As a 60th anniversary project, we’ve been adding more historical images of library services, staff and patrons into the online Community History Archive.

We have also created new galleries of photos related to specific subjects, like the construction of the first 100 W. Broadway building or the “La Colomba” sculpture that sits outside the Columbia Public Library. Take a look!

Back in the 1950s, the Missouri State Library promoted the formation of regional library systems throughout the state. Several Mid-Missouri library districts recognized the value of this initiative and came together to form the Daniel Boone Regional Library (DBRL) system in 1959. Today DBRL serves 223,303* people throughout Boone and Callaway Counties.

*Based on U.S. Census projections for 2017.

Many non-profit community groups use public meeting space at our libraries. Now it’s even easier to reserve meeting and study rooms through our new online reservation system. You can see a live view of which rooms and times are available and request a reservation with a few clicks. Room reservation requests will also continue to be accepted over the phone.

With the debut of the library’s new Events section, you can now register online for library programs and classes by clicking the “Register” button that appears below an event listing. You will receive email and text reminders of your registration, as well as notifications if an event is canceled or rescheduled. Call-in registrations will also continue to be accepted.

In 1959, several Mid-Missouri library districts came together to form the Daniel Boone Regional Library system. Today DBRL serves 223,303* people throughout Boone and Callaway Counties, and we want to include you in celebrations of our 60-year milestone. As part of our celebrations, we’re featuring displays at two of our libraries. The following are on display throughout October.

This year’s World Kindness Day is November 13, but at the Callaway County Public Library we’re recognizing it all month! Starting Friday, November 1, stop by the library in Fulton to see our kindness display and add your ideas and the ways you’ve shown kindness. All ages are welcome to participate.

Happy spring! Here at DBRL we have been busy working on new services, like opening the new branch in Holts Summit and deploying our new Book Rover to area childcare centers. We’re also gearing up for our annual One Read program and Summer Reading. As busy as we are, we find it is again time to pause a moment to take stock of how we are doing. To help us learn whether we are on track in serving your needs, we will be conducting a survey this summer to get your feedback on our current services, and to ask for suggestions on how we can serve you better.

Tonya Hays-Martin loves libraries. She’s been on the DBRL board of trustees for 10 years, she works as a librarian at Fulton State Hospital and, while traveling, she visits libraries along the way, making sure to capture a selfie in front of each one. Tonya currently lives in Calwood with her husband John. They have two sons and a granddaughter. And she has passed on her passion to her family — one of her sons completed his library sciences degree and is now working as a professional librarian.

We understand that demands on families may make getting to a library a challenge, so we are reaching preschoolers where many spend their weekdays: at a child care center.

Thanks to many people and businesses who donated more than $158,000 through the Daniel Boone Regional Library Foundation, we were able to buy the Book Rover entirely through private funding. The Book Rover is a specialized van that comes equipped with shelves that we load with books. The children and teachers we visit at child care centers browse through the mini collection and check out what they want. They can read the books on the spot or take them home. While there, we also offer story times and mentoring to child care staff on how to incorporate school readiness skills into their daily activities.