JoCoLibrary Uncovered

Books About Book Lovers

Welcome to our first collection deep dive episode! We begin with a genre selected by our readers advisory librarian Gregg Winsor, “Books about book lovers.” Gregg will be serving as more of a moderator for most of our future deep dives, but for today he has brought a couple friends along—Piepie Baltz and Kelly Downs—to chat about their favorites in the genre.

JOCOLIBRARY UNCOVERED Podcast Collection Deep Dives: Books About Book Lovers recommended reading list.

Arts Extravaganza

In this episode of JOCOLIBRARY UNCOVERED, it's a deep dive into the Library's relationship with the arts.

Johnson County Library supports the Local Arts in so many ways! Start with our collection. You’ll find many types of arts books at the library – graphic design, architecture, photography, how to books, journals turned into books, knitting books. We provide exhibition spaces for artwork to be displayed at several branches and it changes out three times a year. We cohost a major film festival with the city of Lenexa. We produce a nationally renowned Teen Arts and Literature publication: Elementia featuring original work by teens in our community. And, the MakerSpace provides a space for you to be hands-on with your craft. Charles and Dave talk with Librarians Bryan and Jen about these and more.

 

 

Kaleidoscope of Sound

A Kaleidoscope brings to life an endless variety of shapes and patterns. What would a kaleidoscope of sound be like? We dedicate this episode to the harmonious melody of voices, tones, music and other noises that bring the Library to life every day. Explore the world of Library sounds with us in three segments: past, present and future.

1. Past: Celebrate the best podcast moments of the year.
2. Present: Experience the auditory kaleidoscope created by a mosaic of sounds found in the Library.
3. Future: Hear what Elissa Andre, external communication manager, is most looking forward to in 2023!

Thanksgiving, Hygge & Turkey Talk

We are thankful for you our listening audience and for the many good people, ideas and things that fill our lives with coziness and "comfortable conviviality" with feelings of wellness and contentment. We dedicate the episode to warmth and thankfulness. We explore the concept of Hygge, interview two chefs to help you stretch yourself as a home cook and create delicious dishes that will make your Thanksgiving feast more flavorful, and we even interview a turkey.

A big shout out to Chef Brett Dehart who is co-owner/operator of two kitchens at a very popular food hall in downtown Overland Park. Much appreciation to Chef Kolika Simmons who is a chef and food blogger. Many thanks to them for adding their expertise to this episode! And finally, our gobs of gratitude to our gobbling thespian, Brian Berrens who played Larry the Turkey!

SPECIAL EDITION - 2022 Writers Conference

Our eighth annual Writers Conference will be Thursday, Nov. 17 - Sunday, Nov. 20.

In this episode, Readers' Advisory Librarian Helen Hokanson and Adult Services Specialist Lisa Allen talk about our 2022 Writers Conference. How do we choose our faculty? Do we take potential presenter suggestions? How does the in-person experience differ from the virtual version of the past couple of years? We have fun taking a deep dive into these questions and feature readings by authors Anne-Marie Oomen and Polly Alice McCann. 

Library Lowdown Quiz Showdown Part II

Our tribute to game shows continues with Library Jeopardy and Wheel of Fiction! Whad'ya know about the Library? Join former Jeopardy auditionee, Austin, as he does such a great job hosting that even Alex Trebek would be proud. Charles and Dave battle in a head-to-head Library trivia tournament of titans! Then, we bring in in Collection Development Librarian Beth and Reader's Advisory Librarians Gregg and Helen. They spin the wheel, but will it be fortune or failure as they are given book descriptions from our catalog and they're asked to identify titles? Spoiler alert, we chose really hard ones! 

It's the Library Lowdown Quiz Showdown Part II! 

BTW, if you missed Part I where we play Bluff the Librarian and Library Password, whad'ya waiting for?!

Library Lowdown Quiz Showdown Part I

We love quiz podcasts and radio programs like “Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!” We also live for getting to know everything there is to know about Johnson County Library! What do you know? What do we know? Get ready for a variety of Library games! In this fantastically fun episode, we play Bluff the Librarian with Local Arts Librarian Bryan and Library Password with Matt, Patti and Courtney.

Be sure to stay until the end when we announce the winners of our at-home crossword and word search!

SPECIAL EDITION - Library Lets Loose!

Extra! Extra! Hear all about it!

Did you know the Johnson County Library has a podcast? If not, this special episode is the perfect place to begin listening. By spending a mere 15 minutes with us, you too will be able to answer with a resounding "Yes!" to the question: "Did you hear?"

We discuss the annual one night only party at the Library we call: Library Lets Loose. You are not going to want to miss this festive, lively after-hours celebration and fundraiser for Library Lovers at Central Resource Library. If you are 21 years or older, we invite you to join our Honorary hosts Senia and Will Shields to enjoy food, drink, music, our MakerSpace and truly good people!

Tickets and more information:

libraryletsloose.org

Back to School

Are the kids headed back to school? We have resource for them, for the little ones who aren't quite old enough yet, for you and for anyone who just wants to learn something new! We bring in the experts with the super Librarian knowledge and skills to give you and yours an advantage. Our lineup?

eResources:

• Hope Harms, Collections – eResources Librarian. Special power? She CAN judge a book by its cover!

Kids:

• Emily Devore, Youth Services. Special power? She can read four books at a time turning pages with both hands AND both feet!
• Carrie Worth, Youth Service. Special power? Book teleportation. She makes an art of hands-free shelving.

Teens:

• Kate McNair, Teens. Special power? Makes a mean vegan chocolate cake! 

It's the Back to school episode. It's everything you need to know in 20 minutes!

Make-along

Do you make? We at the Library encourage you embrace the creative process in some way by making something. What? Well, anything you want! Need ideas? You can always visit our MakerSpace. Online, we have In-depth tutorials and Circulating Maker Kits. In-person, you can make something as simple or complicated as you want with equipment available to you to make your project come to life. Try 3D Printing, CNC Cutting, Computers & Software, Electronics, Laser Cutting, Sewing and Vinyl Cutting.

Do you want to start small? Then grab some supplies and join us as our friends from the MakerSpace guide you  through an exciting hands-on Make-along activity! Adults or adults with children will have fun with this activity.

Supplies:

• Polymer clay
• Rolling pin or dowel rods
• A couple popsicle sticks (or two pieces of something flat and about 1/4" thick
• Textures–you can come into the MakerSpace to create textured dowel rods or patterned plates, but you can also just look around your house! See what you already have. Heavily textured fabrics, cookie or mint molds, plant leaves or pasta would all work. Be creative. 
• Small cookie cutters 

Listen and Make!