Plan to Laugh

Join Laughing Matters’ Jay and Leslie Cady for juggling and jokes!

Universal Class

Access over 500 courses on a variety of topics, from accounting, computers, and writing to cooking, crafts, and pet care.

Library Night at The K

Join us on August 3 for a great night of baseball benefiting our Summer Learning Program Fund.

Story Center Speaker Series

Join us for this special author visit Wednesday, July 26 at Woodneath Library Center.

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News and Views

Explore the American West at MCPL

My love of the American frontier came naturally from my father and grandfather. My grandfather’s family is from Kansas, and growing up, he heard a lot about Billy the Kid. As my dad grew up, westerns were popular on the radio and TV. We still watch reruns of The Lone Ranger, Gunsmoke, and The Rifleman. Naturally, I grew up watching westerns starring John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Charlton Heston, and James Stewart, just to name a few.

Let me tell you a little story about my senior dance.

When I was 16, my school rented out a local nightclub on a Saturday night. To say I was excited is an understatement. I spent all day getting ready, practicing my dance moves, curling my hair, and plucking my eyebrows. I even went so far as to bleach my top lip. (Hey, I’d seen it done in the movies!) I left nothing to chance. This was going to be the best night of my life!

“Libraries have always had their fans, but the hushed, warehouse experience of the past is gone. In fact, there has been an important revolution in what our libraries do, and here in Kansas City, we have some of the best in the country,” writes local filmmaker Michael Price in a preview of his latest work for KCPT’s Flatland KC.

As the National Storytelling Network’s annual conference draws near (June 29 – July 2, 2017), I find myself reflecting on this year’s theme, “All Our Voices: Stories of Immigration and Migration.” In the relatively short amount of time that the National Storytelling Network has been in the Kansas City area, they have made a big impact.

There is nothing that burns brighter than the fiery passion that nonprofit organizations have for helping their communities! Nonprofits are formed by average people with extraordinary enthusiasm for making the world a better place. That fervor can go a long way, but just like any other business venture, the world of nonprofits can be highly competitive.