Sit. Read. Think.

Voting is now closed. Check back in early August to see the winning designs, and stay tuned for details about Library Card Sign-Up Month this September.

We’re thrilled to announce that voting is officially open for the First Annual Laramie County Library System (LCLS) Library Card Art Contest!

Over the past month, talented artists from all over Laramie County—of all ages—have submitted incredible original artwork in hopes of seeing their design featured on an official Laramie County Library System library card. Now it’s time for you to help decide which designs will represent our community and inspire library users for the coming year!

Vote for Your Favorite Designs
We’ve selected finalists in four age categories. You can vote for one favorite in each group:

• Ages 6 and under
• Ages 7–10
• Ages 11–14
• Ages 15 and up

Your votes will determine which four winning designs will be printed on LCLS library cards available starting September 2, 2025, just in time for Library Card Sign-Up Month!

Voting closes on July 15, 2025. Voting is limited to one vote per person, so choose your favorites carefully!

We’re so excited to celebrate our local artists and showcase the creativity that makes our community shine. Whether you’re a regular library user or just want to support local art, your vote helps put unique, local designs in the hands of readers across Laramie County.

Thank you for helping us bring local art to the library—and to every wallet in town!

Get ready to move, groove, and celebrate creativity at the Pine Bluffs Branch Library! As part of this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, families are invited to join us for Colorful World with Mr. Kneel, an interactive musical performance that promises to be a highlight of the summer.

Event Details:
Thursday, July 17
2–3 p.m.
Pine Bluffs Branch Library
For children and families

Mr. Kneel (Neil McIntyre) is an award-winning hip-hop musician and educator who has spent over twenty years delighting audiences on stage and in the classroom. His high-energy performances blend beatbox, vocal percussion, and clever wordplay to create a musical experience that’s as colorful as it is fun.

A former teacher, Mr. Kneel knows how to connect with kids of all ages—from toddlers to teens. He’s performed in 43 states, six Canadian provinces, over 600 schools and colleges, and 100 public library branches, always sharing a message of creativity, character, and self-respect.

Why You Should Come:

• Experience an interactive show that will have the whole family engaged.
• Celebrate art, music, and reading as part of our Summer Reading Challenge.
• Make lasting summer memories at your local library.

This summer, let’s Color Our World™ together! The Summer Reading Challenge invites readers of all ages to explore how art and reading can transform, uplift, and connect us. We have a full calendar of special events and programs throughout the season—stop by the library or check out our website to see everything we have planned.

Don’t miss this chance to see Mr. Kneel live and make your summer even more colorful!

We can’t wait to see you at the library!

Libby, the popular library reading app, has introduced a helpful new feature—Content Controls—designed to give readers more control over what content appears in the app. Whether you’re setting up Libby for yourself or managing content for a child, these new tools make it easier to customize your digital library experience.

What Are Content Controls?

Content Controls allow users to customize which books, audiobooks, and magazines appear in Libby based on the intended audience for each title. These optional settings apply across all libraries and cards within a single Libby account. If you’d like to set different Content Controls for different library cards—such as one for a child and another for an adult—you can do so by creating separate Libby account logins for each user.

To use Content Controls, a library card must first be added to Libby. Once that’s done, head to the menu (☰) at the bottom center of the app, scroll down to Settings, and tap on Content Controls.

From here, users can choose how Libby handles content for different age groups, including whether mature titles appear in search results, can be sampled, or have visible cover images.

Audience Presets Make It Easy

Libby offers simplified presets to match common reading preferences:

• Libby for Everyone: The default setting. All titles are visible unless you manually apply restrictions.
• Libby for Kids: Filters the library to show only titles for juvenile and young adult audiences. You can apply additional restrictions to young adult content if needed.
• Libby for Grown-Ups: Filters out kids’ titles and defaults to show only general and mature content. Young adult content can be toggled back on if desired.

These presets are a quick way to tailor the app to individual or family needs without setting each restriction manually.

Lock In Your Settings with a Passkey

To keep your content preferences in place, you can lock your settings with a Passkey. This ensures that other users on the device—especially younger readers—can’t change the settings without permission. If you already use a passkey in Libby, it can be applied to Content Controls, or you can create a new one.

New Default Behavior for New Users

Libby has also updated its default behavior for users who haven’t added a library card yet:

• Mature content will not appear in deep search results.
• Mature content cannot be sampled.

Once a card is added, users can adjust these settings however they’d like.

Want to explore the new feature? Open Libby, go to the Menu, tap Settings, then select Content Controls to get started. Need help setting up Content Controls? Ask a librarian—we’re happy to help.

Laramie County Library System is thrilled to welcome back magician Kyle Groves for a brand-new magical adventure celebrating reading, imagination, and color. As part of our 2025 Summer Reading Challenge, Kyle will present Colorful Carnival—a dazzling show filled with illusions, laughter, and inspiration.

Prepare to be amazed as magic and storytelling collide in this vibrant, fun-filled performance designed to spark curiosity and keep the joy of reading alive all summer long. With audience participation, clean comedy, and jaw-dropping tricks, Kyle’s show is sure to captivate kids and adults alike.

What to Expect:

• Dazzling Magic Tricks – See the impossible become reality.
• Clean Comedy – Laugh out loud with humor perfect for all ages.
• Interactive Fun – Join the action and become part of the magic.
• Reading Inspiration – Discover how 20 minutes a day can make a world of difference.

Three Performances, Three Unique Audiences

To provide the best experience for everyone, Colorful Carnival will be performed three times on Tuesday, July 8, with each show designed for a specific audience:

Children & Families
10:15–11:00 am | Cottonwood Room, Cheyenne Library
A high-energy, family-friendly show created especially for young readers and their families.

Library for All
12:30–1:15 pm | Cottonwood Room, Cheyenne Library
A welcoming and inclusive performance for teens (16+) and adults with disabilities. Please bring your staff with you to the performance.

All Ages
3:45–4:45 pm | Burns Branch Library
Join us at the Burns branch for a magical afternoon open to everyone.

Celebrate the joy of reading with a show that will leave you laughing, amazed, and inspired. Colorful Carnival is more than a magic show—it’s a celebration of imagination, creativity, and the power of books.

Explore a Powerful Program Helping Students Prepare for College and Career Success

Thursday, July 3
5:30–6:30 pm
Sunflower Room | Laramie County Library
Snacks Provided
Open to incoming 7th–12th grade students and their parents/guardians

Planning for the future can feel overwhelming but GEAR UP Wyoming is here to help students and families take the next step with confidence. Join us for an engaging and informative evening to learn about GEAR UP Wyoming—a program designed to support income-eligible students in grades 7 through 12 on their journey toward higher education and career success.

During this special event, you’ll get an overview of the many free services GEAR UP provides, including:

• College tours that introduce students to life on campus
• Career exploration activities that connect interests to future opportunities
• Skill-building workshops in study habits, financial literacy, goal setting, and more
• Academic support to help students succeed in school today and prepare for college tomorrow
• Family engagement services that empower parents and guardians with the knowledge and tools to support their student’s goals

You’ll also learn how to apply, where services are offered, and what it means to be part of this statewide initiative.

GEAR UP Wyoming (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education totaling $4,019,424 annually with an additional $4,019,424 annually provided by in-kind and scholarship contributions.

This is your chance to discover how GEAR UP Wyoming can open doors, build confidence, and create a plan for success. We’ll provide the snacks—you bring your questions, curiosity, and excitement for the future!