Building Our Future

The De Soto Library, at 33145 W. 83rd St., is one of three small community branches on the outskirts of the Johnson County Library system, along with Edgerton and Spring Hill. These branches are seen as vital anchors and gathering spots, integral to the fabric and character of their close-knit towns. 

For Lori Ross, a lifelong De Soto resident and system-wide materials handling clerk with Johnson County Library, the branch is an institution and a wonderful resource for northwest Johnson County, west of Shawnee and Lenexa. 

“It’s a good staple of the community,” Ross said. “It’s very much a connection to the world.” 

For Branch Manager Christian Madrigal, De Soto is special because it’s a small branch where many patrons know each other and get to know the staff, talking about favorite books and developing positive relationships. 

Especially before the pandemic, many residents used the branch for access to the entire Johnson County Library collection. In 2019, the branch had 1,735 card holders and a collection of 15,373 materials. It had 30,000 visits that year and a circulation of 37,000 items.  

“I think the community really utilized the Holds system there,” Madrigal said. “Lots of people dropped in to use computers for job searching and to stay connected. We still have two regulars who come in every day to get the newspaper and stay current.”  

For years, the branch had an active book club whose members hope to resume meeting soon. It remains a popular hub for teens, families and retirees who check out materials and rely on the Library Wi-Fi. 

The branch has a storied history, and Lori Ross has an especially meaningful connection to its origins. Her great-grandmother, Edna Ross, started the first De Soto lending library in the mid-1950s, with books on shelves in the family’s store, Ross Electric and Plumbing Shop, on the town’s main street. That lending library lasted until Johnson County Library started providing a weekly bookmobile stop in 1957. By 1966, the bookmobile was so popular that it was parked in town and manned by volunteers.  

In 1967, the prominent Coker family built a 1,200-square-foot Library at a convenient downtown location, next to the Post Office, near an elementary school, and just down the street from the Ross family store. The original facility, which opened in October 1967, had 3,000 titles and was leased by Johnson County Library.  

De Soto continued to grow in population. By the early 1980s, it was clear the community needed a larger Library. A 3,776-square-foot building was constructed on the same site and opened in June 1982. That’s the Library that Lori Ross visited almost daily as a schoolchild for books and to hang out with friends. This year marks its 40th anniversary.   

Ross and her mother Kathy now run the De Soto Historical Society on the upper floor of the old Ross family store, a block from the Library. The proximity is wonderful; people often visit the Historical Society and then head to the Library just as it opens. 

Madrigal is excited that Johnson County Library is embarking on a renewal study for its community branches and is holding Listening Sessions to get patron suggestions. Working with Clark & Enersen architects, staff is looking at how to maximize the building for programs, possibly using temporary partitions to create meeting spaces. Other requests are to enhance the Spanish language collection, offer MakerSpace software and expand Library hours. 

Madrigal is optimistic about the future, with the renewal study serving as a roadmap. It will be, he says, “an opportunity to provide or extend Library services that can match or be taken into consideration with our staff and patron feedback.” 

Johnson County Library, in partnership with the City of Merriam, is excited to share initial renderings of our new Library with the community. The 15,000 sq. ft., single-story building will replace the existing Antioch Library, which has served the community since 1956. The square footage is similar in size to the branch portion of the Antioch building, so the size of the collection will not change. The new Library, located on the Merriam Community Center campus off Slater St., will include several 21st century amenities that can adapt to community needs for another 60-plus years.
 
This design, by Dake Wells Architecture, is the result of collaboration between the Library, the City, and you! Our goal is to complement the existing architecture and landscape on the Community Center campus, creating a jewel for the city and a destination for residents and visitors from across the metro to play, work, relax, and discover.
 
We’ll share more details about this project this summer once the design and materials have been finalized. Until then, here are a few ways we are incorporating your feedback from last year’s public input sessions into plans for the new library:

• An eco-friendly green roof creates a visual extension of the current landscape;
• The expansive “front porch” offers a welcoming outdoor space for campus visitors;
• Sculpture-like light monitors on the roof provide natural light and a connection to nature;
• Cozy window nooks along the east and west sides of the building preserve a beloved feature of the existing Antioch building;
• A drive-thru window adds convenience for on-the-go materials returns and holds pickups.

Other anticipated improvements include new shelving that offers greater accessibility and sight lines throughout the branch, a variety of comfortable seating options, study spaces and a meeting room, new computer technology, and an interactive kids’ space.
 
We know that libraries are more than just a building—they are a collection of people of different ages, interests, abilities and needs. No matter who you are, how you want to use the library, there will be a space for you at our new Library in Merriam!
 
Construction is anticipated to begin early 2023, with the new Library open to the public in 2024. More information to come via jocolibrary.org and merriam.org; until then check out a 3D model of the new building at Antioch Library May 9-31, and in the Merriam Community Center lobby beginning June 1. 

Johnson County Library invites you to share your thoughts on how our community branches in De Soto, Edgerton, and Spring Hill can better serve you and your families, friends, and neighbors.

Your honest feedback during the De Soto, Edgerton, and Spring Hill Library Renewal Study will guide the conceptual designs our Library Board will review and approve later this year, with construction anticipated to begin in 2023.

Share your thoughts in one of two ways:

1. Join us for our virtual event:
   Join our Information and Listening Session 6-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 3. You will hear from Library leadership and representatives from our design team Clark & Enersen about the project before splitting into breakout rooms for the individual branches. Registration is encouraged but not required.
    
2. Take a survey:
   Tell us about your experiences with our Library services and facilities in this quick survey. The survey will take approximately five to 10 minutes to complete and contains a mix of multiple choice and open-ended questions.

Please contact us with any questions regarding this study. Thank you in advance for your time, and we look forward to seeing you soon at the Library!

The main portion of Central Resource Library has been closed since February 2021, and we have all been eagerly awaiting reopening. We are excited to announce today is the day! 

Find the ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by County Librarian Sean Casserley on our Facebook page! Watch it live at 2 p.m. or watch the video later.

What's changed? 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 (see our time lapse video capturing the transformation of the space) 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.

Welcome back! Come discover all the wonderful changes.

Central Resource Library will reopen on Tuesday, Feb. 22! Have questions about construction? We have Answers.

In the meantime, here are a few fresh photos.

Photo 1: The windows in our new kids section create plenty of bright spaces for you to read with your little ones.

Photo 2: The new Kids space features a storytime room with a large window overlooking the park and a retractable door, leaving the space open when not in use for a program.

Photo 3: The Questions desk in the Kids Space is almost ready for our librarians to help you find what you need.

Photo 4: When you return items to Central Resource Library’s drive-up materials return bin, it will be checked in and off your account immediately with the help of one of two sorters in our circulation workroom.

Leawood Pioneer Library will be closed Monday, Jan. 10 through Friday, Jan. 14 for building maintenance and will reopen as scheduled at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 15.

Holds ready for pickup but not checked out by 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 8 will remain on-shelf until the building reopens. Check your library account for specific dates. Please contact us no later than Thursday, Jan. 6 if you would like to pick up your available holds from another branch during the closure period.

Returns will be accepted at the branch during the closure. For other Library needs, such as public computers and access to the collection, please visit one of our other Johnson County Library locations. Corinth Library (8100 Mission Rd., Prairie Village) and Blue Valley Library (9000 W 151st St., Overland Park) are the closest in proximity to Leawood Pioneer.

Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we work to improve your facilities! Visit jocolibrary.org and follow @jocolibrary on social media for updates.