Mark your calendars, because Saturday, September 20th from 6:30–10:00 p.m. at Central Resource Library is right around the corner and it’s shaping up to be the best night of the year! Library Lets Loose is back for its 10th anniversary celebration, and we’re pulling out all the stops to make this year unforgettable. Whether you’ve already snagged your ticket or are still thinking it over, here’s everything you can look forward to.
Mouth-Watering Treats
Enjoy delicious food from some local favorites:
- Atomic Cowboy
- Jason’s Deli
- Kate Smith Soirée
- Whole Harvest Kitchen
- Bikanervala
- Char Bar
- Strang Hall favorites Fenix and Anousone
- Sweet Tooth Desserts
- Of Course. Kitchen & Company
- Nothing Bundt Cakes
- Old Shawnee Pizza
No party is complete without drinks. You’ll find multiple open bars featuring KC Bier Co., Boulevard Brewery, J. Rieger & Co., and more. Prefer something lighter? Plenty of non-alcoholic options will also be close at hand.
Entertainment Everywhere
Library Lets Loose transforms the Library into a party unlike any other. Guests can:
- Enjoy live entertainment throughout the evening
- Dance along with DJ Stann or cheer on the brave souls from the comfort of a cozy chair
- Take part in a scavenger hunt that winds through the Library (spoiler alert: it’s trickier than it looks!)
- Visit the MakerSpace, where staff will show off amazing equipment and projects. Ever wonder what a 3D printer or laser cutter can do? Here’s your chance
From the dance floor to the quiet corners of the Library, there will be something fun for everyone.
Raffles and Auctions
Get ready for some friendly competition.
Golden Ticket Raffle – One lucky winner will get to choose from dream trips to Lake Tahoe, Jackson Hole, Mexico, or Hawaii.
Silent Auction – With more than a dozen unique packages (and more still rolling in), there’s something for everyone:
- Behind-the-scenes library tour with the County Librarian
- Chiefs premium tickets and Royals Diamond Club seats
- Family portrait session
- Independent Bookstore self-guided tour
- MAPS Coffee & Chocolate tasting experience
- Holiday lights tour
- Private chef dinner for six
- Wood, Whiskey, Wine & Wagyu evening
- The Saloon Takeover party package
- Folly Theater, KC Renaissance Festival, and Midwest Trust Center tickets
- Johnson County Crime Lab tour
- Family membership to the Jewish Community Center
- “Fall Off Our Whiskey Wagon” basket
- Ultimate Taylor Swift basket
With choices ranging from sports and theater to foodie indulgences and adventures, the only challenge will be deciding what to bid on.
Why It Matters
Library Lets Loose is more than an incredible night out. It is a celebration of what libraries mean to our community: access to books, lifelong learning, creativity, and connection.
This year’s support is especially important. The Library is facing a $165,000 loss in federal funding that will impact the 2026 book budget. By attending, bidding, and raising a glass, you’re helping to keep shelves full and ensure that everyone in Johnson County has access to the resources they need to learn, grow, and thrive.
Join the Celebration
We are grateful to our Honorary Hosts Erwin and Phyllis Abrams and to our dedicated Library Lets Loose Committee: Lisa Larson-Bunnell, Marsha Daley, and Anjali Pandya.
Now all that’s missing is you. Tickets are going fast, so don’t miss your chance to be part of Kansas City’s most joyful library event of the year.
Grab Your Tickets Today at LibraryLetsLoose.org
We can’t wait to celebrate with you on September 20th at Central Resource Library.
Library Lets Loose: Freedom to Read
Saturday, September 20, 2025
6:30–10 p.m.
Central Resource Library
9875 W 87th St, Overland Park, KS 66212
www.libraryletsloose.org