Search Stories

Granted, we’re biased. But we think the Kansas City region is library-rich, boasting an array of great systems that further their pursuit of a common mission – free access to knowledge – by working together.

We’re doing it again.

In 2016, four public library systems – Kansas City, Mid-Continent, Johnson County, and Olathe – joined together on a common catalog platform called BiblioCommons, which streamlined the search, discovery, and account management experience for its users. The collaborative then introduced account linking, enabling patrons logged into one library’s catalog to access their accounts at any of the others. It allowed easy, across-the-board access to checkouts, holds, and shelf searches.

Now, we’ve further integrated the search process. If you search the catalog of one library system, you’ll automatically search the collections of the other three systems. Say you log in through the Johnson County Library and are looking for something in the Game of Thrones series. You’ll get a listing of our materials, plus a numerical prompt for what’s available at the Kansas City and Mid-Continent Library systems.

You can access their listings with an additional click.

This newest update to the service launched Tuesday, April 16. With it, library users can view millions of titles across all branches of the four participating library systems.

Things to keep in mind:

• The branding and web addresses for each catalog will remain unchanged.
• Each library system will continue to maintain its own borrowing policies.
• While you can place hold requests on eligible materials from any library system, those items cannot be delivered outside the system that owns them. For example, Mid-Continent items must be picked up at a Mid-Continent location.

To get the most out of the shared catalog, sign up for cards at each library system – Kansas City, Mid-Continent, and Johnson County/Olathe – and link the accounts with a single username. Explore away! Even as you do, the four library systems are looking for ways to further expand and strengthen a productive partnership.

Spring is in full bloom here at Corinth! We have been hard at work with local Girl Scouts of America troop #4091 creating an educational bee and butterfly garden which features native flowering plants.

Our goal is to create an inviting and interactive experience for our patrons. By featuring plants that attract bees and butterflies, we hope to do our part in educating the public about the importance of pollinators.

This has been a wonderful opportunity to partner with our community and to share a sense of involvement and ownership with the next generation. Come by and see the ever-evolving garden for yourself!