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Age brings wisdom — even for a stellar teen debater. 

Clare Bradley took occasional childhood trips to the Johnson County Library with family or a babysitter. But the 2023 Shawnee Mission South High School graduate didn’t gain a full appreciation of the Library until she gravitated to the Lenexa branch and Central Resource Library when she began driving. 

She recognized the importance of Library services, such as providing tax forms. But the pretty, peaceful surroundings also provided the perfect atmosphere for school work. The Library was a home away from home. 

“It’s just a good place to reset my brain,” she said. 

That focus paid off in a big way when Bradley and partner Brooklynn Hato came away champions in the policy debate category at the National Speech & Debate Association tournament in June. 

The competition in Phoenix involved more than 6,000 high school students from more than 1,300 schools. The question Bradley and Hato tackled concerned security cooperation within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. 

The two young women were partners for three years, and they entered their final season coming off a win at the National Catholic Forensic League national tournament in Washington, D.C., at the conclusion of their junior year. 

Fittingly enough, the partners met at the Central Resource Library for a confab going into their senior year competition. 

“We had the time and space and that little side room to be like, ‘Here’s what we want to do, and here's how we're going to get it done,’” Bradley said, “which we couldn't exactly anticipate the big finality it led up to.” 

The Library provided Bradley a much-needed separation from a bedroom that had doubled as a classroom and personal space during the pandemic. 

“I felt like I developed a healthier balance between — here's the time and space where I need to be working and be productive — and then when I'm at home, I know I can be like, ‘This is my me time. This is my chill time.’” 

Bradley has a friend group that shares her love of the Library. Even during the summer, she had a chance encounter with some friends. They were all heading into the Library to check out books before heading to work. 

Bradley is attending the University of Southern California on a debate scholarship. (Hato is attending the University of Kansas on a debate scholarship.) 

Bradley is happy with the campus libraries. One has floors differentiated by the noise level of the users, and another has multiple below-ground levels to house its collection. Bradley said it would be cool to get a library job. 

Bradley can see planting roots in Southern California because of the job opportunities and natural surroundings. She entered her freshman year planning on majoring in chemical engineering with an eye toward a career in environmental advocacy. 

“But I’m very indecisive,” she said. “So we'll just see where the world takes me.” 

It’s another grand Throwback Thursday where we encourage you to time travel through Johnson County's history. JoCoHistory is a collaborative presentation of the history from the Johnson County Museum, Johnson County Library and many JoCoHistory partners. Explore historical photographs and documents about the people, places and organizations of Johnson County, Kansas, from the 19th century to the present.

Collection spotlight: Overland Park Historical Society

About this collection: Over 1,300 photographs documenting Overland Park life with special emphasis on local businesses, the Strang Line interurban railroad and school personnel.

Hello and welcome to #NoWaitWednesday, where we take a look at a title that's available on the New Release shelves at one of our branch Libraries, just waiting for some lucky patron to place a hold on it.

With the official start of fall finally on the horizon, some patrons might be looking for a novel that's a bit darker than some of the titles we've previously discussed in this space - something more moody to fit the changing weather, perhaps. Something that's written with an elegant yet gripping prose, with the kind of story where you never really know where it's going but it grabs your attention and forces you to keep turning pages. Something that's not quite horror, not quite fantasy, and not quite thriller - but something that's a combination of all three of those genres.

The Wonder State by Sara Flannery Murphy might just be the title you're looking for. Murphy, author of 2021's buzzworthy Girl One, is back with a moody, gothic fantasy/thriller that's set in the Arkansas Ozarks. This novel revolves around a group of teens who are drawn together by their shared obsession with a collection of houses created by a talented yet reclusive female architect, who, it is whispered, could see into other worlds. Each house comes with its own unique style and history - as well as a hint of the supernatural - and the friends form a fierce bond while investigating them until disaster forces them apart.

Flash forward to years later, and while most of the friends have gone their separate ways, one of the girls, Brandi, stayed behind, continuing her research into the houses while at the same time struggling with addiction. She then reaches out to her old friends with a mysterious note - has she finally discovered something? - and when everyone returns, they discover that she has gone missing, and the reformed group must follow in her footsteps and retrace - and also rediscover - the magic they left behind. Is the note a trap? A cry for help? Or something else?

A intoxicating mixture of Lev Grossman's The Magicians and Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House, this novel is a multilayered, nostalgic love letter to the special kind of magic that forms when friends at a specific age discover a singular obsession. Sara Flannery Murphy's novels are excellent at mixing magic or sci-fi into the emotional lives of her characters, and combined with the rich, deep Arkansas atmosphere of the decaying homes in the Arkansas Ozarks, makes this a singular read that's perfectly suited for the fall season.

Place your holds, and be sure to let us know what you think by posting a review of this novel - or pretty much everything else you get at the Library - in the Web Catalog. See you next time!

Did you miss Storytimes during our brief break in August? We did, too! Starting this week, we are excited to once again welcome back Storytimes to 11 branches. Storytime dates and schedules are tailored to each individual branch, so be sure to check our Web Calendar, the Fall Program Guide, or pick up a flyer at your favorite Library location for specific details. Check out our Storytime FAQ for all the details on how to attend and which Storytime variety is right for your child’s age group and developmental abilities. See you soon at Storytime!  
 

Library OnDemand – Available anytime you like.

READ to A Dog with Pets For Life – Monday, Sept. 11, 3:30 – 5 p.m.

Join us at the Leawood Pioneer Library reading to a dog. The Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) program improves children’s reading and communication skills by employing a powerful method: reading to a registered therapy dog or cat! These animals volunteer with their owner/handlers as a team. Please note: space is limited for this program; kids will get a ticket at arrival and wait their turn to read to one of several animals.

Live Your Healthiest Life Fall Classes – Tuesdays, Sept. 12 to Nov. 14, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Fall into some healthy habits! Take 10 hours and feel better in 2023. Each class will focus on a different topic and all classes will be held at the Central Resource Library. 

Sept. 12: Stress – Making connections and reducing stressors.
Sept. 19: Sleep – Get some tips on getting and staying asleep.
Sept. 26: Nutrition – Just the basics.
Oct. 3: Nutrition – Cooking healthy on a budget.
Oct. 10: Exercise – How much and what kind do I need?
Oct. 17: Exercise – Your way, your pace.
Oct. 24: Quitting tobacco and changing behaviors.
Oct. 31: How do I stop? Step by step.
Nov. 7: Ready? Let’s do this!
Nov. 14: The new tobacco-free you.

Civics 101: Libraries and the Freedom to Read – Tuesday, Sept. 12, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. 

In a time of intense political polarization, public and school libraries across the country have seen an increase in the number of challenges to library materials. American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom documented 1,269 challenges to library books and resources in 2022, the highest number of attempted book bans since the association began compiling data about censorship in libraries more than 20 years ago. 

Join us for a panel discussion featuring veteran librarians as we discuss the freedom to read and explore the issue of book challenges and censorship. We will explore the significance of unrestricted access to information and the role of librarians as guardians of intellectual freedom. Our panelists will shed light on the various types of challenges and bans that libraries encounter, define and explain what censorship is, and the implications and impact of censorship on readers and communities. We will also examine how libraries and librarians work to protect your right to access information.

Read Under The Stars – Thursday, Sept. 14, 4 – 6 p.m.

Elementary aged kids and their families, please join us at the Central Resource Library for a low-sensory personal reading experience. We invite you to bring your own book (or borrow one of ours!), curl up and read in our quiet starlit Library space.

Walk and Read at Listowel Park – Saturday, Sept. 16 – Sept. 24, All Day

Family and friends of all ages are invited to join Johnson County Library for a walk in Listowel Park ! Walk and Read creates a reading opportunity for all, in various parks throughout Johnson County. Those who participate will read two stories posted around a path, one going each direction. When you finish one story, you can turn around to the other side of the sign and begin the next story, which will lead you back around the path. The stories you’ll read are Pepe and the Parade: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage by Tracey Chavez and Chez Bob by Bob Shea. The paths are stroller and wheelchair friendly, allowing for all to join in the fun! Dates are subject to adjustment due to inclement weather conditions. Look for updated information at the event link above.

And much more happening this week … 

You may have seen in the news that we had a very special guest at Central Resource Library this past week!

Secretary Miguel Cardona and FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel stopped at the Library as part of the Secretary's "Back to School Bus Tour 2023: Raise the Bar" campaign in partnership with local non-profit KC Digital Drive. This week-long, multi-state road trip showcased the many ways schools, families, and communities are doubling down on accelerating student learning and raising the bar in education. The Tour featured stops in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

Secretary Cardona participated in a roundtable with local educators, discussed the digital divide and emphasized the importance of WiFi connections for all families in Johnson County.

“It is an honor to welcome Secretary Cardona, Chairwoman Rosenworcel, and our partners at KC Digital Drive to our building,” said Tricia Suellentrop, County Librarian. “Providing access to ideas, information, experiences and materials to all in our community is central to Johnson County Library’s mission, so we are thrilled to provide space to discuss this important initiative.”

Our favorite part was the impromptu Storytime the Secretary held at the end of his visit! The former elementary school teacher and administrator read 100 Dogs: Playful Pups to Count to a group of children who eagerly shared their opinions on different breeds and stories of their own pets before escorting Dr. Cardona back to the bus.

It’s another grand Throwback Thursday where we encourage you to time travel through Johnson County's history. JoCoHistory is a collaborative presentation of the history from the Johnson County Museum, Johnson County Library and many JoCoHistory partners. Explore historical photographs and documents about the people, places and organizations of Johnson County, Kansas, from the 19th century to the present.

Collection spotlight: Kansas School for the Deaf

About this collection: Over 4,000 images documenting the history and culture of the Kansas School for the Deaf. The photographs depict student life, faculty and staff gatherings, school buildings, athletic teams and auxiliary deaf activities in the region.

Want a good book to read at the library but don't want to be 347th in line? Hello and welcome to #NoWaitWednesday, where we shine the spotlight on a title on our New Release shelves that's ready and waiting for you to check it out!

Cozy mysteries are a genre that every librarian needs to know about, as they are ideal to recommend to patrons at any age level, from teen readers who are just starting to explore the adult section to older readers who wish to avoid harsh language or explicit violence in their reading. Cozy mysteries also have a deep bench, as the genre is rich with dozens of critically-acclaimed and popular authors to choose from, ranging from classics like Agatha Christie and Ngaio Marsh to modern authors like Mia Manansala and Richard Osman. Finally, cozy mysteries are popular with patrons because they're, well, cozy, leaving readers with a satisfying feeling from reading a book that's filled with wit, humor, and warmth - even if there's always a pesky murder to solve.

(Oh, and some involve recipes, too!)

Speaking of recipes, patrons are going to enjoy this week's #NoWaitWednesday selection: Murder is a Piece of Cake by Valerie Burns. The main character in this series is Maddy Montgomery, a former social media influencer who moves from a big city to small town Michigan after she inherits her aunt's bakery - as well as Baby, her 250-pound mastiff full of attitude. While Maddy settles in to the community and slowly grows her business in fits and starts - helped out by her late aunt's friends, the appropriately-named Baker Street Irregulars - she soon realizes her small shop has competition in the form of a new bakery, owned by someone with connections to Maddy. But the body of the rival bakery owner is quickly found with a knife in his back - and it's one of Maddy's. She must juggle several plot points, including investigating the murder to clear her own name, interviewing locals to find out what everyone knows, keeping her bakery open during the media frenzy, and sparking a possible romance with a local veterinarian.

Burns' novel is full of humor, wit, and a dash of romance along with all the sleuthing. She effectively paints the atmosphere of New Bison, the charming, Michigan town that Maddy now calls home, and fills it with a likeable cast of quirky, nosy characters that readers will love to spend time with. The mystery is an easy one to follow along with, and Baby the mastiff absolutely steals the show.

Small-town charm? Check. Eccentric, engaging characters? Check. A cozy mystery filled with recipes that patrons will love? Check! Place your holds and check out Valerie Burns' other novels if you enjoy this one. And, if you need more cozy mystery recommendations, be sure to ask your local librarian, who will be more than happy to fill your holds lists with great reads, especially as fall is approaching.

Thanks for reading, and we'll see you next week!