Library Lets Loose and Parties to Support Community Literacy

The Johnson County Library Foundation celebrated its 20th anniversary on October 15 with a Library Lets Loose event, which it intends to make an annual affair.. The fundraiser for the Johnson County Library Foundation, hosted by honorary chairs Carol and Fred Logan, boasted a sold-out crowd of more than 420 guests who enjoyed a unique party at the library with artists, libations, culinary experiences and local musicians.

Library Lets Loose was a unique opportunity to party at the library with innovative artists and performers including Messner Puppet Theatre, KC Improv Company, Mesner Puppet Theater, “Opening Sentence,” with Judith Levy, InterUrban ArtHouse and the talented local playwright Nathan Louis Jackson. Presenting sponsors were the Bank of Blue Valley and the Regnier Family Foundation, who joined 36 other paid sponsors and 25 in-kind sponsors and vendors.

More than $100,000 was raised at this event to benefit library programs and collections. The Johnson County Library Foundation raises money each year to support the library collection and important library programs such as homework help, summer reading clubs and other important events that support civic engagement and literacy.

One such program is the 6 by 6 Early Literacy Program. Early language begins in the first three years of life and is closely linked to a child’s earliest experiences with books and stories. The interactions that young children have with such literacy materials as books, paper, and crayons and with the adults in their lives are the building blocks for language, reading and writing development. With funding from the foundation, library-based activities center around 6 by 6 areas that have been created in the children’s section of branch libraries. Families benefit from these 6 by 6 areas every day.

The library will add the Monticello branch─the system’s 14th branch─in western Shawnee in late 2018. The Johnson County Library Foundation is excited to expand support for this effort and serve this growing population. ■

The second annual Library Lets Loose will occur on Saturday, October 14, 2017, so mark your calendar and gather some friends to Let Loose at the Library when the Johnson County Library Foundation turns 21!  To learn more, go to jocolibraryfoundation.org.