Search Stories
Homework Help for All Age Students
Students of all ages can find homework help at Johnson County Library. You’ll find research help, magazine searches, practice test, tutorials and live homework help for a wide range of subjects and grade levels. In addition to helping with homework, these resources also offer great benefits for students. They can help reduce stress, improve grades, boost self-esteem and build important learning skills. All you need is Johnson County Library card to get started.
Here are a few of the resources available with your Library card:
Biography (Gale In Context)
Find biographies of individuals in a wide range of subjects including business, politics, government, history, science, sports, the arts and entertainment. Content includes magazine articles, video footage, radio broadcasts, photographs and more to provide contextual information on the world's most influential people.
Get homework help with live tutoring, a writing lab with feedback, a Skillsurfer offering study resources and test prep, or LEAP where a student can create a customized learning plan.
Perfect for kids and teens, CultureGrams contains information on history, culture, and geography of each American state, Canadian provinces, countries and regions of the world. Graphics, charts, videos, printable fact sheets, recipes, interviews, and more are included with each entry.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy provides a free world-class education for anyone everywhere. Practice at your own pace beginning where you want and ending at the top! You will never run out of practice material and every problem can be broken down step by step.
Take practice tests and tutorials designed for students elementary through graduate levels and adult learners. Academic or licensing tests are available, with immediate scoring, complete answer explanations, and individualized results analysis.
Bring learning to life with hundreds of interactive books online for grades K-12. Topics cover science, social studies, language arts and more. Each title has a suggested reading level (K-10) and interest level (K-12), and some titles also are provided in Spanish.
Check out the Homework Help topic pages for both kids and teens to find the perfect fit for your needs. There are also plenty of learning resources for adults. If you don’t have a Library card, you can stop by any of the 14 branches with an ID and proof of address to get one today, or Johnson County residents can sign up for an eCard for immediate access to most online resources.
National Friends of Libraries Week is Oct. 20-26
Join the Friends of Johnson County Library in celebrating the 19th annual National Friends of Libraries Week, October 20-26. This is your chance to shine a spotlight on the incredible role Johnson County Library plays in making a difference in people’s lives. Through group book discussions, storytimes, genealogy services, Summer Reading, Citizenship Civics, incarcerated services, meeting room reservations and so much more, the Library creates and sustains community in countless ways every single day.
Friends of Johnson County Library is a member-supported nonprofit organization promoting community awareness and participation in library services. The Friends serve as library advocates and promote literacy and lifelong learning. Funds raised from your book purchases and your membership support library collection development, community engagement, library advocacy, and so much more.
The Friends would like to hear how libraries have improved and brightened your life. During National Friends of Libraries Week, share your story on social media using the hashtag #nfolw24. Take a moment to snap a selfie when you pick up your holds, or give a shoutout to a Library staff member who’s made a difference. Be sure to tag the Friends of Johnson County Library (@jclfriends) in your posts.
Last week, the Friends announced the 2024 winners of the beloved Annual Bookmark Design Contest at the Johnson County Library Board meeting. The contest commemorates the creativity of our Library-loving community. The winning illustrations are printed as bookmarks and are available to pick up at all 14 Johnson County Library branches and at the Friends Headquarters, 8279 Melrose Dr., Lenexa, KS 66214, where you can shop their large selection of gently used books each Saturday.
National Friends of Libraries Week is the perfect time to join or renew your commitment to the Friends. You’ll support a valuable community resource, receive a 20% discount on awesome used books, and be part of a Friends family who believe in Libraries just like you. To join or renew your membership, visit joinjclfriends.org.
Photo caption: Pictured are 2024 Winners L-R: Elizabeth McNutt; JCL Board Member David Sims; Everly Jablonski; Olivia Wang; JCL Board Member Chrysalyn Huff; Lily Hamilton; JCL Deputy County Librarian Kinsley Riggs; Abigail Girard; JCL Board Member Charles McAllister; Anabelle Ritchie; Whitaker Kirkland; Edie Marshall Moore (holding Books Rule); Dominic Kirkland (shark); JCL Board Member Jeffery Mendoza; Joany Degenhardt (chicken); Ira Goyal (fairy books); Friends of JCL Executive Director Shanta Dickerson; and Hughy Buckley (penguin).
Winners not pictured: Kevin Gritzke and Ainsley Van Trump.
Finding Your Story’s Voice
Whether you write fiction, creative nonfiction, or screenplays, one of the most important aspects in engaging your readers is your story’s voice. But what even is “voice”? Why does Stephen King sound completely different than Jane Austin? And how exactly does a writer connect to the right voice for their story? In this four part recorded lecture Trai Cartwright will break down this crucial craft element into its components, and then give you a step-by-step guide for engaging your own voice!
Watch Cartwright’s series on Library OnDemand, or here:
Finding Your Story’s Voice, Part 1
Finding Your Story’s Voice, Part 2
Finding Your Story’s Voice, Part 3
Finding Your Story’s Voice, Part 4
Then, join us at the 2024 Writers Conference on Friday, Nov. 15 to workshop your story with Cartwright and fellow writers.
Banned Books Week 2024
Quick—think of a book you loved as a kid.
If you’re like many others, you thought about “Charlotte’s Web” or “The Giving Tree.” Maybe for you it was “A Wrinkle in Time or “Where the Wild Things Are.” Or maybe your family couldn’t get enough Dr. Seuss and story time was all about “The Lorax” and “Hop on Pop.”
Like so many other books that have been beloved in our society for years, all of these books have been challenged and banned in various places in the country. Between January 1 and August 31 of this year, 1,128 unique titles were challenged in libraries and schools across the country. Florida and Texas have the most challenges this year, but book challenges have happened in 41 states and 247 public school districts.
Banned Books Week was created in 1982 as response to a sudden surge in challenges to books in libraries, bookstores and schools across the country. Challenges have continued to rise; The American Library Association reports that 4,240 unique book titles were challenged in 2023 across the United States. This is a 65% increase from 2022, when 2,571 unique titles were challenged, and a 128% increase over the number of books challenged in 2021. 47% of the books targeted for censorship in 2023 were titles representing the voices and lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) individuals.
The intent of Banned Books Week is to highlight the value of free and open access to information—and to draw wide attention to the harms of censorship. Banned Books Week is typically observed in some way by libraries, schools, booksellers, writers, publishers and readers in all parts of the country, usually during the last week of September.
Why does this observance matter to Johnson County Library? Because what you read and view is your business, not the Library’s. The Library’s job is to protect your right to read and view what you want, and to maintain your privacy at the same time.
In order to do this, the Library does not determine the books and materials on its shelves based on the personal beliefs of our Board of Directors, Administration, management or staff.
Rather, the Library’s Collections team abides by our Library Collection Policy to determine which materials will be purchased and available to patrons to borrow. The Library is also part of an Inter-Library Loan system that helps to procure materials that are not in our collection but are available from other libraries across the country.
The policies that protect patrons’ right to read and view what they want are our Freedom to Read and Freedom to View policies. Both policies say what we believe: that free communication is essential to the preservation of a free society and a creative culture; that these pressures toward conformity present the danger of limiting the range and variety of inquiry and expression on which our democracy and our culture depend; that every American community must zealously guard the freedom to publish and to circulate, in order to preserve its own freedom to read; and that that publishers and librarians have a profound responsibility to give validity to that freedom to read by making it possible for the readers to choose freely from a variety of offerings.
Patrons also play an important part in the Library’s collection process. Through the Suggest a Purchase form, anyone can request that the Library add material that it currently doesn’t have to our inventory. And, if a patron objects to material currently in the Library’s inventory, they can submit a Request for Reconsideration, which will be reviewed by our Collection Development Manager.
Resources:
There are resources if you want to learn more about banned books, censorship and the value of intellectual freedom. Some of these are Library resources, others are from outside organizations.
Civics 101: Libraries and the Freedom to Read: a video panel discussion featuring veteran librarians discussing the freedom to read and to explore the issue of book challenges and censorship. They explore the significance of unrestricted access to information and the role of librarians as guardians of intellectual freedom.
Most Challenged Books of 2021 & 2022: A List: a booklist including the most challenged books of 2021 & 2022
Banned book data for 2023
Top 10 Most Challenged Books 2001-2022
The Freedom to Read: Learn more about the freedom to read, the guiding principle of most public libraries, at this link that takes you to the American Library Association.
How Libraries Select Materials: Learn more about the American Library Association’s guidelines for libraries and the selection of materials.
Banned Books Week website
The Introvert's Guide to Author Social Media
In this three-part recorded lecture, Jenifer Boles walks authors through building a social media calendar.
From #Booktok and #Bookstagram, this series will help you get started developing your brand, find and grow your audience, and design a content routine.
Watch Boles series here:
Part 1: Branding
Part 2: Growth
Part 3: Content Routines
Then join Jenifer Boles at the Nov. 15 Writers Conference, where Boles will workshop your social media platforms with our local author community to develop a monthly #jocowrites content calendar and engagement group.
Library is Trusted Resource for Reliable Election Information
As the Kansas City region and the U.S. prepare for a crucial November 5 election, Johnson County Library reminds the community that it is a trusted, non-partisan resource for free access to local and national voter information.
Patrons can educate themselves about the candidates and issues through books, periodicals, newspapers and online news outlets with no paywall. They can also attend candidate forums, pick up excellent voter guides (available online and in all branches in early October), register to vote and vote.
Voter information boards are displayed at all branches, with important dates and other reminders. Some Library branches serve as polling places and also have secure ballot drop boxes.
“We try to take a really positive and encouraging spin on supporting voters,” said Program Coordinator Ashley Fick, who has overseen the Library’s civic engagement programming for 11 years. “We want voting to feel accessible, not overwhelming. We’re here to help make the entire process easy.”
For the 2024 General Election, the Library will provide resources about the Kansas 3rd Congressional District, state Senate and House races, the Johnson County District Attorney and Sheriff’s races, and several Johnson County Commission District races. More information is available at jocolibrary.org/research/information-voters.
“We are particularly highlighting the Kansas City media collective’s voter guide,” Fick said. Kansas City’s major media outlets are teaming up to provide information for both Missouri and Kansas, free of charge. The General Election voter guide will be available online but Fick is excited that print versions will also be available in all branches.
The last Presidential election was in 2020, when the COVID pandemic made public gatherings difficult. This year, Fick is eager to welcome patrons into Johnson County Library’s branches for all sorts of in-person voter engagement opportunities.
For the primary election, Johnson County Library provided space for the Johnson County Post’s candidate forums for Sheriff, District Attorney and County Commission District 6 races. Fick said they were well attended, and additional forums are being planned ahead of the General Election.
“We work extremely hard to make sure we offer thoughtful and thorough programs that give people the chance to connect with the candidates and learn more and make informed decisions,” she said.
The Library also has a great partnership with the League of Women Voters of Johnson County.
“It’s very significant,” Fick said. “They make it easy to offer voting information at all our locations. They go into the branches and chat with patrons, helping them find their polling places and giving them the information they need. A personal connection is what they offer us.”
Marie Hernandez, who chairs the League’s voter information team, said voting is vital to a community’s civic health. The League’s 411 site helps people understand who is running locally and what they stand for.
The Library and the League are both well-respected, non-partisan organizations. The partnership serves both organizations well, Hernandez said, as they team up for candidate “meet and greets” that are opportunities for civil, respectful discourse.
“That’s an important part, the place they play in the voter education and voter registration space,” Hernandez said.
Once election season ends, the Library and the League continue to provide information and exposure to elected officials and a wide variety of viewpoints. They host well-attended legislative coffees where patrons ask questions and elected representatives get valuable constituent feedback. It’s another way that the Library fulfills its commitment to connect community members in a very positive way, over local issues that matter.
Johnson County Library is your trusted source for reliable election information. Explore resources that help you evaluate media, learn about local government, catch the latest news, and engage with the community. Get started at jocolibrary.org/community-matters.
What’s a Beta Reader and Why Every Writer Needs One
Do you have a completed manuscript? Are you wondering if it’s time to self-publish or submit to an agent? It’s not! Now is the time to find a Beta Reader. In this recorded video class Jessica Conoley, who specializes in helping creatives learn the business side of writing, will explain what a beta reader does, how to find one, and why you should definitely have one.
After viewing, join us at the 2024 Writers Conference on Friday, Nov. 15th where Jessica and her team from The CE Coaches will facilitate matching you with the perfect reader.
Which Storytime is Right for My Kids?
We offer Storytime varieties carefully planned based on a child’s age group and developmental abilities. If you have children in different age groups, we encourage you to join us for a Family Storytime or the variety best suited for the youngest child. Older siblings are always welcome. Each child is unique, but we recommend the following ages for the different Storytime varieties:
- Baby Storytime: Birth to 18 months and a caregiver
- Movin' and Groovin' Rhyme Time: 12 months to 24 months and a caregiver
- Toddler Storytime: 18 months to 3 years and a caregiver
- Preschool Storytime: 3-6 years and a caregiver
- Family Storytime: Fun for the whole family
Community Needs Spur Revamped Library Program Team
Johnson County Library has just launched a department entirely focused on continuing to develop its excellent program offerings to be even more robust, responsive and accountable to the community.
“We are adapting to a new model of designing and delivering library programs,” explains Angel Tucker, the new Program Department Manager, who will oversee the department of 22 people. “We see this as an opportunity to redefine and prioritize collaborative efforts as it relates to providing innovative services to the community.”
As the needs of diverse audiences grow and evolve, this focused approach to programming will allow the Library to better understand and serve their needs. It’s all about providing children, teens, adults and seniors with ideas, information, and experiences to enrich their lives.
The programming staff will focus on important community interests and outreach, enhancing cooperation and coordination with other Library departments, county agencies, volunteers and myriad organizational partners.
Tucker said communication both internally and with the public will be key. The department will be doing a lot of listening to their colleagues and members of the public, with a goal of responsiveness, creativity, strategic thinking, relationship building and service orientation.
The organization’s staffing structures were last evaluated about 10 years ago, when libraries and the world were very different. The need to take a step back and look at how to best meet patron and community needs became apparent during the pandemic, Tucker said.
“We started to think about the many challenges we are facing,” she said. “How can we make our efforts more sustainable?”
Change is hard, Tucker acknowledged, and it has proven to be disorienting for both staff and the public. “It will take time, training, and an intentional focus on cross-department collaboration,” Tucker said. “Johnson County Library staff are smart and creative and they want to be vested in impactful work.”
Patrons will see some changes to favorite providers of programs like Book Groups and Storytimes. But Tucker emphasized those popular and well-loved offerings will continue to be offered in pursuit of sustainability and growth. The ultimate intention is to balance process and outcome and to invest in relationships internally and externally. “We will center a co-design methodology that gives key stakeholders — the community, partners, and colleagues — a defined role in the program design process.”
Tucker brings 20 years of experience with Johnson County Library to her new role and has worked on successful initiatives throughout that time. She began as a part-time youth specialist at Central Resource Library and started a middle school creative writing class that evolved into the Library’s highly-praised teen literary magazine, elementia.
She eventually took a full-time Library position and in 2014 helped develop Race Project KC, a social justice project aimed at educating teens and the wider community about race relations in the Kansas City area and nationwide.
She says she’s been blessed with an incredible team of colleagues. “Everything I’ve accomplished, I’ve accomplished with my colleagues,” she said.
The new programming department includes veteran Library staff. In addition to 12 Program Services Specialists with decades of combined experience providing public programs, the department will be led by two Program Operations Managers and six Program Coordinators. Key program areas will include Pre-readers; Summer Reading; Reading Arts and Culture; Writing Arts and Language; and Community Matters (civic education and community engagement.)
Tucker said it’s exhilarating to forge even greater connections with the community, discovering their needs and wants and reaching people who don’t yet know all the Library has to offer. She’s excited about the possibilities and eager to get going with her team on this new initiative to carry the Library into the future.
Fall Into Cozy
We have recommendations to help make your fall more cozy! Charles takes the host seat and is joined by Librarians Piepie Baltz and Allie Gibler to recommend books and more from our collection that will make you feel cozy as we begin to spend more time indoors during the fall.