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This week at the Library, you can join us at:

Library OnDemand – Available anytime you like. 

Pollinator Series – Tuesday, April 18, 4 – 5 p.m.

Bees, butterflies and bats . . . oh my! Spring is here and our regional pollinators are in full flight. Join us at the Antioch Library with Johnson County Master Gardeners for this workshop to learn from the experts exactly what is happening when these animals and insects are flying about. Each participant will receive seeds to help grow more places for pollinators to explore.

American Girl Book Club – Tuesday, April 18, 6 – 7 p.m.

This book club meeting at Cedar Roe Library helps kids learn more about important moments in American history. American Girl offers many character stories exploring historical perspectives from a girl’s point of view. Join this group to read and craft with new friends. Free books will be available one month before the session and are available while supplies last. Visit the Questions Desk where the book club meets to pick up the book. Best for ages 8-12; all kids are welcome.

Panel Discussion: Riding Through the Ages – Tuesday, April 18, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Being a woman is a dynamic experience and our bike life adapts to our changing bodies and social lives. Learn from this panel at the Central Resource Library on how they navigate bicycling for transportation or recreation, riding with kids, and using technology and gear to ease the transitions.

Two Chapters Book Club – Wednesday, April 19, 4 – 5 p.m.

Come read with us at the Central Resource Library! A librarian will read aloud the first two chapters of a favorite book and you can decide to check out a copy to take home if you like it. If the chapters are short, we might sample more. We’ll have snacks and activities related to the book. Ages 7-11.

Tween Book Club – Saturday, April 22, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

If you’re age 9-13 and enjoy reading, this program is for you! Let’s get together at the Leawood Pioneer Library to read new books, discuss ideas and characters, and meet other book lovers. We read a different book each session, and staff will lead the group in a discussion about the book. Participants will get a free book while supplies last. Stop by the Youth Services desk to pick up your book for April is Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson. 

And much more happening this week … 

In a major milestone, Johnson County Library is no longer assessing daily fines for overdue materials. Patrons checking out books, DVDs or other materials from any of our 14 branches no longer have to worry about the assessment of a fine for items returned after their due date. In addition, existing overdue fines will be automatically waived over the next week, along with fees older than seven years.

After asking staff to explore the impact of going fine-free at their fall 2022 Board retreat, the Johnson County Library Board voted at their April 13 meeting to approve recommendations from Library staff to no longer assess or collect overdue fines. With this new policy, Johnson County joins in a nationwide trend of Libraries going fine-free. 

It’s all about improving access and removing barriers that might keep our community from taking advantage of everything the Library has to offer. 

“We know there’s an opportunity to bring people back to the Library who aren’t using it because they are concerned about accruing fines,” said Elissa Andre, External Communication Manager for Johnson County Library. “We also frequently hear stories from patrons who felt so guilty about a long-ago fine, they hadn’t been back in decades. So this is a huge opportunity to make the Library a more welcoming place.” 

In deciding to go fine free, Johnson County Library joins other regional systems including Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas, as well as Lawrence, North Kansas City, St. Joseph, Topeka, and Wichita. 

Circulation Manager Michelle Olsen told the Library Board that eliminating the fine, formerly 30 cents per day per book, makes the Library even more inviting. 

“We know that sometimes fines can be seen by patrons as an impediment, a reason why they’re not coming into the Library,” she said. “Our 30-cents per day fine [was] the highest in the metro, so we really want to make sure our patrons are getting experiences of other Library systems, like those in and around our community, that have gone fine-free.” 

This policy change has had very positive outcomes in other Libraries. It sometimes results in increased patron visits and circulation. Data show it does not result in longer wait lists or a big increase of overdue materials.  

“What a lot of libraries found is that books were actually coming back in faster. The same with other materials, such as games and movies,” said Nancy Birmingham, an assistant branch manager working with the team of staff and administrators who put together the recommendation. She explained that when fines are imposed, people sometimes procrastinate on returning materials even longer because they don’t want to deal with that overdue cost.  

Johnson County Library’s revenue from fines has declined every year since 2014. For several years, the Library has sent regular due date reminders, which dramatically improved on-time returns. After accounting for staff time spent assessing and collecting fines, actual revenue totaled only about $79,000 in 2022. That is less than 1% of the Library’s total budget, and that revenue reduction will not affect Library services.  

Birmingham said eliminating fines will also relieve the staff time spent dealing with patron questions and concerns about those charges, freeing up time for more positive interactions.  

Patrons should know, however, that the Library will still charge fees for lost or damaged items. Items more than 30 days overdue will have a lost item fee assessed until the item is returned. And checkout periods have not changed; materials will still have due dates, with reminders to keep patrons on track. 

This is a chance for the Library to welcome people back with open arms, Andre said. “Come rediscover the Library. We have no more fines. And we have this amazing suite of resources you can unlock with your Library card.” 

Our staff are ready to help you understand what this change means for you – visit one of our 14 branches, call us at 913-826-4600, or read our FAQ at jocolibrary.org/finefree to learn more.  

It’s another grand Throwback Thursday where 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: Kansas School for the Deaf

About this collection: Over 4,000 images documenting the history and culture of the Kansas School for the Deaf. The photographs depict student life, faculty and staff gatherings, school buildings, athletic teams and auxiliary deaf activities in the region.

Our librarian Kristen read and reviewed the middle-grade fiction novel The Seventh Wish, by Kate Messner. It interweaves fantasy and real life, and focuses on magic, empathy, overcoming obstacles, and family/friend relationships. 

Kristen writes, "Charlie Brennan, twelve-years-old, is ice fishing when she catches her first fish.  The fish offers her a wish in trade for its freedom. 

Charlie takes up ice fishing to pay for the perfect solo dress for her upcoming Irish dancing competition.  She desperately wants to move up in the next class and needs to do well.  Not only that, but she is also working on a science project for school.  She’s a busy girl!  With all that going on, she thought a few wishes would solve some of the problems her family and friends are facing.  Her family faces a major crisis when they realize that Abby, Charlie’s older sister, has become addicted to drugs while she’s been away at college. Charlie can’t make a wish to make this situation right.   Mrs. McNeill, her neighbor, says “You know the thing about magic Charlie?  We can wish on clovers and shooting stars and ice flowers all we want.  But in the end, the only real magic is what’s inside of us and the people we love.  Some things are beyond even magic.”

She learns through hard work, and family/friend love and support you can accomplish your goals. 

This book could serve as a foundation for impactful conversations around addiction and empathy."

Overland Park native and singer-songwriter Kate Cosentino has been getting a lot of attention recently for her ‘blind audition’ on NBC’s The Voice. Kate was one of the very first musicians we featured on our Local Music blog way back in 2015 when she was 16 and a teenager at Blue Valley West. Congratulations Kate! Read an article about her audition on The Voice from Pitch KC »

The book discussion groups that Johnson County Library hosts monthly in its branches and online are thriving, by offering patrons a wonderful way to meet and share insights about thought-provoking books.

But the Library recognizes there are many other Johnson County book clubs that could also benefit from access to a convenient set of 12-15 books ready for borrowing. So Readers Advisory Librarian Gregg Winsor is taking his stockpile of official book club selections and preparing to offer these “Book Clubs in a Bag” to external book groups eager to check out and discuss popular titles, such as The Guncle by Steven Rowley or The Topeka School by Ben Lerner.

About 15 books of the same title will be placed in clear plastic backpacks that have handles and wheels and are easily transportable. These kits should be available in early summer to browse at Central Resource Library. Patrons will also be able to find and reserve them through the Library's web catalog. 

“I want them to be used by patrons,” Winsor explained. “This is the foundation for moving from an internal-only circulating system to the public. We bought them for internal use, and after they’ve made the rounds once or twice, then we can move them out to the patrons."

Winsor believes this outreach will be welcomed by Johnson County’s many ad hoc book clubs. “I really want to make sure the public has access to these titles that have already been vetted and are highly discussable,” he said. “So people can check them out for their own book groups.” 

Initially, about 20 different kits will be available. That selection should grow as the internal book club collection turns over. The patron checking out the kits would be responsible for their return.

While Johnson County Library plans this new outreach, it continues to offer its own popular internal book clubs that meet regularly, each with its own Library facilitator. ​​​​​​​

One club meets via Zoom, for people who feel most comfortable gathering virtually. Others meet in person at Corinth, Gardner, Leawood, Lenexa, Monticello and Shawnee. A new book group launched in January and gathers every other month at Lenexa, focusing on science and technology.

The Library works hard to choose worthwhile titles.

​​​​​​​“We pick out selections with an eye toward modernity/currency,” Winsor said, adding that they also pick titles that are diverse, engaging and likely to prompt lively discussions.

​​​​​​​As Readers Advisory Librarian, Winsor helps oversee the book discussion groups. He also works closely with a committee of about a dozen staffers devoted to helping patrons find books that will captivate them.

“What we want to do is make the Library collection more accessible to people, bring it out, highlighting things,” he said. “So the book groups are one important part of that. I also do online presentations called Book Parties, where I talk about books that are coming out soon that people may not know about.”

Winsor realizes the world is constantly flooded with new books, so recommendations and reviews on the Library website are useful when patrons feel overwhelmed. Winsor has a passion to help patrons expand their horizons and discover new titles and genres that will enrich their lives.

“People are getting their recommendations from a lot of different places, but the Library wants to be part of that,” he said. “We’re not trying to sell you anything. We’re just trying to connect you with books you will like.”

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.