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Lenexa City Center Library Closed
Johnson County Library’s Lenexa City Center location will be temporarily closed Thursday Jan. 7 until Tuesday, Jan. 12 due to a potential COVID-19 exposure. In an abundance of caution, the closure includes the drive-thru window, materials return and the holds pick-up lobby. Holds on materials that were available at the branch will be extended.
A professional deep cleaning will take place while the branch is closed. All staff who were potentially exposed have been notified through contact tracing, and affected staff will be quarantining and monitoring for symptoms before returning to work. Library staff is working with the health department to determine any additional necessary steps and will continue all health and safety protocols, such as masks and social distancing, to minimize risk of exposure.
Johnson County Library’s other 13 branches remain open, and the Lenexa City Center branch is anticipated to reopen as scheduled at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 12. Visit jocolibrary.org or follow @jocolibrary on social media for updates.
JoCoMuseum: A Collecting Institution
The Johnson County Museum is a collecting institution - that means the Museum needs your help to tell the community’s history! But what does the Museum collect? Check out this new JoCoHistory Blog post to find out more, and how you can share your stories, photos, documents, and objects!
The Past is Prologue
For January's installment of The Past is Prologue, Nicodemus Historical Society executive director Angela Bates will present on Nicodemus, KS, a small, unincorporated town in Graham County. Nicodemus is the only remaining western town established by African Americans during the Reconstruction Period following the Civil War. Today the town is a National Historic Site.
Thursday, Jan. 7, 7:00 - 8:00 pm. Register now »
New Year, New You!
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:
- Get my finances in order
- Learn something new
- Reduce stress
- Explore my family tree
- 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!
TBT: The Way We Were
In 1985 preliminary planning began for a larger centralized Library building. In 1992, a location was selected. The former Best Products retail building at 9875 W. 87th St. was chosen. August 29, 1995, the Central Resource Library opened its doors to the public. Check out some of the photos from that time period in this special Throwback Thursday slide show.
Fast forward to today. We again are working to upgrade this building to make the Central Resource Library even better!
We know you probably have many questions about what to expect over the next year as upgrades occur. So, we’ve put together a Construction FAQ that addresses the status of popular services like the Black & Veatch MakerSpace and Genealogy resources, more details about Little Central and where to find alternate services.
Stay tuned to our blog and @jocolibrary on social media for construction updates!
If you haven't viewed the Fly Through of Central Resource Library animated video, what are you waiting for?
And finally, remember that jocohistory.org is the place to time travel through local history. Search the Johnson County Library's historic photo collection for a fun adventure. You'll find over 100 images from the early years of Johnson County Library, mostly the mid-1950s. Be sure to follow our hashtag on Twitter! Have a Happy Throwback Thursday!
PBS Books Launches Program
PBS Books launches a National Library Engagement Program!
A new nationwide survey by PBS Books reveals a strong interest among libraries in digital and other content that fosters an interest in reading and connects their communities to the world of authors and literature. The Library Engagement Survey was conducted by PBS Books, which since 2014 has engaged a national audience in unique book-related experiences, from coverage of national book festivals to interviews with the world’s most important authors, which spark a curiosity in and a lifelong love of reading and learning.
In response to library feedback, PBS Books has developed a multi-faceted Library Engagement Program:
Tuesday, December 1 at 5pm ET | 2pm PT
Democracy Author Talk (Kids): Andrea Beaty
Sofia Valdez, Future Prez; Sofia & the Vanishing Vote; One GirlFriday, December 11 at 5pm ET | 2pm PT
Democracy Author Talk (Kids): Nikki Grimes
Kamala Harris: Rooted In JusticeSunday, December 13 at 2pm ET | 11am PT
Celebrating MASTERPIECE: Ben Vanstone, Writer
All Creatures Great and SmallTuesday, January 12 at 9pm ET | 6pm PT
Trailblazing Women: Marilyn Chin & Poetry In AmericaThursday, January 14 3pm ET | 12pm PT
Celebrating MASTERPIECE: 50th Anniversary
Rebecca Eaton, Producer of MASTERPIECE
Nancy West, Author of Masterpiece: America's 50-Year-Old Love Affair w/ British Television Drama
Book Giveaway
Anne Kniggendorf, author of Secret Kansas City, will join us for three events in January. To celebrate, we’re giving away copies of her book to a handful of lucky patrons via social media posts on Facebook and Instagram now through Tuesday, Jan. 5. Check our social media @jocolibrary and comment to win.
- Authors in Conversation: Curating Kansas City's Stories: Tuesday Jan. 5, 6:30 to 7:30 PM
- Writing about the Familiar with Anne Kniggendorf: Saturday Jan. 16, 9 to 11 AM
- Anne Kniggendorf on Find the Odd for Secret Kansas City: Wednesday, Jan. 20, 6:30 to 7:30 PM
Reminder: Tomorrow is Central's Last Day as We Know It!
In 2021 we’ll be making areas of Central Resource Library even better, with an expanded and improved Kids area, additional meeting rooms, exterior enhancements like the addition of a drive-thru and renovations to our staff spaces among the upgrades.
While we hope you are as excited as we are for these improvements, that means we’ll be temporarily modifying or suspending some services during construction. Key dates and details are as follows:
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From Monday, February 8 to Sunday, February 14 Central is expected to close to the public. During this week staff and construction crews will begin prepping for what we’re calling “Little Central.”
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On Monday, February 15 Little Central will open in a portion of our front lobby. It will offer limited services, including holds pick-up, materials return and public PCs through the duration of construction.
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Construction is anticipated to complete in late 2021.
In addition to its public service staff, Central is home to many departments that support all 14 branches and is considered the hub of the Johnson County Library system. Once the work at Central is complete, you will feel the positive impact on Library service with noticeable efficiency, more services and better use of resources.
We know you probably have many questions about what to expect over the next year. We’ve put together a Central Resource Library Construction FAQ that addresses the status of popular services like the Black & Veatch MakerSpace and Genealogy resources, more details about Little Central and where to find alternate services.
Watch an animated fly-through of the exciting changes you will see once the library reopens in late 2021, and stay tuned to jocolibrary.org and @jocolibrary on social media for construction updates.
You are receiving this email because you have listed Central Resource Library as your preferred branch, or our records indicated you’ve checked out material(s) from the Central Resource Library in the last 18 months.
Our materials handling spaces, through which new materials, holds and other Library items flow, are being reorganized for operational efficiency