Johnson County Library

When the school year ends, the need for literacy support does not. Here’s help in finding in-person and online summer reading programs around the Kansas City area.

Romance novels and romance-fantasy titles topped the check-out charts in Kansas' most populous county. Among kid readers, authors Mo Willems and Jeff Kinney cleaned up.

While the Kansas City region is home to robust public library systems, it also boasts specialized libraries that focus on individual subjects. These libraries have extensive collections devoted to arts, natural history, science and storytelling, and also offer events, activities, and exhibits for readers and researchers alike.

As kids flock to libraries for summer reading programs, one of the most popular programs is Read to a Dog. Children get ten minutes to read a book of their choice to a therapy dog — or sometimes cat — trained to listen and watch calmly and without judgment.

The Johnson County Library Board voted unanimously to discontinue charging 30 cents for each day an item is overdue. The library will also forgive overdue fines already on the books, saying that embarrassment has been discouraging people from ever returning items or using the library.

Historical fiction? Romance? Memoir? Mystery? No matter the genre, there's a book club in Kansas City that is right for you.

Here's a sneak peak at the new children's area and other renovations made over the past year. They include a drive-thru, but "we're not trying to sell you something," head librarian promises.

As the year winds down, we look at young adult titles to keep you entertained during the colder months.

How the coronavirus is affecting Kansas City rental property owners, and two librarians' picks for the best current young adult titles.

Faced with COVID-19, library branches limited hours and cut in-person events, but they’re still aiming to boost reading over the summer.

Libraries on both sides of the state line are compiling lists of books to educate patrons about the issues being raised by Black Lives Matter protests.

Segment 1: North Kansas City responds to the coronavirus pandemic.An immediate concern for this Northland municipality is warm weather attracting still…