So much more than just books
By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette
Summer reading program (SRP) participants, we are entering the final stretch of our “Plant a Seed, Read!” program. So, young readers, push on to complete those reading logs to enter our prize drawing. Remember to turn in all SRP logs and Bingo challenges to the front desk no later than closing on Thursday, June 25, to be entered into the prize drawing.
On Wednesday, June 24 at 2 p.m., the Guthrie County Extension will host the workshop titled “Wax to Crayons.” At 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, the Farm Bureau will hold a youth event called “What is a Seed?” for kids of all ages. On Friday, June 26, the big end of SRP will begin at 10:30 a.m. Prize drawings will be held first, followed by an exciting foam party. Preschool families are reminded that there will be no story hour on Friday due to the SRP foam party. All ages are invited to participate in the foam party, so we are still looking forward to seeing our preschool families, too. Bring a towel and prepare for a great celebration.
Remember, even though our SRP ends on Friday, summer reading should continue. “Books and Bikes” is an MJB Library program that continues through the month of July. Open to youth preschool through sixth grade, MJB Library is partnering with Masonic Lodge, Orange Lodge No. 123, to promote academic success through this reading program. For each book a child reads between June 1 and July 31, 2026, they will get an entry for the drawing for a bike donated by the Masonic Orange Lodge No. 123. Each Guthrie Center Elementary School student should have received a reading log for this program in the end-of-school envelope that the library sent home. Contact the library for questions or additional reading logs.
In addition, preschoolers are invited to sign up for our program called “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten.” Preschoolers and their caregivers can log each book they read and are rewarded for every 100 books read until they reach 1,000. Parents of newborns through 5-year-olds should sign their child up for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which sends a new book to the child monthly from birth until they start kindergarten. Both programs are completely free of charge for the family.
Next time you visit the library, see the list of additional summer reading opportunities sponsored by various businesses and programs. The list is at the front desk and offers great reading incentives to motivate young readers to keep reading.
In July, LEGO Mania Day will be at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8. The Farm Bureau will present two programs next month, including “Apples and Orchards” on Thursday, July 9, at 1 p.m. and “Grains We Grow” at 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 23.
Be sure to check the MJB Library website and community calendar for our summer program schedule. The programs will continue throughout the summer, even though our official SRP is done on Friday.
Adventure passes are available to library patrons from Guthrie Center who are age 18 or older to be used once every 365 days at each of the three venues: The Blank Park Zoo, The Des Moines Science Center and the Museum of Danish America. These passes allow free admission for two adults and two children, making a family day trip much more affordable.
Adults, remember our programs continue all summer. Cribbage continues each Monday at 9 a.m., while bridge class meets each Wednesday at 9 a.m. Canasta gathers on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m. Since there are five Tuesdays in June, canasta will also be played on Tuesday, June 30, at 1 p.m.
Book clubs meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. The group that meets on the second Tuesday, Between the Covers, meets at 3 p.m., while the other group meets at 5 p.m.
Craft and Connect, a group of creative patrons who like to work on projects while chatting with each other, meets each Monday from 4-6 p.m.
Remember that the MJB Library is closed Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4, in observance of our nation’s 250th birthday celebration. Stop in before then to check out our displays of adult and youth books that highlight our country’s history.
Below are some amazing photos from three of our summer reading events this week, made possible by “Funds received through Communities 4 Children and Community Partnerships for Protecting Children, neighborhood/Community Network Mini Grants.”
The library is hosting the Fourth Annual Friends of the Guthrie Center Public Library golf tournament on Saturday, June 27. Visit https://www.guthriecenter.lib.ia.us/friends-library/golf-tournament-fundraiser to register.
Friends of the Guthrie Center Library has T-shirts for sale. Visit https://gc-friendsofthelibrary.itemorder.com/shop/category/669259/ to get yours.
The presenters helped with the candle craft.
The Candle making craft at the Beeman workshop was very popular with the youth who attended.
One of the stations at the creation station workshop was a nature match game.
The Perler bead station was popular with our creative summer readers.
The Summer Reading Program Creation Station day had a Perler bead station, a bookmark station, a coloring station, a match game station, and the last station was Create Your Own Trail Mix.
Creating an avocado with beads requires a lot of concentration.
Fingerprint picture bookmarks were popular.
The coloring station at the creation station day was a great place for kids to be creative and relax.
Last Thursday’s presentation entitled “Mesozoic Adventures Funny Farm” was popular with SRP attendees.
