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We Love You, Too!
Who doesn't love a love letter on Valentine's Day?
"This is one of the easiest web pages to navigate. The library and its staff are superb. I enjoy the experience."
"I love that it is so easy to renew books. Always a pleasure to work with everyone at the JoCo Library!"
"I really like the system to place holds. I see a book that interests me and I just add it to my list. When I get the call that it's available, it's like a gift that was unexpected. Thank you for making it so easy to use."
Share the Love: Volunteer!
Johnson County Library volunteers annually give 48,500 hours to support Library activities and programs. They work in the Library, behind the scenes in offices and at special events. What can you do? HELP YOUR LIBRARY! We need volunteers like you!
We’re especially looking for:
• Folks who like the fun social contact of working in our bookstores
• Volunteers eager to work in our newest Library, Monticello, in western Shawnee (opening later in 2018)
As a Library Volunteer you can:
• Shelve books or work in offices
• Process book donations
• Support author events and programs
• Staff bookstores and book sales
• Research genealogy . . . and more!
Our Volunteers are:
• Individuals | Corporations
• Teens/Academic Service Credit
• Retired Professionals | Affinity Groups
• Service Clubs | Worship Communities
Easy Steps to Library Volunteering:
1. Find your Library role.
2. Complete an application online at jocolibrary.org/volunteer.
3. Meet our Volunteer Coordinator
4. Schedule a shift at your Library.
5. Volunteer!
6. Repeat as necessary
Our Favorite February Picture Books
Each month our Youth Librarians gather their favorite new picture books together into a list. These books are great for helping children develop early literacy skills such as rhyming, recognizing shapes, and enjoying reading with their caregivers. Take a peek at our most recent list »
Mock Caldecott
Your Community: Librarians choose Mock Caldecott Medal Winners
In February, Johnson County Library brought together librarians and youth specialists from across the metro area to choose their favorite books for the mock Caldecott book award. The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually to the most-distinguished American picture book for children by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association.
Childhood Memories Recalled
For area librarians, the mock Caldecott is an opportunity to practice critical evaluation skills and to expand their collective knowledge of children’s literature. Preparation for the Mock Caldecott began months prior with librarians evaluating and nominating picture books published in 2017. Organizers shared the list of titles across the metro area. With some titles in the running for other awards and other titles in high demand, librarians scrambled to get their hands on all the nominations before the meeting.
Finalizing the Winners
From character diversity to the arrangement of artistic elements in the book, librarians evaluated each book from cover to cover. Naphtali Faris, Mid-Continent Public Library’s early literacy coordinator and one of the members of the official Caldecott Medal committee, also attended Johnson County Library’s mock event. Naphtali eagerly took notes on the conversation to bring back to the official award committee.
After a two-hours of intense discussion and rounds of voting, Johnson County Library’s Mock Caldecott group chose Dan Santat’s After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again as the winner with honors going to Wolf in the Snow, Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut and Muddy: The Story of Blues Legend Muddy Waters.
Official winners for the Caldecott Medal were announced Monday, February 12, at the American Library Association Conference.
Johnson County Library – Nurturing the Community’s Collective Wisdom
Find What You Love (at the Library)
Happy Music Monday! Each Monday we feature a single from a Local Music LIVE FULL performance. This week, it's all about love! The Black Creatures encourage you to find what you love in their lovely tune "Water Will!" This is our second season of recording live videos of our artists. We've moved beyond the confines of our MakerSpace recording studio out into our locations. This performance was filmed at the Leawood Pioneer Library. If you like it, share the LOVE!
A Visit with Dorothy Hughes, Friends Board Vice President
How long have you been a member of Friends of Johnson County Library?
Four years now. Not long enough!
What’s your elevator speech to convince someone to join the Friends?
The shortest answer is: there is no reason not to join. The Friends of Johnson County Library is an organization that supports library programming, literacy and all the great things Johnson County Library does for our community. Not only that, but they sell coffee, too, which I love! If that’s not enough, I get to work with other talented people who are passionate about libraries and their role in modern American life.
Do you have a favorite Friends memory?
My favorite Friends memory is volunteering at the summer book sale a few years ago and getting stationed at the counting table with now-fellow Board member Lindsay Lau. That was the first time we met, and we had a blast. It’s been so much fun getting to know her and the rest of the Board over the years.
What are you reading (or listening to) right now?
I’m currently reading When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. It’s beautifully done but quite heavy subject matter, so I lightened things up by recently listening to I Can’t Make This Up by comedian Kevin Hart. It gets an R-rating for language, but it is
absolutely hilarious. I highly recommend them both, but for very different reasons, of course.
Dorothy Hughes has served on the Friends of Johnson County Library Board since 2014. She is currently a full-time Ph.D.
student in Health Policy and Management at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Dorothy also works part-time as
a healthcare consultant and is an adjunct faculty member in the Helzberg School of Business at Rockhurst University. In her
spare time, she enjoys reading, binge-watching Food Network shows, and hanging out with friends, family and her Great
Pyrenees, Maggie.
Library Robots!
Ok, well, we don't quite have robot helpers, yet. But we have next best thing at some of our branches: automated sorting! The Library circulates around 7 million items per year. When you place a hold to pick up at a conveniently located branch, we work to get it there as quickly and efficiently as possible. In addition to our friendly staff, we’re using technology to improve our work. Coming soon to Corinth, Antioch, Monticello and Lenexa City Center: automated sorting! The image here illustrates the kind of sorter we’ll be installing.This helps materials get checked in and routed to you faster. You can watch automated sorting at work already at Central, Blue Valley and Leawood.
Throwback Thursday
Happy National Boy Scouts Day! Our Throwback Thursday picture today is a 58-year-old picture of Merriam Boy Scout Pack #398.
See more local history at jocohistory.org or follow our hashtag on Twitter.
Henry Fortunato
Everyone at Johnson County Library is saddened to learn of the passing this week of our esteemed colleague, Henry J. Fortunato, Jr. Henry was the long-time Director of External Affairs for the Kansas City Public Library, and a frequent collaborator with libraries, museums and educational institutions across the region. Henry’s lively intelligence and fierce determination made him a shining light among regional library and humanities professionals, and our work is dimmed by his loss. We will strive always for our efforts to equal his example of courage, conviction and enthusiasm for learning. We offer warmest condolences to Henry’s family and to all who knew and loved him as we did.
Johnson County Library recently collaborated with Henry to produce and distribute bookmarks documenting his seminal work of local history, the Indian Creek Trails History project. These beautiful bookmarks are still available at Central Resource Library.