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Talented Illustrator’s Portraits Celebrate Johnson County Librarians
Johnson County Library will soon be rolling out distinctive portraits of its County Librarians who have served since the 1950s. The artist is a recent arrival to the United States, and her work with the Library is in itself a story about the blessings of immigrant vitality, volunteerism and community connection.
Katya Balakina grew up in Russia and until recently lived in Estonia, where she pursued a career as an illustrator. It was there that she met her husband, a Johnson County native, and the couple moved to Leawood in early 2022.
Balakina didn’t know anyone in America except her husband’s family and was feeling isolated. But she knew that Libraries in Eastern Europe were great community hubs, and her husband encouraged her to visit the Leawood Pioneer branch.
She quickly got a Library card and went online to check out Johnson County Library volunteer opportunities, which connected her to the Friends of Johnson County Library. Thus began a wonderful relationship that has been mutually beneficial for both the Library and Balakina.
Community Relations Coordinator Christopher Leitch, who works closely with the Friends organization, attended an online meeting with Balakina and learned about her illustrator skills. He checked out her website and quickly recognized her talent. She produces hand-drawn digital images on an iPad, visually conveying ideas and information with a very creative, appealing technique.
“I knew her style,” Leitch said. “It’s very lively and fun and bright and bold.”
Leitch envisioned how Balakina’s whimsical drawings could focus attention on the Friends’ donation boxes, located in the branches to collect used books and other materials.
“She produced a series of little illustrations we’ve been using on social media,” Leitch said. “They’re little line drawings and are just adorable.”
Balakina was delighted to volunteer for the project. “It was super fun for me,” she said. “I felt like it was the perfect match.”
She told Leitch that she loves doing portraits and was available for more assignments.
About that time, Sean Casserley retired as County Librarian, succeeded by Tricia Suellentrop. The timing was right to begin celebrating the history of all seven County Librarians, dating back to Shirley Brother in 1956, followed by Mary Moore, Roy Fox, Mona Carmack and Donna Lauffer. Leitch conceived that a cohesive set of all seven portraits would be ideal. The Library commissioned the works and Balakina completed them late last year.
Leitch said the Library was thrilled and felt Balakina had captured the look and distinguishing characteristics of each Librarian.
“I would say she is a very imaginative and intelligent person and really easy to work with,” Leitch said. “She was so eager to bring our vision to life.”
The images will appear on a variety of postcards, prints and other materials, helping to honor the Library’s leaders.
Connecting with the Library has been a joy, Balakina said. In addition, at her first meeting with Friends of Johnson County Library representatives, she met another volunteer who was also a recent arrival to the U.S. They’ve become great friends.
“I got a friend from the Friends,” Balakina said with a laugh. “We hit it off. I am very thankful to the Friends for that volunteering opportunity and for the fact I met a like-minded person.”
Leitch said this is just one example of how Johnson County Library is blessed to be in a place with so many accomplished professionals, of so many nationalities, who share their gifts for the community’s benefit.
“We are really lucky,” Leitch said. “This kind of talent presents itself to us with such regularity.”
Atlases Document 150 Years of Change
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: Historical Atlases of Johnson County
About this collection: Historical maps and narratives that trace the boundaries of land ownership and the development of townships and cities. Use these atlases to discover how Johnson County has changed over the last 150 years. These high-resolution images allow you to zoom in to view small details.
Kid Book Reviews by Kids
Library Kids on Library Books!
It’s almost time for Summer Reading and who better to recommend kids titles than kids?! We attached googly eyes to our mighty handheld recorder and took to the stacks to ask over 20 children which books they love and what they like about them. We also asked adults what their favorite books were when they were kids. This episode is 20 minutes of pure joy that will leave you with a list of gems, and just might remind you of what sparked your interest in reading to begin with!
Recommendations from our collection:
Charles’ Choice: Last Stop on Market Street – Matt de la Peña
Dave’s Double feature: Kanopy Kids: Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend and Kitten’s First Full Moon
Library Kids on Library Books list
Adults Recall Their Favorite Books From Childhood list
JOCOLIBRARY UNCOVERED Home Page
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Submit Your Work for Volume 6!
We’ve been publishing Volume, a literary and arts notebook, for six years! Each Volume has plenty of room to scribble and doodle, plus beautiful artwork and writing from YOU, our patrons!
Our prompt for Volume 6
Whether it be fishing for compliments, fishers of men, or actual fishing for fish, tell us about the ways you cast your net, what you’re hoping to catch and the surprises along the way. Learn more and submit your writing or art »
Many of Johnson County Library’s writing programs have been supported by the Joan Berkley Writers Fund, which is administered by the Johnson County Library Foundation. The Berkley family started the fund to honor Joan Berkley, who was an avid reader and lover of literature. Bert Berkley has supported the fund since its inception in 2013 and we thought it would be fun to honor Bert along with Joan with a prompt all about his favorite thing: fishing. Need inspiration? Read about Bert’s passion for fly-fishing in “Anglers Journal” »
This Week at the Library
Library OnDemand – Available anytime you like.
Healthy Living Classes – Tuesdays, May 2 – May 31, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Community health workers from the Johnson County Department of Health & Environment will be onsite at the Central Resource Library every Tuesday until May 31 from 10:30-11:30 to provide information about healthy living.
In Memory of Six Million – Thursday, May 4, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Join us for our 13th annual In Memory of Six Million Holocaust Remembrance program. Hear a survivor speak from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum via Zoom. As survivors grow fewer as the years go on, we are incredibly grateful and excited to offer this opportunity to our patrons. The survivor will speak for 30 minutes allowing 30 minutes for audience questions at the end. The program will be recorded and available for viewing after the event.
Resiliency Conference – Friday, May 5, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Individuals with lived experience with a mental health condition or substance use disorder, along with supportive loved ones and members of the community are invited to our 2023 Resiliency Conference, formerly known as the Recovery Conference.
Walk and Read at I-Lan Park – Saturday, May 6 – May 14, All day, anytime
Family and friends of all ages are invited to join Johnson County Library for a walk in a 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 Walk and Read program encourages physical activity, literacy and family time. 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 jocolibrary.org. Johnson County Library, and Leawood Parks and Recreation invite you to visit the Walk and Read at I-Lan Park. Two stories, Flower Garden by Eve Bunting and Can I Give You a Squish by Emily Neilson, will be posted.
Teen Magazine elementia Celebrates 20th Issue
When Mickey Willard was in seventh grade in 2005 at Trail Ridge Middle School, several of her best friends were featured in a new teen literary magazine, elementia, produced by Johnson County Library.
Willard attended the reception and was inspired to submit her own artwork for future issues, including the portrait chosen for the issue 9 Cover in 2012. Her experience was so positive that she joined the Library staff in 2014.
“Elementia was the direct cause of me being here now today,” says Willard, a youth information specialist at Monticello. “It got me introduced to the Librarians and to their amazing work. Now I’m engaged with the next generation of creative teens and patrons.”
This April marks an elementia milestone, with its 20th issue release. Willard is part of a Library team who cherish working with teens on it every year.
The magazine has evolved from a few hundred copies produced in-house on a shoestring budget into a beautifully curated and professionally printed publication, with several thousand copies distributed in Library locations and elsewhere. But it has remained true to its original mission: to showcase the phenomenal talent and originality of teen writers and artists. All issues are viewable on the Library's website.
Elementia had modest beginnings. It grew out of a middle school creative writing class offered at Central Resource Library. Youth Services Manager Angel Tucker, a part-time youth specialist at the time, realized these young people needed to share their work with peers and families. That first issue, in fall 2005, featured 19 pieces of writing, and 60 people attended the reception honoring the young writers.
“We started elementia because young people were showing up and wanting to be together. They wanted to have a community,” Tucker recalled. “And what we’ve built over the last 20 issues has consistently aligned with that original vision.”
The Library gradually found sustained funding and support for a full-color, 72-page publication. Teachers encourage students to submit their writing, and it’s highly competitive to be selected. Since issue 13 in 2016, all visual art has also been created by teens, thanks to a partnership with the Shooting Stars arts education program.
Graphics Coordinator Jennifer Taylor, involved since the beginning, emphasizes that every issue is written, edited, curated and designed by teens and young adults, with Library staff providing mentoring and support.
Emma Fernhout, youth information specialist at Monticello, says the participants are incredibly intelligent and passionate. They motivate her to think in new ways. “It fills me with a lot of hope and delight for the future of literature,” she said.
Leawood Information Specialist Cassandra Gillig says many elementia graduates keep in touch after they become adults, and it’s clear the magazine is a profound learning experience, beyond the classroom.
“It’s often the first place that is not dictated by anyone other than themselves,” Gillig said, so it becomes a catalyst for teens flexing their creative muscles and finding their voice.
The Library also connects participants with published authors. Youth Information Specialist Cassidy Coles said some of those authors, including A.S. King and Naomi Shihab Nye, have given major shout-outs to elementia in book dedications or public remarks.
King will be the keynote speaker at this year’s virtual reception, Tuesday, May 9, at 7:00 p.m. The reception will also feature readings, artwork, music and more exploring this year's theme: Cycles.
Gillig said every issue is astonishing and uplifting, and this year is no different. As it celebrates 20 issues, elementia has the Library’s wholehearted endorsement to continue for years to come, so its future is bright.
New JoCoHistory Blog: Helping Bring the Past into the Future
It's another beautiful Throwback Thursday and we encourage you to time travel through the history of Johnson County. There is a new JoCoHistory Blog story: Helping Bring the Past into the Future.
The Johnson County Genealogical Society (JCGS) is celebrating its 50th anniversary. As a special 50th anniversary project the JCGS in cooperation with the Johnson County Library has established a free Memory Lab at the Central Resource Library in the genealogy area. JCGS is providing equipment and assistance to help patrons digitize family photos, negatives, slides, 8 mm movies and documents so they may be kept for future generations and easily shared with other family members. This service was seen as a priority since so many older media formats are fragile, degrading or obsolete and require considerable space to store. Those wishing to use the equipment may reserve a 2 ½ hour appointment through the JCGS website to bring in their materials and transfer to USB or other digital media. Detailed instructions will be provided on how to prepare materials prior to the visit, how to use the equipment and save to a digital file. JCGS volunteers will be present at each session to help the users get started. Read the full article at the JoCoHistory Blog website.»
Submit your Art!
Calling all bikers and artists! We have an open call for a special biking themed art exhibit called The Art of Biking, offered in conjunction with the 2023 Women's Bike Summit happening at the Library this coming Fall. If you're a visual artist in Johnson County or Kansas City metro area, please apply. Deadline for submission is May 15.