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Staff Spotlight: Helen Hokanson
JCL Reference Librarian Helen Hokanson specializes in local writers, and she gets high praise from those in the literary community.
She was hired by the Library more than 20 years ago and was an information specialist and a branch manager before she became a Reference Librarian at Central. Library users at the time were clamoring for a writing group. She didn’t know what she was doing, but realized, “Our patrons really want this.” So she organized the first meeting about a decade ago.
Some short stories and essays shared in the meetings were fantastic. Some participants got published or went to graduate school to pursue writing careers. The group also fostered wonderful friendships. “It was just a fascinating experience,” Hokanson recalls.
The group disbanded a few years ago, but that freed Hokanson up to begin hosting author visits, which are enormously popular with patrons. They have continued virtually this year amid the Coronavirus pandemic.
Hokanson has also kept busy organizing this year’s 6th Annual Writers Conference, held virtually Nov. 12-15. Unlike many conferences nationally that focus on publishing, the Johnson County Library conference focuses on the writer’s craft. It features seasoned writers, editors, and teachers, both national and local.
“The thing people are most interested in,” Hokanson said, “is community building and meeting other writers because writing can be very isolating and lonely.”
Organizers knew no one wants to sit at a computer non-stop for three days, so the Library organized some events leading up to the conference, with well-attended lectures and workshops held since September to spread out the teachings.
Hokanson emphasizes that her work to nurture great writing involves a team effort. She praises the other JCL writers’ committee members: Cassandra Gillig, Beth Mercer, Diane Haner, Lisa Allen, Katt Cooper, Jack Vandeleuv and German Perilla. She also could not put on the writers conference without the core conference team: Gillig and Mercer, plus Joseph Keehn, Kate McNair and Chris Koppenhaver for Kids Day.
“I could not do this work,” she says, “without my brilliant colleagues.
Learn more about our Events for Writers »
TBT: On Your Marks, Get Set, Bake!
Time to bake those holiday goodies!
Check out this 1900 photo of students from a baking class at the Kansas School for the Deaf in Olathe.
Remember, jocohistory.org is the place to time travel through local history. Be sure to follow our hashtag on Twitter!
Happy Throwback Thursday! Some call it the best day of the week.
Throwback Thursday! Johnson County Barbershops: 1908 - 1967
Happy Throwback Thursday! Here's another dose of Johnson County's past. Enjoy this slideshow of old time barbershops.
Remember, jocohistory.org is the place to time travel through local history. Search "automobile" for a fun adventure. Be sure to follow our hashtag on Twitter!
Throwback Thursday! Johnson County Barbershops: 1908 - 1967
Happy Throwback Thursday! Here's another dose of Johnson County's past. Enjoy this slideshow of old time barbershops.
Remember, jocohistory.org is the place to time travel through local history. Search "automobile" for a fun adventure. Be sure to follow our hashtag on Twitter!
Media Discussion Group
In December's Media Discussion Group, we'll dive deeply into how race-based policies, programs, and practices created the suburbs and restricted access to "the American Dream": home ownership.
The Media Discussion Group is Wednesday, December 9, 6:30 pm. Register now »
Brainfuse HelpNow
Brainfuse HelpNow: Do you have finals before the winter break? Prepare by using your library card to create flashcards, take practice tests, or connect with a FREE online tutor »
Staff Spotlight: Charles Hower
As you might imagine, our talented Library staff are involved in many community projects and interesting hobbies. Charles Hower, a JCL information specialist, recently took on an unusual project.
Over the course of several months, Charles performed the state songs of all 50 states. The performances, which each include one or two verses and a brief history of how the song came about, are available to watch on YouTube in a series entitled, State Song Sundays. The project was inspired by a book that’s currently available in the JCL collection: State Songs of America.
Charles boasts an impressive musical resume: a bachelor’s degree in music education from KSU and a master's degree in music performance from Mizzou. While he was primarily trained on instrumental music—in particular, the euphonium—Charles has always had an interest in choirs, singing in his University Choir, Concert Choir, Men's Glee Choir, and Little Apple Barbershop chorus.
While Charles’ background was in music, he had a lifelong love for the Library. He was a teen volunteer and worked as a Homework Help coach in 2006. When the Monticello Library opened in 2018, Charles threw his hat in the ring and entered the system as a clerk.
While Charles performs each of the 50 songs with equal gusto, he isn't without personal opinions about which songs stand above the rest. "As a proud Kansas boy, I would love to say that Kansas was the best, and Missouri was the worst (sorry Missouri colleagues). My favorite, just for the amount of fun it was to sing, is a toss-up between Vermont and Tennessee."
When it came to the worst songs, Charles also did not reserve judgment. "Worst is harder since there are so many dated songs that are offensive or just real clunkers. In terms of just music I didn't enjoy singing, Mississippi is really high up there. Easy to sing, but dull beyond belief."
In addition to his performance chops, he has a keen interest in the historical and cultural aspects of music, which shine through in the state song project. In taking on the project, Charles said that, in large part, his intention was to explore the origin of state symbols and their continuing significance to people.
Charles suggests that the history of the state songs may be more interesting than the songs themselves. As he puts it, “the specific songs themselves don't matter as much as the effort to put into words what makes each state special. That we look at the songs that were chosen and reflect on the values they represent— that is the important stuff.”