We are halfway through a year in which we hoped we would see a full recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re not quite there yet, but I’m happy to say that the Daniel Boone Regional Library is working to restore services to some semblance of normalcy.

Congratulations to the “pawsome” winners of the 2021 Pet Photo Contest! The winners and their humans received gift cards to local bookstores. See the creative and adorable winning photographs here.

In July, the Daniel Boone Regional Library added a new Missouri Bicentennial Collection to its Community History Archive. The library digitized several books from its reference collection that are important documents related to the history of Boone and Callaway Counties.

Inspired by this year’s One Read book “Furious Hours,” we invite Mid-Missouri artists ages 16 and older to contribute works that explore the experience of careful observation, investigation or the revelation of something previously unknown.

The exhibit will take place September 1-24 and can be viewed in person at the September 3 First Friday reception or virtually at orrstreetstudios.com.

Many of us have spent lots more time reading during the pandemic. Some of the books were great, and others not so much. With so many titles on the library’s shelves, how do you know which ones you’ll enjoy? Our library staff know where to direct you based on your personal interests and preferences, and you don’t have to come into the library to get their advice.

Nate Suttenfield was born and raised in Holts Summit where he currently lives with his wife, Amie, and his three beautiful children. He graduated from high school in New Bloomfield, then attended William Woods University on a baseball scholarship, where he graduated with a degree in psychology.

He’s currently the associate executive director for Cole County Residential Services, Inc., an organization providing residential, respite and community-based services to individuals with developmental disabilities.

The community voted to read “Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee” by Casey Cep for this year’s One Read program. Last November, the library received more than 230 suggestions for what to read in 2021, and this April 833 people voted for their preferred title. The other title considered this year was the novel “The Resisters” by Gish Jen.

“During the 20 years of One Read, this is the second time a true crime nonfiction book has been selected,” said One Read co-chair Lauren Williams. “Coincidentally, the first time we asked for the community to vote for the One Read book, the winner was “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. This year’s book is partly about her.”

Did you lose your job during the pandemic or are you ready to make a job change? Whatever situation you’re in, there are free online tools available through the library’s website to help you get your full unemployment benefits, improve your job skills and get back in the swing of searching for employment. All you need is a free library card to use these employment tools.

The One Read reading panel of community members from Boone and Callaway Counties narrowed the list of more than 230 book suggestions for the 2021 One Read title to two top contenders. From April 5-24, you can cast your vote for either “Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee” by Casey Cep or “The Resisters” by Gish Jen.

Vote online at oneread.org.