Older Adults Also Benefit From Creative Learning

Posted on Monday, June 30, 2025

senior students in When I was director of the Johnson City Public Library in Tennessee, I was introduced to a national initiative called “Seeding Artful Aging.” The program’s goals were to demonstrate the power and impact of creative aging programs and to encourage the development of arts education programs for older adults. Creative arts programs are key in fighting ageism, or discrimination based on age, by redefining how society views older adults. When older adults are able to highlight their strengths, or gain new strengths, they are positioned to showcase themselves as active creators and learners.

Meet the Foundation Board: Helen Washburn

Posted on Monday, June 16, 2025

Helen Washburn stands in the Columbia Public Library with large hanging artwork and book shelves in the backgroundHelen Washburn grew up in Idaho and spent a lot of time in the Boise Public Library which was a lovely Carnegie building. She says, “I was always encouraged to read as much as I wanted and when I wanted.” Helen served as the president of Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri for 18 years before retiring to Columbia. She has lived in Boone County for 21 years and served on the DBRL Foundation board for seven years.

Drawing on Art to Improve Reading

Posted on Friday, June 13, 2025

a child holds up a drawing he made while other children and parents do crafts at tables in the backgroundLiteracy begins with a baby’s earliest experiences with books. Snuggling with a little one and pointing out the pictures as you read along helps the child understand the words you’re reading. Pictures have been a part of our desire for information since prehistory, when people made the famous cave paintings at Lascaux in Europe and the pictographs in ancient Iraq and Egypt. They can illustrate something concrete like an apple or inspire an emotion, memory or make us recall a well-known story such as a girl with long hair in a tower.

Donate Period Products at All Library Branches

Posted on Thursday, May 1, 2025

Donate period products May 1-31 with illustrations of a tampon and a padThroughout May we are celebrating Women’s Health Week at the library by focusing on a basic need of many. There are people in our community unable to go to work or attend school because they don’t have the money to buy period supplies. This affects their mental well-being, their earning potential and their opportunity to learn. You can help break the cycle of period poverty. The library is hosting a period product drive at all of our locations to benefit our local communities.

What We Learned From the Community Survey

Posted on Monday, March 24, 2025

text saying Thanks to the randomly selected 1,398 people in Boone and Callaway Counties who took time to answer our survey, we have a better sense of what we’re doing right and where we can improve. The information will also be valuable when we begin drafting our next long-range strategic plan.

A Note From the Director

Posted on Friday, March 21, 2025

head-and-shoulders photo of DBRL Executive Director Robin WestphalWhat a true joy and privilege it’s been to start my journey as executive director of the Daniel Boone Regional Library! I joined the DBRL team November 25, 2024 and have enjoyed getting to know our staff, our patrons and members of the DBRL Foundation and Friends of the Library.

Columbia has been my home since 2020, and DBRL has been an integral part of my personal life, because, like many of you, a trip to the public library has always been a part of my normal routine.

What to Do on a Dreary Day

Posted on Monday, March 3, 2025

DBRL website on a laptop screenThe weather outside is still dreary, but you’ve deleted all of your junk email and finally removed the dust bunnies from under the couch. Now you’re ready for some indoor relaxation and fun. You could get out the puzzle you’ve assembled time and time again, or discover engaging online services from your library!

Meet the New Executive Director

Posted on Monday, November 25, 2024

head-and-shoulders photo of DBRL Executive Director Robin WestphalThe library’s board of trustees and staff warmly welcome Robin Westphal as the new executive director of Daniel Boone Regional Library. She brings a wealth of experience to our organization and the communities we serve.

Meet the Board: Seth Christensen

Posted on Friday, November 15, 2024

head-and-shoulders portrait of library trustee Seth ChristensenMeet library trustee Seth Christensen, who moved to Columbia for law school and now serves as the managing attorney at American Outdoor Brands, Inc. The son of a librarian, Seth says, “Libraries are a rare public space where people can just exist without there being an expectation for them to spend money.”