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Black History Month on Kanopy
Celebrate the pioneers, leaders, and innovators within the Black community through the stories offered in a new curated film collection presented by Kanopy for Black History Month.
This collection of narrative and documentary films shines a light on influential individuals including civil rights leaders, legal scholars, musicians, athletes, actors, artists and more, and provides perspective on contemporary and historical events.
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!
Citizenship Civics – Tuesday, Feb. 8, 9:30-11 a.m.
Pass the U.S. naturalization interview and citizenship exam with help from the Library! Our free online classes provide two levels of coursework focused on the English language, American history and civics knowledge. Assistance with the citizenship application is also available. Participants review citizenship study materials, practice listening and responding to citizenship interview questions, access online practice tests and receive guidance throughout the application process.
The Women’s Employment Network – Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2-3 p.m.
The Women’s Employment Network (WEN) helps women earn a brighter future for themselves, their families, and our community. Through their program of individual services tailored to your situation, WEN supports women who are ready to make a change in their professional life. If you feel isolated or frustrated in your job search or are looking for a career change, the WEN program is for you! Kim Barnes, WEN’s Community Engagement Coordinator, will explain how the program can provide you the support you need to achieve your personal and professional goals.
Community Matters Book Club – Thursday, Feb. 10, 6-7 p.m.
Are you looking for spaces to explore identity and the world around us? This intergenerational book club will provide kids and families a place to read about the unique experiences of diverse characters and historical events.
Each session, we will provide a book for you to keep, along with an invitation to join us as a family for discussion, questioning, and community building. Copies of the book will be provided to participants who live in Johnson County. Best for parents or guardians, and their children ages 8-12.
Legislative Coffee Series – Saturday, Feb. 12, 10-11 a.m.
Discover what's percolating in the Kansas Legislature. Representatives and Senators with constituents in Johnson County will discuss the new legislative session, followed by Q&A. You bring the questions!
- Representative Jo Ella Hoye, District 17
- Representative Mari-Lynn Poskin, District 20
- Representative Rui Xu, District 25
- Representative Timothy Johnson, District 38
Central Resource Library Temporary Closure
The “Little Central” portion of Central Resource Library will close beginning Monday, Feb. 14 to prepare for the building’s full reopening on Tuesday, Feb. 22. If you've been using Little Central facilities, please take note:
- Please contact us no later than Thursday, Feb. 10 if you would like to pick up your available holds from another branch during the closure period.
- Holds not picked up by 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 13 will remain on the holds shelf an extra seven days from their original expiration date. Please check your Library account for specific dates.
- If you have items checked out that will be due during the closure, please return your items to another branch or renew materials through your Library account.
- For public computers and access to the collection, please visit one of our other 13 locations during the closure period.
Our Construction FAQ contains additional information about Central Resource Library’s reopening, which includes a live-streamed ribbon-cutting ceremony on our Facebook page at 2 p.m. on Feb. 22.
Thank you for your patience as we work to improve your Library experience. We look forward to welcoming you back to the building!
Archiving Architecture
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: Johnson County Museum Historic Preservation Survey
About this collection: Begun in 1991, the Historic Preservation Survey is a collection of photos documenting the architectural style and condition of more than 10,000 pre-1950 homes across Johnson County. The original photos are owned by the Johnson County Museum.
Take a Look at The Open Book
The Open Book is out today!
What is the Open Book Newsletter? It provides updates on Library branches, upcoming events and programs, service highlights and how the Library is evolving to meet your needs.
Have you subscribed?
In this issue you'll find information about our service of the month, a report on Central Resource Library reopening, a story on new offices for our Development Department (Library Volunteers, Friends of Johnson County Library and the Johnson County Library Foundation), a fun DYK and upcoming happenings including our featured event: Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture Series: Journalist Yamiche Alcindor.
6 by 6 animals
Window seating in Kids Area
Computers in the Kids area
Computer area for adults
Meeting rooms
Central Resource Library reopens Tuesday, Feb. 22!
The wait is over. The excitement is palpable. Central Resource Library will reopen on 2/22/22!
What awaits you?
Among the highlights:
- More study/conference rooms. This project will add or relocate five public study/conference rooms, as well as rooms on the staff side – adding availability for patrons.
- An expanded, relocated Kids area with more natural light, window seating and a storytime room.
- A new drive-thru for patron returns and holds pick-up.
- Materials Handling efficiencies. Our materials handling spaces, through which new materials, holds and other Library items flow, are being reorganized for operational efficiency. We anticipate this will result in materials being available for patrons more quickly throughout the entire Library system.
This Week at the Library
Library OnDemand – Available anytime you like
Your doorway into live and archived programs. Arts & Culture, Career & Finance, Community Matters, Writers and more!
Online Bilingual Storytime/ Hora de cuentos bilingües en linéa – Monday, Jan 31, 10-10:30 a.m.
The whole family will enjoy this flexible Storytime. Hearing stories is a great way to spend time with your kids and help them foster a love of reading. Stories, songs, fingerplays and movement activities foster pre-reading skills. Fun for the whole family.
Toda la familia disfrutará de esta especial hora de cuentos bilingües. Escucha historias con tus hijos y ayúdales a cultivar el amor por la lectura. Al contar cuentos, interpretar canciones, hacer juegos con los dedos y realizar actividades de movimiento fomentamos las habilidades previas a la lectura. ¡Diversión para toda la familia!
Caregiver Workshop: Power of Nature Based Play with Rosanna Munoz – Wednesday, Feb. 2, 7-8 p.m.
Whether it's finding activities to keep them busy or understanding what's going on inside their heads, being a caregiver of young children can be challenging. Each month's caregiver workshop explores a different topic to support and enrich relationships between kids age birth to 6 and their caregivers.
Book Discussion: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet – Wednesday, Feb. 2, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
The only thing better than a good book is talking about it! This Spring we're offering both in-person and virtual book discussions. Register to save your spot. Registrants will receive a copy of the book that they will then return to us at the end of the session.