March invites us to celebrate two powerful themes: the stories of women who influenced our world and the joy of reading that connects us across generations. Together, Women’s History Month and National Reading Month remind us that the perspectives we exchange help us understand ourselves and each other.
Women’s History Month Women’s History Month began in 1978 as a grassroots effort to make sure women’s achievements were recognized. It soon grew into a national observance. The 2026 theme, Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future, highlights how women drive progress in environmental work, economic justice and community resilience.
That spirit is reflected in Johnson County Library’s own history. Long before public funding existed, local women ran volunteer libraries in basements, barbershops and borrowed storefronts. Later, leaders like Shirley Brother, the first County Librarian, helped build the public library system we rely on today.
Women in Literature This month is also a chance to explore the voices of women whose writing transformed literature. Authors like Toni Morrison, Maxine Hong Kingston, Louise Erdrich, Octavia Butler and Sandra Cisneros broadened how readers understand identity, culture and history. National Reading Month encourages us to revisit their work or discover it for the first time.
To support readers, Library staff curated lists that highlight women’s stories across formats and ages. These collections offer powerful entry points into the many ways women have enriched literature and our shared cultural story.
- Films Shining a Light on Historical Women features documentaries and dramatizations that bring real experiences to life.
- Who Runs the World Girls offers energetic reads for young readers.
- Women’s History Month: Memoirs shares personal narratives of challenge and triumph.
- Women in History for Teens provides engaging books for young adults exploring women who excelled in their fields.
- Women’s History Month in Graphic Novels uses visual storytelling to explore women’s experiences in a different way.
- Black Women to Read Now highlights thought‑provoking nonfiction by Black women whose work has generated national conversations.
Additional Resources
- Women’s Studies Archive includes diaries, speeches and articles documenting women’s roles in the 19th and 20th centuries.
- Women: Transnational Networks explores global perspectives on gender and class through books and primary sources.
March Events Stories connect us. Whether they’re shared on a stage, explored in a book discussion or told through family history, each one adds meaning to this month’s celebrations. These events offer ways to read, listen, learn and honor the voices that shape our world. Online Author Talks Books come alive when we hear directly from the people who write them.
- Michael Perry | March 4: Humor and true tales from a bestselling author.
- Kate Quinn | March 12: A conversation with an acclaimed author about imagination and storytelling.
- Shoshana Walter with Barbara Kingsolver | March 24: Two writers discuss investigative storytelling and national issues.
Book Discussions National Reading Month invites us to read together and share what moves us.
- North Woods | Multiple dates: A novel exploring land, history and connection.
- Everything Is Tuberculosis | Multiple dates: A blend of personal story and global history.
- The Hatak Witches | Multiple dates: Indigenous fiction about identity and reclamation.
- The Anxious Generation | Multiple dates: A timely nonfiction discussion.
Women’s History Month Event Exploring how women define culture and community.
- Swiftynomics: Women, Culture and the Economy | March 26: How women influence the economy through creativity and cultural impact.
Storytelling and Community Sharing your voice strengthens the community’s story.
- 4th Friday Open Mic | March 27: A welcoming space to share poems, stories or songs.
History and Personal Reflections Family memories deepen our understanding of the past, including the women who shaped it.
- Genealogy Day Open House | March 28: Tools and support to help uncover your family’s history.
Celebrate with Johnson County Library The Library is here to help you discover and honor the voices of our past and present. Explore more resources, reading lists and events at jocolibrary.org, and visit any of our branches to find books, films and experiences that inspire you all year long.
