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eLearning Spotlight: Brainfuse HelpNow
“Ask for help. Not because you are weak. But because you want to remain strong.”
— Les Brown
Brainfuse HelpNow has several ways to get homework help:
- Live tutoring daily 2 - 11 p.m.
- Writing Lab to get feedback within one business day
- SkillSurfer for study resources and test prep
- Send Question to get a response within one business day
- LEAP to create a customized learning plan
Plus several more tools to collaborate and learn using the website or mobile app.
This resource is generously supported by the Louis and Elizabeth Nave Flarsheim Charitable Foundation.
Friends of the Library Bookmark Contest Winners
The Friends of Johnson County Library are celebrating National Friends of Libraries Week (October 16-22, 2022) by presenting the winners of the annual Contest to the Library’s Board of Directors and to our community.
“They’re so creative,” exclaims Friends president Chris Meier, “and the best way to keep your place in your favorite book. I enjoy seeing all of the submissions each year, it is so hard to select the winners. We love giving creative people of all ages a chance to engage with our excellent Library system through this unique opportunity.”
This year, the Friends are pleased to announce two creative families among our winners! Zac Brooks and his son Xander, of Westwood, and siblings Paisley and Sailor Buller of Overland Park, were selected in our random, name-free jurying process. This is an exciting coincidence new to the 30+ year history of the contest!
The annual competition is generously supported by the Friends of Johnson County Library. This year, the contest accepted more than 200 original illustrations in seven age categories from Preschool to Grown Up.
Jurors for the event included Friends of Johnson County Library board members and Johnson County Library Youth Service librarians. The winning 20 illustrations will be printed as bookmarks and distributed during the year at the 14 branches of the Johnson County Library and at the Friends Pop-Up book sales. More than 6000 bookmarks will find homes between pages by this time next year.
Kindergarten and Pre-K
Ella Cillessen, Our Lady’s Montessori School
Miles Haddix, Monarch Montessori School
Dom Kirkland, Village on Mission Preschool
Grades 1 + 2
Xander Brooks, Westwood View Elementary School
Nichole Lambert, Oak Hill Elementary School
Zoie Mota, John Paul II Catholic School
Grades 3 + 4
Finley Aulbur, Valley Park Elementary School
Paisley Buller, Timber Creek Elementary School
Anna Burris, Curé of Ars Catholic School
Grades 5 + 6
Lyla Everett, Homeschool
Natalie Johnson, Homeschool
Grades 7 + 8
Joanna Behrens, Hocker Grove Middle School
Sailor Buller, Aubry Bend Middle School
Isa Huckins, John Paul II Catholic School
Siena Roper, North Star Academy
Grades 9 – 12
Madeline Wiser, Homeschool
Grown Ups
Zac Brooks, Westwood, KS
Kelly Downs, Olathe, KS
Kevin Gritzke, Overland Park, KS
Liz Vargas, Overland Park, KS
This Week at the Library
This week at the Library, you can join us at:
Library OnDemand – Available anytime you like.
Your doorway into live and archived programs. Arts & Culture, Career & Finance, Community Matters, Writers and more!
Step-by-Step through the FAFSA – Tuesday, Oct. 18, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is the federal application necessary to get free and low-cost money for college. Join Jason Anderson, CPA, CFP®, managing member and senior consultant at Gradmetrics, at Central Resource Library, as he walks line-by-line through the FAFSA form and explains the ins-and-outs of the college admissions and financial aid process. Registration is required
Maintain Your Ride – Thursday, Oct. 20, noon – 1:30 p.m.
Get your hands dirty and learn to keep your bike in tip-top shape with this free class from Johnson County Library and BikeWalkKC. Live and in-person at the bicycle fix-it stand in front of Central Resource Library, our instructors will teach you how to keep your bike in good working order with a few basic tools and some practical know-how. You will learn how to clean and lubricate your chain, fix a flat, adjust shifting and braking, and basic bike maintenance skills. We’ll also show you how to use the fix-it stand. This is a hands-on class! Registration is required.
Small Business Administration Funding for Your Business – Thursday, Oct. 20, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Are you looking to start a new business or expand an existing one? Attend this webinar to learn about different types of business funding available in our market. Sheila Forrester, economic development specialist for the U.S. Small Business Administration, will explain how to determine which loan program is the best fit for your business, what a lender looks for when reviewing your loan request, and how to get in touch with an SBA resource partner who can help you along the way.
Friends of the Library Pop-Up Book Sale – Saturday, Oct. 22, 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Shop gently used books and items at the Friends of the Library headquarters!
20% Friends members discount all day!
Teen Book Swap Cafe – Sunday, Oct. 23, 2 – 4 p.m.
Refresh your bookshelf and bring a stack of books, audiobooks, and advanced reader copies of books (ARCS/galleys) to swap with other teen readers at the Antioch Library! Get to know your community as you grab a snack, chat, and trade new or lightly-used books. This program is trade only, no selling will be allowed. Limit of 10 books per person to trade. Registrants will get a free tote to carry all your new books.
And much more happening this week »
SPECIAL EDITION - 2022 Writers Conference
Our eighth annual Writers Conference will be Thursday, Nov. 17 - Sunday, Nov. 20.
In this episode, Readers' Advisory Librarian Helen Hokanson and Adult Services Specialist Lisa Allen talk about our 2022 Writers Conference. How do we choose our faculty? Do we take potential presenter suggestions? How does the in-person experience differ from the virtual version of the past couple of years? We have fun taking a deep dive into these questions and feature readings by authors Anne-Marie Oomen and Polly Alice McCann.
Writers Conference Highlights Craft and Creativity
Johnson County Library’s Writers Conference is back in person this year and staff couldn’t be happier!
After two challenging years hosting the conference online, the Library is delighted to welcome writers back to the newly refreshed Central Resource Library Nov. 17-19. Participants will share ideas and inspiration, meet with authors and other creatives and have a chance to network and learn from each other.
“Part of our purpose statement for the conference is that we build community,” said Helen Hokanson, the reference librarian who spearheads local writers programming. “Just coming back in person, we feel we are getting our mojo back.”
The conference will feature the book Creative Acts for Curious People, with the subtitle “How to Think, Create and Lead in Unconventional Ways.” This collection was curated by Sarah Stein Greenberg of Stanford’s design institute. Attendees will receive a free copy of the book, and Greenberg will attend the Library event.
“This is a book of exercises designed to get you looking at the world in a different way,” Hokanson said. “As writers, that’s something we are always trying to do.”
This year's conference kicked off with “Pre-Game” celebration on Sept. 22, where writers could pick up their free book at Central and register if they hadn't already. Those who couldn't make it to that event can retrieve the book at Central before the conference, while supplies last.
“The Pre-Game is a way for us to get people excited about the conference,” said Joseph Keehn, event producer for Johnson County Library. “It’s kind of a little teaser of getting people together.”
Conference registrants are invited to respond to a writers’ prompt from the book and post it to the JOCO Writes blog. Some of the best entries will be shared at the Nov. 17 kickoff.
This year’s theme is “Art For Impact.” Works by artist Patricia Streeper will be on display at Central. Participants in the writing contests will be asked to respond to her art.
This year’s conference, which is expected to attract about 300 attendees, features 22 presenters including favorite returnees like Jessica Conoley and Polly McCann. Beloved musician and author Jim Cosgrove will present. Other unique voices will include Brendan Kiely, Ann-Marie Oomen, Justin Nogy and Steven Kolbe.
The Library encourages in-person attendance for workshops sharing original writing, yoga and meditation sessions, writing in Strang Park behind Central and just stimulating conversations.
But for those who cannot attend in person, the lectures and panel discussions will be available in Library OnDemand, to view live or later.
Hokanson and her conference committee — Diane Haner, Katt Cooper, Lisa Allen and Jesseca Bear — work hard all year to make this a success.
Keehn said it’s a labor of love for this “small but mighty” committee of very dedicated individuals. "The Writers Conference is a signature event for the Library,” Keehn said.
Creative Services Coordinator Cindy Frazer designs the signage, notebook and other materials for the conference. "I enjoy it immensely,” she said. "We are supporting the local writers and authors in our community, and artists in some cases.”
As always, this is not an event about publishing but about the writing craft: skill-building, learning, and having work edited and critiqued.
"We want to connect writers with readers and writers with other writers,” Hokanson said. "Our goal is to get people in the best place possible to be ready to publish, to be ready to pitch. So we really focus on the front end, the process and the product.”
Do you prefer your history painted or photographed?
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: Johnson County Library
About this collection: Over 100 images from the early years of Johnson County Library, mostly the mid-1950s. Photos depict patrons, staff, buildings and collections.
Former Hallmark executive and trained printmaker Patti Streeper currently is exhibiting her work in the gallery space at Central Resource Library from Thursday, Sept. 1 to Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. We may be biased, but we really like her painted version of our classic 1952 Bookmobile photo, which can be found in JoCoHistory's Johnson County Library Collection.
Cook with eAudiobooks!
Bike with eAudiobooks!
Walk the dog with eAudiobooks!
Jog with eAudiobooks!
Paint with eAudiobooks!
eAudiobooks allow you to multitask!
Are you a multitasker? We have found it's difficult to read a book while also:
- Jogging
- Cooking
- Painting
- Driving
- ...and, well, it's a long list!
Our solution? Checkout our eAudiobooks:
eAudiobooks on Libby
Our largest eAudiobook collection! Listen to popular fiction and nonfiction books for kids, teens and adults.
Naxos Spoken Word Library
Classic fiction and nonfiction streaming audiobooks.
eAudiobooks on cloudLibrary
Great listens! Popular fiction and nonfiction collection provided by the State Library of Kansas.
Listen and multitask! You're welcome.
Enjoy Music with 123 Andrés
Bring in the Music with 123 Andrés/Venga a ver lo más nuevo de 123 Andrés
Saturday, Oct. 15
9:15 - 11 a.m.
Central Resource Library
Family Concert with 123 Andrés
Saturday, Oct. 15
2 - 3 p.m.
This Week at the Library
This week at the Library, you can join us at:
Library OnDemand – Available anytime you like.
Your doorway into live and archived programs. Arts & Culture, Career & Finance, Community Matters, Writers and more!
Getting Your Financial House in Order – Tuesday, Oct. 11, 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Our financial lives are complex, with numerous choices, accounts, and platforms. Join Nancy Doyle, CFA and author of “Manage Your Financial Life,” to learn about navigating our personal finances amidst this complexity. Doyle will explain how to become more organized, make better financial decisions, and gain peace of mind through a financial “spring cleaning” and preparation of an “In Case of Emergency” plan.
Blood Pressure Clinic – Wednesday, Oct. 12, 10 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Drop in event each month at Central Resource Library and a nurse from the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment will test your blood pressure
Free Day at the Johnson County Museum – Saturday, Oct. 15, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Your Johnson County Library card is your ticket to a free day at the Johnson County Museum on Saturday, October 15! Show your library card for free entry or sign up for a card on site with Library staff available to assist you. This free day is sponsored by the Library to encourage our patrons to view the temporary exhibit "Redlined: Cities, Suburbs, and Segregation" on display through January 7, 2023.
Bring in the Music with 123 Andrés/Venga a ver lo más nuevo de 123 Andrés, Caregiver Workshop – Saturday, Oct. 15, 9:15 – 11 a.m.
Latin Grammy-winning music duo, 123 Andres demonstrates how to enhance your caregiving and teaching with musical moods, movement, rhythm, and bilingual traditions at the Central Resource Library. Attendees will receive KDHE clock hour credits. Participants should register using their first and last name as it should appear on the clock hour credit certificate. Generously supported by the Johnson County Library Foundation.
El dúo 1-2-3 Andrés ganador del premio Grammy estará aquí para enseñarnos cómo mejorar nuestras capacidades en el cuidado y la enseñanza de los niños, con los movimientos, la música ambiental para los diferentes estados de ánimo, los ritmos y algo de las tradiciones, en dos idiomas. Los participantes recibirán: horas de credito, del Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). Se pueden registrar usando el nombre y apellido de la forma en que quieren que su nombre aparezca en el certificado-clock hours credit, y recuerden que es patrocinado por: La Fundación de Johnson County Library.
Family Concert with 123 Andrés – Saturday, Oct. 15, 2 – 3 p.m.
Lively music gets the whole family dancing and learning, in Spanish and English. Latin Grammy-winning music duo 1-2-3 Andrés combines storytelling, humor and music in an interactive show for all ages. Generously supported by the Johnson County Library Foundation. Patrons are welcome to register, but it is not required for entry. Seating will be available on a first come, first served basis on the day of the event.
Esta música dinámica pone a bailar y aprender a toda la familia en español y en inglés. El dúo 1-2-3 Andrés, ganador del Grammy, combina las historias, el humor y la música en una presentación interactiva para todas las edades. Evento que también es patrocinado por La Fundación de Johnson County Library. No requiere inscripción.
Todos pueden registrarse, pero no es necesario ni requerido. Los espacios estarán disponibles por orden de llegada el día del evento.