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Join award-winning storyteller Sherry Norfolk for Hear the Beat, a rollicking storytelling program filled with tales of rhythm, rhyme and music! Listen to stories, engage in rhyming activities (a crucial early literacy skill), and move and groove to the music with your kids in this highly participatory and fun program!

Special Feature Storytime with Sherry Norfolk: Hear the Beat

Friday, Dec. 3 

10 a.m.

Register now »

Johnson County Library Foundation is grateful for unwavering supporters like you who have been making a difference for 25 years. Supporters have adapted to the needs of our community over the years and now, as we emerge from the pandemic, we have a unique moment to demonstrate again how essential the Johnson County Library is to each of us and our friends and families.

In 2020, the Johnson County Library Foundation provided $175,312 of support to the Library. Your financial support is more important than ever, every dollar donated benefits all Johnson Countians through lifelong learning resources. Your contributions fund resources for the collection and programs like early literacy, STEM, civic engagement and so much more.

Here are a few of the programs and resources your charitable contribution supports:



Black & Veatch MakerSpace

The Black & Veatch MakerSpace is an environment of creativity and emerging technologies. Located in the Central Resource Library, visitors can have access to 3D printing, AudioVisual production space/equipment, sewing materials, laser, CNC and vinyl cutting and a selection of computers with industry-standard software. The space also receives generous funding from Google Fiber, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, and Black & Veatch. Watch a short video about the Foundation’s support of this program.



Collection Development

Johnson County Library strives to provide a collection that mirrors the changing needs of our community, including traditional books as well as a growing collection of e-resources. We believe this collection should be rich in ideas, information, and viewpoints from all lifestyles and each side of a topic without restrictions on access. Watch a short video about the Foundation’s support of this program.

elementia

elementia is a magazine for teens produced by teens. The publication connects published artists with talented young adults through submissions of original poetry, fiction, nonfiction, graphic stories, photography and illustrations. Since its inception in 2005, elementia has included the voices of more than 850 creative young adults. Watch a short video about the Foundation’s support of this program.

Genealogy

For many years, the Johnson County Library and the Johnson County Genealogical Society (JCGS) have had a close, supportive relationship. The Library maintains a mid-size genealogy collection, including online resources and items owned by the Library as well as items owned by JCGS, all housed side-by-side on shelving in the west-central area of the Central Resource Library. Watch a short video about the Foundation’s support of this program.

Incarcerated Services Support

Johnson County Library provides a number of literature-related workshops and services for juveniles and adults serving an incarcerated sentence. The Incarcerated Services Support programs serve the New Century Complex, Juvenile Detention Center and Olathe, Kansas courtrooms that handle many fostering cases. Watch a short video about the Foundation’s support of this program.

Summer Reading

From mid-May until the end of July, Johnson County Library helps combat summer slide by providing a free book to every child who comes into the library. By growing children’s personal libraries and helping them find intrinsic value in reading, the Library bridges that summer learning gap and invests in the future of our community. Watch a short video about the Foundation’s support of this program.

6 by 6: Ready to Read

Recognizing its unique role in brain development the Johnson County Library Foundation created 6 by 6 Ready to Read, an early literacy program in English and Spanish designed to be applicable and approachable for everyone. 6 by 6 focuses on six pre-reading skills to help kids get ready for formal education. Watch a short video about the Foundation’s support of this program.



Race Project KC

This initiative consists of a series of opportunities for teens to learn our area’s history of racial segregation and how it continues to impact us today. Students hear from experts on the topics, learn vocabulary for talking about race, build relationships with peers they might not otherwise meet, and share their own stories as they relate to the issues. Watch a short video about the Foundation’s support of this program.

With your support we can make a difference for the next 25 years. Please consider making a year-end donation to the Johnson County Library Foundation. Donate today »

Online Bilingual Storytime – Monday, Nov 15 , 10 – 10:30 a.m.  

 The whole family will enjoy this flexible Storytime. Hearing stories is a great way to spend time with your kids and help them foster a love of reading. Stories, songs, fingerplays and movement activities foster pre-reading skills. Fun for the whole family.

One-on-One Genealogy Help – Tuesday, Nov 16 , 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.  

Basic Genealogy and DNA one-on-one help are now being held online via Zoom specific to your questions and research. Visit the Johnson County Genealogical Society at www.jcgsks.org to schedule an appointment. A volunteer will email a personal Zoom meeting link to you prior to the scheduled date.

Facebook Live Book Party – Thursday, Nov 18, 7 – 8 p.m.  

Facebook Live Book Parties are live events where library staff members will booktalk a short list of titles around a certain genre or theme and staff will interact with patrons in real time. This week we’ll be talking about great historical fiction. This Book Party will be held on Facebook live. Visit JoCoLibrary on Facebook and be sure to ‘follow’ us to get notifications when we go Live if you have a Facebook account. You do not need a Facebook account to watch our Book Party.

Young Adult Literary Council – Sunday, Nov 21, 2 – 3 p.m.  

Teens are invited to join the Young Adult Literary Council to share favorite books, review titles for the Library website and participate in fun activities. You can meet new people and receive volunteer credit hours for your time with us.

And much more happening this week…

Also, check out our always-available programs OnDemand.

We are excited to announce that we will celebrate Central Resource Library's reopening on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022.



While the majority of work -- including improvements to the building's exterior and mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems -- is nearly complete, we will spend the next few months returning a construction site to a library, moving back in furnishings, equipment, staff, and, of course, our collection! During this time, you are still welcome to visit us at Little Central for holds pickup and returns, public computers and printing.



A ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by County Librarian Sean Casserley will be live-streamed on our Facebook page at 2 p.m. that day. We can't wait for you to see the wonderful changes our facilities and construction partners and staff have implemented, including:

• An expanded, relocated Kids area with more natural light, window seating and a storytime room.
• A new drive-thru for returns and holds pick-up.
• More study and conference rooms, including a dedicated media room with flexible seating.
• Upgrades to the Black & Veatch MakerSpace.

There are also many updates you may not see on the surface but will experience when using the Library, such as a reorganization of our staff spaces, a new materials sorter, and improvements to our delivery dock. As the "hub" of the Johnson County Library system, these improvements at Central will help get materials into your hands more quickly and efficiently, regardless of which branch you visit.



Thank you for your patience as we work to improve your Library experience. We look forward to seeing you at the reopening!