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Today isn’t your normal Throwback Thursday. 
 
Today, in collaboration with Johnson County Museum, we’re kicking off a meme contest that will run until February 22. To participate, simply explore Johnson County Museum’s archives and choose a photo that you want to meme. The theme of this contest is “Winter.” 
 
What’s a meme? It might be easiest to show rather than tell: 

Simply put, the type of meme we’re looking for in this contest is that of a photo with words imposed on it that give an alternate meaning to the photo, amplify the tone of the photo or use the photo to make a point. Memes are most often funny, but you can choose to create any type of meme you like, provided it fits into the parameters explained below. 

A few FAQ about this contest:

Why are you having a meme contest? 
A few reasons. One is that it’s winter and it’s dreary and memes can be fun and make people laugh. Another is that there are so many cool, interesting photos in Johnson County Museum’s archive that people never see. We’re hoping that you’ll spend some time looking through the archives to find a photo that inspires you. 
 
Can I pick any photo?  
Yes, provided you find it in Johnson County Museum’s archive. Even though the theme of the contest is “Winter,” you can choose any photo you like, even if it doesn’t seem very wintery. 
 
How do I create a meme?  
You can use a meme generator like this site. 
 
Where do I send the meme?  
Email your meme, along with a link to the photo you’ve chosen and your full name and phone number to socialmedia@jocolibrary.org. Entries without this information will be disqualified. 
 
What’s the deadline?  
Memes received by 5:00 p.m. on February 22, 2024 will be accepted for the contest. 
 
Photos will be uploaded to a Facebook album no later than noon on February 24th. Voting will close at 5:00 p.m. on February 29th. Winners will be announced on social media on March 1st. 
 
Are there any restrictions on the memes submitted?  
Memes with offensive language or content will not be accepted. All submissions are subject to the Johnson County Government Social Media Policy. Submissions that do not include a link to the photo in the archive and your name and phone number will not be accepted. 
   
Submitting a meme for the contest means you agree that your meme will be posted publicly and may be shared by others. You also agree to be in a photo if you win and agree that the photo and your name will be shared via social media platforms 
 
Can anyone participate?  
Yes, anyone (including Johnson County Government employees) can participate. You must be able to pick up your prize in person in order to win, and Johnson County Government employees are not eligible to win employee pick prizes. 
 
Did you say prizes? 
Yes, we did! There will be three (3) winners: a popular vote pick, a Johnson County Library employee pick and a Johnson County Museum employee pick. The popular vote pick will be determined by the number of “heart” reactions on Facebook. The employee picks will be determined by internal poll. 
 
Prizes will include a Johnson County Library mug, pen and other goodies and a Johnson County Museum pass. 
 
When will winners be announced?  
Winners will be announced via social media on March 1. 
 
Did you come up with this idea on your own? 
Nope. We were inspired by Montana State Library. 
 
 

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of No Wait Wednesday, where we turn the spotlight on a book that's on the "New Release" section at one of our Library branches that we think absolutely deserves your attention. The best thing of all? There's no waitlist (at the moment!), so place your holds now!

Today's book is The Roaring Days of Zora Lily by Noelle Salazar. If you're a fan of historical fiction, then you might know that Salazar made some noise in the World War Two sub-genre a few years ago with her well-regarded 2019 debut about a group of female pilots, The Flight Girls, that combined historical details, a sweet romance, and a quick and enjoyable plot into a pleasantly digestible mix that charmed readers. Salazar again dips her toe into the historical fiction waters, but this time setting her tale back in time a bit further to the 1920s with a breezy rags-to-riches tale set during the height of Prohibition that stretches from the back alleys of Seattle to the height of Hollywood glamour.

The story begins in the current day, where an archivist is going through exhibition items for a display of classic dresses and gowns worn during Hollywood's Golden Age. While looking at a dress worn by Greta Garbo, the archivist notices a label artfully hidden under the designer's label that reads simply "Zora Lily," which launches the rest of the novel told in flashback, as we get introduced to Zora and follow her life from (literal) rags to (almost) riches.  

In 1924, Zora Lily Hough lives on the wrong side of the tracks, born one of seven siblings in a hardscrabble Seattle neighborhood where her mother finds occasional work as a seamstress, teaching a young Zora to help out as she grows up. It's clear that Zora has lots of talent, but can only find steady work as a nanny for a wealthier family, tending to children during the day while investigating the surprisingly large amounts of local speakeasies during the evenings, dancing the night away. This is all the life that Zora could hope for, however fate intervenes when she manages to use her skills to land a gig sewing costumes for her friends' nightclub review act that eventually leads her to  the bright lights of Hollywood, designing and crafting dresses and gowns that are seen the world over. She doesn't make it to the top by herself, if course, as there's usually a friend she makes along her journey that helps her out just when she needs it the most, and there's a romance that lasts through the book, as Zora meets a dashing Englishman while clubbing, and when disaster strikes, she'll find out if it's just a passing fling or something more akin to true love. Her determination and willingness to make a success of things, whatever the circumstance, makes her a character the reader can cheer for.

The Roaring Days of Zora Lily is a breezy, feel-good historical fiction novel, perfect for those who might be attracted to the genre but don't want to get bogged down in details - Salazar is excellent at keeping the tone light and the pace quick, so even when Zora has her setbacks, she's back on her feet and moving forward, along with the story. And, if you come to the genre for period-accurate details, Salazar will not disappoint, and readers who are a fan of stories involving the Prohibition era and stores set in classic Hollywood should enjoy this one. Sharp-eyed fans of the Johnson County Library's Staff Picks Blog might notice that we've featured a historical novel involving a determined young woman who made a name for herself in the fashion world - just a few years ago we discussed By Her Own Design by Piper Huguley which covers a lot of similar ground, however Huguley's novel was based on a true story while Salazar's is strictly fiction. Readers who enjoy authors like Fiona Davis and Kate Quinn should enjoy these books. 

Thanks for reading! We hope you enjoy our No Wait Wednesday posts, and we'll see you next time!

With Toolkit Tuesday, we share Library tools you might not know about! This week's tool: Our Mobile App.

Johnson County Library’s Mobile App makes it easy to use the catalog to find and discover titles, manage your account and get the location and title availability information you need. It's super-handy, but there are pros and the cons to using the Mobile App as opposed to visiting our website, jocolibrary.org. 

The cons are few, but you will not be able to access website-exclusive content.  Our front page featured stories and all past features are not available on the app. You will also miss out on our Explore, eLibrary, Research, more detailed location pages, and sections for birth to six, kids and teens. 

That said, if you simply would like to:

• Search the collection
• Get details on any title
• Check a title's availability – even map the locations where it is currently available
• Place holds
• Renew titles
• See upcoming due dates
• Add titles to your For Later list
• Browse bestsellers, new titles and recent reviews
• Check your neighborhood library hours and get directions to the nearest location

then, consider the Mobile App! 

Our Spring Trimester is filled with events to help you plan your career, college education, and retirement. See events below to register.

Great Jobs KC Tuesday, Jan. 23, 6:30–7:30 p.m., online

It's Never Too Early to Start Planning for College Tuesday, Feb. 6, 7-8 p.m., online

Navigating the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: Unlocking Opportunities with KC SourceLink Tuesday, Feb. 20, 7-8:00 p.m., online

Permission to Withdraw: Enjoying Your Retirement Savings without Outliving Them Tuesday, Feb. 27, 10-11 a.m., online

The Library is marking a milestone this year for what seems to have become a rarity these days — the opportunity for civil political discourse.

The Saturday morning Legislative Coffee series, which begins this month at the Corinth Library, is in its 10th year of bringing together Johnson County’s state lawmakers and their constituents for coffee, doughnuts and discussions.

“We felt like this was a missing piece in our community,” explained Ashley Fick, civic engagement librarian, who initiated the program along with the League of Women Voters of Johnson County.

The main focus, she said, is providing a free, nonpartisan forum run by a neutral party.

Started as a pilot at three branches, the coffee series now runs from January to April at six branches throughout the Library’s service area. To see a full schedule and register, you can visit the Library’s events page or call 913-826-4600.

The series went online for three years during the COVID-19 pandemic, but before that, the series drew nearly 600 attendees total to five coffees. Last year was the first year back in person.

As the moderator, Fick said that setting ground rules for decorum at the outset has worked well as the program has grown and drawn more attendees.

“I think a lot of people are waking up to the fact that most laws are passed at the state level or the local level,” she said. “So it behooves us to pay attention to what’s going on there.”

In providing a space for lawmakers and their constituents to interact, the coffees are one of Fick’s favorite programs. She routinely hears positive feedback from the legislators and the attendees.

“I want people to feel like, even if they've never attended something like this, they can come in and it's not scary,” Fick said. “You can sit back and just listen if you don't want to ask a question. Or if you do have a question, you can ask it. It's not an intimidating environment.”

One state lawmaker even told Fick that attending a forum was the inspiration for running for office.

The history of the forums has coincided with the legislative terms of state Reps. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton, an Overland Park Democrat, and Jarrod Ousley, a Merriam Democrat. Both have routinely participated in the coffees.

Clayton and Ousley both said it’s a bonus whenever they can hear from their constituents.

“I can go and give a speech anywhere,” Clayton said. “It's their questions that are most valuable to me because that way I know what they care about, what's on their mind, what they're concerned about, and that helps me be a better legislator.”

Ousley said he appreciated that the coffees bring together panels of lawmakers from the Johnson County delegation. Clayton has seen that from both sides, having started her legislative career as a Republican but switched parties about six years ago.

Clayton vividly recalled the 2016 forum she participated in for its large crowd and the anger among the constituents as the state was facing budget problems precipitated by tax cuts championed by then-Gov. Sam Brownback.

Both lawmakers, though, noted the overall civility of the audiences at the legislative coffees.

Perhaps that has something to do with the ingrained mentality of being on one’s best behavior in a library and hoping to avoid a disapproving look from a librarian, Ousley said.

Clayton agreed that the Library provides the perfect atmosphere to listen to all viewpoints.

“It’s doing what America does,” she said. “It's the exchange of free ideas and thoughts in an open, safe, civilized, and dignified space.” 

Registration is still open!

The Past Is Prologue is a bimonthly program that highlights topics often left out, glossed over or misrepresented in our history books. 

For our January topic, journalist C.J. Janovy will present on her book No Place Like Home: Lessons in Activism from LGBT Kansas.

How often have you heard someone exclaim, “I didn’t know the Library had that!” We get the enthusiasm. We also understand why it can be an epiphany—the Library has so much to offer, but sometimes it’s hard to be in-the-know. With our Tuesday Toolkit, we share Library tools that you might not know about that make your life so much better.

This week’s tool: Bulk Renew.

This one is so simple. Do you have several items checked out coming due? Does the mere thought of renewing each item one at a time mentally exhaust you? Do not fret! We got you. When you login to your account via the blue button in the upper right corner of jocolibrary.org, or on the app, look for "Checked Out" under "My Borrowing." There you will find a list of all items you have checked out currently. You'll see which items are due now or how soon items are due. Next to each item in the checked out list is a checkbox. Simply check the box and click the "Renew selected" button. Now, you can do that for each and every title you want to renew. Or, look for the checkbox at the top of list with the accompanying text: "Select 13 items" (or how ever many titles you have checked out.) Then, click the "Renew selected" button. Voila! You just renewed everything all at once!