The opportunity to rent out books from Roald Dahl, Zora Neale Hurston and CDs from Ke$ha or Ella Fitzgerald has been a big enough incentive to have Columbia residents clamoring for more.
The Daniel Boone Regional Library prides itself on having high-quality public library services and serving citizens in the Boone and Callaway counties. It also utilizes the latest CDs, fiction books and non-fiction books. The reference and information resources provide current, accurate and useful information in many formats for all ages.
The Columbia Public Library has been an institution in Columbia since the 1950s but the current building has been occupied since 2002.
The library also offers many services in audiobooks, bookmobiles and eBooks and has an abundance of computers with Wi-Fi and Internet connections. There are also book discussions for youth in order to connect them with material suited for their age group, computer classes for those wanting to connect further with the digital world and notably, the One Read program.
One Read is where adults of all ages pick a book out of a selection of more than 100 book selections. The list will be narrowed down to two to three choices in which the children will read and then have discussions about. The program involves cities, counties, media, schools and businesses that encourage adults to read one book and participate in discussions and activities.
Children’s librarian Angela Scott said the library is often expanding, especially with its children section.
“We’ve added a kid’s portion of the digital branch so that children can listen to their favorite records and books easier along with an improvement in our virtual library,” she said.
Sophomore Stacy Stewart said although she does not go to the library often, she likes the fact that many people from MU do not go to the library and she has more space because of it.
“I get to really relax and get some good studying in at the same time, which makes the studying experience much better,” she said. “Ellis is a good place to go, but too many times it can get a little loud and rowdy, which can mess up the studying rhythm that I like to make for myself.”
Scott said many times it could be the lack of knowledge of the existence of the library and the libraries specialties compared to Ellis Library that amounts to the lack of MU student presence at the library.
“It depends on the person’s major sometimes too, along with the libraries guide to different access,” she said.
Junior and lifelong Columbia resident Katherine Jones said it’s more than a little peace and quiet that appeals to her.
“The CDs are really good and I can’t complain about not having some distance from college students — it just makes my studying time easier,” she said. “Also, I love the murals because it gives the library some identity, especially when I helped paint a part of it.”
Scott said better accessibility in certain areas of the Columbia Public Library makes it an easier alternative to going to Ellis for the common MU student.
“Our parking and membership are free — which is always a good thing — along with our databases which are growing all the time and not as confusing as Ellis’ can be,” she said. “We also have weekly publishers along with the children’s program and current items for all to look at in.”
Normal hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Monday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, 9a.m. to 5p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
