Search Stories

With Toolkit Tuesday, we share Library tools you might not know about! This week's tool: Newspapers

In-person

We still offer good old-fashioned paper newspapers. You'll find them available in a cozy reading area at your favorite Library location.

Online

We also offer eNewspapers you can enjoy from the comfort of home, at the coffee shop, when a game goes south or, really, anywhere. 

• The New York Times

• Johnson County Post

• Kansas City Business Journal

• Wall Street Journal

• The Kansas City Star (image edition—full page images of each page)

• Access World News (Full-text articles from nearly 6,000 news sources)

• Kansas City and Regional Newspapers (Full articles from many Kansas City and regional newspapers)

• Magazine, Journal and Newspaper List (A full list of all the online magazines, journals and newspapers to which the library subscribes)

Do you have a particular newspaper in mind? Search and find newspapers by title.

Since starting as leased space nearly 70 years ago, the Antioch Library has been expanded twice, renovated extensively three decades ago, and served as system headquarters until the Central Resource Library opened in 1995.

In addition to serving generations of Library patrons, Antioch also housed classes for Johnson County Community College’s adult education program until it moved into a separate space along 87th Street.

On January 28, Antioch will close for good in preparation for the opening of the new Merriam Plaza Library this spring. Staff hold many fond memories of the location, starting with the maze of corridors and offices created through its history of renovations.

“It’s still really nostalgic to walk through the different parts of the building and imagine what they used to be,” said Branch Manager Amy Barclay. The vacant upstairs office space is eerie, she said, and office lore has it that a shy, friendly ghost frequents the premises (and may stick around when everyone else moves to Merriam Plaza).

When Barclay took over as branch manager two years ago, it was a homecoming for her. She started her library career in 2011 as a page at Antioch while working on her master’s degree in library science.

Antioch was also the launching pad for County Librarian Tricia Suellentrop, who officed at Antioch in her first professional job as a teen services librarian. She remembered having trouble finding her way out of the building through the byzantine back office after her first day of work.

Suellentrop also remembered the work environment as a “wonderful example of collaboration” because it served many different functions. It was a unique experience for her first job, she said, because it gave her a window into so many aspects of the system.

One of the fondest memories staff will take from their experience at Antioch is the connection the community has with a building that, as Suellentrop said, made so many “deep grooves in their lives.”

“Everybody just loves this branch,” said Assistant Branch Manager Sheida Bates, “and the people who grew up coming to the branch are now bringing their kids here.”

Patrons reminisce a lot about attending story times throughout the years, Bates said.

With the upcoming move to Merriam Plaza, Antioch staff has been encouraging patrons to record their memories on comment cards. Bates said they now have a few hundred cards that a staff member has digitally scanned.

One story that staff loved came from a man who met his future wife at Antioch, Bates said.

Through the years, Suellentrop has also encountered staff and patrons who remembered the great reading nooks at Antioch and an old clawfoot bathtub that at one time provided a reading spot as well.

Antioch patrons got an opportunity to put their stamp on Merriam Plaza when the builder provided sheets of drywall for them to sign, which were then installed in meeting room of the new Library (with the signatures on the back of the drywall).

Even with all the nostalgia for Antioch, Merriam Plaza will offer increased convenience with a drive-up window and a more pleasant space featuring a lot of natural light.

“It's always sad to say goodbye,” Barclay said, “but it’s exciting to have something new that will meet many more needs for the community.”

Today isn’t your normal Throwback Thursday. 
 
Today, in collaboration with Johnson County Museum, we’re kicking off a meme contest that will run until February 22. To participate, simply explore Johnson County Museum’s archives and choose a photo that you want to meme. The theme of this contest is “Winter.” 
 
What’s a meme? It might be easiest to show rather than tell: 

Simply put, the type of meme we’re looking for in this contest is that of a photo with words imposed on it that give an alternate meaning to the photo, amplify the tone of the photo or use the photo to make a point. Memes are most often funny, but you can choose to create any type of meme you like, provided it fits into the parameters explained below. 

A few FAQ about this contest:

Why are you having a meme contest? 
A few reasons. One is that it’s winter and it’s dreary and memes can be fun and make people laugh. Another is that there are so many cool, interesting photos in Johnson County Museum’s archive that people never see. We’re hoping that you’ll spend some time looking through the archives to find a photo that inspires you. 
 
Can I pick any photo?  
Yes, provided you find it in Johnson County Museum’s archive. Even though the theme of the contest is “Winter,” you can choose any photo you like, even if it doesn’t seem very wintery. 
 
How do I create a meme?  
You can use a meme generator like this site. 
 
Where do I send the meme?  
Email your meme, along with a link to the photo you’ve chosen and your full name and phone number to socialmedia@jocolibrary.org. Entries without this information will be disqualified. 
 
What’s the deadline?  
Memes received by 5:00 p.m. on February 22, 2024 will be accepted for the contest. 
 
Photos will be uploaded to a Facebook album no later than noon on February 24th. Voting will close at 5:00 p.m. on February 29th. Winners will be announced on social media on March 1st. 
 
Are there any restrictions on the memes submitted?  
Memes with offensive language or content will not be accepted. All submissions are subject to the Johnson County Government Social Media Policy. Submissions that do not include a link to the photo in the archive and your name and phone number will not be accepted. 
   
Submitting a meme for the contest means you agree that your meme will be posted publicly and may be shared by others. You also agree to be in a photo if you win and agree that the photo and your name will be shared via social media platforms 
 
Can anyone participate?  
Yes, anyone (including Johnson County Government employees) can participate. You must be able to pick up your prize in person in order to win, and Johnson County Government employees are not eligible to win employee pick prizes. 
 
Did you say prizes? 
Yes, we did! There will be three (3) winners: a popular vote pick, a Johnson County Library employee pick and a Johnson County Museum employee pick. The popular vote pick will be determined by the number of “heart” reactions on Facebook. The employee picks will be determined by internal poll. 
 
Prizes will include a Johnson County Library mug, pen and other goodies and a Johnson County Museum pass. 
 
When will winners be announced?  
Winners will be announced via social media on March 1. 
 
Did you come up with this idea on your own? 
Nope. We were inspired by Montana State Library. 
 
 

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of No Wait Wednesday, where we turn the spotlight on a book that's on the "New Release" section at one of our Library branches that we think absolutely deserves your attention. The best thing of all? There's no waitlist (at the moment!), so place your holds now!

Today's book is The Roaring Days of Zora Lily by Noelle Salazar. If you're a fan of historical fiction, then you might know that Salazar made some noise in the World War Two sub-genre a few years ago with her well-regarded 2019 debut about a group of female pilots, The Flight Girls, that combined historical details, a sweet romance, and a quick and enjoyable plot into a pleasantly digestible mix that charmed readers. Salazar again dips her toe into the historical fiction waters, but this time setting her tale back in time a bit further to the 1920s with a breezy rags-to-riches tale set during the height of Prohibition that stretches from the back alleys of Seattle to the height of Hollywood glamour.

The story begins in the current day, where an archivist is going through exhibition items for a display of classic dresses and gowns worn during Hollywood's Golden Age. While looking at a dress worn by Greta Garbo, the archivist notices a label artfully hidden under the designer's label that reads simply "Zora Lily," which launches the rest of the novel told in flashback, as we get introduced to Zora and follow her life from (literal) rags to (almost) riches.  

In 1924, Zora Lily Hough lives on the wrong side of the tracks, born one of seven siblings in a hardscrabble Seattle neighborhood where her mother finds occasional work as a seamstress, teaching a young Zora to help out as she grows up. It's clear that Zora has lots of talent, but can only find steady work as a nanny for a wealthier family, tending to children during the day while investigating the surprisingly large amounts of local speakeasies during the evenings, dancing the night away. This is all the life that Zora could hope for, however fate intervenes when she manages to use her skills to land a gig sewing costumes for her friends' nightclub review act that eventually leads her to  the bright lights of Hollywood, designing and crafting dresses and gowns that are seen the world over. She doesn't make it to the top by herself, if course, as there's usually a friend she makes along her journey that helps her out just when she needs it the most, and there's a romance that lasts through the book, as Zora meets a dashing Englishman while clubbing, and when disaster strikes, she'll find out if it's just a passing fling or something more akin to true love. Her determination and willingness to make a success of things, whatever the circumstance, makes her a character the reader can cheer for.

The Roaring Days of Zora Lily is a breezy, feel-good historical fiction novel, perfect for those who might be attracted to the genre but don't want to get bogged down in details - Salazar is excellent at keeping the tone light and the pace quick, so even when Zora has her setbacks, she's back on her feet and moving forward, along with the story. And, if you come to the genre for period-accurate details, Salazar will not disappoint, and readers who are a fan of stories involving the Prohibition era and stores set in classic Hollywood should enjoy this one. Sharp-eyed fans of the Johnson County Library's Staff Picks Blog might notice that we've featured a historical novel involving a determined young woman who made a name for herself in the fashion world - just a few years ago we discussed By Her Own Design by Piper Huguley which covers a lot of similar ground, however Huguley's novel was based on a true story while Salazar's is strictly fiction. Readers who enjoy authors like Fiona Davis and Kate Quinn should enjoy these books. 

Thanks for reading! We hope you enjoy our No Wait Wednesday posts, and we'll see you next time!

With Toolkit Tuesday, we share Library tools you might not know about! This week's tool: Our Mobile App.

Johnson County Library’s Mobile App makes it easy to use the catalog to find and discover titles, manage your account and get the location and title availability information you need. It's super-handy, but there are pros and the cons to using the Mobile App as opposed to visiting our website, jocolibrary.org. 

The cons are few, but you will not be able to access website-exclusive content.  Our front page featured stories and all past features are not available on the app. You will also miss out on our Explore, eLibrary, Research, more detailed location pages, and sections for birth to six, kids and teens. 

That said, if you simply would like to:

• Search the collection
• Get details on any title
• Check a title's availability – even map the locations where it is currently available
• Place holds
• Renew titles
• See upcoming due dates
• Add titles to your For Later list
• Browse bestsellers, new titles and recent reviews
• Check your neighborhood library hours and get directions to the nearest location

then, consider the Mobile App! 

Our Spring Trimester is filled with events to help you plan your career, college education, and retirement. See events below to register.

Great Jobs KC Tuesday, Jan. 23, 6:30–7:30 p.m., online

It's Never Too Early to Start Planning for College Tuesday, Feb. 6, 7-8 p.m., online

Navigating the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: Unlocking Opportunities with KC SourceLink Tuesday, Feb. 20, 7-8:00 p.m., online

Permission to Withdraw: Enjoying Your Retirement Savings without Outliving Them Tuesday, Feb. 27, 10-11 a.m., online