By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

During an ordinary week, the Mary J Barnett Memorial Library is a hive of activity. Groups meet in the Taylor meeting room for bridge club, cribbage games, card making club and cookbook club. Children rush through the door after school to play games, use the STEM table and maker space, read books and use tablets. People use computers, check out books, movies, puzzles and board games. Some people come in to socialize, drink a cup of coffee, or put some pieces in place in the communal jigsaw puzzle. Patrons send faxes, make copies and get help with problems they have with their electronic devices. Preschoolers and parents play in the interactive play space while older kids use the electronic game table. For many reasons, people are drawn to the library. 

April 6-12 is National Library Week, and the theme is Drawn to the Library. May I suggest you take a moment to see what your library has that might draw you to it. We have programs and resources for patrons of all ages and interests. Having a library card also provides you with access to many digital resources such as Libby, which provides library card holders access to ebooks, digital magazines, and audio books. The library truly has something for everyone at every age and interest level. If you doubt this, watch this space for events and programs we offer.  

Story Hour

Preschoolers and their caregivers are welcome to join us each Friday at 10 a.m. to have fun with stories and crafts. This week, on March 28, the topic will be bugs. 

Book Clubs 

Between the Covers book club meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 3 p.m. This month’s book is “James” by Percival Everett. “James” is a brilliant retelling of Huckleberry Finn from the viewpoint of James, the slave who overhears that he is about to be sold away from his wife and daughter. James hides on Jackson Island where he runs into Huck Finn who has faked his death to escape his violent father. James and Huck begin a dangerous journey down the Mississippi River on a raft  toward the promise of Free States. While much of the original story remains, the intelligence and compassion displayed by James shows the story in a radically new light. Stop in and check out a copy today.

Reads Well with Others book club meets the fourth Tuesday of each month from 5-6 p.m. The April book will be “The Briar Club” by Kate Quinn. Set in 1959 Washington, D.C., the book focuses on residents of the all-female boarding house, Briarwood House. When the mysterious widow Grace March moves into the attic rooms, she draws the oddball collection of neighbors into unlikely friendship. Capturing the paranoia of the McCarthy era, and highlighting the changing roles of women in post-war America, “The Briar Club” is an intimate and thrilling novel of secrets and loyalty put to the test. We still have copies available for those who would like to join us. 

After School STEM activities

On Wednesday, April 9, the library will be hosting a LEGO Mania Day at 2 p.m. Students of all ages are invited to stop by for a challenging STEM activity using LEGOs.  

Monday, April 21, the library will be showing a youth movie, “Moana 2,” at 12:30 p.m. Following the movie, there will be some coloring and activities. At 3:30 p.m., a Guthrie STEM Lab will be featured.  

Creation Corner, youth craft time will be available for school-age children beginning at 2 p.m. on April 30. For each of these youth activities, students must pre-register either through the link on Facebook, a phone call, or email to the library. We only have spots for 25 children for the activities. 

Story hour participants decorate their Z’s with zebra stripes.

Brooks uses the alphabet tiles to work on his ABC’s.

Miss Cass read books about the alphabet to the preschoolers at story hour on March 21.