FAQs for Branch Reopening

Yes. Face masks or cloth face coverings are required to be worn inside all Johnson County Library branches, in accordance with the Board of County Commissioners’ vote to extend the mask mandate to April 30. The mask requirement applies to all patrons, volunteers and Library staff unless otherwise exempted. The governor’s order lists several exemptions to the mask order, including:

• Persons age five years or under
• Persons with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that prevents wearing a face covering
• Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, or communicating with a person who is deaf or hard of hearing

If you cannot wear a mask, we ask that you maintain six feet of distance between staff and other patrons.

According to the executive order, “a ‘mask or other face covering’ means a covering of the nose and mouth that is secured to the head with ties, straps, or loops over the ears or is simply wrapped around the lower face. A mask or other face covering can be made of a variety of synthetic and natural fibers, including cotton, silk, or linen… A mask or other face covering may be factory-made, sewn by hand, or can be improvised from household items such as scarfs, bandanas, t-shirts, sweatshirts or towels.”

Yes, we have a stock of single-use masks that are available to our patrons as supplies allow. We have provided washable cloth masks to all our staff and volunteers.

We also ask that all visitors to our buildings continue to follow recommended preventative measures, such as physical distancing of at least six feet, frequent hand-washing or sanitizing, and staying home if you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19.

There is no reliable way to comprehensively sanitize books and other materials, so we advise patrons to thoroughly wash their hands after visiting the Library and handling our materials. We will have hand sanitizer and restrooms available in our branches.

Current research suggests that COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly through close contact from person to person, including between people who are physically near each other (within about 6 feet). The Centers for Disease Control reports that while it may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, this isn’t thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

If you are concerned about using recently checked out materials, we recommend putting the item on hold and waiting a few days after it arrives on the holds shelf to pick it up.

No. Cleaning library materials at home may damage them, especially popular treatments like bleach or heat.

In addition to following the Kansas governor's order requiring masks for staff, volunteers and patrons, the Library will follow safety, hygiene, cleaning and physical distancing protocols recommended by Johnson County Department of Health and Environment and the Centers for Disease Control. The following practices have been adopted all at branches:

• Wipes and hand sanitizer available for patron and staff use.
• Signage posted to encourage proper physical distancing and hygiene practices.
• Plexiglass shields between staff and patrons at service points.
• Spacing increased at computers to allow for physical distancing.
• Hand dryers in restrooms have been replaced with paper towel dispensers.
• Buildings are thoroughly sanitized daily, and high-touch areas disinfected regularly throughout the day and after each use if possible, such as transaction drawers at our drive-thru locations.
• Recent improvements include the installation of MERV 13 filters in in most buildings.

We are also providing thermometers and pulse oximeters for staff use, and both our staff and patrons are strongly encouraged to practice frequent hand-washing and/or sanitizing.

Yes, we are currently quarantining returned items for a minimum of 24 hours. You may see piles of items in our meeting rooms and study rooms, or in cordoned off sections of our branches. These returned items are separated by date so staff know when they may safely begin checking them in.

Because of the volume of materials being processed at this time, please note that you may experience greater than normal wait times for returned items to be removed from your account and holds on popular items to be ready.

Quarantining of returned items will conclude on April 16. If you are concerned about using recently checked out materials, we recommend putting the item on hold and waiting a few days for pickup. Requested items remain on the holds shelves for seven days.

Services are currently limited to quick browsing, checkouts and computer usage with an emphasis on reduced interactions with staff. While customer service is a high priority for the Library, staff are only able to provide limited assistance at this time in accordance with physical distancing protocols. Please bring your library card or card number with you for checkout. Services offered at all branches, except Central Resource Library are:

• Item returns
• Holds pick up
• Browsing the collection
• Check out materials via self-check
• Public computers
• Self-service printing
• Interlibrary Loan
• New Library card applications
• HomeConnect

At this time we will not be offering:

• Meeting, conference and study room access
• Seating
• In-person programs and events
• In-person genealogy services
• In-person equipment usage at the Black & Veatch MakerSpace
• Shared items such as magazines, newspapers, and children’s toys
• Lending laptops at Monticello or Lenexa City Center

We will be updating our hours and services May 3 to include the following:

• Regular hours resume at all remaining locations, except Cedar Roe.
• Meeting, conference and study rooms open (bookable after April 28)
• Newspapers and magazines return
• Laptop lending at Lenexa Library available
• Soft seating, chairs and tables available

While we want to provide access to our collection, we are encouraging quick browsing only to limit the number of visitors in our buildings at any given time. Removing access to furniture helps ensure visitors do not linger in our branches and physical distancing recommendations are being followed. Many types of seating materials are also difficult to properly sanitize between each guest.

Furniture will return to our spaces on May 3.

Our eLibrary is available for remote access 24/7 by visiting jocolibrary.org/elibrary and logging in with your Library card or eCard. Resources include local and national eNewspapers, eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines, as well as on-demand video platforms and educational services.

Our eLibrarian recommends the below services as a starting point for your eLibrary toolkit:

• Entertainment: Kanopy, Acorn TV, eMagazines
• News local/regional/national: Shawnee Mission Post, Kansas City Star, The New York Times
• Education/skill-building: Brainfuse HelpNow, LearningExpress Library, Rosetta Stone
• Business updates: Mergent Intellect, S&P Global NetAdvantage, Wall Street Journal
• Health & Wellness classes: Learn It Live, Universal Class

Room reservations will resume on April 28 for bookings May 3 and beyond. Please note this date is subject to change in accordance with public health conditions.

While occupancy limits are not currently in place, we encourage physical distancing and mask wearing in all areas of the library. Groups reserving our meeting, conference and study rooms are responsible for following State and Local physical distancing and mask wearing guidelines.

All summer programming will be online, including our Summer Reading Program. Please continue to check our social media sites and subscribe to our eNewsletter, The Open Book, for the latest event updates.

Some volunteers returned to our branches when we reopened to the public on June 15, 2020. Others will return as they are able.

Due to the timing of our branch closures and uncertainty surrounding our reopening, we were not able to open applications for our Summer Teen Volunteers program. We hope this program will return in 2022.

The Friends Bookstores at Antioch and Blue Valley Libraries are open 9:30 am to 4:30 pm Mondays and noon to 7:30 pm. Thursdays. Visit the Friends website to take advantage of the Friends' online sales.

The Friends do not currently accept book donations at the branches. If you have donations, please email Shanta Dickerson, the Friends of Johnson County Library Operations Manager, at sdickerson@friendsofjcl.org to arrange a drop off appointment at our headquarters.

We will work in conjunction with Johnson County government and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to determine the timing and process for full resumption of Library services.

We will regularly update our website and social media accounts, as well as notify local media outlets.

We'll also communicate directly with our Library users through announcements sent to the email address on file with the Library. Please ensure that we have your correct address on file by logging into your account, and selecting My Settings from the dropdown menu next to your username on the top right of the screen.

Yes. You may return materials checked out from any branch, including Olathe Public Library, to all 14 Johnson County Library branches. Please note Central’s exterior materials return bin is closed during renovations and materials must be returned inside the building during regular business hours.

You will not be charged overdue fees for items placed in the materials return bin before their due date. 

Currently, all returned materials are isolated for a minimum of 24 hours before they are checked back into our system. Please contact us if your materials are still showing on your account after more than two weeks.

Quarantining of returned items will conclude on April 16. If you are concerned about using recently checked out materials, we recommend putting the item on hold and waiting a few days for pickup. Requested items remain on the holds shelves for seven days.

No. Standard checkout periods will apply to materials checked out in our branches or through our drive-thru service. An item can be renewed up to ten times if no one else is waiting for it.

• Books, CDs, nonfiction DVDs: 3 weeks
• DVD feature films: 2 weeks (30 DVDs maximum)
• Video games: 2 weeks (2 video games maximum)
• eBooks & eAudiobooks: 3 weeks (10 maximum)
• A few special items have different check-out periods

No, all materials must be returned in a materials return bin at one of our branches across Johnson County. Please note Central’s exterior materials return bin is closed during renovations and materials must be returned inside the building during regular business hours. Staff will not accept materials of any kind at the drive-thru window or via curbside service, including donations. 

You can place a hold through the Library catalog or by contacting us directly. We'll let you know when the item is ready for pick up and put it on the hold shelf for ten days at your designated Library. Remember to bring the same Library card you used to place the hold, even for spouses and children. You can hold up to 30 items on your Library account at a time.

Holds can be placed on any of the Library’s materials. The items you see in our catalog are items that are available at all 14 locations as well as Olathe Public Library.

All circulating materials, including 6x6 kits, are available for checkout.

Not at this time. Due to the volume of items we are currently handling and the limited availability of staff, we will not be pulling materials for same-day pick up. When you place a hold online, any item that is available will be added to the “pull list” for the following day. If your item needs to be transferred from another branch, it may take several days for the item to be processed and ready for pick-up. You will not be able to pick up any holds until you receive an email stating your item is ready at your preferred branch.

If you placed a hold on a popular item, you can check your spot in line by logging into your Library account. If the item you requested is currently available on the shelf at any of our branches or Olathe Public Library, it may take up to two weeks for that item to arrive and be processed for pick up at your requested location due to the volume of hold requests. The item will show as "in transit" on your Library account during this time.

You will receive an email from us when your hold is ready for pick up. Due to the 24 hour quarantine of returned items and the volume of materials being processed, your JoCoLibrary app or your online account may show the item is ready for pick up before it is actually available at the drive-thru. Please wait for receipt of the email to confirm your hold is ready.

To ensure that we have your correct email address on file, log into your account, and select My Settings from the dropdown menu next to your username on the top right of the screen.

Once your requested item is available for pickup at your preferred branch, we will notify you via the email address associated with your Library card. Please check our locations page for your branch's hours of operation. 

We now offer contactless Curbside Holds Pickup at our Cedar Roe, Gardner, Leawood Pioneer, Oak Park and Spring Hill branches. Hours for Curbside Holds Pickup mirror branch hours of operation, but the service will close 15 minutes before the close of each branch. To use the service, place an item on hold at one of those three branches. When your item(s) are ready for pickup, park in one of the designated Holds Pickup parking stalls, text the word HOLD to the number on the sign and follow the prompts.

If you choose one of our three drive-thru locations for holds pickup, the drive-thru window hours will be the same as the branch hours. Please note that the Library will serve patrons who are already in line when the window closes, but anyone arriving after the designated closing time will be asked to return the next day for service. Please have your last name and library card number available to provide to staff at the window. The staff member will look up your account and retrieve your items from the Hold shelf. Your checked-out materials will be placed in a transaction drawer for you to safely retrieve.

If your item is in-transit or ready for pick up, you can contact us online, by calling us at 913-826-4600, or via text at 913-667-7523 to transfer your holds to another location.  Check our Contact Us page for available phone and texting hours.

Once the item is ready for pickup at the new location, it will be available for seven days before it is placed back into circulation.

To change your default pick up location preference, log in to your Library account, click the arrow next to your username in the top right corner, and select “My Settings.” Under “Account Preferences,” change your first preference to any of our branches or Olathe Public Library. All future holds will automatically be assigned to your saved location.

Yes. The Lenexa City Center holds lobby is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, around our open hours.

On jocolibrary.org, click on the “Explore” menu to find new releases, staff recommendations, popular items and more. For a deeper dive, NoveList is a free database that provides reading recommendations for all ages and genres—you can get book discussion guides, thematic book lists and reading and book oriented articles.

Please visit jocogov.org/coronavirus for daily updates about the virus's impact on Johnson County, as well as guidance and recommendations from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other trusted resources. You can also sign up for email updates via the page.

In addition, you can call the Johnson County Community COVID-19 Hotline at 913-715-CV19 (2819). 

Please note you should isolate yourself and contact your physician, not the hotline, if you are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, including high fever, sore throat and a dry cough.