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For me, Helen Hokanson, a reference librarian at Johnson County Library, "what should I read next?" is always an easy question. My answer is always: any book starring a furry face. I’ve made quite a dent in the furry face books; from Goat Song to Dog Songs, I love reading about animals. Even those I don’t want to live with myself. But I’ve never felt compelled to invite an author to Johnson County Library. Never, until Bronwen Dickey.

Author of Pit Bull: the Battle Over an American Icon, Dickey skillfully examines the complexities of Breed Specific Legislation and the multi-faceted way our feelings toward pit bulls have evolved over time. She begins by introducing us to her shelter dog Nola, inspiration for the research that started it all.

She takes us into the dogfighting halls of 1770’s New York, to Michael Vick’s Bad News Kennels, to New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and to the inner city where animal activists are “inverting the normal paradigm of animal welfare.” And this barely scratches the surface.

She talks to the activists keeping Breed Specific Legislation alive, picks apart the media’s role in driving the pit bull narrative we’ve become familiar with, and spends time at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary (so jelly). Genetics and breeding; the American Kennel Club, United Kennel Club, and the American Dog Owners Association; Dog Bite statistics and where they come from... so many layers to peel.

Pit Bull is fascinating, and a perfect example of how to write compellingly about a vast subject. I want everyone to read it.

Our mission, at Johnson County Library, is to provide access to ideas, information, experiences and materials that support and enrich people’s lives. Sometimes that means challenging our ideas, knowledge, and beliefs. Regardless of which side of the pit bull debate you stand on, in reading Pit Bull, you will learn about so much more than dogs.

Join Bronwen Dickey at these four events:

Evolution of a Pit Bull, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 12pm @ Central Resource Library

Pit Bulls in our Communities, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 6pm @ Central Resource Library

Pit Bulls as Targets of Breed Specific Legislation, Wednesday, Feb 28, 8am @ Central Resource Library

Research and Reporting for Creative Writers, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 6pm @ The Writers Place

 

And we hope to see you at all our other dog-related programs this Spring, including our adoption events!

Happy Music Monday! The entire month of February is a month of love. Of course, every month is filled with love when you find that person who's just right for you. Sterling Witt found a Perfect Girl and he sings about her. We recorded him doing so as part of our Local Music LIVE recording sessions in our MakerSpace sound studio. Be sure to read about Sterling and visit the profiles of all of our other featured local musical artists.

Your Community: Stay Home and Read a Book Ball

Punxsutawney Phil’s forecast and continuing blasts of cold air and snow are making us anxious for the arrival of blue skies and warmer days. Yet, there’s one mid-Winter activity that’s the perfect match for the current weather. One that’s the perfect excuse to stay home and catch up on your favorite book.

No Fancy Attire Required

Sunday, March 4, is the annual Stay Home and Read a Book Ball, a virtual fundraiser for Johnson County Library. Funds raised from the event support a number of Library initiatives, including 6 by 6: Ready to Read, which is an early literacy program that emphasizes the six critical skills children should experience by the age of six.

6 by 6 Early Literacy Skills

1. Have fun with books (print motivation)
2. Notice print everywhere (print motivation)
3. Talk, talk, talk (vocabulary)
4. Tell stories about everything (narrative skills)
5. Look for letters everywhere (alphabet knowledge)
6. Take time to rhyme, sing and play word games (phonological awareness)

Extensive studies have proven the strength of a child’s early literacy skills are a major predictor of the future ability to build vocabulary, understand story structure and build reading comprehension skills.

Please join us in support of this important cause from the comfort of your favorite reading nook. Your donation directly supports critical library services for individuals throughout Johnson County.

Donations from the Stay Home and Read a Book Ball Support

• 6 by 6: Ready to Read
• 6 by 6 en Español
• Civic Engagement programming
• elementia, the teen literary magazine
• Homework Help
• Incarcerated Services
• Joan Berkey Writers Fund
• Tutor.com
• Summer Reading programming
• Black & Veatch MakerSpace

Share your Book Ball reading choices on social media: #StayHomeandRead, #jocobookball, @jclfoundation, @jocolibrary and donate to support these important programs.

Johnson County Library – Nurturing the Community’s Collective Wisdom

Discover what's percolating in the Kansas Legislature. Representatives and Senators with constituents in Johnson County will discuss the new legislative session, followed by Q&A. You bring the questions and we'll provide the coffee and doughnuts. Click on a session below to see the Senators and Representatives attending.

Saturday, Feb. 24 @ 10 am, Corinth Library

Saturday, Mar. 10 @ 10 am, Blue Valley Library

Saturday, Mar. 31 @ 10 am, Central Resource Library

Saturday, April 14 @ 10am, Gardner Library

Saturday, April 28 @ 10am, Lenexa City Hall Community Forum

This series is presented in partnership with the League of Women Voters.

This weekend marks the opening of Planet Comicon, one of Kansas City’s biggest comic and pop-culture conventions, bringing in a slew of actors, podcasters, writers, artists, and… librarians? Yes, you will find your friendly neighborhood Johnson County Library staff in attendance at the “What Would the X-Men Read?” panel on Saturday, where we will talk about our favorite characters in the X-Men universe alongside writers and artists from the X-Men franchise. Be sure to check out what our staff would think would be on the library checkout list for your favorite characters such as Kitty Pride and Wolverine, Cyclops, and even Magneto. Also be sure to check out some of our staff’s favorite graphic novels – both in the superhero and the non-superhero variety. 

Each month our Youth Librarians gather their favorite new picture books together into a list. These books are great for helping children develop early literacy skills such as rhyming, recognizing shapes, and enjoying reading with their caregivers. Take a peek at our most recent list »