antioch Library and one at Blue Valley Library, where bookworms can find amazing deals on previously-owned books, audiobooks, VHS tapes, DVDs and more. Bookstore proceeds support the Library, and better yet, all book donations are 100% tax deductible.

T.S. Eliot may have called April the cruelest month, but it’s National Poetry Month and we’re celebrating here at Johnson County Library by reading a new poem every day. Visit our poetry page for a new poem each day in April penned by poets from The Writers Place.

And although it will be cruel to bid farewell to April, the Library will stick around to help you get your poetry fix year-round. Our partnership with the phenomenal Writers Place regional literary community center includes poetry readings at the Central Resource Library every third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m., and we’re also pretty proud of our 4,000-volume poetry collection.

Help the mountain goat bounce to the top of the mountain!
Move the goat left and right using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
Make the goat jump by pressing the space bar.
The game takes a few seconds to load and requires Flash to be enabled in your browser.

Play Goat Bounce at GamingHouse – Have fun with flash games

In 1977, the opening number for episode 217 of The Muppet Show featured Julie Andrews and The Muppets
in an endearing performance of "The Lonely Goatherd" from Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music.

Yes, we do realize there are also sheep in this video, but we don't think that makes in any less hilarious. Want to know more about goats? Check out The Field Guide to Goats!

Taylor Swift knew you were a goat when you walked in...

Your year-long quest for the perfect book bod continues this April with Romance Boot Camp. Stories of adventure and love existed during the earliest times, and those from the Middle Ages came to be called romances. Today, it's the comfort of knowing everything will work out in the end that draws romance readers back to this dreamy, steamy genre again and again.

Follow along with us on Facebook all month for Romance reading recommendations, quizzes, polls, infographics and discussion. All you need is a Facebook page — no extra sign-up necessary.

Beginning Tuesday, March 26, 2013, the Library is bringing our popular 6 by 6 Storytimes to Mill Creek Activity Center on Vista Drive in western Shawnee. Each 20 minute storytime will feature short stories, songs and fingerplays for children 0-5 years old accompanied by an adult.

Tuesdays, March 26 — April 30, 2013
9 a.m.
Mill Creek Activity Center
6518 Vista Drive, Shawnee, KS
No registration required

Free and open to the public. For more information, call (913) 826-4600.

Have you been curious about 3-D printers or hankering for a green screen? Got a homegrown movie in the works if only you could get your hands on Adobe Creative Suite or Final Cut Pro? What about that abandoned soldering project or your DIY sewing scheme?

Come try our brand-new MakerSpace at Some Disassembly Required, a recurring meetup where you get to take stuff apart at the Library. Bring in your old electronics and see how they work, what parts you can retrieve that are useful and how to make cool stuff with what’s inside. We recommend bringing along a little extra concentration, patience and curiosity to discover what makes things tick.

Thursday, April 4, 2013
4 p.m.
Central Resource Library
Registration requested »

Free and open to the public. For more information, call (913) 826-4600.

Fans of prehistoric sea creatures (and aren’t we all!), we’ve got a special afternoon lined up for you at Lackman Library. Did you know that Kansas fossils are famous in major museums around the world? Many spectacular fossils have been exported from Kansas since the late 1860s, especially by Kansan Charlie Sternberg and his sons, who pioneered many of the basic paleontology methods used today.

Michael Everhart, an expert on prehistoric sea creatures of western Kansas, will bring show-and-tell to explain how the Sternbergs preserved and prepared the remains of Kansas fossils including mosasaurs, plesiosaurs and pterosaurs. Everhart is the author of Sea Monsters: Prehistoric Creatures of the Deep and Oceans of Kansas, and he also served as an advisor for the 2007 National Geographic IMAX film, Sea Monsters.

This program is provided by the Kansas Humanities Council. Free and open to the public – older children, adults and families will enjoy!

Saturday, April 6, 2013
2 p.m.
Lackman Library
No registration required

For more information, call (913) 826-4600.

When author-illustrator Nathan Hale wrote his graphic novel Big Bad Ironclad! A Civil War Steamship Showdown, he made one huge mistake. After careful research and fact-checking, he used a map of the states in 1861 that incorrectly identified Kansas as part of the Confederacy.

When our librarians got in touch with Mr. Hale to set the record straight, he immediately offered to travel to Kansas for an Official Apology Ceremony to remedy his hazardous fail.

Nathan Hale will appear at Lackman Library during the monthly Guys Read Book Club. After the Official Apology Ceremony, he will demonstrate his drawing techniques, explain how he creates graphic novels like Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales and share a bit of history.

Thursday, April 11, 2013
6:30 p.m.
Lackman Library
No registration required

The Library will serve refreshments and give away door prizes. Help us accept his apology on behalf of the state of Kansas – everyone welcome! For more information, call (913) 826-4600.

Johnson County Library is restoring Wednesday and Friday hours!

In 2012, due to staffing shortages brought on by Johnson County’s 2011 Voluntary Retirement Incentive Program, all Library locations began closing Wednesdays at 5 p.m., and Cedar Roe Library began closing on Fridays.

Starting Wednesday, March 20, 2013, all Johnson County Library locations will once again be open on Wednesday evenings during their regular weekday hours and Cedar Roe Library will be open Fridays from from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

We’ve missed you and can’t wait to see you again. See the new hours for all locations »

The Caldecott Medal just turned 75 years old, and we’re celebrating by taking characters from Caldecott Medal-winning books and creating totally new stories with them!

On day one of this two-day mashup event, we’ll look at some of our favorite books that have won the Caldecott Medal and play a game to help pick the characters we want to mashup. On day two, we’ll use all sorts of art supplies to create illustrations for the mashup stories we wrote.

Wednesday and Thursday, March 20 - 21, 2013
2 p.m.
Corinth Library
Registration requested »

Snacks provided both days, because what would a celebration be without delicious snacks? Free and open to anyone grades 4-12. For more information, call (913) 826-4600.

Have you ever wanted to visit Papua New Guinea, the Czech Republic or Singapore? CultureGrams takes you on a fascinating visual tour of the world’s countries, and all you need is a Library card and PIN.

CultureGrams helps students and hobbyists explore photos, videos, slideshows, interviews, recipes, flags, greetings and national anthems from around the globe. And for the true geography wonks, CultureGrams offers nitty-gritty details like graphs, tables, currency calculators, world time clocks, climate facts, economic data and more.

Includes special tours just for kids plus in-depth tours of the United States and Canada.

Start exploring »

If you’ve got a soft-spot for teen lit, it would be a travesty for you to miss our discussion of Stephen Chbosky’s beautiful and angsty classic, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And even more good news: our Teen Lit Club meets the fourth Thursday of every month at Corinth Library to chat about the latest and buzziest in teen lit.

In The Perks of Being a Wallflower, high schooler Charlie stands on the fringes of life writing unique, hilarious and devastating letters. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it, he is put on a strange course through the uncharted territory of first dates, mix tapes, family dramas and new friends.  Through Charlie, Stephen Chbosky has created a deeply affecting coming-of-age story.

Thursday, March 28, 2013
7 p.m.
Corinth Library
No registration required.

Open to all who love teen novels, regardless of your actual age. (Also, snacks!)  For more information, call (913) 826-4600.

Kids get to make stuff in this MakerSpace and Children's Book Week mashup! We've set aside a whole Saturday to create puppets, music, stories, illustrations, videos and even a play with props and costumes. Come get your hands on tools in our new MakerSpace and throughout the Library.

Free and open to the public; recommended especially for K-6th graders and their families.

Saturday, May 11, 2013
10 a.m. — 4 p.m.
Central Resource Library

Registration requested for some sessions that have limited space. Check individual program listings or call (913) 836-4600.

Kids from Johnson County and around the world have created artwork to wrap around a real rocket! Up to 8,000 artworks will eventually be connected side by side to wrap the 365′ Saturn V Moon Rocket replica at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. Meanwhile, artwork from the final exhibit is traveling to museums and libraries around the world.

Stop by Antioch, Blue Valley, Cedar Roe, Central, Corinth, Gardner, Lackman and Leawood Libraries all through March to see the Johnson County debut of this international Dream Rocket Project exhibit!

For more information, call (913) 826-4600.

A poetry event like no other! The Barn Players of Mission, Kan., present a free matinée of Frost and Friends, an original production of dramatized readings including beloved poets Robert Frost, Carl Sandburg, Virginia Woolf, Emily Dickinson and Dorothy Parker, complete with musical accompaniment.

Sunday, April 14, 2013
2 p.m.
Central Resource Library
No registration required.

Brought to you by Actor's Choice – an elite group of Senior Barn Players – and followed by an interactive discussion with the director. Free and open to the public. For more information, call (913) 826-4600.

March is Horror Boot Camp! For all of you whose New Year’s resolutions involve more good books and less sweat, we're bringing you a full year of Book Boot Camp.

Follow along with us on Facebook this year for introductions to genre essentials, from Horror to Romance to Historical Fiction. Each month we’re suggesting books, posting quizzes and infographics and generally stirring up discussion. All you need is a Facebook page; no extra sign-up necessary.

In March we bring you Horror.  The Horror genre elicits feelings of fear through an atmosphere of menace with a dark and foreboding tone, frequently dipping into the supernatural or paranormal to access the natural human fear of the unknown. Scared yet?

Your challenge: pick three Horror novels to beef up on. Here are 15 of our favorite classic Horror essentials»

Teens, say “action” on your own Oscar-worthy Lego stop-motion animation short. Learn how to storyboard your ideas, light and shoot your own video and edit using the Library’s brand new Makerspace.

Attend a class on storyboarding your idea and prepare for filming on Friday afternoon. Then schedule time on Saturday to sit in the director’s seat and take a small group workshop to film and edit your video. Teen directors may work alone or in small groups to make their 15-second video.

Friday, March 15, 2013, 1 p.m.
Saturday, March 16, 2013, all day
Central Resource Library
Registration requested»

Free and open to teens grades 6 and up. For more information, call (913) 826-4600.

Storytimes are coming to the Mill Creek Activity Center! More details will be announced soon!

Once upon a time...

Johnson County Library encourages developing literacy skills right from birth. To this end, the Library regularly offers storytimes for children ages six and under. Storytimes entertain, educate and foster family and community relationships, and are developed by Library staff with specific literacy and educational goals in mind. Stories are usually read by Library staff, but special guests have been known to make appearances.

And we all live happily ever after.

Those who live or work in Johnson County can now sign up to receive important information about locations they care about through NotifyJoCo, a free public notification system which communicates emergency information through phone, text and email messages to members of the community. Emergency notifications will be sent in cases needing an immediate response, such as tornado warnings, blizzards, evacuation notices and public health alerts.

To use the system, go to www.NotifyJoCo.org to register your personal contact preferences. You will be asked to provide your contact information. All information provided will be kept confidential and only used to contact you about emergencies and topics in which you have expressed interest.

Launch your future with free career classes at the Central Resource Library.

February and March are jam-packed with classes taught by local career professionals and CEOs on rebooting your resume, scoring an interview, connecting with executives, networking, transitioning careers and more. For more information, call (913) 826-4600.

Sign up now for one of the Library’s many free career offerings »

Stressed about paying for school? Sign up for a free College Financial Aid Basics class at the Central Resource Library.

Benjamin Howard, student services professional at Johnson County Community College, will teach of the basics of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as well as some tips and tricks to help you get the maximum support to start your future.

Free and open to the public. For more information, call (913) 826-4600.

Monday, March 4, 2013
7 p.m.
Central Resource Library
Registration requested»

Teammates from McPherson, Kan., led the U.S. to the podium at the very first Olympic basketball game, winning gold at the same game where James Naismith was honored for inventing the sport and Hitler was hoping for a German win.

Come view a short documentary of the Kansas teammates' amazing experience at the controversial Berlin Olympics. A discussion will follow led by Eric Monder, a documentary filmmaker from Bethany College.

This program is provided by the Kansas Humanities Council. Free and open to the public – older children, adults and families will enjoy!

Lackman Library will have extended hours on Wednesday, March 6 to accomodate this event. For more information, call (913) 826-4600.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013
7 p.m.
Lackman Library
No registration required.

Have you ever thought about writing your life experiences down on paper, or recording them so the next generation will be able to experience and enjoy their heritage? By passing along your stories, you can make a lasting contribution to future generations.

Come join our librarians, Bethany and Hannah Jane, as they provide the inspiration, encouragement and examples of how to create your own legacy and have a great time doing it.

This event is recommended for adults and is free and open to the public. For more information, call (913) 826-4600.

Tuesday, March 5
2 p.m.
Corinth Library
Registration requested»

Dr. Seuss’s birthday is March 2, and Overland Park is celebrating with a two-day Read Across America read-a-thon at Oak Park Mall on Friday and Saturday March 1-2, 2013. Join the Library and lots of other local businesses for storytimes, games, crafts, prizes and Dr. Seuss hats throughout the Mall.

If you’d like to donate books for Read Across America, donations made at Oak Park Mall will go to the NICU floor and waiting rooms at Overland Park Regional Medical Center. You can find Medical Center staff at the Mall on March 1-2, or you can donate books directly to the Mall throughout March.

This event is made possible by the National Education Association, which is building a nation of readers through its signature program, NEA’s Read Across America. Now in its 16th year, this year-round program focuses on motivating children and teens to read through events, partnerships, and reading resources.

Author Walter Dean Myers is visiting our Library, and we’re celebrating with a special storytime at the Central Resource Library on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013 at 6 p.m., with time afterward to play in our Interactive Early Literacy Space. All ages welcome.

You can also register to meet Myers at a free dinner and presentation Monday, Feb. 11, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. 

In Looking Like Me by Walter Dean Myers, young Jeremy sets out to discover who he is through the eyes of those around him, including brother, son, writer, dancer, and dreamer. As dizzying possibilities emerge, Jeremy learns to walk tall and proud. During this storytime, kids will build the important early literacy skill to Take Time to Rhyme.

Myers is an award-winning African-American author with a message to youth that they can achieve their dreams despite any odds against them.

Following the storytime, Walter Dean Myers will be at the Library to introduce the 10th issue of the teen zine elementia in a special reception at 7 p.m.

For more information, call (913) 826-4600.

Tuesday, Feb. 12
6 p.m.
Central Resource Library
No registration required.

We are proud to offer Freegal, where you can download hundreds of thousands of pop, rock, country and classical songs from Sony Music.

• Download up to three songs each week that are yours to keep!
• Downloads are all in MP3 format that is compatible with any MP3 player, including iPod, and can be loaded into iTunes.
• Try the Freegal iPhone or Android app.
• New songs added daily!

Start listening now »

All you need is a Library card and PIN.

Small business owners, the Library is here for you! Try out some of our small business research tools instead of hiring a consultant. Or go to your consultant meeting fully informed and prepared. Some examples of what we have to offer:

Where to advertise
Advertising RedBooks

Find advertising agencies and how companies spending their marketing dollars.

Where to market or set up shop
Demographics Now
Get data you can use -- income, housing, age, consumer expenditures and more.

What’s going on in my local market
Kansas City Business Journal
The premier source for local business news.

Targeting and contacting potential clients
ReferenceUSA
One of the Library's most popular sources! Build lists of potential consumers and businesses.

Business basics
Small Business Reference Center
Find interviews, lectures, video tutorials, help in creating business plans, and other resources for small businesses, including full-text books from NOLO.

More business tools can be found in Business » 

All you need is a Library card and PIN »

Your year-long quest for the perfect book bod continues this February with Teen Fiction Boot Camp. This is one of the fastest-growing, most widely-read genres, which makes perfect sense to us. We can’t resist a good coming-of-age or problem-solving story, and the fast clip is a nice perk, too.

Follow along with us on Facebook all month for Teen Fiction book suggestions, quizzes, polls, infographics and discussion. All you need is a Facebook page — no extra sign-up necessary.

Now: drop and give us 20!»

elementia, the Johnson County teen art and literature magazine, is releasing its 10th issue. Our 10th anniversary reception will feature an introduction from noted young adult author Walter Dean Myers. Join us as we congratulate the 43 authors and seven artists featured in the special 10th anniversary issue.

Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013
7 p.m.
Central Resource Library
No registration required.

The elementia reception will feature an introduction by Walter Dean Myers, reading by the published authors and a performance of an excerpt of Walter Dean Myers's novel Street Love.

Cover design by Ayah Abdul Rauf.

Press release

JoCoHistory has grown to a collection of approximately 50,000 digital objects related to the history of Johnson County, including:

• vintage photographs, 
• historical atlases, 
• aerial views,
• obituaries and
• articles and essays.

JoCoHistory continues to grow, expanding its collection of obituaries from Kansas City and Johnson County, newspapers dating from the late 19th century to the present, such as The Country Squire, and adding to its index of local newspapers.

In addition to searching across the rich offerings of JoCoHistory, visitors  can rate and comment on items, which helps us improve the collections.

Current participants in the JoCoHistory project include:

• Johnson County Museum,
• Johnson County Library,
• Olathe Public Library,
• Johnson County Archives,
• Kansas School for the Deaf,
• Overland Park Historical Society and
• Lenexa Historical Society.

JoCoHistory launched in October of 2006 with funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and has been sustained by grants from the Johnson County Heritage Trust Fund and continuing participation of partner organizations.

Gil Cohen-Magen is an Israeli photojournalist whose photographs have graced the front pages of some of the world's leading newspapers and magazines. He will deliver his provocative lecture Shooting Under Fire at the Corinth Library on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013 at 3 p.m.

This lecture addresses the challenges that Cohen-Magen faced as a photographer with the international news agency Reuters and raises questions about journalistic reporting and ethics.

Cohen-Magen is also the author of Hassidic Courts, which contains exclusive images of the Hassidic communities in Israel. Visit Gil Cohen-Magen's website»

For more information, call (913) 826-4600.

Wednesday, Feb. 6
3 p.m.
Corinth Library
No registration required.

Did you know you can get your Library fix on social media? We can't wait to show you what we've been up to on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and YouTube. Follow us for daily updates about books, movies, news, arts and culture by Dave, Joe, Kate and Rachel.

We've also got expert recommendations just for you on our Staff Picks Blogs, as well as Librarians on-call to field your questions through live chat.

Still wanting more? Head over to our catalog for social features like ratings, reviews and comments.  We're crazy about it, and we think you just might like it, too.

For all of you whose New Year’s resolutions involve more good books and less sweat: we bring you Book Boot Camp.

Follow along with us on Facebook all year for introductions to genre essentials, from Horror to Romance to Historical Fiction. Each month we’ll suggest books, post polls, and generally stir up discussion. All you need is a Facebook page; no extra sign-up necessary.

Do you walk the same path to the same stacks every visit? Are you constantly checking to see if you favorite authors have a new book only to find yourself disappointed? Don’t get stuck in a reading rut!

We have developed reading lists to help you push your boundaries and explore new genres or ideas. Some lists encourage you to challenge your political ideas, others help you to try out a new book that shares many elements with stories you already love. There’s never a need to walk home from the Library empty handed. You never know when you’ll have the excitement of finding another amazing new book where you least expected it.

Push your boundaries with these recommendations:

• Forgotten Holiday Stories and Films
• Black and White Films That Never Grow Old
• Short Fiction for the Attention Challenged
• Science Fiction for Mystery Lovers
• Fiction for Lovers of Nonfiction
• Literature in Translation
• Horror for the Squeamish
• Liberal Books for Conservatives
• Conservative Books for Liberals
• Self Help That Doesn't Suck

Looking to pick up some books, audiobooks, video tapes and DVDs at rock-bottom prices? Would you like to help out the Library at the same time? The Friends of the Johnson County Library operate two bookstores, one at the Antioch Library and one at the Blue Valley Library, where you can find amazing deals on previously-owned books, audiobooks, VHS tapes, DVDs and more. The sales from the bookstores go towards supporting the Library and helping the Friends continue to promote and help the Library.

Find out more about the bookstores at the Friends of the Library Web page.

The holidays are over, and that means... HOMEWORK! But don't worry, the Library is here to help you. K-12 students can meet with live homework coaches for free at the Central Resource Library on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

As always, we also offer our Homework Help website 24 hours a day with subject guides, links to Library and Web resources, practice tests and more.

Homework Coaches at the Central Resource Library

Jan. 3 - May 16, 2013
Monday: 4 - 7 p.m.
Tuesday: 4 - 7 p.m.
Thursday: 4 - 7 p.m.

Closed on school holidays including Spring Break, March 18-21.

We have great news: if you use an eReader, tablet or smartphone, we have eBooks for you! Now you can download popular fiction and non-fiction for adults and kids from our super easy-to-browse Magic Wall.

Some of our favorite features include:

• • Check out up to three titles at a time.
• • Check out for a maximum of two weeks.
• • Sync between multiple devices – start reading on your home computer and finish on your smartphone.
• • Some titles have audiobook-quality narration.
• • eBook Help Sessions available from expertly trained Librarians.

It’s totally free, and all you need is your Library card and PIN. 

Get started now »

Press release

38 Nobel Prize winners contribute to AccessScience, a leading library resource that connects students and professionals to world-class scientific information. AccessScience is an authoritative, easy-to-use gateway to scientific knowledge, from basic introductory material to extended articles in key areas including biology, Earth and environmental sciences, chemistry, physics, and beyond.

We think you’ll enjoy its more than 9,000 articles, 16,000 vivid color images, videos, and animations, intriguing biographies of nearly 3,000 well-known scientists, 110,000+ scientific definitions, and a handy study center with Q&As, study guides, biographies, and essay topics.

Start learning from AccessScience for free now »

All you need is a Library card and PIN.

The Johnson County Library and Friends of the Library want you to break out your colored pencils, pens, paints or markers to design our bookmarks.

• All ages!
• Ten winners!
• Win a cash prize!
• Be recognized in a special ceremony!

Winning designs will become printed bookmarks. They’ll be available to everyone and you’ll find them at all Library locations this summer.

Get your entries turned into any Johnson County Library location by Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. Get your entry forms as early as Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013 at the Central Resource Library.

Press release

Special message to those fortunate to receive a new smartphone or gadget this holiday seaon, try our mobile app available for Android smartphones and iPhone.

With the mobile app you can find books and DVDs, manage Your Account and read reviews.

Features include:

• Quickly and accurately search the collection;
• Get details on any title including descriptions and community comments;
• Check a title’s availability – even map the locations where it is currently available;
• Place holds;
• Manage your account: check to see if holds are ready, renew titles, suspend holds, or instantly see upcoming due dates;
• Add titles to your “For Later” list;
• Browse bestsellers, new titles and recent reviews;
• Check neighborhood library hours and get directions to the nearest Johnson County Library location.

Visit our mobile apps page to download the application or call (913) 826-4600 for more information.

Wondering what to read next? At Johnson County Library, we pride ourselves on recommending books, audiobooks, movies, TV shows and music to you. We love it when someone asks us, "What's a good book you recommend?"

Our Staff Picks blog features reviews of books, movies and more. The blog is updated daily with insightful reviews of popular and unjustly overlooked works. The reviews also get posted to Twitter and Facebook.

If you're looking for a cozy winter read, our Staff Picks blog has great recommendations!

College financial aid on your mind? The Library has resources to help those moving forward with the sometimes complicated financial aid process. Join Benjamin Howard, student services professional at Johnson County Community College, to learn the basics of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (aka the FAFSA) as well as some tips and tricks to make sure that you get the maximum support available to pursue an education.

College Financial Aid Basics
Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2012
7 - 8:30 p.m.
Central Resource Library
Register online or by calling (913) 826-4600

The Johnson County Library will host the Kansas Junior Duck Stamp art exhibit at neighborhood libraries during December and January. The top 36 Junior Duck Stamp entries – including the Best of Show, plus the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winning entries - from Kansas youth will be on display at the following locations:

Monday Dec. 3 – Monday Dec. 31, 2012
Corinth Library
Shawnee Library

Wednesday Jan. 2 – Wednesday Jan. 30, 2013
Antioch Library
Blue Valley Library

Press release

We have an easy way to pay your Library fines: Pay Online! You can now pay your Library fines from home, work, school or wherever you're online.

All you need is your Library card number and PIN and a credit or debit card (Visa, MasterCard and Discover). It's easy, fast, convenient and secure!

Teens and kids in your life who love to read? Whether you are trying to decide what to check out next or find a last minute stocking stuffer, Kate, Dennis and Debbie can help!

Kate McNair, Teens' Librarian, Dennis Ross, Children's Librarian, and Debbie McLeod, Former Children's Collection Selector (the one who buys all the books) will offer suggestions and take questions from callers during Steve Kraske's radio show Up to Date.

• Kate's Recommendations for Teens
• Dennis's Recommendations for Kids
• Debbie's Recommendations for Kids

Tune in
Up to Date on KCUR
11 a.m.
Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012
Listen online or over the air on 89.3 FM

Looking for a job? Exploring career options? We have a wealth of resources to help you assess your skills, improve your resume, find job openings, research potential employers, locate job clubs and more.

Librarians will share several online resources to help you research your next career move and tour the Central Resource Library.

Join us
Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012
10 - 11: 30 a.m.
Central Resource Library
Registration not required

Little Pim offers free online language learning lessons intended for children from ages 0 - 6. Choose a language like English, Spanish, German - among many other options - and watch simple, fun, easy-to-understand lessons that children will enjoy.

Users have the option to log in and save their lesson progress by creating a username and password through Mango.

All you need is a Library card and PIN.

Try Little Pim today »

For as little as $25, you can give a personalized and creative gift. Give a Gift, Give a Book allows you to donate new media to the Library’s collection in honor of someone special. A made-to-order bookplate featuring your honoree’s name will be inserted into the item, and we’ll send you a special certificate celebrating your gift.

The Johnson County Library Foundation and you make it possible to give a gift that will touch many lives.

Give today »

Johnson County Library is the place for books. Old books, new books, classic books and books that make you think. If your roof starts leaking, you call an expert. If you car breaks down, you call a mechanic. Why shouldn't book suggestions be the same? We are experts on books: books similar to your favorite book, books that you might not hear about from booksellers and mainstream reviewers, books that make you cry and, of course, books that make you laugh out loud.

To get you started, we've pulled together a list of ten books that will blow your mind »

Read them all? Contact us for a recommendation today.

Angels at Sunset is local author Tom Mach's latest book. He visits the Leawood Pioneer Library to talk about it and discuss the 19th century women's suffrage movement as well. Tom wrote his first novel when he was 17 years old. In addition to Angels at Sunset, Mach has written six novels and has received the Nelson Poetry Book Award.  For more information call (913) 826-4600.

Saturday, Dec. 8
11 a.m.
Leawood Pioneer Library
No registration required.

Press release

Get Connected. Volunteer.

Do you have two to three hours available once a week? Get Connected. Volunteer. You can make a difference at any one of 13 different locations. You can help keep your library strong!

Johnson County Library has flexible hours to meet your schedule. Work a regular schedule each week or sign up for special projects. Positions may be available at any of the 13 library locations, at our Friends of the Library Sorting Facility or with Outreach Services. General volunteers must be at least 14 years old.

To learn more about volunteering at Johnson County Library contact Volunteer Services at (913) 826-4302, by email or visit the volunteer photo gallery.

Davy Rothbart has a new book of humorous personal essays, My Heart is an Idiot, and we are bringing him here to celebrate! This co-founder of Found magazine, and This American Life contributor, will read from his book that shares his habit of falling hopelessly in love much too easily. He will also present a collection of "found stuff" like love letters, to-do lists, poetry on napkins and other odd doodles the magazine’s staff gathers from all across America. Davy’s brother, Peter Rothbart, will perform music based on some of the Found finds! 

Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012
2 p.m.
Central Resource Library
Registration is recommended and ends Friday, Nov. 30 at 10 a.m.

The votes are in and we have a winner! But who? Did you fly high and vote for Fly Guy? Was Bad Kitty your purrrrrrrfect candidate? Vote for Oragami Yoda, did you? Or was Pete just TOO cool? You don’t have to wait any longer!

You elected Bad Kitty and Baby Mouse the 2012 Vote for Books President!

Read the books of ALL the candidates!

Books from the Presidential and Vice-presidential Candidates:

1. Pete the Cat and Big Nate
2. Origami Yoda and Scaredy Squirrel
3. Fly Guy and Ladybug Girl
4. Bad Kitty and Baby Mouse

Has it been awhile since you updated your resume? Are you not getting the interviews for the jobs you’re interested in? Do you use the same resume for every job application? Join professional development consultant Efren Mojica of "All About You Consulting" to learn how to enhance your resume to be impactful, dynamic, eye catching and unique to better position you for job hunting success.

Monday, Nov. 26, 2012
6:30 - 8 p.m.
Central Resource Library
No registration required.

Questions? Contact us.

It is never too early for your child to develop a love of books and reading. In fact, having fun with books is one of the six crucial early literacy skills. Storytimes are a great way for your child to develop early literacy skills, create a love of reading and a have chance to interact with other children. We have storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers at many of our neighborhood libraries.

Join us! You might even discover a few new favorite children’s books. Storytimes continue through most of November. There will be no storytimes in December, but they will resume in January.

County Librarian Sean Casserley receives a check in the amount of $219.26 from Runza Restaurant Manager Doug Nations. The Mission, Kan. restaurant recently donated proceeds from a Great Books for Great Kids fundraiser day to the Johnson County Library for the purchase of children's books. Over the past nine years, Runza Restaurants have donated more than $225,000 to local libraries and school through the Great Books for Great Kids program.

Thanks to Runza for their support of the Library and their efforts to get books into the hands of young readers in our community.

Johnson County Library is thrilled to present a panel of Kansas-based young adult authors discussing their inspiration, their writing process and the novels themselves.

Gennifer Albin’s novel, Crewel, the first in a trilogy, has been described as Mad Men meets The Hunger Games, and features a sci-laced romance set against a backdrop of 1940s-era Art Deco. See reviews and excerpts of Crewel on Amazon.

Lenore Appelhans’s novel, Level Two (forthcoming), is a speculative work set in the liminal space between our world and what comes after, featuring a heroine who may or may not be the key to stopping an uprising within the afterlife. CBS films has already purchased the motion picture rights. See advance reviews for Level Two on Amazon. And see how the stunning book jacket was created on YouTube.

The panel will be moderated by Bethany Hagen, author of Landry Park (forthcoming). Refreshments will be served.

Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012
7 p.m.
Central Resource Library
No registration required.

The Johnson County Library is calling for entries of original photography, artwork, fiction and poetry from teens, grades 6-12 for the 10th issue of elementia.

Our annual elementia reception this year will honor current and past writers and feature award winning author and current Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Walter Dean Myers. In honor of his visit, elementia will be featuring original works based on the books of Walter Dean Myers.

Deadline for all submissions: Monday, Dec. 3, 2012.

Submission Guidelines

• We accept poetry, fiction, nonfiction, graphic stories, photography and illustrations.
• Submissions must be original work and must be accompanied by a submission form.
• Forms will be available at the library and here on this page.
• All written submissions must be typed, contain no graphics, in 12-point Garamond font.
• Only one submission form is needed, but each poem submission should be on its own piece of paper.
• Submitters will be notified by Tuesday, January 15, 2013.

Special Walter Dean Myers Theme

Steps for Submitting a Walter Dean Myers themed entry:

• Read a Walter Dean Myers book!


Then:

• Write a poem from a character's point of view.


OR

• Paint a picture that captures a scene from one of his books.


OR

• Write an essay reflecting on the themes presented in one of his books.

Submission form

It's easy to get legal forms online using Gale Legal Forms. Find forms to modify and print on topics like:

• divorce
• wills and estates
• landlord/tenant
• bankruptcy
• powers of attorney
• business

All you need is a Library card and PIN.

Local author, Greg Kincaid, is coming to the Corinth Library to talk about his latest book, A Christmas Home, his life and work. Kincaid's recent works explore the value of pet adoption and a pet's contribution to its family.

Kincaid has also championed reading and the role of storytelling for troubled youth. As part of his commitment, he introduced the Changing Lives Through Literature program to Kansas. This innovative program brings together teen offenders, a judge, a probation officer and an English teacher or librarian to discuss stories. Kincaid describes this program as "essentially a very structured book club offered as an alternative to jail." Talking about books can be invaluable therapy and teach lifelong lessons.

Please join us.
Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012
2 - 4 p.m.
Corinth Library
No registration necessary

About GovFest

Did you know there are government and nonprofit agencies available to help businesses start and grow for little or no cost? GovFest brings these agencies together, providing easy access for the beginning entrepreneur or the small business seeking help to grow. Representatives from local agencies will attend this year's event to staff an exhibit hall and deliver targeted programs. Learn More »

Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Central Resource Library
Free and open to the public. No registration necessary

Programs - GovFest 2012

Press release

Pick up used books and audiovisual materials for all ages and interests at bargain prices. And support the Library and the Friends of the Johnson County Library at the same time.

Friends of the Library Preview Sale
Wednesday, Nov. 7
6 - 9 p.m.
Current Friends of the Library membership card required for this sale. Memberships are only $20 for an individual and $25 for a family membership. Join now online » or purchase a membership that night.

BIG Fall Book Sale
Thursday, Nov. 8, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 9, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 10, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Metcalf South Shopping Center
9635 Metcalf
Overland Park, KS

Join us for the bargains!

• Adult paperbacks - $1
• Adult hardbacks - $2
• Audiovisual materials - 50 cents to $3
• Youth paperbacks - 50 cents
• Youth hardbacks - $1

A Special Priced Room includes vintage, collectibles, art and coffee table books, books sets, autographed copies and ephemera all individually priced.

Cash and credit cards accepted.

Press release

Join us for a discussion of Steve Paul’s new book, Architecture A-Z: an Elemental, Alphabetical Guide to Kansas City’s Built Environment, an illustrated collection of his columns that have appeared in the Kansas City Star Magazine. 

With a keen and creative eye, Paul takes readers into nooks and crannies and beneath the surface of well-known buildings, places and spaces. Through more than 200 photographs and detailed descriptions, he invites readers to look at our surroundings with a new awareness of history and detail exploring the endless variety and place-making influences of architecture.

Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012
2 - 3 p.m.
Jewish Community Center's Heritage Center
5801 W. 115th St.
Overland Park, KS 66211
No registration required.
For more information, contact (913) 826-4600, ext. 64382

Co-sponsored by Johnson County Library, Jewish Community Center's Heritage Center, Jewish Family Services Help@Home and Kansas City Star Books.

About the author
Steve Paul has been a writer and editor at The Kansas City Star since 1975. A native of Boston and a graduate of the University of Missouri – Kansas City, he also has been actively engaged in Ernest Hemingway studies. He is co-editor of an essay collection about Hemingway's early years, War & Ink, forthcoming from Kent State University Press, and editor of Kansas City Noir.

Event flyer (PDF) 

Ever wonder where the pork chop is on a pig? At the Johnson County Library you will have a chance to see, in person, how a pig is butchered. Join us at the Central Resource Library for a one of a kind program as we bring in a half hog into the library for a live demonstration on Saturday Nov. 3, 2 - 4 p.m.

The Johnson County Library will be presenting butchers from Local Pig to demonstrate how to butcher a half hog and to discuss locally sourced products and humanely raised meats. The demonstration will be led by Alex Pope a butcher, charcuterier and a co-owner of Local Pig an old-world style artisanal meat cutting and sausage shop. Learn more »

Saturday, Nov. 3
2 - 4 p.m. 
Central Resource Library
Registration not required

Press release

It’s time to Vote for Books! Kids, you can choose from 4 pairs of Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates. And the voting has begun. Drop in during library hours to vote for your favorite book characters and get a bookmark and a chance to win a free book. Or vote online at www.jocolibrary.org/voteforbooks. 

Johnson County Library has joined forces with Metro-area libraries to promote books and reading and the importance of voting during this fall’s presidential election. The 2012 Vote for Books campaign is a great chance for you to experience and get excited about the election process and to have fun with books at the same time.

Presidential candidates on the ballot this year include:

• Pete the Cat from the series by Eric Litwin
• Origami Yoda, the subject of three books by Tom Angleberger
• Fly Guy from Tedd Arnold’s easy reader series
• Bad Kitty from the Bad Kitty books by Nick Bruel

Vice Presidential candidates include:

• Big Nate from the series by Lincoln Peirce
• Scaredy Squirrel from the series by Mélanie Watt
• Ladybug Girl from the series by David Soman and
• Babymouse from the graphic novel series by Jennifer L. Holm

Voting will continue through Election Day, Nov. 6. Election results from each library system will be compiled and winners will be announced following Election Day.

“Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy!” "Who am I? Why am I here?" “Well, "there you go again." “Trickle down government.” “Voodoo economics.” "When I hear your new ideas, I'm reminded of that ad, 'Where's the beef?'” Who knows what sound bite we’ll hear next? Who knows what zinger will stick and have the staying power to stand the test of time to be mentioned years from now? Who knows what pre-scripted one-liners will fall flat?

Join us for a live viewing of the final presidential debate and find out. There will be discussion and in-the-moment fact checking by reference librarians who will retrieve relevant information utilizing neutral, bi-partisan resources. Pizza will be served.

Take our Quiz.

Visit Elections to keep informed.

Monday, Oct. 22, 2012
7:30 p.m.
Oak Park Library

Registration suggested but not necessary. Register online or call (913) 826-4600.

You've asked for it and now we are happy to provide it -- Consumer Reports Online. Library access is the same as for personal subscribers. Just use the link on the Library's website and have handy your Library card and PIN.

Consumer Reports Online includes the full contents of the popular monthly magazine in print with all comparision charts as well as many special Web-only features. If you heard about it on the news recently, it's included in Consumer Reports Online.

Consumer Reports researchers put hundreds of products through rigorous testing for performance, safety and reliability. It's the best place to research purchases large and small.

Read Consumer Reports Online now »

Brains love books! But which book is best for your brain? We are here to help.

Head on over to our Staff Picks lists and Staff Picks blog for suggestions from our brain-feeding book-reading librarian experts.

Questions about books or what to read next? Contact us »

Where can you find cosplay, anime, manga drawing workshops and sushi made from rice crispies and Twizzlers? At the Teen Anime Festival!

Friday, Oct. 12, 2012
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Central Resource Library
No RSVP required

Come in Costume
Before the festival, get out your needles and thread. This year's festival will include a cosplay parade (short for "costume play"), so get into character!

Share Your Artwork
Sharpen those pencils and practice your shading. Bring your works or share online ahead of time for the fanart contest. See all the fanart on display at the festival.

Explore the Library's Anime Collection
We love anime as much as you do. Start with a virtual stroll through the anime stacks.

See the full schedule and festival details »

Press release (PDF)

Johnson County Library is excited to present nationally renowned Kansas author Laura Moriarty, as she talks about her latest novel, The Chaperone. Set in the vibrant milieu of flapper-era New York City, The Chaperone follows a teenage Louise Brooks and her complicated chaperone Cora, as Louise seeks fame and Cora craves answers to questions central to her very being. What they find instead is a city and summer that change them both for the rest of their lives.
 
Ms. Moriarty is the author of three other novels: The Center of Everything, The Rest of Her Life, and While I’m Falling and was the recipient of the George Bennett Fellowship for Creative Writing at Phillips Exeter Academy. She is currently a Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.
 
Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012
7 p.m.
Central Resource Library
No registration necessary

This event has been canceled. Please join us for the upcoming event in this series - On the Executive Branch: Live Viewing of the Final Presidential Debate

Join us for a panel discussion of local judges, attorneys and civil society groups exploring how Supreme Court decisions like Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission impact daily democracy in America.

This is part of Johnson County Library's Elections 2012 series of three events on the legislative, judicial and executive branches.

Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012
7:00 p.m.
Central Resource Library
No registration required.

Press release (PDF)

We relied on the great work of Barkley Advertising Agency for our first round of Library Trucks and this time, we relied on you! Johnson County Library's Trucks have once again been redesigned to resemble the delivery trucks of some of literature's most famous characters.

We are thrilled to unveil four new Library Truck designs provided by Johnson County natives Sally Carmichael and Cambria DeLee. 

Sally Carmichael is a 20-year-old graphic design student at the University of Kansas. She claims Lenexa and Lawrence as her hometowns. When asked who her favorite authors were,  Sally had trouble narrowing it down. Her list includes Tolkein, Capote and Salinger. Her favorite thing about Johnson County Library is the involvement. When asked, she replied, “(Johnson County Library) is always doing new and exciting things with the community.”

Cambria DeLee is a 30-year-old Graphic Designer. Having just relocated to Nashville, Tenn. for a job, Cambria did a fantastic job creating her design while getting used to a new job in a new city. She expressed her gratefulness to a friend for passing this contest along to her. Her favorite thing about Johnson County Library is the many convenient locations. “You never have to drive far to get to a library.” she said. 

Sincere thanks to Sally and Cambria and to all of you who participated in the contest (the judges had such a tough time choosing winners due to the number of great entries), to those of you who see the trucks and chuckle, and most importantly, to those of you who read.

Smart People Read.  Get Smarter.

Press release (PDF) 

Entreprenurs and business owners, the Library has a resource you need to know about -- Small Business Reference Center. This convenient online resource provides many tools for starting a new small business or managing an existing one. Valuable resources include:

• • eBooks including titles such as Dealing with Problem Employees: A Legal Guide and Legal Forms for Starting & Running a Small Business;
• • Articles and industry overviews for all types of small business, from wedding planning to trucking; and
• • Small business start-up kit and sample business plans.

Try Small Business Reference Center today »

All you need is a Library card and PIN. This resource is always available from the Business page under Research area of our website.

How much power is your home sucking? What is it costing you? Find out by checking out a Kill-A-Watt meter (for free, of course) from any Johnson County Library. Plug the meter in to your home appliances and electrical devices to read the wattage used and converted into dollars.

See current availability or place a hold now on Kill-A-Watt meters »

The average household spends up to 10% on their energy bill each month powering devices in the standby mode; that means they are off, but still sucking power. Some common devices that contribute to "phantom energy" are:

• • computers in sleep mode;
• • power cords plugged into the wall, but not connected to a device; and
• • electronics with a digital display such as DVD players.

The modern household has an average of 27 electronic devices and they all add up. Small changes can make a difference on your electricity bill. More ideas for saving energy:

1. Plug all of your home entertainment devices into a power strip and turn off the power strip before you go to bed.
2. Plug all of your home office devices into a power strip and turn off the power strip before you go to bed.
3. Power off computers when they are not in use for long periods of time, rather than letting them linger in “sleep mode”.
4. Unplug devices with digital displays such as coffee makers or DVD players, when they are not in use.
5. Second refrigerators are huge energy users. Consider getting rid of your second refrigerator or moving it into your basement where it is a consistent temperature.
6. Switch light fixtures to compact fluorescent bulbs.

Kill-A-Watt meters are offered in partnership with the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment and through a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.

You are invited to join us for an important program on preventing falls.

Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012
10:30 a.m. – 12 Noon
Blue Valley Library
No registration required. For more information, contact (913) 715-8862.

Gayle Yelenik, Respite Care Coordinator at Village Presbyterian, is a wealth of information about preventing falls in your home. A physical therapist will be on hand to talk about preventative exercises. Learn more about:

• Unexpected Falls
• Balance
• Tai Chi
• Physical
• Exercise
• Trip Hazards
• Flexibility
• Strength
• Yoga

Printable flyer (PDF)

This Positive Aging Coalition event is co-sponsored by Johnson County Human Services, Johnson County Library, Johnson County Dept. of Health and Environment and Shepherd’s Center Central.

Join Donald Levering as he reads from his latest poetry books, both published in 2012, The Number of Names and Sweeping the Skylight. A past recipient of a NEA Fellowship, he was the Director of Santa Fe’s Theaterwork Poetry Reading Series and an Academy of American Poets Featured Poet in the Online Forum.

Join us on:
Thursday, September 20, 2012
7 - 8 p.m.
Corinth Library
No registration required

Levering's previous poetry books include:

• The Jack of Spring
• Carpool
• Outcroppings from Navajoland
• Mister Ubiquity
• Horsetail
• The Fast of Thoth
• The Kingdom of Ignorance
• Whose Body

In addition, he has one CD of a reading at the Duende Poetry Series. In 2009, he was featured in the Ad Astra Poetry Project blog and in 2012 he was a Hackney Literary Award prizewinner. He lives in Santa Fe, N.M. Books will be available for sale and refreshments will be served.

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend our welcome reception for our new County Librarian, Sean Casserley. The event was well attended by members of the Board of Directors of the Johnson County Library, members of the Friends of the Johnson County Library Board and member of the Johnson County Library Foundation Board.

In addition, we were pleased to welcome the Johnson County Commissioners and Chairman Ed Eilert, Johnson County Commissioner Jason Osterhaus, as well as numerous directors of libraries and over one hundred staff and community members. The room was decorated with stacks of eerly’s favorites books and guests were given a copy of Casserley’s personal top-10 list. The stacks of books quickly shrunk as guests picked up and checked out new and exciting reads.

Bob Zender the President-elect of the Johnson County Library Foundation introduced Casserley, who then delivered a brief speech on the role and importance of libraries as we move into the future. During Casserley’s speech he called libraries “a belief. A belief that preserving and sharing our ideas and ideals is part of our humanity.” In addition, Casserley noted that libraries are a cornerstone of democracy and “give voice to authors, composers, journalists, film makers and scientists. A voice that is not distorted by the noise of industry.” Casserley concluded by saying “We know that the souls of the past are preserved and given voice in our public libraries and that they are a map to the past and a compass to our future.”

 
Thanks to the Friends of the Johnson County Library and The Johnson County Library Foundation for co-sponsoring the event. To find out more of our new County Librarian Sean Casserley’s favorite reads, follow him in the Library catalog.

Please join us in welcoming our new County Librarian, Sean Casserley, at a reception at the end of this month. The Friends of the Johnson County Library and The Johnson County Library Foundation are hosting the event which will provide an opportunity for members of the community to meet Casserley.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012
4 to 6 p.m.
Central Resource Library
RSVP not necessary

The Library Board named Sean Casserley to the top library post in April after a nationwide search. Casserley comes to the Johnson County Library from the Allen County (Ind.) Public Library where he was employed since 1994, most recently as Bibliographic and Information Technology Manager. Casserley succeeds Donna Lauffer who retired as County Librarian in December 2011. He will be the sixth County Librarian since the founding of the Library 60 years ago.

 Press release

Have you tried it yet? Johnson County Library's Mobile App for Android and iPhone makes it easy to take the Library on the Go!

Features:

• quickly and accurately search the collection;
• get details on any title including descriptions and community comments;
• check a title’s availability – even map the locations where it is currently available 
• place holds;
• manage your account: check to see if holds are ready, renew titles, suspend holds, or instantly see upcoming due dates;
• add titles to your For Later list; 
• browse bestsellers, new titles and recent reviews; and 
• check neighborhood library hours and get directions to the nearest Johnson County Library location. 

For Android smartphones: Search the Market for "Johnson County" or download now »

For iPhone, iPad, and iPod: Search the Apple App Store for "Johnson County Library" or download now »

Mitra Templin, DeSoto, has been reappointed to the Johnson County Library Board of Directors. Neil Shortlidge, Olathe, has been appointed to a 4-year term.  Both appointments are effective through April 30, 2016.

Templin was first appointed in 2008 with that term ending on April 30, 2012. Commissioner Calvin Hayden requested her reappointment. 

Neil Shortlidge was appointed to the Johnson County Library Board of Directors for a four-year term as Commissioner Ed Eilert's appointee for an at-large position.  Shortlidge replaces Kristin Hansen, who completed one term on the Library Board and chose not to be reappointed. Shortlidge is a partner with Stinson Morrison Hecker and previously served on the Library Board from 1985 to 1992 and on the Johnson County Library Foundation Board from its beginnings in 1998 to present. 

 At the April 12 Library Board meeting the following officers were elected:

• President – Mitra Templin
• Vice President/Secretary – Catherine Nugent
• Treasurer – Nancy Hupp

The Library Board meets on the second Thursday of each month, and its agendas and minutes are posted on the Johnson County Library website.

The Friends of the Johnson County Library will hold a Spring Break Used Bookstore Sidewalk Sale. Stock up on reading materials for adults and youth!

Blue Valley Library
Thursday, March 15, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday, March 16, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, March 17, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The sale will feature a selection of gently used children’s adult books available at bargain prices. Some audiovisual materials will also be available. MasterCard, Visa, Discover and check accepted with current I.D.

Proceeds from the Friends of the Library book sales and book stores are used to support the Johnson County Library’s purchase of new library materials, fund library programs such as the summer reading clubs and provide training for staff and volunteers. For more information on book sales, book stores or how to donate materials, call (913) 826-4301 or the Friends website.

The Johnson County Library is searching for a new County Librarian. To inform this process, we would greatly appreciate your input.

In 1854 President Franklin Pierce faced a critical choice, one that would determine the fate of his presidency and have a profound impact on the future of the United States. Should he support the Kansas-Nebraska proposal, which gave local settlers the right to determine whether or not slavery would be permitted? How would you advise President Pierce?

Join us for a deliberative forum about the Kansas - Nebraska Act on Feb. 16, 2012. Deliberative Dialogues are public conversations designed to assist diverse communities address ethical issues. Forum participants share experiences, priorities, and values. The goal isn’t compromise or consensus, but for everyone to communicate effectively across differences and
develop common ground for acting together.

Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012 at 6:30 p.m.
Central Resource Library
Carmack Community Room
Register for this event »

Completed ahead of schedule. Oak Park Library is back open. Thanks for your patience!

Johnson County Library will close the Oak Park Library on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Jan. 10, 11, 12, 2012, to install Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) equipment and add tags to all of the books and audiovisual materials at that library location. The exterior book drop will remain open during this time.

Johnson County Library is implementing RFID to improve the movement of materials between all 13 Johnson County Library locations. The RFID tags and equipment will also significantly reduce theft.

The installation of the RFID equipment will move to other locations in early 2012. During the closing of the Oak Park Library in January, patrons are encouraged to visit other Library locations. Library staff plans to have the system-wide RFID project completed by the end of April 2012.

Materials for patrons who have requested materials to be sent to the Oak Park Library will be held a few extra days to allow for pickup when the building reopens.

The project will enable the following outcomes:

• Optimized self-service and enhanced patron experience
• Significant return on investment from self-service equipment
• Improved efficiency in all 13 library locations

More information about the RFID project may be found at www.jocolibrary.org/RFID.

Your opinions needed on the Library website! We'd like to know what you like and what you wish we would change.

Please take our short survey and register in a random drawing for four gift bags that include a 1GB thumb drive. Thank you for sharing your ideas and opinions!

Go to the survey »

Due to staffing shortages brought on by Johnson County's Early Retirement Incentive Program, all locations will reduce hours in 2012.

Starting Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012:

• All locations will close Wednesdays at 5 p.m.
• Leawood, Oak Park and Lackman will no longer be open on Sundays
• Cedar Roe will no longer be open on Fridays and will be open 10 a.m - 2 p.m. on Saturdays
• DeSoto and Spring Hill will open at 1 p.m. on Thursdays

Find your Neighborhood Library's hours for 2012 »

Why are we making these changes?

This hours changes are in response to the County's Early Retirement Incentive Program which has significantly impacted the Library. Twenty-eight Library employees opted for early retirement and collectively represent over 621 years of service. Most of these individuals are full-time and in professional positions with responsibilities for helping in the public as Information Specialists and Reference Librarians.

Over the past three years, we have streamlined services resulting in a savings of over $160,000 and a reduction of eight full time equivalent positions. Staff has diminished by 7% since 2008; the early retirement loss results in an additional 8% loss, for a total loss of 15% in the past four years.

To whom may I voice concerns about hours changes?

Please consider voicing your concerns about Library hours to the Johnson County Board of Commissioners. Or feel free to contact us.

For more details, see the full press release (PDF).

County Librarian Donna Lauffer will retire from Johnson County Library on Dec. 24, 2011 ending 32 years of service to Johnson County Library. During her tenure as County Librarian, Johnson County Library has successfully streamlined materials handling processes saving the Library approximately $160,000 annually, implemented Radio Frequency Identification technology to improve inventory taking processes and reduce theft; and the Library was named the 2010 Federal Depository Library of the Year. 

A public reception sponsored by the Friends of the Johnson County Library will be held on Sunday, Dec. 18, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Central Resource Library.

Lauffer became the Johnson County Library’s fifth County Librarian in June 2007 after serving as Associate Director and Deputy County Librarian during her service to the Library since 1979. Prior to that, she worked at the UCLA Research Library in Los Angeles and the Long Beach Public Library in Long Beach, Calif.

As County Librarian, Lauffer directed 323 staff members in operating 13 library facilities with a budget of $23.9 million. The Library is best known for its business services targeted to would-be entrepreneurs and small business owners; its early childhood literacy programs; and its civic engagement programming.

During her tenure with the Johnson County Library, Lauffer has had oversight for the construction or expansion of 10 library facilities. She served for many years on the Buildings/Equipment Section of the American Library Association and related committees, and she served on the International Relations Committee of the Public Library Association.

Lauffer has a national reputation as a leader in civic engagement and developed the Library’s award-winning civic engagement programming, now in its 10th year.  She has presented in numerous forums regarding civic engagement for the By the People Forum, American Library Association (ALA), Public Library Association, and Kansas Library Association. She was a member of the Kettering Foundation's Teaching Public Politics Research Group 2004-2006 and of the National Board of the League of Women Voters, after serving as President of the Kansas League. She was a charter member of the Mid-America Regional Council’s OneKCVoice Board. 
 
The Johnson County Library Board of Directors has named Deputy County Librarian Tricia Suellentrop as Interim County Librarian. Ms. Suellentrop has been with the Library for 13 years and has served as Deputy County Librarian since 2008. 

The Association of Marketing & Communications Professionals has announced that the Johnson County Library has won four awards in its 2011 MarCom Awards international competition.

The “New Web Catalog Promotion Campaign” earned a Platinum award in the Promotional Materials-Product Launch category. This campaign featured temporary tattoos worn by staff to promote introduction in 2010 of a new, Web-based format for the online catalog.

Winning Gold awards were the En Espanol – Spanish-Language Web site in the Governmental Web sites category and “Communiter bona profundere deum est” in the Video Scripts category.

The actual film of “Communiter bona profundere deum est” received an Honorable Mention in the Fundraiser Video category.

Communications Manager Kasey Riley led a team comprised of Marketing Assistant Marty Mothersbaugh, Web Interface Designer Dale Jarrett, and Community Relations Coordinator Marsha Bennett in designing and implementing a product launch campaign in 2010 for the new Web-based online catalog. The same logo used for the temporary tattoos branded ads and printed materials.

En Espanol – Spanish-Language Web site at www.jocolibrary.org/espanol is collaboration between Web Content Developers David LaCrone and David Carson. This is a rich Web site for Spanish-language speakers as an introduction to Johnson County Library services. Because libraries in Latin America often do not allow borrowing, this Web site is also an introduction to the work and purpose of an American public library.

Oak Park Branch Manager Magali Vallazza, who has oversight for the Latino Services Committee, provided input and assisted with translations, and the Oak Park Library staff and Latino Services Committee members also provided input.

Web Content Developer David Carson conceptualized, produced, and filmed the “Communiter bona profundere deum est” (To support the common good is divine) video honoring four recipients of the Johnson County Library Foundation’s 2010 Pinnacle Awards. The film was used as a prologue to the ceremonies at the annual Pinnacle Awards Dinner. The video itself won an Honorable Mention, while Carson’s script won a Gold award. David LaCrone narrated the video. View the video at http://www.youtube.com/jocolibrary

This was the Johnson County Library’s second year to compete in the MarCom Awards.

About the Awards

The MarCom Awards is one of the oldest, largest, and most respected competitions in the creative industry and sponsored by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP). It is a creative competition for any individual or company involved in the concept, writing and design of print, visual, audio and web materials and programs. Entries come from corporate marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, PR firms, design shops, production companies and freelancers. The MarCom statuette graces the trophy cases of some of the top business and communication firms in the world.

The MarCom competition has grown to perhaps the largest of its kind in the world with about 5,000 entries per year. The mission of the MarCom Awards is to honor excellence and recognize the creativity, hard work and generosity of marketing and communication professionals. MarCom winners receive well-deserved recognition and third-party validation from a long- established industry organization that has earned a reputation for fairness, consistency and timeliness.

For more information visit http://www.marcomawards.com/

It's never too early to introduce your child to reading. Our 6 by 6 Early Childhood Literacy program is all about getting children exposed to reading as soon as possible. Nov. 13-19, the  Kansas Center for the Book at the State Library of Kansas will sponsor the 2011 Kansas Reads to Preschoolers, and the Johnson County Library, as part of its commitment to early childhood literacy, will naturally be taking part. This year's Kansas Reads to Preschoolers will feature the classic book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Kansas' own Bill Martin, Jr. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is a fun book to read aloud, and children love it.

All week, the Library will have readings of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom in storytimes at the Antioch, Lackman, Corinth and Leawood Pioneer Libraries, as well as in child care centers and preschools. We'll have guest readers from the Library Board, the Friends of the Library and the Johnson County Library Foundation. If you haven't gotten you and your children involved in early childhood literacy yet, this is the perfect time to start!

Kansas Reads to Preschoolers
Nov. 13-19, 2011

Would you like to see something interesting? Visit one of the Johnson County Libraries that is featuring original artwork by local and regional artists as part of our Art in the Stacks program. The Library features photography, paintings, sculptures and assemblages, pottery, jewelry and other forms of visual art, all created by artists from around the area. There's always something new and thought-provoking to see.

To keep up with what's new with Art in the Stacks, become a fan on Facebook!

When people think of studying, they often think of the Library. It's a quiet place to read and do research. But did you know you can also prepare for tests and take practice exams at the Library? Not only do we have lots of prep books for the GED, the SAT, the ACT, the LSAT and more, we also have access to some terrific websites that offer online test prep, practice exams, citizen test help, job placement tips and real-time tutoring. Check out our Practice Exams & Test Preparation page and give LearningExpressLibrary and Tutor.com a try. We make it so easy for you to get ahead in school and the workplace!

Looking for that next great book? But don’t where or how to find it? Books & Authors, a database available through the Johnson County Library, offers new ways to explore the endless possibilities and combinations of books, authors, genres and topics. The WHO WHAT WHERE WHEN features let you browse by Character, Subject, Location and Time Period, and get a visual representation of your matching books. You may also save and modify your reading lists in your own personal Books and Authors Reading Room along with reviews you've written.

To access Books and Authors go to www.jocolibrary.org/booksandauthors. Enter your library card and PIN to access the database from your home or office. This online resource enables you to easily find books of interest to your literary tastes with simple searching and menus you can browse.

You may search by:

• Author
• Title and Series Search 
• "If you like..." 
• Author, Title and Genre Browse 
• Awards 
• Who, What, When, Where 
• Advanced Search 
• And many more!

Why not get started today? After you decide on your titles you may enter the library’s catalog to place a hold on your selections and pick them at a neighborhood library near you.

For more information call (913) 826-4600 or visit any Johnson County Location.

JoCoLibrary - http://twitter.com/jocolibrary

JoCoHistory - http://twitter.com/jocohistory

KC Science INC - http://twitter.com/kcscienceinc

Library Foundation - http://twitter.com/jclf

Get Library updates through Twitter! We'll provide you with little snippets about new things at the Library including program information, holiday hours, art exhibits and more!

You can also receive updates on your phone or download other fun Twitter gadgets!

For details on past events, browse our News Archives.