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This Week at the Library
This week at the Library, you can join us at:
Library OnDemand – Available anytime you like.
Your doorway into live and archived programs. Arts & Culture, Career & Finance, Community Matters, Writers and more!
Friends of the Library Pop-Up Book Sale – Saturday, Dec. 10, 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Shop gently used books and items at the Friends of the Library headquarters!
20% Friends members discount all day!
Storytimes – Many of our locations offer a variety of Storytimes ranging from family, baby, toddler, and preschool- focused programs. Check your preferred location for dates and times to make a choice that best fits your child.
Last Chance to see our Fall Exhibitions – Now through Dec. 21.
Johnson County Library is proud to share the work of Kansas City metro area visual artists in our library art galleries. We have some locations with dedicated art gallery spaces to inspire people of all ages and beautify our libraries. We seek a diverse selection of artwork that inspires, educates and promotes community connection. If you're a local artist interested in submitting your artwork for consideration, learn more here.
Library Breaks Ground on 'Jewel for the Community'
After many months of planning, Johnson County Library is poised to begin construction on its newest branch, the Merriam Plaza Library, co-located on a campus with the Merriam Community Center in the 6000 block of Slater Street.
On Tuesday, Nov. 29, Library staff joined the Johnson County Library Board, members of the Board of County Commissioners, Merriam City Council members, staff and volunteers from both the City and County, and partners Dake Wells Architecture and Titan Built to officially kick off construction with a groundbreaking ceremony.
Two members of the Webb family were also in attendance; Merriam Plaza's meeting room will be named after Alfonso and Mary Webb, Merriam residents whose 1949 desegregation lawsuit paved the way for the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education decision.
The new building, expected to open in 2024, will be a few blocks from the current location. The 15,000-square-foot branch will replace the much-loved but outdated Antioch Library, which has served Johnson County since 1956 at the corner of Antioch Road and Shawnee Mission Parkway. It will have the same collection as Antioch and will be comparable to Oak Park Library’s size.
For Merriam Mayor Bob Pape, Antioch Library has been an important fixture since he was a boy growing up at 60th and Antioch Road. He is delighted the city will retain this new branch, ideally situated to share space with the community center that opened in 2020.
The Library and community center entrances will face each other across a courtyard. Visitors to both facilities will use a 200-space, two-level parking garage already completed on the site.
“It’s a hub of the community. It’s a destination place,” Pape said, recalling that Merriam leaders pitched the many benefits of the shared campus to Library officials in 2017.
County Librarian Tricia Suellentrop agreed it’s been a great partnership, similar to the agreement that led to Lenexa City Center Library opening in 2019 adjacent to Lenexa City Hall. “We worked really closely with the city of Merriam on the siting of the building, the design, every step of the way. It’s been wonderful working with Merriam,” she said.
Suellentrop is thrilled with the building’s stunning and modern amenities that she believes will provide a “jewel for the community” for decades to come. This will be a Library built with many patron suggestions in mind, like a convenient drive-thru, a comfortable modern early literacy and Kids area, a large meeting room with updated technology to host storytime and other events, plus two well-equipped study rooms and a variety of seating options across the branch.
Another community request was to maintain some of the area’s green space, which the architects honored in a creative way with an attractive green roof that preserves the roof’s lifespan while providing a place for pollinators and native vegetation. Spacious windows will allow in lots of natural light, and a covered front porch will provide a welcoming outdoor gathering spot. Public art has also been commissioned for both indoors and outdoors.
The anticipated total project cost is $13.68 million, funded through the Comprehensive Library Master Plan and dedicated Library tax. Merriam residents will not see a city tax increase to pay for this project. The contractor, Titan Built, also completed the latest renovation at Central Resource Library.
Library officials anticipate Antioch Library will close just prior to the new branch opening, to allow for transferring the collection and staff to the new location. The Library Board of Directors owns the Antioch branch and plans to sell the property. “We see it as a potential win for the community, and for us as far as whatever goes in there,” Pape said.
Stay tuned to @jocolibrary on social media and the Library's website for updates throughout the construction process. More information about the project is available in the Construction FAQ.
Jeanne Savage at Sounds Easy video rental store in 1984. The store was known later as Savage Video.
Do you remember video stores?
There's no better time than a Monday for Johnson County history memories. Before streaming video, we had DVDs. Before DVDs, we had VHS tapes. When Hollywood movies were first put onto tape and we were able to rent them to view them in our own living rooms, well, it was a big deal.
Our friends at the jocohistory blog have offered up a new story that details Johnson County's video store phenomenon: Hollywood at Home: A History of Johnson County Video Stores.
Last Chance to See Our Fall Exhibitions
Johnson County Library is proud to share the work of Kansas City metro area visual artists in our library art galleries. We have some locations with dedicated art gallery spaces to inspire people of all ages and beautify our libraries. We seek a diverse selection of artwork that inspires, educates and promotes community connection. If you're a local artist interested in submitting your artwork for consideration, learn more here.
Our Fall Exhibitions will be removed December 21, so take this opportunity to enjoy art at your favorite library location.
Read on to see what each branch has on display, and check out our full interviews with each artist »
Antioch Library - Drawing
Anita Easterwood is a portrait artist and illustrator from Kansas City, KS with over 13 years of experience. She received her Bachelors in Art from Kansas State University, and Masters in African American Studies from The University of Kansas. Specializing in traditional drawing, digital art and oil painting, her work celebrates Blackness through Black culture, fashion, history, and sisterhood. Her artwork will be on display at the Antioch Library branch until December 21, 2022.
Cedar Roe Library - Photography
Becky Brinkley is a native Kansan and Kansas City Art Institute alumna living and working in the KC area. Becky has worked with ceramics, fiber arts and photography. Her most recent work has been experimenting with alternative photographic processes, using plants and direct contact processes exposed by sunlight.
Lenexa City Center Library - Painting
Black Space Black Art is an artists collective started by Natasha Ria El-Scari, owner of the Natasha Ria Art Gallery. The collective matches African American artists to local businesses, in order to broaden the exposure of the artists and the artwork and introduce it within the community.
Corinth Library - Painting
Educator and painter Eiman Yousif draws artistic inspiration from her cultural experiences in Africa and UAE. Her work is colorful and abstract with a focus on feminism.
Shawnee Library - Painting
Jean Hershey developed as a painter through her years working as a commercial artist. She allows emotions and the subconscious mind to guide her in the creation of abstract pieces with bold color and movement.
Central Resource Library - Painting
Former Hallmark executive and trained printmaker Patti Streeper has turned her creative energy toward painting. With a focus on portraits, Patti uses art to tell the stories of women who have made significant contributions to society.
Oak Park Library - Painting
Originally from the Philippines, Kansas City based artist Raffaela Malazarte has been experimenting with oil painting since 2000. Her style is greatly influenced by fauvism and impressionism.Raffaela’s choice of colors and brush strokes are very bold, thick and vibrant.
Blue Valley Library - Mixed Media
Artist Susan Ferguson creates pieces made to give viewers an opportunity for reflection on their connections and experiences related to the environment and environmental sustainability. Experimenting with materials, techniques and mediums, Susan produces artwork that is colorful, textured and layered.
Leawood Pioneer Library - Textile
Artist Weifang Gong’s work is inspired by the environmental impact and pollution she witnessed in her years as a textile designer. Her painterly textiles reflect her practice of no waste/reusing and the influence of traditional Chinese paintings.
Meet Brian Hanni, Author of "Banner Year"
Meet Brian Hanni, author of Banner Year: The Championship Season of the 2021-22 Kansas Jayhawks.
Wednesday, Dec. 14
6-8 p.m.
Central Resource Library
no registration necessary
Join us for an evening with Brian Hanni, Voice of the Jayhawks, for a talk on Banner Year, the official commemorative championship book of the 2021-2022 season of the University of Kansas. Nonfiction Award. Hanni will discuss the book and conclude with an audience Q&A. Book purchase and signing will follow.
This Week at the Library
This week at the Library, you can join us at:
Library OnDemand – Available anytime you like.
Your doorway into live and archived programs. Arts & Culture, Career & Finance, Community Matters, Writers and more!
Teen Takeout – Sign up starting Thursday, Dec. 1
Sign up for the Teen Takeout book and get a free new-release teen book each month! Every month features a different theme, and the book is yours to keep. Registration runs from 1st to the 15th of every month (until full) at jocolibrary.org/teen-takeout.
One-on-One DNA & Genetic Genealogy Help – Friday, Dec. 2, 9 a.m. – noon
Visit the Johnson County Genealogical Society at www.jcgsks.org to schedule an appointment. A volunteer will contact you by email to set up an in-person or a Zoom session link for you prior to the scheduled date.
Storytimes – Many of our locations offer a variety of Storytimes ranging from family, baby, toddler, and preschool- focused programs. Check your preferred location for dates and times to make a choice that best fits your child.
Branch Manager Amy Barclay in front of the Corinth Library
Corinth Looks Ahead to 60th Anniversary and the Future
Johnson County Library’s Corinth branch, at 8100 Mission Road, is popular with patrons from Prairie Village and beyond. It opened Feb. 24, 1963, so 2023 will mark its 60th anniversary milestone.
In 1967 Corinth expanded on both the north and south sides to reach its current size of 20,475 square feet. In 1988 it had an interior renovation, with the addition of an elevator and east side windows.
The building has had some major maintenance in recent years, including a new roof and updated electrical and heating/cooling work. It has a well-stocked children’s section and a spacious computer area and remains a favorite Library destination for young families and adults.
“We are quite busy. We are well loved,” says Amy Barclay, who has been branch manager since January 2019. “Corinth is known for being a place for families to come and meet and connect. We have tutors here all the time. We often rank quite high on customer service.”
But there’s also a recognition that the community could use a more modern facility. The current land-locked location is not conducive to expansion. The 2015 Comprehensive Library Master Plan identified the need to replace Corinth with a new building, but no timeframe was specified.
A more immediate branch task is the Merriam Plaza Library project, a replacement for the current Antioch branch. The final design has just been completed for the new branch, with construction planned in 2023 and a grand opening in 2024.
The Library Board has been weighing how to prioritize the timing of new construction for Corinth and the best way to work with Prairie Village city officials.
Very preliminary talks began in 2019 between the Library and Prairie Village leaders over possibly collaborating on a civic campus that could include a new community center and Library, in proximity to Harmon Park. Survey results in December 2019 showed strong support for the Library in Prairie Village overall, and support for the Library being included in a shared campus. Talks were then put on hold due to COVID-19.
Stakeholders from the Library and city of Prairie Village resumed conversations earlier this year and indicated a willingness to keep working together.
Barclay and other Library leaders would love to see a new Corinth branch with a convenient drive-thru, larger meeting rooms, better accessibility for people with disabilities, and other amenities found in the newest branches — Monticello and Lenexa City Center — and in the renovated Central Resource Library.
The Prairie Village City Council is beginning to explore the feasibility of building the community/civic center, but this remains very tentative. On Oct. 3, the City Council debated whether to conduct a survey to gauge citizen support for the project, but postponed a decision. At their November meeting, the City's ad hoc civic center committee elected to send an updated version of the survey to residents. If citizen support exists, the city would still need to figure out a location, conceptual design and how to pay for it.
The Library, which has its own dedicated funding source, will also pursue its own areas of inquiry, including programming and how much space will be needed; site feasibility including traffic flow, parking and potential phasing; and cost estimating.
In the meantime, Barclay says Corinth is doing well and enjoying the return to in-person programming, with its popular Storytimes, book groups and Legislative coffees.
“It is really refreshing to be in a branch where the community is so invested in this building,” Barclay said. “I do still think the community pretty much loves this branch. We’re not losing patrons to the prettier branches. There’s a lot of loyalty to Corinth and to Prairie Village.”
TBT. There be turkey!
It's turkey time! Well, for some. If you prefer tofurkey or some other vegan alternative, that's great too. Whatever you choose to overeat, you probably will be sitting in a chair uncomfortably full and perhaps unable to move. That is an excellent time to browse through all of the great Thanksgiving photos at jocohistory.org
We just had to share this 1966 photo from the Wasiner family Thanksgiving. One child keeps her eyes on the bird. Another keeps her eye on the birdwatcher. The others? Eyes forward for this wonderful photograph. Everyone has their priorities.
For even more history be sure to follow our hashtag on Twitter.
Staff Pick: The Secret Garden of Yanagi Inn
Today's Staff Pick comes to you from our librarian Jesseca, who gives FIVE STARS to The Secret Garden of Yanagi Inn by Amber Logan.
We all have secrets, but some people are better at hiding them. Mari learns this firsthand when she accepts an offer to professionally photograph Yanagi Inn in Kyoto, Japan. She grew up in Japan before her parents split up and her mother moved Mari and her sister to the United States. Upon her return, she adjusts to the familiar culture of her childhood and initially enjoys exploring the grounds of the inn, especially photographing the overgrown garden. However, supernatural elements soon reveal secrets from the inn's history that touch upon her own past.
I loved the atmospheric descriptions. I was really transported to the grounds of Yanagi Inn! I would describe the writing as tender and eerily beautiful. Mari is a fantastic character; I was completely consumed by her story and I was rooting her on while she uncovered mysteries that no longer wanted to be buried. While the title references The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgeson Burnett, I would say the most significant similarity between the two is the way both books enchant the reader. If you like books with any of these elements: Japan, a touch of the supernatural, complex family dynamics especially between mothers and daughters, and/or books that pair well with a cozy cup of tea; then this is the book for you!