Entries by Lori Crockett

Summer Reading is Coming Soon!

This summer, dig a little deeper, because incredible stories are waiting to be uncovered! Join us at Joplin Public Library for Summer Reading with the theme “Unearth a Story”!  Every book is a new discovery. From towering dinosaurs to ancient civilizations, adventure is buried on every page and in every program, just waiting for curious […]

Coming Soon!

Big news is making a splash at the Library! We’re thrilled to announce plans for an exciting new indoor waterpark, right inside the Children’s area. Imagine winding water slides weaving through the stacks, a lazy river circling the picture books, and a splash zone perfect for cooling off after Storytime. Don’t worry, we’ll have plenty […]

Help Design Our 2026 Summer Reading Bookmark!

Summer is just around the corner, and that means one of our favorite traditions is coming back—Summer Reading at the Library! We’re busy planning a season full of books, prizes, programs, and plenty of fun for readers of all ages. Whether you’re diving into page-turning adventures, exploring new nonfiction topics, or revisiting old favorites, Summer […]

Grant Award Brings Switch Games to Teen Department

Joplin Public Library is excited to add a new Nintendo Switch gaming cart for use in Teen programming, thanks to a recently awarded Bramlage & Willcoxon Foundation grant. The new gaming cart includes approximately 20 games designed to encourage collaboration and creative thinking.  Because of the grant award, the Library was able to purchase the […]

hoopla Service to be Discontinued October 31, 2025

After thoughtful consideration, and passing of a balanced budget for fiscal year 2026, Joplin Public Library has made the difficult decision to discontinue our hoopla service effective October 31, 2025.  Why is Joplin Public Library (JPL) discontinuing hoopla? Like many libraries across the country, we’ve found that hoopla’s pay-per-use model is no longer sustainable, especially […]

Hispanic Heritage Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15-October 15 to give recognition to the Hispanic and Latino history and culture, as well as the many contributions made to United States history and culture by the Hispanic American communities. Starting as a week-long celebration in 1968, it was expanded to a month in 1988. The […]

Library Card Sign-Up Month

This September, Joplin Public Library invites you to celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month and discover how a single card can open the door to endless opportunities. With a library card, you can do more than check out books. From free classes and job resources to homework help, streaming media, and fun events, today’s libraries connect […]

EnChroma Colorblind Glasses at Joplin Public Library

Joplin Public Library has partnered with EnChroma’s Color Accessibility Program, which helps public venues, schools, state parks, libraries, museums, and other organizations purchase and loan EnChroma glasses to patrons.  Because of this program, the Library’s art gallery and the Joplin community will now be more accessible to colorblind patrons due to the purchase of three […]