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Library opening June 1

The library is scheduled to reopen for patrons beginning Monday, June 1. Patrons are encouraged to wear masks, practice safe social distancing, avoid gathering in groups, and keep visits to the library as brief as possible.

Transfers of items between KanShare libraries will continue and interlibrary loan services are expected to resume June 1. However, please expect some delays in receiving items from other locations.

Library community services including passport application processing, notary, fax, copy and printing will also resume when the library building opens.

Please help us by not coming to the library if you are ill, washing your hands before and after handling materials, and practicing safe social distancing. Thank you for your understanding and helping keep our community safe.

Click above to read more about the library opening

Theo has some tips for your visit to the library

We want to make sure our patrons stay safe when the library reopens June 1, so Theo has made a video showing how you can help us help you. Click the title above to see Theo's tips.

Summer Dreams opens June 1

Art by members of the Kansas Art Guild will be on display from June 1-29 in the Gathering Space Gallery. The gallery is open the same hours as the library: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.

Come enjoy the beauties of summer, represented here in oil, acrylic and watercolor. More information about the Kansas Art Guild is available on its website at www.kansasartguild.com.

Summer reading is underway!

Summer reading started Tuesday, and we've already had our first online program. We experienced a few technical difficulties, but it was really fun! Special thanks to Drum Safari for kicking off the summer reading season for us.

Remember, logs this year will be kept via Beanstack, which you can use on a computer or app on your phone or tablet. If you've already registered for Beanstack, you can join the summer reading challenges now. If you haven't yet registered for a Beanstack account, you can do that, add any children readers, and then join the summer reading challenges. Find more information about Beanstack on our website.

Log your activities (for kids birth-age 3), or hours of reading (kids age 4-12th grade) on Beanstack. Come by the library to pick up your prize package when you've completed all 12 Tiny Tales activities, or read 12 hours for everyone else. All prize packages must be picked up by 5 p.m. Sunday, July 26.

Everyone who completes summer reading will be entered into a random drawing for the grand prize for their age group. Click the red "read more" button below to visit the Summer Reading web page to get full details on all the great activities and events we have lined up.

If you have questions about summer reading or how to get set up with Beanstack, please call the library at 316-788-0760.

Be sure to follow all our Facebook events so you don't miss out on any of the fun this summer. Click on this big red "click here" button to go directly to our Facebook events page.

Summer reading is for adults, too!

Take a break and spend some time reading this summer. Record your progress and be entered to win prizes! Record your reading on Beanstack. All reading logs must be completed no later than 5 p.m. Sunday, July 26.

Weekly prizes are a tote bag filled with books and library swag. Three grand prizes of a Kindle Paperwhite and Amazon gift card will be awarded at the end of the program. Winners will be chosen by random drawing.

StoryWalk at the Library

We know how hard it is to not be able to come to the library and that you're missing many of your favorite summer reading activities, so we've got something you can enjoy at the library every Friday, outside on the sidewalk!

Every Friday, a new picture book will be put up along the sidewalk around the library for you to come walk and read. It's designed for kids age 2-7 accompanied by an adult, but anyone is welcome to enjoy the short walk and story. The StoryWalk will be available
9 a.m.-noon, Fridays, May 29-July 17.

Great activities for teens all summer

There are so many great activities planned for everyone in 6th-12th grades this summer that no one should be able to claim boredom. Here's a brief roundup of summer reading programs.

Virtual Teen Tuesday: Teens can pick up craft kits every week at the drive-thru or youth services desk. Facebook Live meeting will be hosted every Tuesday at 4 p.m. and special Zoom games will follow. Teen Tuesday dates: June 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30,
July 7 and 14

Once Upon a Writer Writing Challenge: Do you have a story in you just waiting to be told? Write a 5,000-word short story based on challenges inspired by fairy tales. Runs May 26-July 26

Murder of the Monster Slayer—a virtual murder mystery: Join this month-long journey into the world of monster slayers in June! Tragedy strikes when a slayer is murdered, not by a monster, but by a slayer turned rogue. *Registration required, runs June 1-30

Mythical Moviecraft: Actors, writers, filmmakers and techies are invited to join this online offering of the traditional Moviecraft experience. Each teen will have the opportunity to make their own 1- to 5-minute short film inspired by a mythical theme of their choosing. *Limited to 20 participants. Registration required. Short films will premiere July 24.

To get all the details, and to register for those that require registration, please click on the red "Read More" button below.

Click the red "read more" button below to get a printable bookmark with the dates for Facebook Live yoga classes offered this summer.

Test your knowledge of pop culture!

Join us on Facebook Live for a virtual trivia event featuring categories from literature and pop culture! From the Tiger King to Harry Potter, these categories are sure to challenge your brain. No need for teams or sign-ups. Compete for prizes and trivia night glory! 7 p.m. Fridays, June 5 and June 19, Facebook Live

Looking for someplace to discuss books? We've got you covered!

We have three active book groups here at the library that are open to everyone. If you love to read and talk about the books you read, pop in to one or more of the book groups!

Bemused Bibliophiles meets during the day and reads popular books that have been on the bestseller list. Hauntingly Good Reads meets in the evening and explores all kinds of books that have a supernatural/magical/unexplainable kind of bent—we look far beyond the traditional vampires, ghosts and witches.

Joyful Page Turners is the most enduring book club at the library—it's been meeting regularly since May 2000! Books selected for this book club include just about everything: classics, modern bestsellers, non-fiction, and more.

Click on the book titles below to see them in the library catalog. Sign in to your library account on the catalog and you can place a title on hold.

Bemused Bibliophiles — meets at 1 p.m. June 3. The title for June is The Five by Hallie Rubenhold. *This book club discussion will be held via Zoom. Meeting information can be found in the Bemused Bibliophiles group on the library's Facebook page.
Hauntingly Good Reads — meets at 7 p.m. June 8. The title for June is Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury. *We will meet in person this month, but the library closes at 6 p.m., so we will meet in the Community Room.
Joyful Page Turners — is on summer hiatus and will begin meeting again in August.

Click the red "Read More" button below to visit the book club page on the library website, where you can find lists of books each book club has read.

4 more libraries join KanShare

The KanShare consortium welcomed four new libraries during the Covid-19 shutdown. Welcome to Mulvane Public Library, El Dorado Public Library, Rose Hill Public Library and Augusta Public Library. Items are now being transferred regularly between consortium libraries.

The Great Sheep Shenanigans by Peter Bently & Mei Matsuoka

This book was on display for a few weeks in the JE section, and looked intriguing every time I saw it, so I finally checked it out to give it a try with Amelia.

Summary: The wolf wanted lamb for supper, so he tries to disguise himself in several different ways to accomplish the task, but he runs into trouble and Rambo the Ram!

I enjoyed reading this book, and Amelia enjoyed listening. The illustrations were cute, I especially liked when the sheep wore glasses for some reason (probably the librarian in me)! One thing I found interesting is every time I read the book to Amelia she pointed out the quilt on Granny's bed. I think the different patterns and colors drew her eyes to it, so now I need a quilt!

Amelia's rating:

Follow Me
by Kathleen Barber

First Line: Everyone on the internet is a liar.

Summary: Audrey is an influencer. She has over a million followers on Instagram. When she decides to take her dream job at an art museum in Washington D.C. she is excited but she does not know that someone waits for her in her new city.

Cat is Audrey’s friend from college. A young lawyer looking to make a name for herself in her law firm. Her best friend arrives from New York. It seems like things are going right for her but maybe everything isn’t as bright as it seems.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed the first 80% of this book. I could not wait to find out who the mysterious “him” was. I loved how the stories interweaved and the hints about Cat’s secret. I was creeped out by the stalker and his methods. This book makes you realize how dangerous social media and the internet can be. It lets someone into your life that you do not know or cannot trust. I kept hoping for some big reveal that would blow my mind but I figured out the stalker fairly early. I hoped that I was wrong and the author was trying to psych the reader out. However, the story fell flat at the end. It was pretty obvious how it was going to end up. It was a four star book until the last 8% of the book. Oh well. It was a still a fun read.

But my favorite part was the art exhibit! The dioramas sound so cool. I would love to see something like this. I like to wander around art museums.

Release date: February 25, 2020

Ashley's rating:

Grave Mercy
by Robin LaFevers

First Line: I bear a deep red stain that runs from my left shoulder down to my right hip, a trail left by the herbwitch’s poison that my mother used to try to expel me from her womb.

Summary: Ismae is forced into an arranged marriage. However, when her new husband sees the scars on her body, he knows that she has been cursed. She escapes before he can kill her and flees to the convent of St. Mortain. Upon arrival she learns that she has a special gift. If she wants to stay they will train her to use that gift and become an assassin for the god of death.

My Thoughts: Medieval. Assassin. Nuns. Yes please! I have been meaning to read this book for years. Recently I bought a copy of it and finally decided it was time to dive in. I enjoyed it from the very first page. It was a fast story with great characters and an intriguing plot. I like that the author wove actual historical events into the story making it almost seem believable.

It is always fun seeing girls kicking butt and taking names. This story does just that. Ismae has a gift that allows her to survive poisons but she is also skilled in weaponry and deception. Several other girls from the convent are mentioned but not much is done with their stories. I hope that the next books dive into their stories. I cannot wait to see what happens next!

Release date: April 3, 2012