What's Happening at YOUR Library?

Track your child's or your family's reading this summer by registering for our Summer Reading Club!

The club runs from June 2 to August 2, and it's open to children ages 0–5, 6–12, and friends and families. Once registered, you can pick up a punch card from our clerk staff to track your reading with every book you check out.

Register based on your child’s age group, or sign up to three people using our friends and family registration option. Each person can only be registered in one age group at a time. A library card is required to register yourself or your child.

Fill up your punch card and return it to the front desk for a chance to earn a grand prize at the end of our summer program! You can pick up a new punch card each time you return a completed one to keep tracking your reading all summer long.

Click one of the links below to register, then ask a staff member for your punch card!

• 0-5 Registration Form: Ages 0-5 Reading Club Registration Form
• 6-12 Registration Form: Ages 6-12 Summer Library Program Reading Club Registration Form
• Friends and Family Registration Form: Family and Friends Summer Library Program Reading Club Registration Form

Get creative (and a little messy!) at this deliciously fun event at the Annapolis Library on Wednesday, July 2 at 10 AM. Learn decorating tips and techniques from a seasoned baker—and make your own sweet masterpiece!

Best for ages 7 and up. Registration is required:
Cookie Decorating Party!

Get crafty with us on Thursday, July 3 and learn how to make your very own stickers! This simple, hands-on activity is something kids will love.

Best for ages 5 and up — younger children may need a little help from a grown-up.

• Fredericktown Library – 10 AM
• Ironton Library – 2 PM

Music Story Time is coming to your library!

Little ones will love this energetic story time all about music! We'll read fun stories, sing lively songs, and get moving with interactive activities--perfect for Pre-K children.

All story times begin at 10 AM:

Annapolis - Mon, July 7 Viburnum - Tues, July 8
Ironton - Wed, July 9
Fredericktown - Thurs, July 10

Art Focaccia with Grown and Gathered Heirloom Farms!

Join us on Monday, July 14 for a deliciously creative experience where you'll learn how to bake and decorate beautiful focaccia bread that looks as good as it tastes! This program is best suited for adults.

Ironton Library - 10 AM
Fredericktown Library - 2 PM

Registration is recommended for a hands-on experience -- sign up here: Art Focaccia

Shiver Me Paintbrush - A Puppet Show Adventure!

Set sail for fun as What IF Puppets (all the way from Kansas City!) bring their whimsical puppet show Shiver Me Paintbrush to Ozark Regional Library. This high-energy, family-friendly performance is perfect for all ages!

Ironton Library - Wednesday, July 16 at 10 AM
Fredericktown Library - Wednesday, July 16 at 2 PM

Kids can dive into the world of electrical and mechanical engineering through hands-on play using real robotics kits! Led by Matt Ursch of Positive Energy Electrical Contractors, this class is all about discovery, creativity, and inspiring future builders and makers. This class is best suited for ages 8 and up.

Fredericktown Library - Friday, July 18 at 10 AM Ironton Library - Friday, July 18 at 2 PM

Join us on Monday, July 21, for a fun, hands-on class where young artists will explore creative techniques for adding texture to their artwork! Best suited for ages 9 and up.

- Fredericktown Library – 10:00 AM
- Ironton Library – 2:00 PM

Registration is required: Textured Painting!

Join the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center on Wednesday, July 23 for a fun, hands-on workshop where you’ll use natural dyes and sunlight to make your own colorful bandana! Perfect for ages 10 and up.

- Ironton Library – 10:00 AM
- Fredericktown Library – 2:00 PM

All supplies provided, but registration is recommended to ensure you receive a bandana: Sun Dyeing Bandanas

Get crafty with us in a hands-on needle felting class on Friday, July 25! Using needles, embroidery hoops, and felt, you’ll create a beautiful picture that comes to life with texture and color. Best suited for ages 8 and up.

- Fredericktown Library – 10:00 AM
- Ironton Library – 2:00 PM

Registration is required due to limited supplies: Needle Felting!

Get excited about colors and nutrition at this fun and interactive story time! In partnership with the MU Extension Office, children will enjoy engaging stories, hands-on activities, and a nutritious (and delicious!) sampler platter — all designed to spark a love of reading and an interest in healthy eating. Best suited for Pre-K childrenh

All story times begin at 10:00 AM:

• Annapolis Library – Monday, July 28
• Viburnum Library – Tuesday, July 29
• Ironton Library – Wednesday, July 30
• Fredericktown Library – Thursday, July 31

We’re partnering with Madison County Recovery Allies, local residents and businesses to begin a new computer UpCycle program!

How it works: If you have an older computer (back to 2010), Mac or Windows, that you no longer use, you can donate it to us and we will be upgrading it to run Linux Mint which is a secure operating system designed to run great on older computers. Once computers are upgraded we will be giving them away to area residents based on a first come, first served basis.

To learn more about Linux and all of the free applications that come installed on an UpCycled computer check out the new Community Computer Upcycle page.

Get ready to explore a world where science and art team up to make stories and learning more exciting than ever! Register online at ozarkregional.org beginning June 2 to track your reading and earn prizes. Check in with your local Ozark Regional Library branch in late May for a complete event calendar.

This project is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, as administered by the Missouri State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.

View the SLP Calendar pdf.

Do you homeschool your kids? We'd love to hear from you! We're looking to connect with local homeschool families so we can share our exciting programs with you. Please click the link below to fill out a short survey so you're the first to know about programs that will enhance your homeschool lessons.

ORL's Homeschool Families

Ozark Regional Library is happy to announce that we are offering digital literacy assessments and training from Northstar Digital Literacy. This free service is provided by a partnership between the Missouri State Library, the REAL (Remote Electronic Access for Libraries) program, and MOREnet.

Northstar Digital Literacy training begins with a selection of assessments which determine how proficient the user is at the targeted skill, such as working with Windows 11 or Microsoft Word. From there, users can take a series of self-guided training sessions and tests to improve their proficiency levels. Users can earn certificates for completing these training modules if they pass the test with 85% or higher (to earn the certificate, users must take the proctored assessment while being proctored at a Northstar location such as Ozark Regional Library). The certificate may be used as proof of technology skills when applying for a job. All assessments and training are free of charge.

Proctors will soon be available at all of our libraries. If you would like to take a proctored assessment please contact the nearest branch of Ozark Regional Library, or contact us via our website at ozarkregional.org.

Click here to begin digital literacy training.

Need help with technology? Come by the library -- appointments are recommended! Use the link below to schedule your time.

Tech Help Schedule:
* Mondays: Ironton - 10 AM-12 PM
* Select Tuesdays (twice a month):
  - Annapolis - 2 PM-4 PM
  - Viburnum - 2 PM-4 PM
* Wednesdays: Fredericktown - 10 AM-12 PM

Technology Help -Make an Appointment

Borrow ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines to read on your phone or tablet using the Libby app by OverDrive. You can even send and read your borrowed ebooks to your Kindle ereader (U.S. only)! It’s free and easy to get started. Learn more at overdrive.com/apps/libby/.

The Voices of the Ozarks project which started in Fredericktown pre-COVID will be renewed and expanded with a focus on family recipes and intergenerational dialogues in 2024!

The goal is to record approximately two (2) interviews per month (one in the Fredericktown library and one in the Ironton library) from April through December of 2024. These short audio recordings will be posted online with photos of the participants, the recipe, and a sample (when possible) to celebrate the past and present of Ozark cuisine. This program is designed to be a recorded dialogue between our older and younger generations, but participants are not required to bring someone with them. Visit ozarkregional.org or call (573) 546-2615 for more information.

Voices of the Ozarks Reservation

Passport Services - Ironton

We offer passport applications and passport acceptance services. We welcome any questions you may have about the passport application process.

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is a nationwide initiative that promotes the joy of story. This free program ranges from newborn to just before kindergarten.