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Beloved 6 by 6 Program Celebrates 15 Years
Johnson County Library’s signature early literacy program, 6 by 6, Ready to Read: Six Skills by Six Years, has captivated children, parents and caregivers since 2009. With dynamic artwork, materials and programming, it has provided invaluable tools to prepare kids to love reading.
As the Library celebrates the 15th anniversary of this hugely successful program, it is taking the opportunity for a rebrand, debuting a new look for the beloved characters that represent each of the six skills: Have Fun with Books (a monkey); Look for Letters Everywhere (a peacock); Notice Print All Around You (a kangaroo and joey); Take Time to Rhyme (a goat); Talk Talk Talk (a toucan); and Tell Stories About Everything (a turtle).
The new artwork and this fall’s activities honor the original program’s excellence while recognizing the multimedia aspects of contemporary Libraries, to connect with a new generation of young readers.
“Early literacy is more multidimensional now,” says Program Operations Manager Shannon Goebel, who was Early Literacy Coordinating Librarian from 2021 to 2024. “There are so many new ways to interact with Library resources, including Talking Books and eResources like BookFlix. It’s bringing the characters into a new generation of kids and Library resources, while still reinforcing the 6 by 6 skills."
When children’s author and illustrator Brad Sneed was invited to illustrate the original program in 2009, he used animals and humor, hallmarks of his work, to bring each skill to life in a fun way.
“As an illustrator I provide visuals,” he said. “I get people’s attention. They get curious and are inspired to read further and dig deeper.”
Updating the characters has allowed Sneed to reflect the evolution of Library services and his own artistic journey. While the originals were watercolors, the new ones are drawn digitally, allowing for bolder colors and even more expressive creativity.
He’s thrilled to be part of such an impactful initiative. “It’s just a very quality, thorough, interesting and well-researched program that lays it out for parents how to build a foundation for young readers,” he said.
Goebel said Sneed has succeeded in preserving the original characters’ whimsy and joy, while revamping them for a contemporary audience.
Jennifer Taylor, graphics coordinator for Johnson County Library, was honored to work on the initial launch and is excited about the rebrand. She said the characters have always appealed to children from birth to age six, and these updated graphics make them even more compelling.
“It was time for something new and fresh,” she said. “Just like what we’re looking for in these illustrations, the Libraries are more colorful and fresh now.”
Early Literacy skills, based on the science of children’s brain development, were originally identified by the Public Library Association in partnership with the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Johnson County Library customized the research to resonate with patrons and launched what became the enormously popular 6 by 6 program in September 2009. In 2012, the State of Kansas adopted 6 by 6 as its own early literacy program.
It remains one of Johnson County Library’s premier services. Storytimes attracted more than 32,000 attendees in 2023. Another indication of 6 by 6’s impact is that, even 15 years on, the Library still gets countless requests from parents, grandparents and early childhood teachers for information on these proven approaches.
Goebel praised the staff from 2009 to today for sustaining and growing the program, with book lists, activity kits, workshops and other resources.
“6 by 6 is a collaborative effort supported by countless staff,” she said. “It’s a testament to the passion and expertise of Johnson County Library staff, and the rebrand is a way to carry it forward.”
Johnson County will celebrate the 6 by 6 program throughout this fall. The Johnson County Commission has designated Sept. 15-21 as Early Literacy Week, special birthday-themed storytimes will be featured in branches the week of Sept. 16, and the 6 by 6 Birthday Bash is planned for Saturday, Oct. 5, at Central Resource Library. More details can be found in the Fall 2024 Guide, available at a branch near you and also available to view online.
Your Fall 2024 Guide
The Fall 2024 Guide is available at all locations! You can also browse the full Guide online. The Guide is your source for the latest Library information. Inside you’ll find upcoming events and programs, service highlights, branch updates, Friends of Johnson County Library and Johnson County Library Foundation news. The Guide is published trimesterly and covers forthcoming events for the next four months.
The cover art was created by Kansas City, MO painter Kelly Meiners, whose artwork serves as a communication method for her to express emotions otherwise inaccessible because of a brain injury. Meiners’ art will be on exhibit at Lenexa City Center Library this fall. Make sure you pick up a copy of the Guide at a branch near you.
JoCoMuseum + JoCoLibrary = JoCoHistory
Johnson County Library and the Johnson County Museum each have a devoted patron base and a cherished community mission. But a partnership that began in 2004 has greatly enhanced both organizations, broadening their outreach and impact.
The most tangible result of that partnership is the JoCoHistory website that provides the public with an incredible array of digitized historical documents and thoughtful perspectives. It’s a vital resource for promoting the understanding of the area’s history and development.
Want to browse photos of schools, businesses and local landmarks dating to the late 1800s? Unearth maps and information about long lost Johnson County towns? Explore oral histories, obituaries and newspaper archives? Or search Shawnee Mission yearbooks featuring celebrities like Jason Sudeikis and Paul Rudd?
It’s all at JoCoHistory.org, along with lots of other weird and wonderful materials, painting a fascinating portrait of Johnson County’s transformation and place in American society.
Since 2017, this collaboration has been championed by Amanda Wahlmeier, Regional Librarian with Johnson County Library, and Andrew R. Gustafson, Curator of Interpretation for Johnson County Museum. They each write monthly blog posts for the website, providing rich analysis and context to the materials.
They emphasize how the partnership uses the strengths and expertise of each organization to mutual benefit.
“The Library, when it comes to history, is more about access than preservation. We are really looking for ways to provide access to the public,” Wahlmeier said. “It’s an invaluable partnership to have the Museum on board to provide that preservation aspect.”
Gustafson said the Museum benefits from the Library hosting the website and providing the technical infrastructure. He uses website materials regularly to inform his exhibits. Plus, the partnership connects the Museum to Library patrons.
“The Library brings in a whole different audience that are able to see the Museum’s collections,” he said.
The initial phase of the project began in Fall 2004 and was made possible by funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and from the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners through the Heritage Trust Fund.
Initial contributors were the Museum, Johnson County and Olathe Libraries, and Johnson County Archives. Additional partners now include the Kansas School for the Deaf, the Shawnee Mission School District and the Lenexa, Olathe and Overland Park historical societies.
The website has been well used, especially during the pandemic, when it attracted nearly 110,000 users in 2021. It served more than 32,000 users in 2023. People frequently search for information about farming, suburbanization, historic preservation, famous people and places, and cultural and political change.
Most users are from Johnson County, but one of Gustafson’s favorite stories involves the discovery of a World War I soldier’s ID disc in a French farm field. The ID, uncovered by a metal detector, belonged to Frank Hagaman. The men who found the ID searched the internet in 2018 and traced Hagaman to Johnson County Museum through JoCoHistory.org. Hagaman was a decorated soldier and Johnson County legislator who also briefly served as Kansas governor.
Gustafson wrote a blog post about this wonderful discovery, and the ID became part of the Museum’s collections.
Gustafson also selected website photos and documents to enhance recent exhibits about the old County courthouse’s 1951 time capsule and about a revolution in 1960s fashion. It’s also been invaluable for an upcoming 2025 exhibit about water as a critical Johnson County resource.
“I help people access their history. I help people learn their history and I help explain it,” Gustafson said. “This provides a way to do that through the blog, through old newsletter articles and through the collections.”
This collaboration has grown and blossomed over the past 20 years, and Wahlmeier said the Library is delighted to continue promoting and cultivating it. She said the website’s rich link to so many historical resources is exactly the type of access and outreach that Johnson County Library desires to provide.
Cybersecurity Protections and Patron Privacy are Library Priorities
News headlines nearly every day carry warnings about cybersecurity data breaches and theft of customer information. It’s become an alarming trend for governments, health care institutions and private companies.
Johnson County Library works diligently to guard against these threats and to protect patron privacy.
In March of 2022, Johnson County Library hired John Siceloff as its first full-time Cybersecurity Analyst. Since then, he has been laser-focused on protecting the Library’s systems, online services and patron information. He is part of the Library’s Information Technology (IT) team that shares those priorities, and also works closely with other security analysts throughout Johnson County government.
As threats constantly evolve, these security analysts work hard to keep ahead of the bad actors.
“We take a very pro-active approach to cybersecurity,” Siceloff said.
The mantra, he said, is “We protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of Library assets.”
Siceloff reports to Information Technology Manager Michelle Beesley, who oversees a team of 12 professionals. Beesley said her team has grown in recent years, and security has become an increasingly crucial part of everyone’s role.
“Library administration and the Library Board are very supportive of building and maintaining a culture of security here at the Library,” Beesley said. “That’s the overarching theme. We are assigning people resources and budgetary resources. All Library employees take regular security awareness training, to encourage security best practices.”
So far, that culture has helped Johnson County Library avoid recent cyber or ransomware attacks like those that have affected Kansas City and Jackson County governments, the Kansas court system and the Scout traffic camera system.
Siceloff and the Library’s Learning and Development team provide the security awareness training. All new employees receive training as part of coming on board. All staff participate in regular training as well.
“There is an annual baseline training for all,” Siceloff said. “There is monthly video training and a monthly email phishing simulation.”
Training is required even for part-timers and even for County Librarian Tricia Suellentrop and other top managers.
“Our employee compliance with the training requirement is very good,” Beesley said. “We are very consistent on that front.”
Key strategies in use by employees to ensure security of Library technology include: recognizing and reporting phishing emails, using strong passwords, using multifactor authentication for sensitive log-ins (for example, verifying identity by receiving a code on a cell phone), and keeping software and hardware updated.
These basic principles and techniques do not require IT training and can be used by everyone daily as well to avoid cybersecurity threats.
Beesley said there are solid security controls around eBook and eAudiobook provider Libby and the Library’s other online services that the public uses.
The Library pays close attention to protecting what limited information it does have on Library Card accounts or any data that is transmitted or stored. “Preserving patron privacy is of the utmost concern,” Siceloff emphasized. “Patron trust is one of our top priorities.”
The job is never finished, but it’s rewarding because the organization realizes it’s so important, Siceloff said. “You have to have the flexibility to learn the new techniques and adapt to them,” he said. “What is vitally important for somebody in my role is management support and cooperation. And I get that here.”
Central Branch a Haven for Patron Pursuing Doctorate
Oluwatosin Babalola retrieves the Johnson County Library card from his wallet and points to its logo: “One Card. Unlimited Possibilities.”
For Babalola, that Library card has truly been a portal to possibilities and opportunities. He has found Central Resource Library’s staff, materials and study spaces to be enormously helpful as he pursued graduate degrees, first for a master’s in business administration, and now for a doctorate in information technology.
“I love this Library, its invaluable resources,” he says. “I love the space and the ambiance.”
As he shares his story, it is clear that Babalola is a voracious learner, placing great value on education for professional development and career advancement. Johnson County Library services have played a key role in his ongoing success.
He was born a member of the Yoruba tribe of southwestern Nigeria. In his native language, Oluwa means God and Tosin means to serve, so his name translates as “To serve God.”
He grew up in Ibadan, the capitol of the state of Oyo and home to Nigeria’s foremost university, where Babalola earned his bachelor’s degree in social science.
As he researched graduate schools, he discovered the University of Kansas had excellent academic programs in his areas of interest. He was also fascinated by the Jayhawk mascot. An uncle had lived in Lawrence in the 1980s and encouraged Babalola to attend.
That first winter of 2012 was a shock — he had never seen snow before — but Babalola excelled at KU, winning the prestigious Harry Truman Scholarship in International Studies. He graduated in 2013 with a master’s in Global and International Studies.
He worked in insurance and as a business analyst, became a U.S. citizen in 2015, and moved from Lawrence to Olathe in 2017. He desired to further his business knowledge with an MBA and enrolled in Grantham University’s online program.
That’s where Central Library became essential. A friend from church suggested it was a great place to study, and Babalola took that recommendation to heart.
As he prepared for the rigorous Project Management Professional Certificate exam in 2020, he found the primary course material, a huge tome called the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), at Central.
“The Library helped me find it,” he said. “There were also all these project management Interlibrary Loan resources that the Library helped me find. Even when they don’t have something, they can talk to other libraries to get it for you. That really aided me to pass the exam in one sitting.”
As he worked on his MBA dissertation in 2021, he found he could accomplish more at the Library than at home. “This Library became my second home,” he said. Using Study Room 10, he recalled, “I would sit down in there and type and type and type, and read and read and read.”
Obtaining his MBA in 2021 helped him in his current project management position.
Babalola visited his parents in Nigeria a few years ago and is pleased with his native country’s progress under democratic rule. But now married with a family, he says Johnson County is his home and he loves it, including the snowy winters.
He’s still not done with his education. This year, Babalola began working on a doctorate in information technology and applied management through Walden University. He still relies on Central for materials and a quiet place to work.
“When you are doing a dissertation you consult a wide variety of sources,” he observed. “I don’t rely on what the school provides alone. I use the Library resources here, to get peer reviewed articles, scholarly articles.”
It’s a great study environment, he said, with a wealth of relevant resources, plus clean and comfortable spaces. He is profoundly thankful for the Library’s role in his lifelong learning journey.
2024 Writers Conference
2024's Writers Conference will be one day, Friday, Nov. 15, and it will be a day of deep learning.
Nov. 14 Writers Conference Pre-Party - Registration »
Nov. 15 - Writers Conference - Registration »
Schedule at a Glance »
Amber Logan and Amy Leigh Harden will be offering book discussions on Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brady and Wired for Story: the Writer’s Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence by Lisa Cron. After registering you will receive instructions for picking up copies on a first-come, first-served basis.
In our discussions of Save the Cat Writes a Novel, we’ll apply the story structure of the Save the Cat! Screenwriting methodology to novel writing. With Wired for Story under our belts, we’ll learn about cognitive storytelling and how to craft captivating stories.
Get inspired pre-conference with Amber Logan at our September author series where she’ll be in conversation with Adam Simcox and Richard Swan, discussing the inspiration for her retelling of The Secret Garden set in Japan, and workshopping the ins and outs of writing these types of stories.
We will discuss Amber Logan’s The Secret Garden of Yanagi Inn this Fall as a part of our regularly offered book discussion groups.
As always, conference registration gives us an idea of how many writers to expect. Let us know that you’re coming!
Until then, write on!
Library’s Community Information Boards Are Windows to Invaluable Resources
Johnson County Library is committed to providing all sorts of resources to help patrons live their lives. That includes sharing information about vital non-profit agencies and programs.
To that end, each of the larger Library branches has a bulletin board filled with flyers on everything from Johnson County government and social services to volunteer opportunities to fun and enriching events. Items of interest from Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas are also shared.
Patrons may walk by those bulletin boards without giving them a second glance, but the postings are extremely useful. Much of the information is available in both English and Spanish.
Since 2017, Johnson County Library information specialist Dylan Reiter has been assigned the community information board task, first at Antioch and now at the new Merriam Plaza branch.
“The main desire is to provide access to assistance resources,” Reiter said. “I’m happy to fill that role.”
Eleven of the 14 Johnson County Library branches have these community information boards, and many also have tables for additional brochures, including career and finance information. The materials are available at all but the neighborhood Libraries of De Soto, Spring Hill and Edgerton.
In the older branches, the bulletin boards are often close to the entrance. In newer branches, they are positioned close to the restrooms.
Each of the larger branches has a designated person like Reiter maintaining the materials and making sure they stay up to date. These staff members have a lot of continuity in those roles, are very dedicated, and take that responsibility seriously.
They have a set of rules and criteria to determine what gets posted, giving priority to resources and programs available free of charge.
When they have more materials than space available, they are guided by Huber’s Hierarchy of Needs, explored in the book “The Purpose Based Library,” by John Huber and Steven Potter.
The pyramid of needs gives top priority to safety and security, followed in order by other basic needs of health and nutrition, functional literacy and access, community engagement, and functional skills development. If there’s room, they can also include materials pertaining to creative expression, advance knowledge and philanthropy.
At Antioch, Reiter had ample space for the bulletin board plus a separate area which included lots of career and finance information. He is also on the Library’s career and finance team, so he realizes how impactful those materials can be. Those brochures frequently disappeared quickly, providing an indication of patron interest.
At Merriam Plaza, which just opened March 20, Reiter is still waiting for a table. So the bulletin board serves that information function currently.
In addition to posting assistance materials on behalf of other Johnson County agencies, Reiter also frequently posts items from the Kansas Department for Children & Families, Salvation Army, United Way, and blood drive announcements for the American Red Cross. Senior Computer Users of Kansas City (SenCom), which conducts computers classes for seniors, is also a popular handout.
Flyers, often written in both English and Spanish, also provide information about utility assistance, early childhood programs, domestic violence crisis hotlines, summer vaccination clinics, cultural events, literacy services, District Court help, and ways to volunteer for Hospice, Hillcrest or as a reading mentor.
Library branches are an ideal place to disseminate this community information, Reiter said. They are welcoming places, unlike some government buildings that can be intimidating.
The bulletin boards are a great way to provide information when people may have sensitive family situations and may be hesitant to ask in person.
“So these boards are a way for us to passively provide access to that assistance,” Reiter observed, “while keeping everyone’s dignity intact.”
Register Now for the 2024 Writers Conference
Buckle your seatbelts, writers! We’re trying something totally new this year! 2024's Writers Conference will be one day, Friday, Nov. 15, focused on deep learning. If you’ve been to our conference before you know it’s a come, learn, and leave situation. Not to worry . . . you can still do that. We’ll have plenty of craft lectures and book discussions for you. Conference registration »
We’re excited to offer pre-conference lectures via our YouTube channel on “Social Media for Introverts” with Jenifer Boles, and “Beta Reader Matchups” with Jessica Conoley. You watch, do homework, and come to the conference ready to workshop. These lectures will be available soon.
Writers conference book discussion titles will include Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody and Wired for Story by Lisa Cron.
Photo credit: Beth Grimm
New Board Member Has Lifelong Love of Libraries and Books
Chrysalyn Huff is a successful businesswoman, a busy mother and grandmother, and is active in local civic affairs. She has also just been appointed to the Johnson County Library Board, bringing passion and energy to the role.
Her mother and an elementary school teacher instilled in her a profound appreciation for books and reading. Throughout her childhood and adult life, Huff has found Libraries to be havens for knowledge and inspiration.
“The Library for me has always been a safe place,” says Huff, who was born in Kansas City but grew up in many places as her family traveled for military and ministry work.
Her mother was a voracious reader and Huff inherited that enthusiasm. She struggled a bit in elementary school but a teacher praised her reading ability.
“That really built up my self-confidence,” Huff recalled. “It really empowered me in school. Books became a love language for me.”
Judy Blume’s books showed her all that girls could be. She also was captivated by history books and biographies about John F. Kennedy, Queen Latifah and other influential difference-makers. She reads about 30 books a year and recently finished Kristin Hannah’s best-selling novel “The Women,” about Army nurses during the Vietnam War.
Huff met her husband Jeffery at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo. They married 36 years ago and moved to Johnson County. They now live on a small farm near Lake Olathe, with chickens, a greenhouse and a large garden.
They have three grown children: Ryne, Joshua and Arrianne and three grandchildren. Huff is very involved in their lives and deeply proud of them.
She especially enjoys taking her grandchildren to Libraries and has been impressed with how each Johnson County branch has its own welcoming personality. She is familiar with the Corinth and Central Resource Libraries and looks forward to visiting other branches soon.
For many years, Huff had a national event planning business before she took a break in 2007 while her sons were active in high school and college sports. She started painting and refurbishing vintage second-hand furniture, which led to her creating Restoration Emporium in 2012, in the West Bottoms.
The one-of-a-kind home décor business was an instant sensation and even thrived during the pandemic, with a huge online presence. It’s now rebranded as RE, with a retail store in Zona Rosa. Joshua runs the day-to-day operation but Chrysalyn is still very involved.
As a businesswoman, Huff has been active for years in the Olathe Chamber of Commerce. She also graduated from Olathe and Lenexa civic leadership programs. She became friends with longtime Olathe Mayor Mike Copeland and other community officials, including Shirley Allenbrand, who took office as Johnson County District 6 commissioner in 2021.
Allenbrand urged Huff to consider a Library Board post, which was immediately appealing.
“My eyes lit up,” Huff recalled. “That was the most exciting thing anybody had ever asked me.” She was appointed by Commission Chair Mike Kelly after the two had a good conversation. She told him how books have been so instrumental in her life and in teaching her business fundamentals.
Huff has attended one Library Board meeting and is already impressed. “I was blown away by how professional it is, how well run. The preparation for the meetings is amazing.”
She’s determined to help Johnson County Library maintain its stature as an outstanding Library system, providing unfettered access to information and free resources, to great programming and to beautifully-preserved spaces.
“I’m super excited to learn more about the digital services,” she said. “The political coffees, I’m excited about. There’s so much that they do. I am fascinated.”