Search Stories

Johnson County Library volunteers annually give 48,500 hours to support Library activities and programs. They work in the Library, behind the scenes in offices and at special events. What can you do? HELP YOUR LIBRARY! We need volunteers like you!

We’re especially looking for:

• Folks who like the fun social contact of working in our bookstores

• Volunteers eager to work in our newest Library, Monticello, in western Shawnee (opening later in 2018)

As a Library Volunteer you can:

• Shelve books or work in offices

• Process book donations

• Support author events and programs

• Staff bookstores and book sales

• Research genealogy . . . and more!

Our Volunteers are:

• Individuals | Corporations

• Teens/Academic Service Credit

• Retired Professionals | Affinity Groups

• Service Clubs | Worship Communities

Easy Steps to Library Volunteering:

1. Find your Library role.

2. Complete an application online at jocolibrary.org/volunteer.

3. Meet our Volunteer Coordinator

4. Schedule a shift at your Library.

5. Volunteer!

6. Repeat as necessary

Your Community: Librarians choose Mock Caldecott Medal Winners

In February, Johnson County Library brought together librarians and youth specialists from across the metro area to choose their favorite books for the mock Caldecott book award. The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually to the most-distinguished American picture book for children by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association.

Childhood Memories Recalled

For area librarians, the mock Caldecott is an opportunity to practice critical evaluation skills and to expand their collective knowledge of children’s literature. Preparation for the Mock Caldecott began months prior with librarians evaluating and nominating picture books published in 2017. Organizers shared the list of titles across the metro area. With some titles in the running for other awards and other titles in high demand, librarians scrambled to get their hands on all the nominations before the meeting.

Finalizing the Winners

From character diversity to the arrangement of artistic elements in the book, librarians evaluated each book from cover to cover. Naphtali Faris, Mid-Continent Public Library’s early literacy coordinator and one of the members of the official Caldecott Medal committee, also attended Johnson County Library’s mock event. Naphtali eagerly took notes on the conversation to bring back to the official award committee.

After a two-hours of intense discussion and rounds of voting, Johnson County Library’s Mock Caldecott group chose Dan Santat’s After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again as the winner with honors going to Wolf in the Snow, Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut and Muddy: The Story of Blues Legend Muddy Waters.

Official winners for the Caldecott Medal were announced Monday, February 12, at the American Library Association Conference.

Johnson County Library – Nurturing the Community’s Collective Wisdom

How long have you been a member of Friends of Johnson County Library?

Four years now. Not long enough!

What’s your elevator speech to convince someone to join the Friends?

The shortest answer is: there is no reason not to join. The Friends of Johnson County Library is an organization that supports library programming, literacy and all the great things Johnson County Library does for our community. Not only that, but they sell coffee, too, which I love! If that’s not enough, I get to work with other talented people who are passionate about libraries and their role in modern American life.

Do you have a favorite Friends memory?

My favorite Friends memory is volunteering at the summer book sale a few years ago and getting stationed at the counting table with now-fellow Board member Lindsay Lau. That was the first time we met, and we had a blast. It’s been so much fun getting to know her and the rest of the Board over the years.

What are you reading (or listening to) right now?

I’m currently reading When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. It’s beautifully done but quite heavy  subject matter, so I lightened things up by recently listening to I Can’t Make This Up by comedian Kevin Hart. It gets an R-rating for language, but it is

absolutely hilarious. I highly recommend them both, but for very different reasons, of course.

Dorothy Hughes has served on the Friends of Johnson County Library Board since 2014. She is currently a full-time Ph.D.

student in Health Policy and Management at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Dorothy also works part-time as

a healthcare consultant and is an adjunct faculty member in the Helzberg School of Business at Rockhurst University. In her

spare time, she enjoys reading, binge-watching Food Network shows, and hanging out with friends, family and her Great

Pyrenees, Maggie.