A successful library summer reading program concluded with 42 children receiving prizes for completing 10 weeks of meeting their reading goals. A total of 87 children registered for the program and children who met their goals for 8 and 9 weeks received cash prizes. 43 teens and adults were registered for the program with 20 completing the 10-week goal-based program. The Niobrara County Library, Friends of the Library, Library Foundation and individual donors provided the prizes for children and adults.
“Route 66 – American Highways” is the theme for the fall book discussion series. Route 66 is one of the first national highways for motor vehicles in the United States and one that became an icon in American popular culture. In November of 2026 the route celebrates its 100thanniversary. The discussion series includes books that celebrate not only Route 66 but American Highways. Tina Kitras-Seaman returns to facilitate the series. Stop by the library to register and pick up the first book in the series, “Travels with Charley: In Search of America” by John Steinbeck.
Library afterschool programs, K-2 on Tuesdays and 3-6 on Thursdays, are in process – stop by the library to find out more and register your children!
In conjunction with Dino Days the library is hosting “The Fireants” in concert on Friday, August 22 at 5 p.m. at the Niobrara County Fairgrounds (4080 US Hwy 20). The band plays a variety of music of the Americas—Cajun Creole, Tejano and Norteño, Quebecois, Basque, Colombian Coastal Cumbia, Trinidadian Calypso, and Brazilian Forr. This event is funded by the Niobrara County Library Foundation.
A new novel is “The Frozen People” by Elly Griffiths. Ali Dawson and her cold case team investigate crimes so old they are frozen – or so their inside joke goes. Nobody knows that her team has a secret: they can travel back in time to look for evidence – only this time Ali finds herself trapped and unable to make her way back to her son, who is battling his own accusations in the present day.
Other new fiction books include “The High Missouri” by Win Blevins, “Story of My Life” by Lucy Score, “West of Yesterday” by William Colt MacDonald, “Sunrise Reef” by Irene Hannon, “Boot Hill Silver” by E.E. Halleran, and “When a Rogue Meets His Match” by Elizabeth Hoyt. A new young book is “Glorious Rivals” by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.
New nonfiction books are “Top Ten Ideas of Physics: Foundations for Understanding the Universe” by A. Zee and “Each Life is a Philosophy: Poems from a Human Condition” by John Edward Budris.
The Lenna Lewis Slagle Children’s Library has these new chapter books “Penny Draws a First Crush” by Sara Shepard and “Elk Hunt Adventure” by Monica Roe. A few of the new easy books include “Yeti is Not Ready for School” by Leigh Anne Carter, “Norman and the Smell of Adventure” by Ryan Higgins and “Everyday Bean” by Stephanie Graegin.
“Cowgirls and Cowboys!” is the theme for Storyhour on August 26, 2025. Storyhour is held from 10 to 11 a.m. every Tuesday throughout the year for preschool-aged children. Call 307-334-3274 anytime to hear a recorded story! Dial-A-Story is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
Visit the library’s website by going to https://niobraracountylibrary.org. Choose the Genealogy or Historical tabs to browse local history and genealogy! You can also search our library collection by clicking on WyldCat! Your library card number and PIN give you access where needed.
Library hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Wednesday 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.