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June Jams at the Library
Libaries are for music this Summer with events for kids, families, and adults.
Music with Mar: Miss Stephanie Multiple days and locations. Enjoy bubbles, songs, and puppets.
Johnny and Adam - Rhythm and Music Multiple days and locations. Kids will stomp, clap, play drums and sing with Johnny and Adam.
Wizard Rock with the 8th Horcrux Wednesday, June 6, 2 pm @ Central Resource Library. A concert for all ages with a local Harry Potter-themed rock band.
Funky Mama Multiple days and locations. Join this rock n' roll mama to move, dance, jump and sing.
Local Music Live: Dreamgirl Friday, June 8, 6:30 pm at the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center Enjoy a concert from Listen Local band Dreamgirl.
Musical Adventures with the Violin, Viola and Bass Multiple days and locations. This interactive program with Educational Outreach of the Kansas City Civic Orchestra will introduce children to musical instruments.
Movie in the Park: The Muppet Movie Friday, June 15, 8 pm, Electric Park in Lenexa and Santa Fe Commons Park. Grab a blanket and picnic and join us for a Movie in the Park.
And lots more this Summer »
About our Summer Guide Cover
The cover of our Summer Guide features art by local Gavin Snider. He depicted both Kansas City music legends and current musicians in our Listen Local collection. Grab a Guide at any Johnson County Library location and enjoy illustrations of:
- Kianna Alarid: Lead singer and songwriter of pop band Yes You Are.
- Lester Young, American jazz tenor saxophonist and clarinetist. Helped forge the bebop style in the 1930s and 40s.
- Larry Garrett, folk singer-songwriter, guitarist.
- Ada Brown: Blue Singer. Brown was both a pioneer of Kansas City jazz and a founding member of the Negro Actors Guild of America in 1936.
- Marty Hillard, hip-hop artist, Ebony Tusks. Ebony Tusks is one of Kansas City's most hard-hitting hip-hop acts.
- Julia Lee, blues singer and musician. Lee had a string of R&B hits in the 1940s.
- Lupe Gonzalez, musician, bandleader and civic leader.
- Qizhen Liu, cellist. Performs throughout North America, Europe, and Asia as a solo, chamber, and orchestral musician.
- Count Basie: Jazz composer, pianist and bandleader. An unparalleled musical innovator, Basie's music helped define 20th Century jazz and popular music.
- Amado Espinoza, composer, collaborator, maker of custom-made native instruments. Originally from Bolivia, Epinoza's instruments are being played by clients in places as far-flung as France, Spain, Netherlands and South America
- Charlie Parker: Jazz musician and composer. Along with Dizzy Gillespie, this Kansas City-born jazz artist invented bebop.
- Chico Sierra: Singer-songwriter, visual artist, poet.
- Chloe Jacobson: Singer-songwriter. Chloe Jacobson will release her first album of melodic and personal indie-pop this summer.
- Unknown mandolin player, Fishers Gibson Orchestra
- Melba Liston: Jazz instrumentalist and arranger. First noted female jazz trombonist
- Joyce DiDonato, Opera singer and recording artist. A Multi Grammy Award winner of the 2016 Best Classical Solo Vocal Album Joyce and Tony: Live at Wigmore Hall and the 2012 Best Classical Vocal Solo
- Calvin Arsenia, harpist, singer, songwriter, collaborator.
- Sara Teasley, drummer of garage rockers Cave Girls.
Throwback Potato Sack!
It's Throwback Thursday and May is National Physical Fitness month. So, potato sack race anyone? We feel there just are not enough potato sack races anymore! Do you feel the same? Or, are you one of those snooty three-legged race fans? ;) Whatever is your bag, we support you in your physical fitness pursuit. Go! Fight! Win!
See more local history at jocohistory.org or follow our hashtag on Twitter.
Now at Blue Valley: Juniper Tangpuz
Juniper Albert Tangpuz, a.k.a. T.J. was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. He received a BFA in Sculpture from the University of Kansas and currently works as a mild mannered studio assistant at Johnson County Community College. He is able to express his art in a range of materials, but considers paper to be his "native language". He is known for unlocking the secrets of the paper and cardboard sheet. He envisions universes where ideas compress, expand, and inspire. See more of his work on his website.
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What comes first – the medium or the message? Tell me a little about the work that will be on view.
It depends. There are two approaches when I make something. When I have a specific message I want to express then I try to keep focused and every decision is based on supporting that message. Other times, I just look at a piece of material and do some improvisational building. The work on view is a collection from different series of artworks . I picked pieces that had somehow affected the viewers in a special way.
What do you feel is your role as an artist?
It has changed and continues to change as I get older. At first, it was trying to gain an understanding of my soul. Then I felt I should be a guide who helps people get to the artistic realm.
What influences your practice/works?
I love to make things that I think should exist in this world. Most of the time I’m inspired by looking at people, places and things. I believe that most artists can see connections that most people overlook. I’ve found that some connections are absolutely absurd.
Who are the other artists you look to for inspiration? And what about their works do you like?
I’ve always liked the artists that make art from a place in there soul when they were free to play. I can always tell when it is genuine because it often has no other intention but to bring someone to happiness. I appreciate the art when I can sense that it flowed out naturally.
What other writings do you recommend reading to have a better understanding of your artworks and your art practice/process?
The Elements of Pop-up by David A. Carter
Between the Folds: A Film About Finding Inspiration in Unexpected Places
Clubs for Kids
Kids! Love the American Girl Books? Want to have some fun with <b>coding</b>? Whatever you're interested in, we've got a club for you!
Drop-In Programs for Kids
Summer is supposed to be about lazy days, but don't your days fill up quickly with all sorts of plans! We know Summer can get busy, which is why we have so many Drop-In programs for kids and families. Come anytime during the event, stay for however long you'd like, and get on with your Summer!
Table Top Games
Wednesday, May 2 6 - 7:45 pm, Antioch Library
Wednesday, June 6 6 - 7:45 pm, Antioch Library
Wednesday, July 11 2:30 - 4:30, Corinth Library
Wednesday, Aug 1 6 - 7:45 pm, Antioch Library
Star Wars Takeover
Friday, June 8 2:30 - 4:30 pm, Cedar Roe Library
Library Rocks! Geology Drop-In
Tuesday, June 12 10 am - 4 pm, Spring Hill Library
Thursday, June 28 10 am - 12 pm, Blue Valley Library
Wednesday, July 11 10 am - 12 pm, Gardner Library
Friday, July 13 10 am - 12 pm, Blue Valley Library
Duplos® and Dinos
Wednesday, June 13 10:30 am - 12 pm, De Soto Library
Tuesday, June 26 10 am - 4 pm, Spring Hill Library
Thursday, July 12 10 am - 12 pm, Antioch Library
Tuesday, Aug 14 10 - 11 am, Shawnee Library
Paws on Patrol
Wednesday, June 13 10 - 11:30 am, Central Resource Library
Forts and Flashlights
Thursday, June 14 10 am - 12 pm, Antioch Library
Wednesday, June 20 10 am - 12 pm, Gardner Library
Wednesday, June 27 10:30 am - 12 pm, De Soto Library
Wednesday, July 11 10 - 11:30 am, Central Resource Library
Tuesday, Aug 21 10 - 11am, Shawnee Library
Let's Lego®
Tuesday, June 19 10 am - 4 pm, Spring Hill Library
Wednesday, July 25 2:30 - 4:30 pm, Corinth
Snap Circuits and Stixplosions
Wednesday, July 11 1 - 3pm, Shawnee Library
Monday, July 23 10 am - 4 pm, Spring Hill Library
Weather Science Drop-In
Tuesday, July 17 10 am - 4 pm, Spring Hill Library
Duplos® and Dinos and Legos®
Wednesday, Jul 25 10 am - 12 pm, Gardner Library
Tinkering Tots
Tuesday, Aug 7 10 - 11 am, Shawnee Library
Thursday, Aug 16 9:30 - 11:30 am, Cedar Roe Library
Tracks and Treasures
Tuesday, Aug 14 9:30 - 11:30 am, Corinth Library
Made in Johnson County
It's another Throwback Thursday! The Hyer Boot Shop is a fascinating story! Read about how Olathe's Charles Hyer started a small cobbling shop in 1875 and turned it into a successful custom-designed cowboy boot shop and many other stories of early Johnson County industry.
Interesting local history can always be found at jocohistory.org or follow our hashtag on Twitter.
Movies and Music Make a Summer!
Johnson County Library is rocking out on Fridays this summer with live performances, interactive programs and musicals in the Parks, collaborating with several community groups to present a summer series of family friendly movies and concerts.
Grab a blanket, pack a picnic and get your music on with some of the greatest musical films from your childhood on Friday evenings throughout the summer! Local Music live concerts kick off some showings. Movie starts at dusk but join us earlier in the evening for the music and fun.
The remaining shows for Summer 2018 are:
Sept. 14, Mary Poppins
Electric Park
Festivities start at 5:30 pm
Cornerstone Park
Festivities start at 6 pm
More details about each night in our calendar of events.
In the event of inclement weather, please check here for cancellation notices.
This Library series is presented in partnership with Downtown Overland Park, City of Lenexa Parks & Recreation and City of Gardner Parks & Recreation. Support for these fun-filled experiences comes from the Friends of the Library and their volunteer core.
Summer Family Fun
Staycation? We have so many things for families to do this summer! Have fun with these local events and save yourself from hearing, "Are we there yet?"
- Tabletop Games
- Movies in the Park
- Local Music Live
- Exhibitions and Meet the Artist Events
- Water Safety
- Visit from Priscilla Howe
Family fun? Find it here!
National Public Service Recognition Week
This week is National Public Service Recognition Week. Here are just a few of our amazing employees and their reasons for devoting their time to a career in public service. We thank all of our staff, as well as everyone else who works in public service! See all the photos here »