By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

When considering the resources that are available at the MJB Library, be sure to remember the digital resources. The library webpage https://www.guthriecenter.lib.ia.us is loaded with links to valuable information. Mometrix will prove to be invaluable to students, professionals and job seekers.  

Mometrix eLibrary provides a wide range of study materials to help test-takers, including flashcards, practice tests and guides, covering subjects from foundational education to specialized trades and advanced academic fields. Funded by an appropriation from the Iowa Legislature, this online resource is available to all Iowa residents.  

To access this resource, go to the library website and select “Online Resources.” The first option in the pull-down menu will be Mometrix eLibrary. Once at that link, users will need to create an account, which only requires a working email and a password.

The site has a tutorial video to help users get started. Once users are comfortable with the site, they can go to the page with test categories. Sixteen categories include business, college admissions and placement, financial insurance and real estate, K-12, public service and legal, construction and industry, medical professionals, nursing, and teaching.  

Each category has some study aids, including PDFs of study guides, and interactive study materials, including practice test questions, flashcards and practice tests. Each exam is hyperlinked to the materials relating to the topic. Within study guides and instructional videos are hyperlinks to take users directly to additional information relating to the topic. Some other user-friendly features are the ability to change font sizes and to flag flash cards to review later. 

In addition to more than 150 exams, the site also features a wealth of employment resources. Mometrix covers the following job-related topics:

• Employment resources
• Common interview questions
• Questions to ask in an interview
• Updating your resume
• How to negotiate a job offer
• Selecting a career or job
• How to apply for financial aid
• How to apply for scholarships
• How to apply for college online
• How to apply for jobs online
• Job interview tips

Contact information is provided to reach someone who runs the site in the event that the site is lacking something the user is looking for. All of this is free online to access from the library’s website. Set up is quick and easy, and the materials are current and comprehensive. Students, professionals who need to take exams, and job seekers will find this to be a very useful, user-friendly, free site that is available for all Iowans. The link is on the MJB Library website. 

February youth programs include LEGO Mania Day at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11, and Creation Corner at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 18. These events are available to youth of all ages, though pre-registration is preferred. Preschool story hour will be at 10 a.m. each Friday. This coming Friday will focus on Valentine’s Day, while owls are the topic of the Feb. 20 story hour; cookies are the subject for Feb. 27.

Cardmaking Class will have its monthly gathering on Thursday, Feb. 19, from 9-11 a.m. Participants are reminded that all necessary materials are provided for a $5 fee. Cookbook Club also meets on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m.  Those who wish to come to the meeting are invited to stop at the library to choose a recipe from the featured cookbook to prepare and bring to the meeting.

Reads Well With Others Evening Book Club will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 5 p.m. to discuss the Freida McFadden thriller, “The Tenant.” Copies are available in large or regular print to check out. 

Patrons are reminded that our weekly adult events are open to anyone in the community. Cribbage meets each Monday from 9-11 a.m. Craft and Connect meets weekly from 4- 6 p.m. on Monday. Wednesdays from 9-11 a.m. are when the Bridge Class meets. 

This month’s quilt is not only beautiful but also rich in local history. On loan from Lisa Calvert, this quilt was created in 1939 by the Seely W.C.T.U. Ladies as a fundraising project. The cream-colored fabric between the fan patterns features embroidered signatures. These names were included as part of the fundraising effort, with each signature costing 10 cents to add to the quilt. When it was finished, the quilt was auctioned off and purchased by Anna Cotes, the highest bidder. Anna Cotes, part of the original Sheeder family that settled in the Guthrie Center area, passed the quilt to her only daughter, Ella Garloch, who had three children (Roger Garloch, Marjorie Calvert and Lela Schwartz) with her husband, Bryan Garloch. This quilt has been in Marjorie’s cedar chest. Marjorie and her husband, Kenneth Calvert, had six children — Ron Calvert, Sharon Prunty, Karen Brown, Jim Calvert, Cathy McEntee and Randy Calvert. Prunty, who is now the keeper of the quilt, loans it to her sister-in-law, Lisa Calvert, who is sharing it with the library and our patrons for February. Stop in and take a look at this little bit of Guthrie County history.

The February display in the library display case also reflects local history. Loaned to the library by Bryan Crowder is a display of Iowa High School State Basketball Tournament Memorabilia. The display includes tournament programs, many of which feature Guthrie Center teams, state basketball yearbooks, clippings from the local Guthrie Center paper about the tournaments, a trophy and tickets from the 1963 girls state tournament games. The memorabilia will be on display through the end of the month.