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Writing Contests
We love local authors here at the Library. In support of our home-grown talent, we invite submissions of poetry, fiction, and essays.
Each month we host a new contest with prizes including a $200 honorarium and a reading at the Library or The Writers Place. Read more about the guidelines and enter your original works here »
This Week at the Library
This week at the Johnson County Library, you can learn culinary tips about cooking with beer, meet artists and authors, get to know the dogs from Read to a Dog, better your city bike skills, and see your favorite green frog and all his friends at Movie in the Park!
An Edible Discussion Monday, June 11, 6:30 pm @ Corinth Library
Meet the Artist: Monica Dixon Tuesday, June 12, 6:30 pm @ Cedar Roe Library
Paws on Patrol Wednesday, June 13, 10 am @ Central Resource Library
Confident City Cycling (RSVP please) Thursday, June 14, 5:30 pm @ Central Resource Library
Movie in the Park, Friday June 15, 8 pm, Electric Park and Santa Fe Commons Park
Meet the Authors: Dhonielle Clayton, Zoraida Cordova and Justina Ireland Friday, June 15, 5:30 pm @ Blue Valley Library
This Summer's theme is Libraries Rock! and we have musical events for kids, families, and all ages »
Adelante! Read!
Programa para niños de 4 a 12 años. Lectura, matemáticas, manualidades, cuentos y presentadores.
¡Todo gratis! No hay inscripción.
Ver mas Adelante! Read! programas »
Music Monday: Howard Iceberg
Howard Iceberg is an icon of Kansas City roots music. A singer-songwriter whose legacy of 1000-plus songs goes back forty years, Iceberg's recorded output in the past few years has been staggering. It's music that cross-pollinates stripped-down midwestern blues with a ragged and sardonic voice reminiscent of Tom Petty and Bob Dylan. We are honored to share an illuminating interview with this Kansas City music legend.
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Please introduce yourself and describe your music for new listeners.
This Week at the Library
This week at the Library, you can enjoy Summer Reading en español, meet a local author, join the Rebellion, and enjoy local music! And remember when the going gets hot, come to any Library location to cool off in the A/C while surfing the web or enjoying a book.
Adelante! Read! Varios lugares. Programa para niños de 4 a 12 años. Lectura, matemáticas, manualidades, cuentos y presentadores.
Meet the Author: Megan Bannen Tuesday, June 5, 6:30 pm @ Central Resource Library
Star Wars Takeover Friday, June 8, 2:30 pm @ Cedar Roe Library
Listen Local Live: Dreamgirl Friday, June 8, 6:30 pm @ Central Resource Library
And we've got musical events for the whole family this Summer »
June Jams at the Library
Libaries are for music this Summer with events for kids, families, and adults.
Music with Mar: Miss Stephanie Multiple days and locations. Enjoy bubbles, songs, and puppets.
Johnny and Adam - Rhythm and Music Multiple days and locations. Kids will stomp, clap, play drums and sing with Johnny and Adam.
Wizard Rock with the 8th Horcrux Wednesday, June 6, 2 pm @ Central Resource Library. A concert for all ages with a local Harry Potter-themed rock band.
Funky Mama Multiple days and locations. Join this rock n' roll mama to move, dance, jump and sing.
Local Music Live: Dreamgirl Friday, June 8, 6:30 pm at the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center Enjoy a concert from Listen Local band Dreamgirl.
Musical Adventures with the Violin, Viola and Bass Multiple days and locations. This interactive program with Educational Outreach of the Kansas City Civic Orchestra will introduce children to musical instruments.
Movie in the Park: The Muppet Movie Friday, June 15, 8 pm, Electric Park in Lenexa and Santa Fe Commons Park. Grab a blanket and picnic and join us for a Movie in the Park.
And lots more this Summer »
About our Summer Guide Cover
The cover of our Summer Guide features art by local Gavin Snider. He depicted both Kansas City music legends and current musicians in our Listen Local collection. Grab a Guide at any Johnson County Library location and enjoy illustrations of:
- Kianna Alarid: Lead singer and songwriter of pop band Yes You Are.
- Lester Young, American jazz tenor saxophonist and clarinetist. Helped forge the bebop style in the 1930s and 40s.
- Larry Garrett, folk singer-songwriter, guitarist.
- Ada Brown: Blue Singer. Brown was both a pioneer of Kansas City jazz and a founding member of the Negro Actors Guild of America in 1936.
- Marty Hillard, hip-hop artist, Ebony Tusks. Ebony Tusks is one of Kansas City's most hard-hitting hip-hop acts.
- Julia Lee, blues singer and musician. Lee had a string of R&B hits in the 1940s.
- Lupe Gonzalez, musician, bandleader and civic leader.
- Qizhen Liu, cellist. Performs throughout North America, Europe, and Asia as a solo, chamber, and orchestral musician.
- Count Basie: Jazz composer, pianist and bandleader. An unparalleled musical innovator, Basie's music helped define 20th Century jazz and popular music.
- Amado Espinoza, composer, collaborator, maker of custom-made native instruments. Originally from Bolivia, Epinoza's instruments are being played by clients in places as far-flung as France, Spain, Netherlands and South America
- Charlie Parker: Jazz musician and composer. Along with Dizzy Gillespie, this Kansas City-born jazz artist invented bebop.
- Chico Sierra: Singer-songwriter, visual artist, poet.
- Chloe Jacobson: Singer-songwriter. Chloe Jacobson will release her first album of melodic and personal indie-pop this summer.
- Unknown mandolin player, Fishers Gibson Orchestra
- Melba Liston: Jazz instrumentalist and arranger. First noted female jazz trombonist
- Joyce DiDonato, Opera singer and recording artist. A Multi Grammy Award winner of the 2016 Best Classical Solo Vocal Album Joyce and Tony: Live at Wigmore Hall and the 2012 Best Classical Vocal Solo
- Calvin Arsenia, harpist, singer, songwriter, collaborator.
- Sara Teasley, drummer of garage rockers Cave Girls.
Throwback Potato Sack!
It's Throwback Thursday and May is National Physical Fitness month. So, potato sack race anyone? We feel there just are not enough potato sack races anymore! Do you feel the same? Or, are you one of those snooty three-legged race fans? ;) Whatever is your bag, we support you in your physical fitness pursuit. Go! Fight! Win!
See more local history at jocohistory.org or follow our hashtag on Twitter.
Now at Blue Valley: Juniper Tangpuz
Juniper Albert Tangpuz, a.k.a. T.J. was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. He received a BFA in Sculpture from the University of Kansas and currently works as a mild mannered studio assistant at Johnson County Community College. He is able to express his art in a range of materials, but considers paper to be his "native language". He is known for unlocking the secrets of the paper and cardboard sheet. He envisions universes where ideas compress, expand, and inspire. See more of his work on his website.
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What comes first – the medium or the message? Tell me a little about the work that will be on view.
It depends. There are two approaches when I make something. When I have a specific message I want to express then I try to keep focused and every decision is based on supporting that message. Other times, I just look at a piece of material and do some improvisational building. The work on view is a collection from different series of artworks . I picked pieces that had somehow affected the viewers in a special way.
What do you feel is your role as an artist?
It has changed and continues to change as I get older. At first, it was trying to gain an understanding of my soul. Then I felt I should be a guide who helps people get to the artistic realm.
What influences your practice/works?
I love to make things that I think should exist in this world. Most of the time I’m inspired by looking at people, places and things. I believe that most artists can see connections that most people overlook. I’ve found that some connections are absolutely absurd.
Who are the other artists you look to for inspiration? And what about their works do you like?
I’ve always liked the artists that make art from a place in there soul when they were free to play. I can always tell when it is genuine because it often has no other intention but to bring someone to happiness. I appreciate the art when I can sense that it flowed out naturally.
What other writings do you recommend reading to have a better understanding of your artworks and your art practice/process?
The Elements of Pop-up by David A. Carter
Between the Folds: A Film About Finding Inspiration in Unexpected Places
Clubs for Kids
Kids! Love the American Girl Books? Want to have some fun with <b>coding</b>? Whatever you're interested in, we've got a club for you!