Bookmarkable
It's TumbleBook Time!
TumbleBook Library is now a part of our eLibrary! All online and no downloads are required. TumbleBook Library offers a variety of eBooks and activities for kids pre-K to grade 6 with:
- Kid-approved fiction and nonfiction.
- Animated storybooks and read-alongs.
- Chapter books and graphic novels.
- Videos, puzzles and games.
- French and Spanish books for language learning.
- Common Core title lists, and lessons plans.
The collection includes 1,100 titles licensed from children’s book publishers such as Simon & Schuster, Chronicle Books, Candlewick Press, Charlesbridge Press, Walker & Company, Annick Press, Orca Books, Lerner Books, HarperCollins Publishers and others. These books are great for reading in a group setting or independently–wonderful ways to build reading skills. Titles are always available immediately, no checkouts or wait time, so kids can binge read all they want!
This resource is made available through the State Library of Kansas for use within Kansas. Kansas residents can also access this resource outside of the state with a Kansas Library eCard.
Interlibrary Loan is getting a new look on Monday, Dec. 13
Interlibrary Loan Down for Maintenance on Monday, Dec. 13.
We are upgrading Interlibrary Loan!
As part of the upgrade,
- The site will now be mobile-friendly, allowing you to interact with the site on a wider variety of devices.
- The new mobile-friendly interface will look much different but will have the same great functionality for requesting materials.
- You will be able to view details of active requests.
- And since Interlibrary Loans are not allowed to be renewed, we've removed that option.
The transition to the new interface will begin Monday, Dec. 13 and we expect the work to be complete before end of the day. During this time, the login button to Interlibrary Loan will be temporarily removed. Patrons will automatically see the new interface after logging back into Interlibrary Loan.
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!
Online Bilingual Storytime – Monday, Dec. 13, 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.
Virtual City Bicycling – Thursday, Dec. 16, Noon – 1:30 p.m.
Learn the rules of the road and cycling confidence in this FREE class from Johnson County Library and BikeWalkKC! Our instructors will encourage you to ride farther and explore our region on bikes.
Facebook Live Book Party – Thursday, Dec. 16, 7 – 8 p.m.
Facebook Live Book Parties are live events where this week, Josh, a member of the library will booktalk on Space Opera. This Book Party will be held on Facebook live. Visit JoCoLibrary on Facebook and be sure to ‘follow’ us to get notifications when we go Live if you have a Facebook account. You do not need a Facebook account to watch our Book Party.
Young Adult Literary Council – Sunday, Dec. 19, 2 – 3 p.m.
Teens are invited to join the Young Adult Literary Council to share favorite books, review titles for the Library website and participate in fun activities. You can meet new people and receive volunteer credit hours for your time with us.
And much more happening this week …
Curbside Holds Pickup
For many of us, this is a really busy time of year. Trying to get more done but not having more time can be stressful to say the least. This may even mean giving up some of the things you enjoy until things start to settle down. Luckily, you can still enjoy all your favorite materials from Johnson County Library with the ultra-convenient Curbside Holds Pickup service at the Cedar Roe, Gardner, Leawood Pioneer, Oak Park and Spring Hill Libraries. When you’re placing your items on hold, select one of the Curbside Holds Pickup branches and enjoy the perks of curbside pickup.
This service has been very popular and for good reason. You simply pull up to a reserved parking spot in your comfortable vehicle. Text that you’re there and in no time, your items are brought out to you. Then as you are pulling out of the parking lot you’ll wonder why you didn’t do this sooner. It’s simple, fast and stress-free.
Curbside Holds Pickup service was launched last year to give patrons a contactless pickup option at the Cedar Roe, Gardner and Leawood Pioneer branches. Due to the popularity of the services, it was then expanded to Oak Park and Spring Hill Libraries.
While you are always welcome to pick up your materials inside the branch, you also have the option for contactless holds pickup from the comfort of your vehicle. With curbside service now at those five locations along with drive-thru windows at the Blue Valley, Lenexa City Center and Monticello locations, a contactless holds pickup option is available in all quadrants of Johnson County.
Hours for curbside service mirror the current branch hours, but the service closes 15 minutes prior to the close of the branch. Please note that Curbside Holds Pickup service may be temporarily suspended during severe weather, including extreme temperatures.
To use the curbside service:
- Look for the parking stalls designated with blue Curbside Hold Pickup signs in the branch's parking lot.
- To initiate the pickup, text the word HOLD to the phone number on the sign and follow the prompts. Message and data rates may apply. Please note you must be present at the Library to initiate pickup.
- When staff has located and checked out your material, a Library staff member will bring out your hold(s). Pop your trunk or roll down a passenger window so staff can safely place your item(s) in your car.
Many have already discovered the convenience of the Curbside Holds Pickup service at Johnson County Library. If you haven’t tried it yet, now is a great time with the busy holiday season. To learn more about the curbside service, checkout the Curbside Holds Pickup FAQ »
Gently Used Kids Books For Sale
Find deals on used kids books at the Friends of Johnson County Library Kids Books Warehouse Sale!
Saturday, Dec. 11, 12 - 5 p.m.
at Pine Ridge Office Park, 8279 Melrose Dr, Overland Park, KS 66214.
A Sign of Things to Come
There is a beautiful new Johnson County Library sign installed on the outside of Central Resource Library and it is just a little hint of all the big changes you will see inside! What will you discover?
- Additional and reconfigured study and conference rooms.
- An expanded, relocated Kids area with more natural light, window seating and a storytime room.
- A new drive-thru for convenient holds pickup and returns.
- A lot of “back-of-the-house” and “behind-the-scenes” upgrades that will result in materials being available for patrons more quickly throughout the entire Library system.
We can’t wait to welcome you back Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022! Join us at 2 p.m. for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, then check out all the wonderful changes made over the prior year.
Throwback Thursday: History of the Central Resource Library
A wonderful article detailing the History of the Central Resource Library can be found on the JoCoHistory Blog.
Discover its origins, learn about previous construction, its relocation, openings and re-openings, detailing a story that began in the 1950s and continues to be written as we welcome you back on Feb. 22, 2022!
Library Origins
In the early 1950s, the libraries of Johnson County were run by community volunteers. Some housed small libraries in their homes, some worked out of local buildings – barbershops, schoolhouses, and shopping centers – and others operated traveling bookmobiles. With support from the community, an official Johnson County Library was established in 1953 with funding and a permanent location in Merriam, Kansas. Three years later, the Library moved to the location at Shawnee Mission Parkway and Antioch (the current Antioch Library) and designated this the Headquarters Branch.
Read the full article »
Open Book is Out Today!
The December issue of The Open Book eNewsletter is out today!
What is The Open Book? This newsletter provides updates on Library branches, upcoming events and programs, service highlights and how the Library is evolving to meet your needs.
Have you subscribed?
It’s now easier than ever to stay informed about all that’s happening at Johnson County Library. Sign up today!