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During this pandemic, board games have been a valuable pastime for many people, whether it's breaking some out with the family and friends or learning how to play games on new online platforms. At Johnson County Library, our Table Top Games Committee has been trying to think of ways that we can share our passion with our patrons even if we can’t meet in person. We are looking forward to online gaming events starting next year, so if you are interested in playing games, please stay tuned for our first program starting January 6th!

Katy talks about the beginning of Table Top Games at the Library

Since I was young, I remember playing games with my family, and that it was a special time that I always enjoyed. I remember taking great pride in beating my parents at Memory, and when I was older I enjoyed playing Sorry, Sequence, and a host of other games. Around high school I started noticing that big box stores didn’t really change their games out that much. They would just tweak Clue or Monopoly and put a different theme or cover on it, and I was getting tired of playing the same thing over and over again. Then when I reached college, I was introduced to Settlers of Catan, and I remember loving getting to play something new and unique, and I started looking for more games like it. After college, I realized there was a whole world of games that I had never heard of or seen before that were just waiting for me if I knew where to look. 

With my growing passion for playing games and my blossoming collection, I started seeking them out at local game stores like 31st Century Games and Table Top Game & Hobby. Around this time, Wil Wheaton started his YouTube show, Table Top, and I realized that this new hobby that I was falling in love with was starting to have a major following. I started to dream about how I could bring Table Top games into my job at the Library. I approached one of my co-workers, Josh, about starting a Table Top program, and we got the approval to start a program at the Lackman Library in 2013. It turns out other people in our community enjoyed playing games as well, because we have run the program continuously until this March, when Covid-19 made meeting in person impossible. However, we look forward to the day when we can host more gaming programs again at the library and share our love of gaming with you!

Katy’s Favorite Games:

Sagrada, Ticket to Ride, Splendor, Ganz Schon Clever! (That’s Pretty Clever!), Wingspan, Camel Up!, Horrified, Dragon’s Breath (to play with my children), Kingdomino

Read our other Table Top Games Committee members' stories and favorite games »

Did you hear? host Dave presented on podcasting--specifically for Libraries and nonprofits--at the Kansas Library Association's annual conference. We share his presentation as a podcast episode. Enjoy.

Here's the description we provided for the program:

We believe subscribable communication is an effective and fun way to reach library audiences—even those you’d never think are podcast addicts. We want to share the lessons we’ve learned over the course of two years and counting while producing the Johnson County Library’s “Did you hear?” podcast. It’s been a twisting and turning journey. We’re ready to help you develop your own pod-voice! Find about strategies taken to engage listeners (and listeners-to-be), how to include library staff in unexpected ways, and why we don’t devote every episode to an upcoming library event. Don’t let the maze of equipment and platforms or time that might be involved intimidate you—we cover all that technical stuff too!

This is our last episode of 2020. Look for our return in 2021 with some fun changes!

This year has been filled with challenges, but Johnson County Library continues to rise to meet them. Online resources have expanded to meet patrons’ interests, and the buildings are open with safe access to books, materials, and computers.

Your year-end gift to the JCL Foundation will have a profound impact on our community. Every dollar donated to the Foundation benefits all Johnson Countians through lifelong learning resources. The Foundation funds Library resources and educational programs that encourage curiosity, spark imagination and bring dreams to life. 



Join JCL's Brian Berrens, for a behind the scenes look at a few of the programs and resources the Foundation and your charitable contribution supports:

 

Black & Veatch MakerSpace  

Collection Development

elementia

Genealogy

Incarcerated Services Support

Summer Reading

6 by 6: Ready to Read



Race Project KC

The Johnson County Library Foundation’s mission is to build an endowment for the Library’s collection and secure support for lifelong learning programs offered at Johnson County Library. Please consider making a year-end donation, 

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted us all differently. And it’s especially difficult for those who have limited digital access or skills. To help you navigate the pandemic, we’ve created a list of resources that cover a variety of topics.

Johnson County Library is the primary organization implementing the Digital Navigators project of the Community Reinvestment Phase II of Johnson County COVID-19 Recovery Funding. The goal of this project is to provide support and assistance for Johnson County residents who lack digital access and skills who have been impacted by COVID-19. Johnson County Library staff are connectors to education, career, technology, human services and other resources through our information and public service channels.

If you are looking for resources to help you during the pandemic, check out the list below.

Ask a Librarian

• In-person – visit one of our 14 locations
• Phone – (913) 826-4600
• Text – (913) 667-7523
• Email – ask@jocolibrary.org
• Online form – submit your question online

Device/Internet Access

• Assistance paying overdue internet bills
• Discounted internet & phone service providers
• Setting up your wireless network

Social Services

• Food distribution sites
• Housing assistance
  • United Way housing assistance
  • CDC Housing Hardship Declaration Form
• Rent/utility assistance
  • JoCo Human Services Utility Payment Assistance – Call (913) 715-6653
  • Rent & utility assistance request – Fill out & print this form, then contact United Way KC by calling 2-1-1 for the steps required to submit your request
  • LIEAP Energy Assistance Program
• JoCo Vehicle Registration – Service overview, appointment booking
• HCCI-ks.org - Free financial counseling for debts, housing, loans, rent

Health

• Schedule a COVID-19 test (available to those who live or work in JoCo)
• JoCo COVID-19 dashboard
• JoCo FAQs on COVID-affected services

Business

• Small business assistance
  • SBA.gov loan assistance locator
  • KCSourceLink
• Grant program availability & application
  • SBA.gov grant program locator
  • Foundation Directory

Employment

• JCL Career & Finance Resource Hub - Find links to unemployment resources, job postings, career & finance programs, and many more assistance tools.
• JCL Career Planning & Jobs
• Workforce Partnership job search tools

Education

• Device tutorials
  • School-provided devices - De Soto USD 232 YouTube playlist of tutorials for parents and students
  • WebEx overview
• JCL homework help
  • Kids - Databases aimed at elementary students, including Brainfuse with online tutoring 2-11pm daily.
  • Teens  - Databases aimed at middle/high students, including Brainfuse.

Digital Literacy

• NorthStar Digital Skills Assessment
• JCL E-Learning Library
•  iPad Screen and Time Controls

Recursos españoles

• Mission Adelante - Recursos para comida, ropa, inmigracion, refugio
• Línea de Información para el Público de los EEUU – (800) 232-4636
• Optum Línea de Apoyo – (866) 342-6892