Albany County library teams with UW art museum for kids' event

Children will view and create art through a collaboration between Albany County Public Library and the University of Wyoming Art Museum, giving Laramie families a low-cost way to reach hands-on arts programming without leaving town. For parents and caregivers, the practical draw is simple: the library at 310 S. 8th Street already serves as a familiar public space, and the museum is close by in the Centennial Complex at 2111 East Willett Drive.

The University of Wyoming Art Museum says it offers a year-round source of education and entertainment for the entire family and was created to serve the people of Wyoming and those who visit the state. Its public materials say educational programs and tours can be scheduled for any age group and tailored to participants’ interests and developmental needs, with regular tours for preschool, K-12, college, special education classes and community groups. The museum also points families to monthly Family Saturday Workshops, where kids can view and create art.

That existing programming matters because it shows the library partnership is not a one-off gesture. The museum already hosts holiday events, artist talks and drop-in meditations, and its educational outreach reaches school groups from pre-K through high school. In October 2024, the museum also held a reception for ACSD1 Premier Show, featuring student artwork from the 2023-24 academic year in partnership with Albany County School District.

On the library side, Albany County Public Library describes itself as a place for children and families to gather for fun and learning through weekly and monthly storytimes, afterschool activities and special events. The Albany County Public Library Foundation says youth programs and special events, including the all-ages Summer Reading Program, are free and family-friendly. Its materials list Book Babies, Family Storytime, Kids Lego Club and Maker’s Club among the offerings, while the library has also featured StoryWalk® as an outdoor reading experience for kids and families.

The practical value for Albany County is access. A museum visit can be hard to fit into a household schedule, especially during summer, when parents are balancing work, child care and transportation. By bringing art programming into the library’s orbit, the two institutions are widening the circle of children who can take part in creative learning close to home, without turning a family outing into a major expense or a long trip across town.