COVID-19

Johnson County Library is excited to announce the resumption of drive-thru service at our Blue Valley, Lenexa City Center, and Monticello branches!

Beginning Monday, May 18, you may return your materials to the Blue Valley, Lenexa City Center and Monticello book drops only, and can also begin placing new holds at jocolibrary.org for pickup at these locations.

Starting Tuesday, May 26, you can pick up your holds at the drive-thru windows 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday - Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m., Sunday.

Please note:

• Patrons with existing holds on their account, whether the hold is ready at a branch, in transit or not ready yet, will receive an email from the Library on Friday, May 15 with instructions on how to transfer or cancel those items if desired.
• Due dates will be extended as long as necessary and fines will not accrue on materials checked out prior to March 15. If you do not want to return them at one of the three locations above, you may keep those items until further notice.

We recognize and appreciate the community's demand for our physical materials. While distancing mandates are still in effect, opening our existing drive-thrus was the most immediate solution that minimizes contact between patrons and staff. As indicated in our recent patron survey, it is also the pick-up option most respondents are comfortable utilizing at this time.

Keeping the access needs of our community front-of-mind, our Reopening Team is working quickly and thoroughly to develop logistics and safety measures for future reintroduction of services. While there are still many unknowns as we work toward the reopening of our buildings, we anticipate the next stage will include walk-in holds pickup at additional branches across Johnson County. Until then, many essential Library services remain available online, including our eLibrary, access to Librarians through our Answers platform, and most recently, virtual programming and events.

Thank you for your patience as we work toward solutions that first and foremost protect our staff, volunteers and patrons, especially the vulnerable populations we serve. Please review our updated FAQ, which provides additional details on topics like holds and returns (including materials from Olathe) as well as the safety of our materials and the extra precautions our staff is taking to ensure your health.

We will continue to roll out updates on services in the coming weeks -- stay in touch with us via jocolibrary.org and @jocolibrary on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We can't wait to see you again on May 26! 

The global spread of COVID-19 is a rapidly-evolving situation. Johnson County Library wants to keep our patrons informed about the virus, as well as preventative measures the Library is taking in response. Check this page for the latest updates from trusted resources, as well as any potential changes to Library programs and services. See our FAQ for patrons »

March 23, 2020

Following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding social distancing, all Johnson County Library branch locations will be closed at 5 pm Saturday, March 14 through Thursday, April 23 to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19. The Library serves and employs a number of at-risk populations, with an average of 35,000 patrons per week entering our facilities. The health and safety of our patrons, staff and the community at-large is the highest priority during this uncertain time.

This is a rapidly evolving situation. In conjunction with local, state and Federal government authorities/organizations, the Library is carefully and continuously monitoring information from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We will continue to post updates on jocolibrary.org and social media channels regarding the operating status of Library facilities, resumption of affected Library services and the rescheduling of canceled events.

There will be no interruptions in access to the Library’s wide variety of online resources while branch locations are closed, including local and national eNewspapers, eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines, as well as on-demand video platforms and educational services. Our eLibrary is available for remote access 24/7. Log in with your Library card or eCard.

jocogov.org/coronavirus is where you can find a general FAQ and more information about Johnson County’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Previous Daily Updates » ​

Resources

Kansas Department of Health and Environment confirmed its first presumptive-positive case of COVID-19 in Johnson County on March 7.   At the Library, the safety and welfare of our patrons, volunteers and staff is a high priority. The Library’s administration is monitoring the situation and following precautionary recommendations from JCDHE, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Watch the County’s press conference.

Below is a list of websites and library resources assembled by Library staff to help patrons stay informed on the latest news and developments about the virus:

County: The Johnson County Health and Environment has a resource page that includes a FAQ, notices on travel, information about preventing the spread of the virus, and even a “JoCo on the Go” podcast episode by local health experts.

State: The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has a page dedicated to COVID-19, including Frequently Asked Questions, a fact sheet, and guidance for schools, day care facilities, and public health professionals.

Federal: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention provides daily situational reports, a FAQ, and tracks new cases in the United States.

The United States National Library of Medicine, one of the world’s largest medical libraries and part of the National Institutes of Health, tracks clinical studies of the virus and is a rich resource on current scientific writings:

Global: Be sure to visit the World Health Organization, where you can access a daily situation report that tracks the outbreak.

The Johnson County Library also has access to medical databases, accessible with a library card and PIN, including MedLinePlus and Consumer Health Complete, which gives user access to medical journals and magazine articles, in addition to other useful and timely information.