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What's your Librarian journey?
We wanted to hear our Librarians' journeys.
We were especially interested in stories from Librarians who’ve:
- had multiple positions at Johnson County Library
- held the same position for many years
- had interesting career paths leading them to us
Now, we used the label "Librarian" loosely. We wanted to include the stories of public-facing staff as well.
This is the third episode in our Discover Your Library series of the Did you hear? podcast.
Join us for these often funny, sometimes touching and always compelling stories!
Cedar Roe Library Closed Aug 9 - Aug 13
On Saturday, Aug. 7, there will be no access to the Cedar Roe Library parking lot from 9 am to 1 pm due to a street closure of 51st Terrace. The Library will still be open during this time, though Curbside Holds Pickup service will be walk-up only until 1 pm.
Cedar Roe Library will then be closed to both staff and the public Monday, Aug. 9 through Friday, Aug. 13 for replacement of the building's sloped roof. Curbside Holds Pickup service will also be suspended, and returns will not be accepted during the closure. Please note that these closure dates are subject to weather conditions.
- If you have items checked out from Cedar Roe that will be due during the closure, your due dates have been extended for one additional week. Check your library account for specific dates.
- Holds ready for pickup but not checked out by 2 pm on Saturday, Aug. 7 will remain on-shelf for one additional week. Check your library account for specific dates.
- Public computers, including printing and copying services, are available at our other Johnson County Library locations. Antioch Library has the closest proximity to Cedar Roe.
The sloped roof replacement will complete the major upgrades that Cedar Roe received in 2021, which include an HVAC overhaul and new shelving. Watch our website or @jocolibrary on social media for updates.
Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we work to improve your facilities!
This Week at the Library
Walk and Read – Daily, All Week
“Take a walk and read a book.” Not normally sound advice, but that is exactly what Johnson County Library is suggesting families do this week at Shawnee Mission Park, (7900 Renner Rd, Lenexa, KS) various locations throughout Johnson County. Walk and Read creates a family reading experience in the great outdoors! Families who participate will read two stories posted around the path, one going each direction. When you finish one story, you can flip around to the other side of the sign and begin the next story, which will lead you back around the path.
Table Top Games – Wednesday, Aug 4, 6 – 8 pm
Board games have brought family and friends together for years, and we are now in a golden age of game choices! Join us online to enjoy virtual games, meet new friends and have new adventures. You can feed a hungry panda in Takenoko, build a dinosaur zoo in Draftosaurus or compete for the best collection of chameleons in Coloretto. All ages welcome.
The Past is Prologue: “Sumner High School: The Best Kept Secret” A Documentary Film – Thursday, Aug 5, 7 – 8 pm
The Past is Prologue is a bimonthly program that highlights topics often left out, glossed over, or misrepresented in our history books. This month, we will host a Q&A with filmmaker Kamiasha Moses-Tyner about her documentary film "Sumner High School: The Best Kept Secret." This film focuses on a crime in 1904 that instantly created a racial barrier in the Kansas City, Kansas High Schools. These compelling recollections of true stories and events demonstrate the power a single act of negligence can have over a community and a state.
One-On-One Genealogy Help – Friday, Aug 6, 9 am – 1 pm
Basic Genealogy and DNA one-on-one help are now being held online via Zoom specific to your questions and research. Visit Johnson County Genealogical Society to schedule an appointment. A volunteer will email a personal Zoom meeting link to you prior to the scheduled date.
In a Park Near You
“Take a walk and read a book.” Not normally sound advice, but that is exactly what Johnson County Library is suggesting families do at various locations throughout Johnson County. Walk and Read creates a family reading experience in the great outdoors! Families who participate will read two stories posted around the path, one going each direction. When you finish one story, you can flip 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 is a program encouraging physical activity, literacy and family time, while allowing for social distancing. The paths are stroller and wheelchair friendly, allowing for members of all ages to join in the fun! Dates are subject to adjustment due to weather conditions.
Central Resource Library Closed Monday, Aug 2 - Sunday, Aug 15
Construction is well underway on the Central Resource Library renovations, which include an expanded and improved Kids area, additional meeting rooms, and the addition of a drive-thru. In order to complete large-scale electrical and HVAC work, the building will fully close to both the public and staff Monday, Aug. 2 through Sunday, Aug. 15. Hold pickups, materials return, and public computers will not be available during this time, and interlibrary loans will be suspended.
- Sunday, Aug. 1 is the last day to return materials to Central's interior materials return bin. From Monday, Aug. 2 until Little Central reopens on Monday, August 16, all items should be returned at another branch.
Please note that if you have items checked out from Central that will be due during the closure, your due dates have been extended until Little Central reopens. Check your library account for specific dates.
- Holds and interlibrary loan items ready for pickup but not checked out by 5 p.m. on Aug. 1 will remain on-shelf until Sunday, Aug. 21.
If you would like to change the pickup location for holds or interlibrary loan items anticipated to become available during Central's closure, please login to your library account or contact us before Friday, July 30. Otherwise, your upcoming holds will show as paused on your account until we resume processing Central's holds on Aug. 12.
- Public computers, including printing and copying services, are available at our other 13 Johnson County Library locations. Oak Park (9500 Bluejacket St, Overland Park) has the closest proximity to Central.
Our Central Resource Library Construction FAQ addresses the status of popular services like the Black & Veatch MakerSpace and Genealogy resources, more details about Little Central and where to find alternate services. Monthly construction updates are available on jocolibrary.org and @jocolibrary on social media.
We appreciate your patience and flexibility as we work to make your Library better!
TBT: Kansas Loves Olympics
Sometimes what was true yesterday is true today. Julia Crain at the 2004 Olympics in Greece holds a banner reading: "KANSAS" with a heart and the Olympics symbol. Here we are in 2021 and the 2020 games are happening in Tokyo and Kansas continues to love the Olympics!
Remember, jocohistory.org is the place to time travel through local history. Be sure to follow our hashtag on Twitter!
Happy TBT: Throwback Thursday! Some call it the best day of the week.
Join us for a documentary film screening!
The Past is Prologue: "Sumner High School: The Best Kept Secret" A Documentary Film
Thursday, August 5, 2021
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Online event
Register for this program online or call 913.826.4600.
The Past is Prologue is a bimonthly program that highlights topics often left out, glossed over, or misrepresented in our history books. In August, we will host a Q&A with filmmaker Kamiasha Moses-Tyner about her documentary film "Sumner High School: The Best Kept Secret." The documentary film focuses on a crime in 1904 that instantly created a racial barrier in the Kansas City, Kansas High Schools. Forced to study in a different facility as the whites, the African Americans created a “league of their own”. These compelling recollections of True Stories and events, demonstrates the power of how a single act of negligence can have over a community and a State.
Join us for a screening of this documentary film shortly before the program on Thursday, August 5 at 4:00 pm on Zoom. Or, watch it on your own time using Amazon Prime Video.
This program will be hosted in Library OnDemand. Upon registering, you will receive an automatic message with instructions on how to access the program. You do not need to download any software or create an account.
Summer Reading Finale
Join us to celebrate another great summer of reading!
End of Summer Party with Funky Mama and Live Family Trivia
July 31, 10 am
Bicycling with Butterflies: Meet Local Author Sara Dykman
July 31, 11 am
Vote at Johnson County Library
Local primary elections will be held Aug. 3, 2021. Beginning July 24, six Johnson County Library branches will have ballot boxes, as they did during the 2020 elections, and Monticello Library will be an advance voting site.
Ballot boxes will be located at:
- Blue Valley Library, 9000 W. 151st St., Overland Park
- Central Resource Library, 9875 W. 87th St., Overland Park
- De Soto Library, 33145 W. 83rd St., De Soto
- Gardner Library, 137 E. Shawnee St., Gardner
- Shawnee Library, 13811 Johnson Drive, Shawnee
- Spring Hill Library, 109 S. Webster St., Spring Hill
Hours for advance voting at Monticello are:
- July 24: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- July 25: Closed
- July 26 - 30: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
- July 31: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- Aug. 1: Closed
- Aug. 2: Closed
This Week at the Library
This week at the Library, you can join us for:
Walk and Read – Daily, All Week
“Take a walk and read a book.” Not normally sound advice, but that is exactly what Johnson County Library is suggesting families do this week at Water Works Park, (53rd and Woodson, Mission, KS) various locations throughout Johnson County. Walk and Read creates a family reading experience in the great outdoors! Families who participate will read two stories posted around the path, one going each direction. When you finish one story, you can flip around to the other side of the sign and begin the next story, which will lead you back around the path.
Artists In Sight - Tuesday, July 27, 6:30 – 7 pm
On Artists in Sight, we interview some of the Kansas City area's best local visual artists for insights about their work, creative process and the things that inspire them.
Online Storytime – Thursday, July 29, 10 – 10:30 am
Your 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.
End of Summer Party with Funky Mama and Live Family Trivia – Saturday, July 31, 10 – 11 am
Join us for an end of summer party featuring award-winning musical performer Funky Mama and live family trivia suitable for all ages! Move, groove, and exercise that brain in this fun interactive event perfect for the whole family!
Bicycling with Butterflies: Meet Local Author, Sara Dykman – Saturday, July 31, 11 am – noon
Local author Sara Dykman is the founder of Beyond a Book, a project that uses the experiences of real life adventurers to bring science learning to life. She has walked from Mexico to Canada, canoed the Missouri River from source to sea, and biked many thousands of miles across North America.