Way Library is pleased to host an exhibit by local artist, Rob Vanitvelt, in commemoration of America's 250th. The paintings depict allegorical statues of American values and will be on display through August.
- As you come in the library vestibule you will see Ceres, goddess of agriculture and the harvest, immediately to your right. The statute itself is part of "The Progress of Railroading" designed by Louis Saint-Gaudens and sculpted by Andrew E. Boseman, located on the facade of Union Station in Washington, D.C.
- In the vestibule on your left is Lady Peace located in California.
- As you go further into the library, you'll see on your right a painting depicting "The Spirit of Progress." this statue symbolizes commerce and was on top of the Montgomery Ward Administration Building in Chicago. The statue was inspired by a similar sculpture done by August Saint-Gaudens and the sculptors are credited as George Mulligan and Joseph Conradi.
- On your left facing into the library, you'll see a painting showing "Statue of Freedom" which adorns the top of the U.S. Capitol. The statue was designed and cast by Thomas Crawford. You can read more about its history on the Architect of the Capitol website.
- In the back right corner of the building by the DVD area, you'll see the Statue of Liberty's torch. The full name for the sculpture is "State of Liberty Enlightening the World" and it is located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. The sculptor was Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and it was dedicated in 1886.
- There are two paintings on the big window along Louisiana Ave. On the left is a depiction of "Contemplation of Justice." This was sculpted by James Earle Fraser in 1935 and is located on the Supreme Court steps . An interesting detail to notice is that the large figure is holding a miniature figure representing Justice.
- On the right side of the windows is a depiction of "Lady Justice". There are many examples of this statue throughout the country. The figure is usually depicted with a blindfold holding both a sword and scales.
There are several programs scheduled around this exhibition:
- Painting Demo with artist Rob Vanitvelt - June 18th at 6 pm
- Painting Tour with artist Rob Vanitvelt - July 2nd at 6 pm
- Painting Tour and discussion and Dr. Ami Pflugrad-Jackisch - July 8th at 6 pm
- Artist Reception - August 28th at 6:30 pm
Way Library is pleased to announce an exciting new way to hear from your favorite authors! Thanks to the Way Public Library Foundation & Friends, we now have the ability to bring you a wide range of talks from bestselling authors and thought leaders through the Library Speakers Consortium. Click to learn more and see our upcoming talks
Looking for some fun activities to do at home? Try these videos produced when the library could not offer in-person programs. Way Public Library has a variety of programs targeted toward elementary and intermediate audiences!
STEAM Eats: Sorbet in a Bag! Let's use some fun science to make sorbet in a bag! We'll use ice, rock salt and juice to make a tasty sorbet. While we make our sorbet, we can listen to a story from the book "Frog and Toad All Year." Items for this experiment will be available at the Way Public Library from 4/19/21 until supplies last.
STEAM: Constellation Projector: Try a little stargazing at home with our latest STEAM activity! Miss Alyssa will show you how to make a simple projector using a craft tube, paper, a rubber band and a flashlight.
STEAM Activity: Coding: Learn about the women who made history by using math and coding to get the first man on the moon. We'll read the picture book: Hidden Figures. Then we'll get our own person on the moon using coding!
STEAM Create: Salt Dough Dinosaur Fossils: Make your own dinosaur fossils out of salt dough in the latest STEAM kit perfect for aspiring paleontologists! Miss Alyssa will take you step by step through the project during this video.
STEAM Create: Gumdrop Bridges: Help the Gingerbread Boy get away from all the hungry creatures that want to eat him! Miss Alisha will read "The Gingerbread Boy" and then demonstrate how to make a "gumdrop bridge" to help get the Gingerbread Boy across the lake.
STEAM Challenge: Make a Fidget Toy for Crankenstein: How can we calm down Crankenstein? We'll read Crankenstein by Samantha Berger. Then we'll create a fidget toy to help our Crankenstein. Materials for the craft are available at Way Public Library from Oct 12-Nov 16, 2020.
STEAM Challenge: Takeoff: Miss Alyssa shares two airborne STEAM projects and a space story in this video for elementary children! The supplies may be available at the library for pick up from 9/14/20-10/12/20.
Natalie Dielman is leading book discussion groups using Facebook Groups. She is currently moderating a discussion group on "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas and also a more generalized Online Book Group for you to share your love of books with people in your community.
The Way of the Whale (Reading "The Count of Monte Cristo" discussion group). Adults.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/215143109751756/
Next up for the big reads group is "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas. Here we'll post discussion questions, literary analysis, and interesting facts about the book. Online discussions will take place Sundays at 7 pm August 16th-November 8th.
Stephanie Coil coordinates adult craft kits and classes at Way Library. In 2025, the craft classes are held quarterly as 90-minute, in-person sessions. During months without an in-person program, adult craft kits are offered on select dates. While supplies are limited, instructions and supply lists are made available online, allowing anyone to recreate the craft at their convenience.
Do you have questions about one of these crafts? Contact Stephanie Coil at
