ChromaTome: Books & Broadsides

As part of Laramie County Library System’s ongoing commitment to fostering creativity, literacy, and lifelong learning, we are proud to present our 2025 book arts exhibition, ChromaTome: Books & Broadsides. This annual exhibition invites our community to experience the art of the book in new and unexpected ways—where storytelling moves beyond the written word into a world of color, texture, and design.

Featuring works by artists and printers from across the country, ChromaTome celebrates the book as both a visual object and a narrative force. Whether you’re an avid reader, an art lover, or simply curious, this exhibit offers a unique opportunity to explore how we share meaning through materials, type, and color.

Introduction from exhibit curator, Kayla Clark:

Color can unify or disrupt, clarify or abstract. It communicates emotion, signals identity, encodes memory, and evokes place. Culturally, symbolically, or simply aesthetically, color is a source of narrative—a language that speaks across time and form.

This exhibition explores the intersection of color and text through the tactile, expressive media of book arts and letterpress. As the title ChromaTome suggests (chroma/color and tome/book), the works on view consider how color functions not just as decoration, but as a vital narrative element in the stories we tell and the forms we print.

A group of multidisciplinary artists, printers, designers, and makers were invited to reflect on color as both subject and storyteller. Whether newly created or revisited from their archive, each work presented here contributes to a collective library of visual language—where our personal and cultural palettes shape, fracture, and bind the stories we choose to share.

Enjoy this vibrant exploration of color and its power to shape, challenge, and illuminate the printed page.

Kayla Clark, Curator

This exhibit will be on display July 3 through August 31 on the first floor of the Laramie County Library.

Artist list:

Frank Baseman, Pennsylvania

Kayla Clark, Wyoming

Dan Elliott, Kentucky

Olivia Ewing, Wyoming

Globe Collection and Press, Maryland

Emily Hancock, Virginia

Megan Irwin, Missouri

Rhiannon Jakopak, Wyoming

Jesse Kirsch, Maryland

Epiphany Knedler, South Dakota

Alexander Landerman, Indiana

Winona León, Texas

Marnie Powers-Torrey, Utah

Tim Rickett, South Dakota

Mark Ritchie, New Mexico

Lisa Beth Robinson, North Carolina

Lars Roeder, Wyoming

Beth Sheehan, Alabama

Dana Smessaert, Indiana

Claire White, Indiana

David Wolske, Texas

Image: She Ran with Color by Marnie Powers-Torrey

Public Policy 45-Day Notice

The Laramie County Library System Board of Directors intends to adopt and amend policies relating to the Library Rules. In accordance with the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act (WAPA) WY Stat §16-3-101, the proposed changes/additions are listed here or by inquiring at any service point at all Laramie County Library System locations. Interested parties may send comments to Beth Cook (Deputy Director of Public Service) at 2200 Pioneer Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82001 or bcook@lclsonline.org by July 28, 2025. Interested parties may also present views at a public hearing on July 29, 2025 at 3:30 p.m. at the Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82001.

Happy Birthday, Harry! A Week of Magical Bookish Fun! 

Calling all witches, wizards, and book lovers! Join us for our 9th annual celebration of everyone’s favorite wizard with a magical lineup of events spread across three enchanting days. Whether you’re a seasoned wizard or just discovering the magic, there’s something spellbinding waiting for you at the library. 

This year, we’re turning our traditional single-day bash into a week-long festival of books, magic, and adventure. From thrilling scavenger hunts to intriguing mysteries, there are activities for magic lovers of all ages … some require an RSVP, so make sure to reserve your spot! 

A map & schedule of events is available at the second floor Ask Here desk. 

Tuesday, July 29 

  • Scavenger Hunt, Chamber of Secrets Quest, and Book in a Jar Guessing Game (Available all day) 
    All Ages | Second Floor Ask Here Desk 
  • Luna’s Leisure Room (Chillville) (Available all day) 
    A calming space with sensory-friendly items such as fidget devices, bubbles, and sound machines. Visit the second floor Ask Here desk to access. 
  • Maze, House Sorting, and Magical Moving Green Screen Pictures 
    3–6 pm | Drop-In 
    All Ages | Sage Room and Studio 
  • History of Magic Trivia 
    3–4 pm | Test your knowledge—no signup needed! 
    All Ages | Cottonwood Room 
  • Herbology Class 
    3–6 pm | Drop in and create a magical LEGO® plant for the “Best Plant” contest! 
    All Ages | Willow Room 
  • Potions Class (RSVP Required—limited spots! Signups begin July 14 via Eventbrite.) 
    6–7 pm | Mix magical brews!  
    (Grades 3–9) | Early Literacy Center 

Wednesday, July 30 

  • Scavenger Hunt, Chamber of Secrets Quest, and Book in a Jar Guessing Game (Available all day) 
    All Ages | 2nd Floor Ask Here Desk 
  • Luna’s Leisure Room (Chillville) (Available all day) 
    A calming space with sensory-friendly items such as fidget devices, bubbles, and sound machines. Visit the 2nd floor Ask Here desk to access. 
  • Magical Family Storytime 
    10:15–11am | Dress up and enjoy enchanting tales! 
    Children & Families | Early Literacy Center 
  • The Seeker’s Match (RSVP required—sign up at Ask Here desk or call 307-634-3561 starting July 14) 
    3–5pm | Join a thrilling match of magical broom sports! 
    All Ages | Early Literacy Center 
  • Maze, House Sorting, and Magical Moving Green Screen Pictures 
    3–6pm | Drop-In 
    All Ages | Sage Room and Studio 
  • History of Magic Trivia 
    6–7pm | Another chance to showcase your magical knowledge! 
    All Ages | Cottonwood Room 

Thursday, July 31 – Harry’s Magical Birthday Bash! 

  • Scavenger Hunt, Chamber of Secrets Quest, and Book in a Jar Guessing Game (Available all day) 
    All Ages | 2nd Floor Ask Here Desk 
  • Luna’s Leisure Room (Chillville) (Available all day) 
    A calming space with sensory-friendly items such as fidget devices, bubbles, and sound machines. Visit the 2nd floor Ask Here desk to access. 
  • Maze, House Sorting, and Magical Moving Green Screen Pictures 
    2–4pm | Drop-In 
    All Ages | Sage Room and Studio 
  • Magical Celebration Day 
    2–4pm | Crafts, snacks, and a costume contest at 3:00pm! Plus, winners of the “Best Plant” announced. 
    All Ages | Cottonwood, Willow, Sage Rooms, and Studio 
  • Mystery Party: Toadwort School of Magic & Mayhem (RSVP Required—20 seats. Signups begin July 14 via Eventbrite.) 
    5:30–7:30pm | Solve the hilarious mystery of the missing Philosopher’s Scone. Costumes encouraged! 
    Adults | Cottonwood Room 

We can’t wait to see you at the library for a week filled with magical adventures celebrating the books that brought magic into our lives. Let the festivities begin! 

Join Us for a Family-Friendly Parking Lot Party!

We love seeing families at the library every day—and we’re throwing a special event just for you! On Wednesday, July 16, bring the whole family to our Parking Lot Party at the Cheyenne library from 3–7 pm.

We’re celebrating WyoGives, Wyoming’s statewide day of giving, and we want you to help us mark the occasion with an afternoon of fun, food, and farewell to our beloved Bookmobile.

Here’s what you can look forward to:

  • Chalk art and bubble fun for the kids
  • Free books and other surprises
  • A chance to say goodbye to our old Bookmobile before the new one arrives
  • Noams Food Truck serving up dinner while you enjoy the festivities

Why This Party Matters

Your family knows the library is more than just books—it’s storytimes, summer reading challenges, afterschool programs, creative activities, and a place to discover something new every time you visit.

We’re hosting this party as part of WyoGives because private donations help us keep those experiences going strong. When you support the Laramie County Library Foundation on WyoGives day, you’re making sure your kids—and all families in our community—have access to the programs and services they love.

From Cheyenne, Burns, and Pine Bluffs, to home visits for those who can’t get out, to our Bookmobile that travels 50–60 miles to reach families where they are—we’re committed to serving everyone in Laramie County.

See You at the Library!

We can’t wait to celebrate with you. Bring your kids, bring your friends, and let’s make it an afternoon to remember. Thank you for being part of our library community—and for helping us keep it strong for generations to come.

Help Choose the New Laramie County Library System Library Card Designs!

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!

Colorful World with Mr. Kneel: A Special Summer Reading Challenge Event in Pine Bluffs

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!

Celebrate Creativity: Meet the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge Bookmark Contest Winners 

We are thrilled to share the winning designs from this year’s Summer Reading Challenge Bookmark Contest. Open to all third and fourth grade students in Laramie County, the contest invited young artists to interpret the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge theme—Color Our World™—and show how art can transform, uplift, and connect us. 

As part of this year’s reading challenge, participants of all ages were encouraged to explore the beauty of art and creativity through reading and hands-on activities. The bookmark contest gave students an opportunity to share what Color Our World™ means to them in their own vibrant and imaginative ways. 

After reviewing dozens of creative submissions, library staff selected four winners whose designs stood out for their color, creativity, and how well their artwork would translate to a printed bookmark. Congratulations to this year’s winners: 

  • Quinn Kenney, 4th Grade, Pioneer Park Elementary 
  • Tania De Leon Gonzalez, 4th Grade, Hobbs Elementary 
  • Rhett Lovas, 3rd Grade, Prairie Wind Elementary 
  • Avery Sheets, 4th Grade, Pine Bluffs Elementary 

Their bookmarks have been professionally printed and are now available at all LCLS locations in Cheyenne, Burns, Pine Bluffs, and on the Bookmobile. Each winner also received a custom banner featuring their design, and all contest entries are currently on display at the Cheyenne Library through the end of August. 

New Content Controls in the Libby App

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.

Three Shows, One Magical Day: Don’t Miss Colorful Carnival

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.

What is GEAR UP?

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!