Foundation Stories

It would be an understatement to say that the Library’s MakerSpace had humble origins.

Its original home was not much bigger than a closet, said Shelley O’Brien, executive director of the Johnson County Library Foundation. But now the area at the Central Resource Library serves almost as a branch within a branch — offering state-of-the-art capabilities like 3D printing and providing space where creators of all types mingle.

The upgraded surroundings have “really amplified the program and amplified what we can do,” O’Brien said, putting the Library on the cutting edge of the experiential learning that will define the library of the future. “This is not a trend,” she said. “This is not going away.”

And none of that would be possible without the more than $30,000 a year that Overland Park-based Black & Veatch provides as the sponsor of the MakerSpace. The global design and engineering firm’s commitment to the Library extends to serving this year as the presenting sponsor of the Johnson County Library Foundation’s annual fundraiser, Library Lets Loose.

As an international corporation, Black & Veatch has no shortage of potential causes to back, O’Brien said, “and for them to say they want to invest their philanthropic dollars into a local nonprofit like the foundation and a local organization like the Library means a lot to us.”

Outside support is critical to providing a range of services to patrons, and O’Brien said Black & Veatch’s financial commitments play a significant role in allowing the Library “to have innovation and creativity and to provide the community with these great tools.”

There is perhaps no better spokesman for Black & Veatch and its commitment to the Library than Pete Barth, an Illinois native who moved here from Davenport, Iowa, in 2014 with his wife. He is the company’s engineering partnerships leader and serves on the board of the Library foundation.

Barth is also the son of a teacher who preached the value of reading and is an active patron of Olathe’s Indian Creek Library as the father of three kids ages 8 and under.

Barth was not exactly a bookworm as a teen, but it seems his mom’s prodding planted a seed for adulthood because reading is now a welcome stress relief. “It’s a good way for me to escape and displace,” he said.

The parent in him loves that libraries now have playgrounds and cool indoor activities that excite kids to just be at the library as a first step to gaining a love of reading. He knows that is the case with his children.

In his professional role, Barth welcomes the opportunity for the company to support a free public resource that provides equitable access to all members of the community. Black & Veatch is also happy to help students cultivate an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.

“I think it’s fair to say that the library is an integral part of every community,” he said. “We are just glad to be a part of it and help to support the growth of both the MakerSpace and the library infrastructure in Johnson County in general.

“We are proud of our community, we want to be a part of the community, want to be visible in the community, and want to give back to all those communities that support our professionals and our business.”

Library Lets Loose provides essential funding for the extras the Library offers, O’Brien said, including the varied programming that keeps people coming back to the branches. Barth said Black & Veatch’s role as the presenting sponsor is a way to help “amplify the event and the importance of the library system in general.”

At a recent Johnson County Library Board of Directors meeting, Foundation board members were thrilled and honored to present a grant check in the amount of $102,864!  This check represents the 2021 annual disbursement from the endowment for the Library Collection.  This is the largest amount to date! 

Pictured:  Library Board Member David Sims, County Commissioner Janee’ Hanzlick, County Librarian Sean Casserley, Library Board Chair Bethany Griffith, and Foundation Board members, Vickie Trott, Anne Blessing and Ava Christie.

The driving force behind the creation of the Johnson County Library Foundation was County Librarian Mona Carmack. In the early ‘90’s, Mona began speaking about a JCL Foundation that would be devoted to raising donated funds for the Library collection and its programs.  This was a new concept for the Library at that time and in 1994, planning for the Foundation began and in 1996, the Foundation was established as a separate nonprofit organization.

As a separate nonprofit, the Foundation needed the governance of a board of directors and distinguished community volunteers rose to the occasion. “The founding Board had a lot of heavy hitters,” said founding board president, Neil Shortlidge.   “Names that come to mind are Fred Logan, former Congresswoman Jan Meyers, former County Commissioners such as Bill Franklin and David Wysong, several mayors and a number of former Library Board members. “

Foundation founding board member Fred Logan has remained a strong donor and supporter over the years with wife, Carol.  “I believed that people would be very supportive of a foundation that was devoted to supporting the Library,” said Logan.  “Time has proven that to be the case.”

Caroline McKnight also served as a founding board member and continues to this day as a volunteer. She explains that the Foundation is relevant today because all strong and thriving institutions deserve to have a way for those who see their value support them financially. “Yes, of course, we all pay a pittance in taxes that accrue to build and maintain a wonderful library system, “ said Caroline. “But there are those who choose to offer more support, and a charitable arm makes that possible.”

Black & Veatch MakerSpace makers are doing some amazing work producing CDC approved masks for front-line workers. They’ve assembled sewing kits from donated fabric from a company called Twirl Connect. In addition, they are making face shields from laser cut plastic and 3D printer plastic with supplies purchased by Black & Veatch.

Makers Angelica Sandoval and Nick Ward-Bopp are leading the cloth mask production effort.

“We knew that many Library  staff know how to sew, but we were not sure which materials to use, which mask styles were approved by hospitals, or how to identify hospitals in need,” Ward-Bopp said.

After connecting with Johnson County Emergency Management Services, the makers found that 100 percent cotton fabric is preferred, and the County is accepting donations at their Med-Act station.

With Twirl Connect’s donation of 150 yards of cotton fabric, he and Sandoval put together kits for staff that include fabric, patterns, and thread. Library Adult Services Manager Kinsley Riggs, with help from her mother, spent an entire weekend cutting the fabric for the kits.

As of April 7, more than 35 staff had sewn 517 masks.

“It’s not often we get to have that sort of direct community impact,” Ward-Bopp said. “I’m thankful to everyone who has stepped up to help.”

Donated masks are being delivered through EMS to Johnson County Developmental Supports and will be used for staff who continue to do residential visits.

“We want to help get masks into the hands of medical professionals, first responders, and anyone on the front lines who are treating or working in proximity with COVID-19 patients or public,” Ward-Bopp said. “Making a mask may not seem like a big act, but it could save a life.”

In addition to cloth masks, Makers Thomas Mailloux and Brian Oertel are coordinating the production of 3D printed parts for face shields. Six 3D printers run day and night in the MakerSpace, printing the headbands used on the shields with materials purchased by Black & Veatch. Several printers are on loan from the MakerLab at Johnson County Community College, and other community partners are pitching in with material and hardware to help the effort.

The machines can print two headbands at a time, and each print job takes seven hours, Riggs said. She estimates that the makers are making 18 face shields per day. Black and Veatch has provided most of the materials however, the team needs more supplies.

“Supplies for making masks and shields are starting to become scarce,” said MakerSpace Facilitator Brian Oertel. “It has forced us to be a little more creative in finding materials.”

Filament for 3D printing is becoming hard to find, as well as acetate inserts. Elastic has also been in short supply. Makers are prototyping creative solutions, like using Avery plastic dividers as inserts and pipe cleaners to create a moldable nose piece for the cloth masks.

“The goal is to provide products that can lengthen the life of medical grade PPE or provide people some barrier to infection,” Oertel said. “If we can’t be physically near others, we can still offer something to the community.”

The makers continue to search for creative solutions to supply shortages and will be reaching out to the private businesses for help. They will also keep doing what they do best – creating solutions where it seems like none exist.

“We are investigating printing other things beside face masks,” Oertel said. “There are designs out there for ventilation splitters, to allow multiple patients to use one ventilator.

“If we as makers can do anything to help those people dealing with the pandemic head on, we have to try,” Oertel said.

– Laura Hunt, JCL Internal Communications Manager

Every now and then, in the life of a non-profit organization, individuals become involved who hold that organization in such high esteem, they go above and beyond to lend their support. The Johnson County Library is fortunate to have two such individuals: Carol and Fred Logan.

Carol and Fred have given decades of dedication and support to the Library and in 2019 they took it one more step. They asked if they could make a lead gift to establish a fund to benefit the Library well into the future. The result of their interest is the establishment of a new fund, The Johnson County Library Leadership Fund.

This fund will provide financial support to enhance leadership development opportunities for Johnson County Library staff. The Logans believe that the Johnson County Library staff is the finest in the United States and leadership development is essential for growth into the future.

Carol and Fred’s lead gift will do just that. Lead the way for other donors to join in this significant philanthropic initiative. In fact, the JCL Foundation board of directors voted to match the lead gift one-to-one and so the total of the fund to date is $120,000. The Johnson County Library Leadership Fund will be an endowed fund to last in perpetuity. To make a donation to add to the fund, please contact Teresea Simpson, [email protected].

Saturday, June 8 is the annual Stay Home and Read a Book Ball, a virtual fundraiser for Johnson County Library. Funds raised from this year’s event support the Library’s Summer Reading program.

Join the fun with our Stay-at-Home host, award-winning picture book author and illustrator SHANE EVANS! Shane’s books include We March, Underground, Olu’s Dream and Chocolate Me.

Please join us on FaceBook between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., in support of this important cause from the comfort of your favorite reading nook. Here’s all you need to do:

1. Choose a book
2. Get comfortable at home
3. Share your reading selfies on social media: #jocobookball
4. Make a donation to the JCL Foundation!

Support Johnson County Library at your reading level!

Some suggestions:

$3,000 – Rare Book
$1,500 – Reading Room
$500 – Bestseller
$250 – Hardcover
$100 – Classic
$50 – Paperback
$25 – Bedtime Story

Thank you for your continued support!

NASA turns 60 this year. The Apollo Moon Landing was 50 years ago. Summer Reading at Johnson County Library highlights this history and inspires kids of all ages to dream big, believe in themselves and create their own stories. The Foundation is pleased to provide support for the Library’s ever popular Summer Reading Program!

From mid-May until the end of July, the Library helps combat summer slide by providing a free book to every child who signs up with the Summer Reading program. Having books at home is strongly linked with academic achievement. By growing children’s personal libraries and helping them find intrinsic value in reading, the Library bridges that summer learning gap and invests in the future of our community.

The Library gave 18,823 books to kids throughout Johnson County last summer, in comparison to 15,000 in 2017. With the opening of our new Monticello Library last August, we project 22,000 books will be distributed this summer.

Help us continue this important service to our community. Please join us on social media June 8, for our annual Stay Home and Read a Book Ball and make your donation to benefit the Library’s Summer Reading program!