Catalog-Only Computers

Johnson County Library now has catalog-only computers at all branch locations, except for the Spring Hill Library, where a catalog-only computer will be forthcoming. The catalog-only computers will allow library users to have a quick resource to search for items in the library's collection without needing to login. However, library users will not be able to use the catalog-only computers to browse the Internet, use software applications, check email or other related activities. The already existing public service computers will still be available for these activities.

To find the catalog-only computers at your library branch look for the yellow sign near a public service computer that says "Library Catalog--No Login Required".

Johnson County Library Receives National Award at White House Ceremony

Johnson County Library was presented with a 2005 National Award for Museum and Library Service in a ceremony at the White House in Washington D. C. at 10:30 a.m., Monday, January 30, 2006. Three libraries and three museums received the awards, the nation’s highest honor for extraordinary public service provided by a library or museum. The award was accepted by County Librarian Mona Carmack, Library Board Chair Terry Goodman and Overland Park resident and businesswoman Denise Upah, who researched and planned her $50-million technology company at the Johnson County Public Library.

The awards are conferred annually by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to museums and libraries that have demonstrated a long-term commitment to public service through innovative programs and community partnerships. They include prizes of $10,000 to each recipient and help raise public awareness of the good work the institutions are doing in their communities.

“We are so proud of these libraries and museums,” said Mrs. Laura Bush. “They are centers of excellence that reach out to everyone in their communities. They are lifetime partners in discovery, imagination and learning that we can call on again and again throughout our lives.”

“These libraries and museums are cornerstones of our democracy. They help to create and sustain a nation of learners,” said IMLS Acting Director Mary Chute. The Institute of Museum and Library Services, an independent federal agency, fosters leadership, innovation, and a lifetime of learning through support to the nation’s 10,000 museums and 122,000 libraries.

A myriad of successful programs that benefit all areas of Johnson County, Kansas, from the Kansas City suburbs, to small towns and rural communities, distinguish the work of the Johnson County Library. The Johnson County Public Library continually seeks new opportunities to serve its community, and in partnership with community organizations, the library has created innovative and exceptional programs while enhancing traditional services.

Other museums and libraries receiving the award include:
· COSI Toledo, Toledo, Ohio
· Levine Museum of the New South, Charlotte, North Carolina
· Mathews Memorial Library, Mathews, Virginia
· Pratt Museum, Homer, Alaska
· Saint Paul Public Library, Saint Paul, Minnesota

The National Award for Museum Service was established in 1994, and the National Award for Library Service in 2000. Recipients of the awards are chosen for their innovative approaches to public service and for their success in improving communities and making a difference in peoples’ lives. All types of museums, from anthropological to zoological, fine art to folk art, urban, suburban, rural, large and small are eligible for the award. Public and private nonprofit libraries are eligible to receive this award, and nominations of libraries of all sizes are encouraged.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services grows and sustains a “Nation of Learners,” because life-long learning is critical to both societal and individual success. Through its grant-making, the agency empowers museums and libraries nationwide to provide leadership and services
to enhance learning in families and communities; sustain cultural heritage; build 21st Century skills; and provide opportunities for civic participation. For more information, visit www.imls.gov.

Johnson County Library was established in 1952 and serves a population of more than 391,500 in the metropolitan Kansas City area with 12 branch libraries and a Central Resource Library. The mission of the library is to provide access to ideas, information, experiences and materials that support and enrich people’s lives. The Johnson County Library’s strategic plan, entitled Connections: Enriching Lives, Building Community, emphasizes traditional library service while challenging the institution to build partnerships, to encourage patron involvement, and to expand the library’s presence throughout the community and on the World Wide Web.

The Johnson County Library has won several national awards, many for programs related to outreach to the disabled and the incarcerated, diversity practices and community building. For more information, visit www.jocolibrary.org.

The Institute of Museum and Library Science is an independent federal grant-making agency dedicated to creating and sustaining a nation of learners. The Institute fosters leadership, innovation, and a lifetime of learning by supporting the nation’s 15,000 museums and 122,000 libraries. The Institute also encourages partnerships to expand the educational benefit of libraries and museums. To learn more about the Institute, log onto: http://www.imls.gov/.

For more on the award look here at IMLS.

Meet a Librarian – Melody Kinnamon

The wood floors, the stairs, and all the books—this is how Melody describes her first memories of being in a library. Melody grew up in Dodge City, Kansas where her family would visit the local Carnegie Library. She “loved” all the books that lined the walls of the library. And she read like crazy. It was the beginning of a lifelong relationship. In college Melody continued to create great library memories when she worked as a library page (someone who shelves library books). Here she developed a relationship with a reference librarian, who helped to instill in her a fascination for providing information to help people with their different needs. And, to make it all the more exciting, there was immediate feedback to your work—an instant gratification for helping someone find what they were looking for. So following college Melody decided to pursue a Master’s in Library Science at the University of Oklahoma. And to get right into the spirit of the university and library work, Melody’s first job was to teach the Oklahoma Sooners’ football team how to use the library. With this kind of experience she was set for life.

After receiving her masters, Melody worked a variety of library jobs before coming to Johnson County. She spent one year working in technical services at the law library at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and five years working for a large law firm doing legal research. Following a move to Texas, Melody switched from law libraries to public libraries. She worked two years for the West Texas Library System (WTLS), a branch of the Texas State Library, where she worked as a consultant to rural libraries. The job required a lot of traveling. Did I say a lot of traveling? Her area of responsibility included 32 counties at that time. During this period Melody helped introduce Internet access and services to many of these rural libraries. After working for the WTLS, Melody took a break from libraries to spend some time home schooling her children. Then it was on to the next stop in her library career—Johnson County Library.

In 2002 Melody started working for Johnson County Library as Community Libraries Manager, where she has remained to this day. Melody is responsible for managing the DeSoto, Edgerton and Spring Hill branch libraries. Her responsibilities include maintaining functional library buildings and developing her staff. She sees her role as essential in providing a quality service to the patrons her libraries serve. For Melody working in the community libraries is a rewarding experience—an experience unique to the rest of the Johnson County Library system. Melody’s rewarding experience goes back to her roots of growing up in a small Kansas town. She loves the people in small towns. She loves working with them. And in a small town library you really get to know your patrons. You experience a closer relationship with both the patrons and the community. She describes all this as being “enmeshed”.

Melody describes herself as a mother of two teenagers. She loves watching ESPN’s Top Ten Highlights (which translated for us library folk is the top ten sport’s plays of the day) and watching collegiate and high school level basketball and football. She power walks while listening to audio books, likes reading young adult literature, and absolutely has no idea what her original hair color is…

Angel Dew -- JCL STARR!

Today, Angel Dew received the 2005 Annual Best Idea Award for her suggestion to launch a literary magazine for teens who want to publish their poems and stories.

With the help of the AmeriCorps volunteer at Central Library, Youth Advisory Council Members and Creative Services, elementia was born. The Fall 2005 launch of the new "teen zine" drew a huge crowd of teens, parents and teachers.


Angel's idea and creative talent has involved teens in a new way at the library by giving them a means to create and connect.

Thanks, Angel, for making a great contribution to Johnson County Library. You are a JCL STARR!

Chelsea Cassell -- JCL STARR!

Today, Chelsea Cassell received the 2005 Annual Best Idea Award for her initiative in promoting the Homework Help Center at the Shawnee Library.

Chelsea took the program under her wing and started by contacting local merchants to donate food each week. Chelsea created fliers, bookmarks, posters, and even a yard sign to put on the front lawn advertising the weekly event. She sent an email to school administrators informing them of the program and as a recruitment tool for high school students interested in acting as coaches. Additionally, she followed up by contacting the marketing coordinator with the Shawnee Mission School District to find out the most effective way to distribute fliers on the program to area schools.


Chelsea's efforts resulted in enthusiastic volunteers to assist the kids. In addition, participants do their homework--and have a great time doing it. And, everyone leaves with a smile on their face!

Chelsea's enthusiasm for the program and her initiative in promoting the idea to schools, patrons and staff has exceeded expectations. She is contributing to the vision of Johnson County Library by creating an environment in which patrons learn and enjoy.

Thanks, Chelsea, for making a contribution to Johnson County Library. You are a JCL STARR!

Chris Carleton -- JCL STARR!

Today, Chris Carleton received the 2005 Beverly Hedquist Award for Outstanding Service. Chris earned the award for his willingness to assist coworkers. Besides teaching his exceptional classes, Chris is always available for whatever kind of question you might have or any information you may need.

Chris is accomodating and routinely goes out of his way to meet the needs of staff. For example, he will schedule one-on-one training for staff who are unable to attend a class but need the training. If staff have difficulty answering patron questions, Chris will work directly with the patron. Whatever the question, Chris will find a way to assist--even if it is referring staff to the appropriate party. Most important of all, Chris always responds with a smile and a pleasant manner.


Chris is a positive reflection on Johnson County Library--demonstrating many of our values--Customer Needs Come First, Quality of Service, and Respect.

Thanks, Chris for your contributions to Johnson County Library. You are a JCL STARR!

Lacey Lewis Art Exhibit

There is still time to catch the Lacey Lewis Art Exhibit at Cedar Roe Library. Ms. Lewis' art is being featured at the library until February 9.

Here is how Ms. Lewis describes her work:

"I am a people-watcher. Everywhere I go I am fascinated by the diversity among humans: different features, skin tones, personalities and lifestyles. I look at people and wonder about who they are, what they are doing and where they are going. It's like some kind of puzzle that we all too infrequently find any answer to. We move along on our own paths, rarely noticing these fleeting moments when our life briefly overlaps that of another.

I approach each portrait not only from the view of an artist, but also as someone who is captivated by people. I take it as an opportunity to learn about a person; their essence, where they've been, the image they project. I want to create a record of someone's whole being, not just their physical likeness, through a beautiful and well composed work of art."

And here Ms. Lewis describes herself:

"I have had an interest in art since childhood when I created portraits of my friends and favorite celebrities from common household materials, ranging from my mother's makeup to bingo dabbers. In junior high school I began to study art seriously and continued to focus on portraits and the figure throughout college. I graduated summa cum laude from O.C.C. in Upstate New York with an Associates in Art, a member of Phi Theta Kappa and the recipient of numerous awards and an art scholarship. After graduation (and another unacceptably snowy winter) I moved from my lifelong home of Syracuse to the Kansas City area with my husband and son.

I then began a dialogue with myself about what my artistic direction was going to be. How was I going to define my style, where would I find inspiration, and what path would I take to further my education as an artist? As these answers began to work themselves out, I found myself looking to the works of the masters for education and to my enduring interest in people for inspiration. Over time, my style has presented itself and I have found a strong community of realists and living masters to look to for motivation and guidance."

For more on Ms. Lewis' work check out her website at http://www.lacey-lewis.com/

What is Interlibrary Loan?

Have you ever wanted a book that you couldn’t find in the library’s catalog? What about a music cd? Or a movie title for that matter? Then you need to ask your local library branch about Interlibrary Loan Services. The Interlibrary Loan Department (ILL) provides the opportunity for the public to have access to many more library resources than could possibly be budgeted for and housed at one location. Over time, libraries have become more and more interdependent upon each other, often sharing resources to better service their different communities; ILL has been one of the great results of libraries collaborating and creating connections.


At Johnson County Library we have a wonderful ILL department staffed with four full-time and seven part-time employees, which are assisted by five volunteers. Last year the Johnson County Library ILL department received, on average each month, over 2300 requests to borrow items and, over another, 3200 requests to loan items to other libraries. Currently, items that can be borrowed and loaned from Johnson County Library include books, articles, videos, audio books, music cds, and newspapers on microfilm. Requesting, nearly every one of these items, is free to patrons, although in some cases some items might require a special fee that is passed down to patrons. In these obscure cases, patrons are always informed about any extra expense and asked again if they are still interested in borrowing the item. Still, in this beautiful collaboration between libraries and despite the best efforts of the ILL staff, not all requests can always be filled. There could be a myriad of reasons why this may be, including the possibility that the item isn’t owned by any libraries. In this case other resources like the used book services on the web might help you find that one item that has been so difficult to get. If needed, ask a librarian for ideas in how you might locate a difficult to find item.

Obviously providing the ILL service to patrons at no expense is a costly endeavor. To make use of better resources and to reduce shipping costs, networks have developed to move library resources between different institutions. Johnson County Library is part of two different networks. The first is the Kansas City Metropolitan Library and Information Network (KCMLIN), which covers Eastern Kansas and Western Missouri. And the second network is Get Connected. Get Connected consists of libraries in both Kansas and Missouri, including MOBIUS, which is a network that connects all the academic libraries in Missouri. All of these networks use an integrated courier system that moves library resources around faster and with less expense. If any library items requested are not available from one of the libraries in this network, but are available from libraries outside the networks, then, most likely, these library items will be delivered via an mail service, such as the U.S. Postal Service, Federal Express or UPS; in the past year Johnson County has borrowed or loaned items as close as our neighbor Canada, and as far away as Europe and Australia.

One of the most important tools used by ILL to find the resources patrons request or to allow other libraries to know what is available in Johnson County’s collection is the Online Computer Library Center’s World Resource Sharing database. This resource can be used to locate items in libraries throughout the world. In addition, World Resource Sharing allows libraries to send and receive requests for items in their collections. Another version of World Resource Sharing database is Worldcat, which is available for the public and is an awesome tool when doing research on a certain topic.


Right now it is an exciting time in the ILL department. Borrowing and loaning requests continue to increase, there have been changes in staffing as the department attempts to adjust to the growing increase in work, and, perhaps the most exciting of all, new software changes. Over the next year ILL will be implementing a new ILL software management system called ILLiad. One of the changes patrons can look forward to in the new software will be the ability to track their ILL requests, so if you’re like me and you can’t always remember what you requested or you just want to know where your item is in the process, ILLiad will make this possible.

Meet a Librarian—Ken Werne

Ken is on his second career and never looking back. The move from his first career as a sawmill supervisor to libraries has been one of his best decisions in life. Ken received his Bachelor’s in Forestry from Purdue University and worked as a sawmill supervisor all before the thought of a career in libraries occurred to him. Unhappy with his current career, Ken began working with a career counselor. It is with the counselor that he found the idea of working in libraries so appealing. So to make the change happen, Ken quit his job and went back to graduate school at Indiana University, where he soon received his Master’s in Library Science. After Indiana University, Ken worked at three different public libraries before coming to Johnson County Library. He spent two years at Evansville Vanderburgh County Library working the Central Reference Desk. Following Evansville, he spent three years at Pikes Peak Library District in Colorado Springs working the reference desk and maintaining a senior services community information database. And lastly, he worked in reference and as acting branch manager at Anaheim Public Library in California. In 1993 Ken moved to the Johnson County Library and became branch manager of Cedar Roe Library. But Ken wouldn’t stay branch manager at Cedar Roe Library for too long before he was offered another position in 1995 to become the Community Libraries Librarian. In 1995 this position was responsible for managing the Blue Valley, DeSoto, Gardner, and Spring Hill libraries. What was so attractive about taking this position now was that he would have, as he describes it, a “once in a career opportunity” to be involved in all aspects of the planning and development of Blue Valley’s new library building. And he did just that, whether it was having input in the design of the building’s architecture or hiring additional new staff, he describes the whole experience as “challenging, exciting, difficult, wonderful.” Following completion of the new Blue Valley Library in 1999, Ken took over as branch manager, where he remains today. Ken says that what makes his work so great is being able to serve the public. He describes his work as a “customer service business” with freely available resources and programs as his products, all of which to fulfill, the recreational, educational and cultural needs of his patrons. As a manager, Ken views his role as a facilitator in providing opportunities for his staff to receive the skills and resources they need to be the most effective at their jobs. In 2004 Ken received the Annual Best Idea Award for Johnson County Library staff for what he calls the “Branch Manager’s Hold”. The “Branch Manager’s Hold” is a safety net to ensure that if any patron’s missing library item shows up again in the library system that the patron is notified. When Ken isn’t working he enjoys tennis, golf, traveling with his wife, and reading mysteries.

Kwanzaa Celebration at Antioch Library

On December 29 Antioch Library had a Kwanzaa Celebration. The guest speaker for the event was Lewis Diuguid a columnist for the Kansas City Star and recent author of A Teacher's Cry.

You can check out a gallery of photos from the event posted by the Kansas City Star at Community Faces. The links to the photo galleries are Celebrate Kwanzaa at Antioch Library and Kwanzaa Crafts.

Kevin Deen Art Exhibit

Check out Kevin Deen's art at Central Resource Library from January 5th through Feb 2nd.

Kevin Deen was born in Carroll, Iowa. Though his family did not farm, they lived in the heartland surrounded by farm communities - big blue skies and bright red barns made an early impression on Mr. Deen's life.After graduating from Iowa State University, Mr. Deen moved to Kansas City where he taught art at a local high school. In 1987, Mr. Deen moved to San Diego, but it was during a visit to his home state that he again became enamored with the beauty of farms. He set out to capture this image in the open simplicity of farm dwellings.Mr. Deen has his first one-man show in San Diego in 1990, and since then has actively shown his work on both coasts. He moved back to Kansas City in 1995 to be closer to family and make it his permanent home."Where I grew up, barns were as much a part of the landscape as the trees. We used to go for drives, and the land was so flat that for miles you could see these shapes cutting across an open horizon. It was only after you approached them that you would realize how gigantic they really were, and finally you would be standing right next to one and the scene would be transformed. Suddenly you would only catch a glimpse of sky or ground along its edges. You were in a new world with different dimensions.Today, the farms are dwindling in number and with them the barns and huge storage complexes which belong to them. In my work, I hope to honor them and the hardworking, honest people who built and worked in them."More of Mr. Deen's work is available for viewing at his website.

For more information on art exhibits at Johnson County Library look here.

"Library Ladies" get good press in The Star

Check out today's Kansas City Star article on Tricia Suellentrop, teen services librarian, and Kathy McLellan, youth outreach librarian. Tricia and Kathy regularly visit the Johnson County Juvenile Detention Center to provide books, lead book discussions, talk to the kids, and inspire the kids to love reading. The visits from the "library ladies" are incredibly popular with the young people at JDC.

"In a thank-you letter about the program, one young person wrote: 'When you bring the books I want to go to my cell so I could read because the books you bring really interest me.'

Another said: 'You have taught me a new way of life. I have learned that reading is so much better than TV when I get out.'"

Meet a Librarian – Leslie Loftus

Leslie, as far back as she can remember, has fond memories of book mobiles and libraries. It wasn’t, however, until she was finishing her bachelor’s in Elementary Special Education that she seriously considered working in libraries as a career choice. Following her bachelor’s, Leslie enrolled in the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill’s library science program, where she received her master’s in library science. After receiving her master’s, Leslie worked in both academic and school libraries, including ten years at the University of Missouri-Kansas City where she worked as a Reference Librarian and completed her second master’s degree in Educational Research. Since then Leslie has worked the past fifteen years at Johnson County Library. Currently Leslie is a Reference Librarian at Johnson County Library. Some of her more specialized responsibilities as a Reference Librarian include selecting reference materials for the 800s (library lingo for the 800 Dewey numbers, which include subjects such as literature and literary criticism) and creating fiction booklists on different topics for readers. Leslie’s personal reading interests, although diverse, include British literary fiction, biography, and history.

What is the Library’s Technical Services department responsible for?

No, as some may think, Technical Services has nothing to do with computers. In fact the library’s computers are managed in a totally different library department. Instead, Technical Services is the department in the library that supports the public service staff by acquiring, cataloging, processing, and maintaining all the library’s materials. In other words, if you have ever wondered who in the library is responsible for buying, cataloging, and labeling all the library materials, well the answer is Technical Services. The library’s Technical Services consist of eleven full-time and three part-time staff members. In addition to these staff members Technical Services is currently supported by five volunteers. In any given month over 10,000 books, 2100 audiovisual materials, and 5700 periodicals will flow through Technical Services before going out to the thirteen library branches.