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Make It All Together Now!
Join us for a drop-in MakerSpace project. Flex those STEAM muscles, learn new maker skills, and have fun with this project presented by the Library Maker team. Come, make something with us and take home a finished project.
This walk-in program is open to all and supplies will be provided. Participants will complete the same project each event, so come by at the location and date that works for you!
Make It All Together Now Wednesday, June 28, 1-3 p.m. @ Monticello Library
Make It All Together Now Wednesday, July 5, 1-3 p.m. @ Central Resource Library
Want to Explore JoCo History? Library has Abundant Resources
Many people value Johnson County Library for its best-sellers, children’s literature, databases, author visits and enriching programs.
Local History Librarian Amanda Wahlmeier wants patrons to know the Library also has terrific resources for exploring history and genealogy.
“We see our role as providing access,” Wahlmeier said of her mission and that of the local history committee. “We’re trying to make sure people have access to the resources to help them know the history of our area.”
Want to find an obituary of a local family member dating to the 1800s? Or unearth a long-ago article from a Johnson County newspaper? Find information from the 1950 Census or historical military records? Or peruse Johnson County high school yearbooks from many years ago?
Johnson County Library may well be able to help, either with its extensive historical databases and indexes or its physical collection at Central Resource Library.
"Many times, historical records are kept at institutions with limited hours, by appointment only. The Library strives to remove those barriers", Wahlmeier said, "providing students, scholars and the general public with many useful research tools."
She points people to the Research tab at the top of the Library's website. From there, patrons can navigate to the Genealogy section for a vast array of materials. Johnson County Library recently became a FamilySearch Affiliate Library, giving patrons access to two million additional records. Patrons can access the full FamilySearch catalog from any Library branch.
Another new resource is Fold3, specializing in digitized military records. Patrons can also explore Ancestry.com at the Library.
For other local history information, from the Library website Research tab, patrons can click on All Topics and then Local History. Its treasures include:
- Access to multiple regional newspaper databases.
- Kansas State Historical Society records with information on countless notable people and events, plus digitized photos.
- Johnson County Museum and Johnson County Archive documents and photographs from the 19th century to the present, available through the JoCoHistory website. Other primary source documents cover Kansas Territory History, 1854-1865.
Central Resource Library’s physical collection has hundreds of materials, including old yearbooks and Polk Directories for people to do reverse address searches.
Wahlmeier is also proud of the Library’s Past is Prologue programs, first developed during the COVID pandemic. These programs, available every other month on Zoom, highlight social justice stories that are often neglected or misrepresented in history books. They feature outstanding presenters, often with help from the Humanities Kansas Speakers Bureau.
Past is Prologue programs have shined a spotlight on the Black pioneer community of Nicodemus, Kansas; Johnson County’s South Park desegregation case, a precursor to the landmark Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education ruling; and the National Orphan Train Movement, with a museum in Concordia, Kansas.
Patron interest in local history, especially genealogy, is booming. A capacity crowd of 500 people showed up March 11 at the Central Resource branch for Genealogy Day 2023. The Genealogical Society’s new Memory Lab equipment, allowing patrons to digitize old photos, videos and other materials, is in high demand. Appointments are available through the Genealogical Society; reservations open 60 days in advance and typically book up quickly.
Wahlmeier has been Local History Librarian since August 2017 and has brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role. She majored in history and international studies at Baker University and has master’s degrees in both history and library science. She is passionate about assisting patrons in their own local history explorations and is reachable via email at wahlmeiera@jocolibrary.org.
Battery production at the Olathe Delco Batteries plant. 1955 - 1959.
Olathe Oldies
It’s another grand Throwback Thursday when we encourage you to time travel through Johnson County's history. JoCoHistory is a collaborative presentation of the history from the Johnson County Museum, Johnson County Library and many JoCoHistory partners. Explore historical photographs and documents about the people, places and organizations of Johnson County, Kansas, from the 19th century to the present.
Collection spotlight: Olathe Public Library
About this collection: A number of images from the Olathe Daily Mirror (published 1861 - 1959) and other local sources. The photographs date from the mid-twentieth century and depict scenes of daily life, including weddings, award ceremonies and include a number of studio portraits of individuals.
We hope you enjoy this subgenre!
Hopepunk
“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all.” – Emily Dickinson
If you look up the term "hopepunk" online, the first definition offered up describes it as "A branch of speculative fiction featuring characters fighting for positive change, radical kindness, and communal responses to challenges." But, we can't just leave it at that. We need examples! Readers Advisory Librarian Gregg Winsor drops by with Josh Neff and Jo Field who share Hopepunk titles that they hope you will enjoy.
Our Hopepunk recommendations:
Charles’ Choice: Sourdough by Robin Sloan
Dave’s Double feature: streaming video from Kanopy. Anthony Bourdain's A Cook's Tour and Alone
Hopepunk Recommendations from our catalog
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How? Visit one of these popular podcatchers:
This Week at the Library
Library OnDemand – Available anytime you like.
Outdoor Family Storytime at Lenexa Farmers Market – Tuesdays, June 20 & 27, 9:30-10 a.m.
Help your child discover the joys of reading and develop early literacy skills at Storytime. Join us for a fun outdoor Storytime at Lenexa Farmers Market! Hearing stories is a great way to spend time with your kids and help them foster a love of reading. Stories, songs, fingerplays and movement activities foster pre-reading skills. Fun for the whole family!
Make It All Together Now – Wednesday, June 21, 1-3 p.m.
Join us for a drop-in MakerSpace project at the Gardner Library. Flex those STEAM muscles, learn new maker skills, and have fun with this project presented by the Library Maker team. Come, make something with us, and take home a finished project. This walk-in program is open to all and supplies will be provided. Participants will complete the same project each week
Let’s Stick Together – A Celebration of Music & Family with Mr. Stinky Feet – Thursday, June 22, 1-2 p.m.
Join award-winning kid rocker and author, Jim “Mr. Stinky Feet” Cosgrove at the Central Resource Library, as he celebrates 25 years of uniting communities through music. It’s a rockin’ dance party for the whole family. Check out Jim’s music and books at www.jimcosgrove.com
Open Mic – Friday, June 23, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Johnson County Library is teaming up with Bear Necessities Coffee Bar (9609 W 87th St, Overland Park, KS 66212) to bring you an Open Mic from 6:30 – 7:30pm on the 4th Friday of every month. Bring poems, short stories, essays, and excerpts to share on the stage. Or come just to listen. We’ll feature readings from our contest winners and the rest of the time is for you. Sign up at the event, 3-minute limit.
All Together Now Concert with MISTER G – Saturday, June 24, 10-10:45 a.m.
Let’s celebrate World Music Day (June 21) at Central Resource Library with Latin Grammy award-winning artist MISTER G. MISTER G tours internationally, engaging audiences of all ages with his dynamic, interactive, bilingual performances aimed to dissolve borders and foster cross-cultural connections. Also an author, MISTER G has published numerous picture books based on his original songs.
Author Meet and Greet with MISTER G – Saturday, June 24, 11-11:45 a.m.
Latin Grammy Award Winning artist MISTER G will be presenting his new book We'll Make Things Better Together followed by a book signing at the Central Resource Library. The first 50 families in attendance will receive a FREE copy of the book. Additional books will be available to purchase at the event.
Why I Give: Saundra and Skip Johnson
As a young girl – and only child – growing up in Raytown, Missouri, Saundra Johnson fondly remembers going to her local library, where books were a great companion to her. Among her favorite titles were the Nancy Drew books. As a student going through school, her library was the hub of resources to create term papers and other projects. She recalls how important having that access was for her and how helpful and wonderful the librarians were as well.
Husband Skip reminisces that he had always been a fan of technical articles and materials. Laughing, he added that before the internet, libraries were the place to go for information. The card catalog was our connection to the world – just as the internet is today! He agreed with Saundra on the importance of libraries growing up.
As adults, they began to look at libraries through different lenses. “Unless people go to libraries, they may not realize all the access libraries provide now,” Skip observed. He added all the amazing resources available to library patrons from art displays, newspapers, magazines, movies, computers, access to Library programs and events, private study room spaces and more. They have a friend who created a podcast in a library. Another friend goes to the library to attend Zoom calls with friends and family.
“Libraries have grown a great deal over the years!” exclaimed Skip. “And they’ve evolved to grow with the needs of our communities along the way.”
A personal eye-opener for the Johnsons regarding the benefits of a library came when Saundra’s mother, Kay, lived with them for many years. Kay was legally blind; however, she could listen to audiobooks – so they frequented the Library often to check out materials for her. The librarians would recognize the Johnsons, knowing the audiobooks were for Kay, and would inquire as to what she was listening to each time.
Kay could use a tape recorder to listen to the audiobooks which meant she could do that independently. They both recalled many times waking up in the middle of the night hearing Kay, a night owl, laughing out loud while listening to audiobooks. As her health declined and she physically did not feel well all the time, books brought her much joy and greatly improved her mental health.
As longtime Johnson County Library donors, the Johnsons are quick to respond when asked why they give and support our Library system: they choose to give as a way to honor Kay’s memory and theirs too someday. As charter members of the Foundation’s planned giving program the “1952 Society: Writing the Library’s Next Chapter”, Saundra and Skip believe that giving is to help the Library continue far into the future. Leaving a legacy gift is one way to help make that happen.
16 Civil War veterans - 1905
Museum Memories
It’s another grand Throwback Thursday when we encourage you to time travel through Johnson County's history. JoCoHistory is a collaborative presentation of the history from the Johnson County Museum, Johnson County Library and many JoCoHistory partners. Explore historical photographs and documents about the people, places and organizations of Johnson County, Kansas, from the 19th century to the present.
Collection spotlight: Johnson County Museum
About this collection: The Johnson County Museum has a wide range of images dating from the late 19th century to the current day. A major focus of the collection centers on individuals and groups of people in domestic, recreational, scholarly and business settings.