Find It Here

It's New Year's Day! Hello 2021. Hello to an all new you! The Library is here to help you make all of your dreams come true. Let's make those positive changes happen. 

First, start with a brainstorming list. If you had a magic pill you could take to make your life better, what would your life look like tomorrow? Write down your answers. Prioritize your top five. Here's an example:

1. Get my finances in order
2. Learn something new 
3. Reduce stress
4. Explore my family tree
5. Make time to read more (a lot more) 

Whatever is on your top five list, contact a Librarian. Call, email, text. We'll help you find the Library resources you need to make 2021 a success!

Or, create your own adventure as you peruse the self-help collection in our catalog!

Start planning your gift list, find great deals, and get time-saving holiday tips with the Consumer Reports Holiday Gift Guide. They show you the top products from their testing, including air fryers, coffee makers, cookware, TVs, and vacuums. They also share expert advice on choosing the right gifts at the right price. Get the latest on the holidays from CR. All you need is your Library Card and PIN.

National Geographic Kids

Access now »

Great for kids interested in science, space, animals, history, geography and fun! You will find:

• full articles from the National Geographic Kids magazine from 2009 to present (except the most recent three months)
• 500 National Geographic Kids books
• over 800 downloadable images
• more than 200 videos

Best for kids ages 6 - 14.

Let's talk about Advanced Search. As you know, you can enter a search term at the top of any page on jocolibrary.org. Search title, author, subject or just the wildcard: keyword. From there, you can narrow search results by availability, format, ratings, reading level and more!

So, how is an Advanced Search different? For starters, you can search title, author, subject or keyword, and you can pair your query with other queries. Want to search for author and subject at the same time? This is the place to do it. You can search by series, award, genre, ISBN, publisher and call number. Those search limits like format, availability, language, reading level, and more, are available to be included in your search parameters right from the start.

You can even write your own complex queries. This is particularly helpful when you are looking for a specific topic OR a similar topic AND include another topic but NOT a certain topic. Example? "Overland Park" OR "Johnson County" AND "history" but NOT "Wyandotte County."

Whatever you're searching for, we sure hope you find it. With Advanced Search, your search is easier!

Brainfuse HelpNow has launched two special services:

FAFSA Live Help – Just like online tutoring, students and parents can chat with a live tutor to assist at any stage of filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Available Mon-Thurs, 1 – 10 p.m. CDT.

Summer Camp – Elementary through High School students can overcome the “summer slide” to keep key skills fresh in their minds with short lessons, activities, and games. Available 24/7.

Start learning »

You did it! You made the leap. Now you are an enterprising entrepreneur. Whether you’ve launched a startup to build a better bagel, or move freight faster, or design cutting-edge computer systems in some revolutionary new way, the important thing is, now you are your own boss! But where do you turn when little problems threaten to deflate your big dream?

Don’t worry. Your Library Card connects you to ReferenceUSA where you can:

• see sales and expenditures of nearby competitors (just by drawing on a map)

• generate a mailing list of potential customers (based on their consumer snapshot)

• welcome residents who just moved into town with a coupon (from the database of new movers)

Want more? You can’t beat The Kansas City Business Journal online. From there you can access the coveted Book of Lists!

Still want more? That’s why you’re going to beat the odds and make it. How about access to over 20 business databases and resources?

Master your bookkeeping and accounting with Universal Class. Learn about forecasting profits and losses with the Small Business Reference Center. We can even help you cut costs with printable and customizable legal forms for Kansas and Missouri.

You know what? Consider us your “silent” partner. We’ll help you find it here!

Karen and Earl, you're golden! You know you'll catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. You're such cutups — you're the bee's knees! Your enthusiasm is infectious and you brighten the day of just about everyone you encounter. But, you can't do that sitting on your duff at home, right?! A rolling stone gathers no moss. Your duffs have no moss! You volunteer!!!

OK, let's not put the cart before the horse. Speaking of horses, we never look a gift horse in the mouth. A hearty THANK YOU is due to you both during this volunteer appreciation week! Volunteers like you help your Library with 60,000 hours each year! You understand that many hands make light work. We'd be in a pickle without you and all of the volunteers who help with:

• Processing Book Donations
  • Book & Media Sorting Volunteer
  • Children’s Book Sorting Volunteer
  • Children’s Book Sorting Volunteer Assistant
  • Box Building Volunteer
• Shelving Books
  • Book Distribution Volunteer
  • Circulation/Shelving Volunteer
  • Monticello Library Volunteer 
• Supporting Sales of Used Books
  • Online Sales Research Volunteer
  • Online Sales Inventory Volunteer
  • Online Sales Listing Volunteer
  • Online Sales Shipping Volunteer
  • Bookstore Unpacking Volunteer
  • Bookstore Stocking Volunteer
  • Bookstore Cashier
  • Bookstore Cashier—Substitute
  • Used Book Sale Sign In Desk Volunteer
  • Used Book Sale Door Ambassador/Greeter
  • Used Book Sale Section Supervisor
  • Used Book Sale Merchandiser
  • Used Book Sale Cashier
  • Used Book Sale Counter/ Dolly Runner Crew
  • Used Book Sale Box Builder
  • Used Book Sale Non-Profit Clerk
  • Used Book Sale Packer/Unpacker
• Assisting with Library Programs
  • Civic Engagement Events Volunteer
  • English Language Learning Volunteer
  • Maker’s Space Volunteer
  • Reference Librarian Volunteer
  • Summer Teen Volunteer
  • Tech Thursday Volunteer
  • Young Adult Advisory Council Volunteer
  • Youth Services Materials Cleaning Volunteer
• Helping in Library Offices
  • Creative Services Volunteer
  • Data Entry Volunteer
  • Genealogy Research Volunteer
  • Library Foundation Volunteer
  • VS Team Volunteer

We don’t judge a book by Its cover! Karen and Earl, we know you're young at heart and still plenty spry. Do any of your friends want to help? They can view Volunteer Information and Services on our new web portal. For full descriptions of each position, please contact Volunteer Coordinator and then hit the early-bird special! 

Thanks again! 

“Only a life lived for others is worth living.” — Albert Einstein

Let's say you've got a group of 10 - 18 people getting together to exchange porridge recipes. A meeting room that hosts up to 150 people is just too big! What about a 6 person study room? Well, there are fire codes! And, what if somebody forgets to wear their deodorant?! Don't worry! We have the solution: The conference room! Not too big. Not too small. Just right.

"I found the size of the conference room to be just right!"

~Goldilocks

(Our conference rooms are 100% free to use and free of bears.)