Foundation Stories

Honoring Stann for leadership and service at Johnson County Library Foundation.

Celebrating Leadership and Years of Dedicated Service

As the Johnson County Library Foundation wraps up another meaningful year, we want to take a moment to celebrate an extraordinary leader. Through seven years of dedicated service, including time as Foundation Board President, Stann Tate is leaving a lasting impact on the Library and the community we serve.

Stann’s time on the Board is distinguished by its energy, creativity, and collaboration. He says what he is most proud of is the culture the Board has built together. “I’m most proud that our Board continues to be a productive and highly functional group. This is not because of me, but because of the respect we have for each other,” he explained. The Board thrives because its members challenge each other in ways that spark new ideas, all while supporting each other and learning from one another.

Johnson County Library Foundation President Stann Tate, Board Members Erwin Abrams and Julie Steiner

Stann first joined the Foundation after volunteering with the Foundation’s annual fundraiser, Library Lets Loose, for three years. He was inspired by the staff, who were always willing to listen and explore new ideas, and by the opportunity to help grow a signature event that brings the community together. Seven years later, he is still energized by working with staff leaders, fellow Board members, and volunteers. “Everyone has an understanding that change and new ideas are the keys to growth for our organization,” he said.

One of Stann’s favorite Library memories was the 1952 Society event featuring Arthur Muir, the oldest American to climb Mount Everest at age 75. He was captivated by Muir’s story of determination and perseverance.

“He did not let his age deter him from fulfilling his goals or dreams. He was absolutely brilliant and had me captivated from start to finish,” Stann recalled. It is the power of stories and the Library’s ability to connect people to those opportunities that keeps Stann inspired.

Stann also sees the Foundation’s work as more than fundraising. “We are ambassadors of the Library,” he said. Through conversations with peers, business leaders, educators, and arts organizations, the Board helps introduce more people to the Library and its programs. Growth, he explained, comes from these meaningful connections and the ripple effect of sharing the Library’s value with the wider community.

For the incoming Board President, Stann leaves a simple but powerful piece of advice. “We have a brilliant staff in place that does amazing work every day. Sometimes it’s best to listen and learn how we can add value to the strategic plans that are currently in place,” he said.

Thank you, Stann, for your leadership, your energy, and your vision in your time as Board President.

Two people browsing books at Johnson County Library, focusing on the shelf.
Incoming President Lisa Larson-Bunnell and outgoing President Stann Tate

Meet Library Hero Linda Setterburg

For Library Hero and volunteer Linda Setterburg, the Library is a place of purpose, friendship, and connection.

When Linda retired, she knew she still wanted to spend her days doing something meaningful. She found that purpose at Johnson County Library, where she volunteers twice a week. What means the most to her? The people.

“Being greeted with a hello and a smile, and hearing ‘thanks, we needed your help today,’ makes it all worthwhile,” Linda says. Over time, those small exchanges became meaningful relationships. She built real friendships with staff, sharing stories about family, travels, and life. “That social connection and warmth is very important to this retiree,” she says.

One of her proudest contributions is to the Library’s Home Connect service, which delivers books and materials to patrons who are unable to visit in person. With a lifelong love of crafting, Linda discovered she could create handmade bookmarks to accompany those deliveries.

“Covid came along, and all my supplies just sat there,” she remembers. “When I found out about the Home Connect service and that they needed bookmarks, I felt I had hit the jack pot! I had crafted for years. Making the bookmarks gives me mental stimulus and purpose.” Each bookmark she creates is a small gift of joy for someone who can’t make it to the Library themselves, and the responses are what keeps her inspired. “When I hear ‘thanks, they are gorgeous, beautiful, delightful,’ that makes my day!”

Home Connect has shown Linda how the Library builds connections in different ways and reaches people wherever they are. She shared how meaningful it has been to contribute her creativity to the service.

“I never really thought about the people who want books but can’t get to the Library. The fact I can create a small token to send along with books is very satisfying. I plan on sending many more creations to Home Connect!”

For Linda, the bookmarks are a way to show care and make someone’s day just a little brighter. They are a small reminder that everyone deserves stories, community, and joy, whether they visit in person or connect from home.

Your gift makes stories like Linda’s possible.

When you support the Johnson County Library Foundation, you help ensure that every person, whether they come through our doors or receive books at home, has access to learn, connect, create, and belong.

Donate to the Library and be the hero for someone in your community today.

Meet Library Hero Kelly Kilgore

For Kelly, the Library has always been a meaningful part of her daily life, a place that fuels learning, creativity, and joy.

“I have been a lifelong reader and learner,” she said. “While I’m still a fan of reading physical books, I appreciate the opportunity to access books and magazines wherever I may be or whenever I may need them, and the switch to the Libby app has greatly enhanced the E-book experience.”

Beyond books, Kelly loves exploring the Library’s many hands-on tools and experiences. “I’ve also experimented in the MakerSpace and learned to use (with lots of help from the staff) the laser engraving machine and the vinyl cutter/heat press… In the Memory Lab, I did manage to transfer some old VHS footage to a thumb drive and plan to do more in the future.”

Experiences like these have shaped how Kelly sees Johnson County Library as a whole. “In my opinion, we are so very lucky to have one of the best (if not the best) library systems in the country at what I consider to be minimal cost to taxpayers overall.” It’s a sentiment shared by many patrons, but Kelly also carries the insight of someone who serves on the Library’s Board of Directors.

One milestone of that service she’s especially proud of is the decision for the Library to go fine-free.

“Going fine-free has to be the top highlight of my service as a board member so far. It was really important to the board and staff that there not be a barrier to those in the community who might not be using the library due to outstanding fees.”

She’s also grateful, and relieved, that the results affirmed the Board’s hopes. “Fees were not a big revenue generator and the overall financial has not been impacted, nor has the wait time for books which was a concern when making that decision.” Moments like this, where the Library puts people first, makes her proud to be part of the Board of Directors.

Serving on the Board has also deepened Kelly’s understanding of the Library’s role in the community. “We are laser focused on the library’s mission and vision to ensure people of all ages, abilities and means have access to all we have to offer and to hold ourselves accountable for the efficient and effective use of the resources committed to us.”

That commitment to access, equity, and meaningful community impact is exactly what your support makes possible.

Kelly’s dedication shows what a Library Hero truly is: someone who believes that access to knowledge and opportunity should belong to everyone. Her work on the Board and her love for the Library reflect the same mission your support makes possible. Heroes like Kelly lead the way, but it’s your generosity that helps turn those shared values into real impact for our community.

This Giving Season, we invite you to join Kelly in championing a library that welcomes everyone, inspires curiosity, and strengthens our community.

Children dressed as superheroes celebrating at Johnson County Library Foundation event.

Every day at Johnson County Library, a quiet moment turns into something meaningful.

A toddler leans into their caregiver at Storytime and hears a book that becomes the first spark of a lifelong love of reading. A student lights up as a librarian hands them the book they didn’t know they needed. A teen sees their poem published in elementia Magazine and realizes their voice matters.

These may seem like small moments on the surface, yet together they create something extraordinary. They form the heartbeat of our Library, unfolding every day across all 14 branches. They happen because this community believes that curiosity, connection, and learning should always have room to grow.

This year, that belief matters more than ever.

A Challenge Worthy of a Hero

Young girl focused on computer screen at library.

In 2026, the Library is facing a $165,000 shortfall in our book budget due to the loss of federal funds. That means fewer new titles on our shelves, fewer stories to discover, and fewer opportunities for joy, exploration and learning.

Here’s the good news:

Johnson County has a long history of stepping forward when it matters. This moment calls for that same spirit of generosity and shared purpose.

What Your Gift Makes Possible

A contribution to the Johnson County Library Foundation’s Annual Appeal ensures the Library’s story continues without missing a page. Your support helps us:

  • Add new books and digital resources that spark curiosity and expand imaginations.
  • Create the small touches that turn library visits into treasured memories.
  • Ensure every child has access to stories that teach, comfort, and inspire.
  • Step in when funding falls short so learning and discovery remain accessible to everyone.

You Are the Hero in Our Story

When you give, you help dreams take flight. You help learning flourish. You ensure that every person who walks through our doors finds a place where their story is welcomed, valued, and honored.

Young girl reading a comic book at Johnson County Library Foundation.

Thank you for being part of this chapter.
Thank you for helping us write the next one.
Thank you for being the hero who keeps the Library’s story alive.

Together, let’s keep turning the page.

Nancy Hupp at Johnson County Library, promoting community engagement.

As Johnson County Library moves towards its 75th anniversary in 2027, the Library Foundation is highlighting leaders and public servants who have made a difference in our Library’s history.

Few places have been as constant in Nancy Hupp’s life as Johnson County Library. From her early days as a young mom looking to connect in a new community, to decades later serving on the Library Board while caring for her husband, the Library and its staff have surrounded and supported her — offering help, inspiration and even love.

“The Library touches so many people in so many ways,” Hupp said.

And she would know. Her connection to the Library began soon after her family arrived from Fort Worth, Texas, in the 1970s.

“Church, school, library,” she said with a smile and without hesitation. “Those were the first connections we made here.”

She remembers fondly those early days in Johnson County. She and her daughters would get on their bicycles and ride up to Antioch Library at the corner of Shawnee Mission Pkwy. and Antioch Rd. They would browse the diverse collection and eventually come to know the helpful staff. Books in hand, they would pedal their bikes back down the road to Antioch Park, where they would relax in the shade and get lost in the magic world of literature.

“The Library helped us become part of the community,” she said. “The Library helped us fit in.”

As time marched on, Hupp continued to connect with the community. She became involved with the city of Merriam, including work to help form a foundation to support the Community Center. She worked with others to transform the landlocked community with the development of Merriam Town Center, where the new Merriam Plaza Library stands.

Later, when County Commissioner Ed Peterson needed to appoint someone to the Library Board, Hupp’s name was suggested as an active Library patron and volunteer. That began Hupp’s service on the Board, including stints as chair, between 2010 and 2019.

Hupp said a groundbreaking 2015 study with the University of Kansas, “Analyzing the Return on Public Investment in Johnson County Library,” is one of the most significant accomplishments during her time on the Board. She credits the highly innovative staff with demonstrating the true community value of the Library.

“Local residents not only benefit from the usage of various Library services directly, but also from many diffused social and economic impacts indirectly,” the study said. In all, it estimated the overall return for the investment in Johnson County Library at 300 percent.

Hupp said the vast number of social services available at the Library is both staggering and essential.

“A conversation with a librarian can change people’s lives,” she said. “Everything from job searches to furthering their education. Libraries are very open to helping people in many ways.”

In addition to the Library Board, Hupp has also volunteered with the Library Foundation. One of her favorite roles was to call donors and volunteers to simply thank them. “We did not ask for anything,” Hupp explained. “We just said, ‘thank you.’”

For people who may be considering volunteering, she said the Library is an excellent choice.

“There are so many different jobs you can do,” she said. “The Library staff truly appreciates the volunteers, and they will help you find what you want to do.”

Challenges of changing technology and aging facilities continue to confront the Library, but Hupp is confident in the staff and volunteers to meet the changing times. The demand for social services is growing. She believes there are good policies and people in place to protect the Library, its mission and its community.

Because, after all, community is what it is all about.

Decades after the Library helped her connect to Johnson County as a young mom, Hupp found herself on the Library Board at a time when her husband was quite sick. She told her colleagues that she needed to always keep her phone close by in case he needed her. More than once, she had to leave a function to care for him. She still gets emotional thinking about the caring support she received.

“After he passed,” she said slowly, “the love and support of the staff that I felt, the cards and messages that I got. This Library … it really touched me. They knew it was family first … family first.”

For more than twenty years, Johnson County Library’s teen literary arts magazine elementia has inspired creativity and connection across the community.

written by Isabelle Karpin, Summer Foundation Intern

For more than twenty years, Johnson County Library’s teen literary arts magazine elementia has inspired creativity and connection across the community. One of the most meaningful aspects of the program is its teen editorial board, which allows participants to explore the art of publishing and design while working closely with Library staff and peers who share their interests.

This year, elementia celebrated two alumni by publishing their first joint chapbook, featuring poetry collections from Elizabeth Joseph (Earthbound) and Amanda Pendley (Wingspan). Both writers reflected on how elementia shaped their creative journeys and their confidence as artists.

For Elizabeth, elementia was a turning point in finding her voice.

Cover of Earthbound book featuring hands holding a crab on a textured background.

“I have a lot of insecurities about my art. It feels uniquely vulnerable. elementia wasn’t a cure, but it was better. It gave me the tools to become stronger at my craft and more wholly comfortable as a person… elementia is woven into my personhood, and I am so grateful to be a part of it.”

Her collection Earthbound explores themes of food, form, and symbolism, continuing the creative path she began as both a writer and editor for elementia.

Amanda discovered elementia in high school, through a visit from then-program director Kate McNair, and credits the magazine for launching her journey as a poet.

“Kate McNair had come into my high school creative writing class and talked about elementia, and thus my journey as a writer began. elementia is a game changer, and I will eternally be an avid supporter of its community and its programming.”

Cover of Wingspan magazine featuring Amanda Pendley's artwork.

After elementia, Amanda earned her BA from the University of Iowa and her MFA in Creative Writing from Sarah Lawrence College. Today, she works at Washington University in St. Louis, where she and Elizabeth, now a doctoral student in Occupational Therapy, continue to write and inspire others.

At the release of elementia Issue 22, County Librarian Tricia Suellentrop shared,

“We invite you, and I implore you, to help us keep this momentum going. A gift to the Library Foundation really supports this work as well as other work that the Foundation does. It supports these artists, and it supports this type of bold storytelling. And it is the kind of programming that changes every single life, and brain, and heart that encounters it.”

Johnson County Library Foundation supports lifelong learning initiatives.

To explore this year’s theme, “Legacy,” and to read past editions, visit the Library’s teen page.

(Participants exploring artwork at the release celebration of elementia Issue 22. Photo by Kelly Sime)

elementia is one of many programs made possible through support from the Johnson County Library Foundation. In 2024, the Foundation raised more than $409,000 to enhance Library initiatives like elementia and ensure that opportunities for creativity and discovery remain accessible to everyone. To learn more about how your donations make a difference, visit the Johnson County Library Foundation webpage.

Johnson County Library Foundation celebrating at the 10th anniversary event.

What a night! More than 500 guests filled Central Resource Library for the 10th annual Library Lets Loose, and together we raised over $140,000 to put more books on shelves in 2026. Thanks to your generosity, our shelves will be filled with even more stories, ideas, and opportunities for the entire community to enjoy.

The evening was packed with unforgettable moments: dazzling performances by an aerialist, a juggler, a strolling violinist, and DJ Stann on a lively dance floor. Guests feasted on bites and drinks from Of Course Kitchen Co., Sweet Tooth Desserts, Char Bar, Strang Hall, Kate Smith Soirée, and more. Our Honorary Host, Erwin Abrams, shared a moving reflection on the importance of reading and this year’s theme, while around 15 celebrity volunteers, including local elected officials, rolled up their sleeves to make the night shine.

Guests cheered to the freedom to read, embraced the theme by donning red, white, and blue, and bid enthusiastically on 24 silent auction packages, from premium Chiefs tickets to an Ultimate Taylor Swift Basket.

We’re grateful to everyone who joined us to celebrate, support, and make a difference. The joy in the room was undeniable, and it shows in the photos.

Mark your calendars for next year’s Library Lets Loose:
Saturday, September 19th, 2026 | Central Resource Library | 6:30 – 10 p.m.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you in 2026!


Below are the photos from the event. (To download on a computer, open the image. Right click and choose ‘Save Image As.’)

Johnson County Library Foundation staff organizing books for 2025 event.

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 2025: Freedom to Read

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

We are thrilled to announce the Honorary Hosts of Library Lets Loose 2025: Erwin and Phyllis Abrams!

We are thrilled to announce the Honorary Hosts of Library Lets Loose 2025: Erwin and Phyllis Abrams!

For Erwin and Phyllis, libraries aren’t just buildings filled with books; they are vibrant community hubs, places of discovery, and safe spaces for all ages. Erwin’s love of libraries began at the tender age of three, when his older brother took him to his local library. That sense of awe has lasted over 80 years, and it’s a passion both he and Phyllis continue to nurture.

Meet Your Favorite Teacher: Matt Eicheldinger April 2024 Library Event

“My wife and I give in order to preserve that child’s sense of awe, that adult’s resource for research, that senior citizen’s place of quiet and safety,” Erwin says. “We give because strengthening community means strengthening America. And we give because we feel good about building Johnson County.”

For 14 years, Erwin has been an active member and generous contributor to the Johnson County Library Foundation, helping ensure that our libraries remain welcoming spaces where curiosity, learning, and imagination can thrive.

Erwin’s love of reading spans from 20th-century history to contemporary mysteries, with authors like Harlan Coben, David Baldacci, and Daniel Silva always at the top of his list. “I read late into the evening, perched on my favorite couch,” he shares. And while every library in the Johnson County system has its charm, Leawood Pioneer holds a special place in his heart.

This year, Erwin and Phyllis are inviting you to join the celebration at Library Lets Loose 2025! Come see them in person, enjoy the festivities, and support the libraries they cherish so deeply.

Can’t attend? You can still honor them, and help our libraries thrive, by making a gift in their name at jocolibraryfoundation.org/donate.

Don’t miss your chance to celebrate, give back, and have a fantastic evening, because nothing says fun quite like supporting the library you love.

Library Lets Loose 2025: Freedom to Read

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

Let Loose, Give Back, and Celebrate the Freedom to Read

written by Melissa Stan

It starts with a book.

At the Gardner Library, a parent sits cross-legged in the kids’ section, reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar for the tenth time—not because they have to, but because their child’s face lights up with every turn of the page. Around them, storytime songs echo, and tiny readers begin their lifelong journey with books.

Family enjoying storytime at Johnson County Library.

Across the county at Central Resource Library, a grandfather gently feeds faded photographs into a scanner in the Library’s Memory Lab. Each click preserves a moment: a childhood birthday, a family vacation, a long-lost smile. For him, the Library becomes a bridge between the past and the present.

At Lenexa City Center Library, community members gather in a sunlit meeting space with coffees in hand. It’s a Legislative Coffee morning and neighbors have come to hear from elected officials. It’s a rare opportunity to ask questions, share concerns, and listen without a filter. At the Library, civic engagement feels accessible and deeply personal.

Student engaging in a classroom activity at Johnson County Library Foundation.

Meanwhile, at Monticello Library, a high school student spreads out notebooks in a reservable study room. It’s quiet, comfortable, and hers for a couple hours. It’s the perfect place to prep for finals or tackle a group project. In a world full of distractions, the Library offers focused space to think, learn, and grow.

These stories are simple, real, and quietly powerful. They’re unfolding every day in all 14 Johnson County Library branches.

And behind them all is one joyful, mission-driven night: Library Lets Loose.

A Party With Purpose

On Saturday, September 20, the Library Foundation invites you to join us at Central Resource Library for the 10th anniversary of Library Lets Loose. It’s our signature fundraising event, filled with food, drinks, games, a silent auction, and a dance floor that keeps the good vibes going all night.

But more than a party, this event is a celebration of everything Johnson County Library stands for: Access. Discovery. Joy. This year, our theme says it all: Freedom to Read.

We Put the FUN in Fundraiser

Library Lets Loose isn’t your typical fundraiser. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure kind of night, filled with laughter, discovery, and making new friends.

The dress code is joyful and come-as-you-are. You’ll see everything from playful red, white, and blue outfits (a nod to our Freedom to Read theme) to casual cocktail attire. Think comfortable, festive, and ready for anything, from filling up on amazing food to dancing the night away.

Come hungry. With mouthwatering bites from a dozen local favorites, including Strang Hall, Char Bar, Kate Smith Soiree, Atomic Cowboy, Whole Harvest Kitchen, and more, you’ll have plenty to sample and savor. Sip on a beer from KC Bier Co., a refreshing non-alcoholic option, or our signature Let Loose Juice from our pals at J. Rieger & Co. as you mingle and explore.

Throughout the night, you’ll be surrounded by fellow library enthusiasts, including local elected officials who are volunteering and celebrating a shared commitment to access, education, and community. This event is a reminder of how powerful it is when people come together to support something bigger than themselves.

Before the dance floor heats up, there’s plenty to entertain. Join the scavenger hunt and browse our silent auction filled with can’t-miss items and experiences.

When the clock hits 8:30 p.m., DJ Stann takes over and the dance floor opens. This is the part of the night when library lovers let loose, and the energy is contagious.

So, grab your friends, bring your book club, or come make new connections. Let’s toast to our love of public libraries, while raising important funding for the Johnson County Library.

Library Lets Loose 2025: Freedom to Read

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

Your investment in Johnson County Library generates a 300% return.