Category: Communities

Library to start transfer of digital book systems on July 12

The Kansas City, Kansas, Public Library will be canceling the Axis 360 digital book service and transferring all ebook and eaudiobook items to Hoopla.

The library is hopeful that moving current content to Hoopla and purchasing new titles strictly within that platform will simplify things for patrons and lead to a better overall experience, according to a spokesman.

Hoopla offers two ways to check out items, the instant model and the flex model. The previous Axis 360 titles will be available under the flex model, which allows for one patron at a time to check out an item. Items are checked out for 21 days, and patrons can have five items checked out at a time. Flex titles can be placed on hold if the title is currently checked out by someone else. Instant titles can be checked out by multiple people at the same time, and the checkout time varies based on item type. Patrons are allowed 20 instant checkouts a month.

The process will begin on July 12, when no new checkouts will be allowed on Axis 360, according to the spokesman. On Aug. 1, Axis 360 will be shut off. On Sept. 1, the transfer will be completed, and items will be available in Hoopla. Any current holds in Axis 360 will be transferred over to Hoopla, according to the spokesman.

Patrons who are not currently using the Hoopla app are encouraged to download it prior to the transfer. The app can be found in the Apple, Google Play, and Amazon Fire stores, or on the library’s eCommunity website at ecommunity.kckpl.org. For more information, contact econtentlibrarian@kckpl.org.

BPU to meet Wednesday

The Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities will meet for a regular and work session on Wednesday, July 7.

The work session will begin at 5 p.m. Wednesday, followed by the regular session at 6 p.m.

On the agenda for the work session are a board update and general manager update; and future board work session topics.

On the agenda for the regular session is a public comment time, a Central Avenue Betterment Association report, general manager and staff reports, Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) program update, preliminary financial presentations, May financial report, miscellaneous comments and board comments.

The BPU meeting on July 7 will be conducted by telephone and the internet, according to a spokesman. Board offices are not open to the public.

There also will be a BPU Finance Committee meeting at 4:15 p.m.

The public may listen to the board meetings through the telephone and internet. They also may make public comments during the public comment portion of the meeting.

The Zoom meeting is at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84523139724.

To join by telephone, call, toll free, 1-888-475-4499.

The meeting ID number is 845 2313 9724.

The board meeting information packet is online at https://www.bpu.com/Portals/0/pdf/board-information-packet-7-7-21.pdf.

Members of the community who wish to speak to the board during the regular session must be logged in to the Zoom meeting via the internet using their browser or the Zoom application. Members of the public will be asked to raise their hand to signal they wish to address the board.

During the public comment section of the agenda, community members will be asked to provide their name and address and will then have 5 minutes to speak.

To raise your hand, click on the “Raise Hand” feature at the bottom of the application or window or press *9 if connected by phone only.

Pierson Park restroom damaged

The Unified Government Parks and Recreation Department posted a photo on social media Sunday of damage done to the Pierson Park restroom. It was a new restroom, open since April, according to officials. The restroom showed damage from fireworks. According to UG parks officials, it is illegal for individuals to shoot fireworks in the city and county parks. There was a public fireworks display at Pierson Park this past weekend. Any illegal activities in the parks may be reported to 913-596-3000, according to officials. (Photo from UG Parks and Recreation Department social media)