By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette
On Monday, March 10, Library Director Jerri Hawkins and Library Aide Karen Kelly headed to Avoca for some exciting STEM Fair training with the State Library of Iowa. They enjoyed a morning filled with inspiring ideas and activities from presenters representing the State Library, local libraries, and Iowa Public Television — all aimed at bringing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) to life for our young library patrons. Jerri and Karen came back buzzing with new ideas to make our library programs even more engaging.
One fun activity we are looking to introduce involves using Hot Wheels cars and tracks for some hands-on engineering fun. If you have any gently used Hot Wheels cars or tracks that you would like to donate, we would absolutely love to hear from you. Please reach out to the MJB Library, as we would be thrilled to take them off your hands. Thank you for your support.
The library is bursting with activity as spring is beginning. We are offering Cribbage every Monday morning from 9-11 a.m. and Bridge Club each Wednesday morning from 9-11 a.m. for anyone who has an interest in joining.
Thursday, March 20, card making class will be held from 9-11 a.m. in the Taylor Meeting Room. The classes are $5 to cover the cost of all supplies and materials. At 6:30 p.m., the Cookbook Club will meet in the Taylor Meeting Room to enjoy a potluck of recipes selected from the “Ina Garten Barefoot Contessa Cookbook.” Anyone who would like to join the cookbook club can stop in the library and choose a recipe to make and share with the group.
The Reads Well with Others evening book club will meet at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25. “All the Colors of the Dark” by Chris Whitaker will be the topic of discussion. Copies are still available for checkout at the library. Join us for a good chat about an interesting book. Between the Covers book club members can stop in and check out a copy of “James,” which is their April book club book.
Friday mornings at 10 a.m., Preschool Story Hour is available to all preschool children and caregivers. March 21 will focus on the alphabet. Bugs will be the theme of story hour on March 28.
We are working on some exciting new programs for our youth. On Wednesday, April 9 at 2 p.m., the library will host a Lego STEM afternoon. We will host youth activities on Monday, April 21. Beginning at 12:30 p.m., we will be showing “Moana 2.” Following the movie, there will be a STEM activity at 3:30 p.m. On Wednesday, April 30, the library will have a youth craft at 2 p.m. because of an early out. Put these dates on your calendar. We will have more details as we get closer to the events.
Little Caden is enjoying the interactive tree in the newly renovated children’s area at the MJB Library.
Karen Kelly was the guest reader at Story Hour on March 14. The group read stories about Leprechauns and St. Patrick’s Day.
Nancy Smith and her granddaughters enjoy drawing the face on a leprechaun color sheet for the story hour craft.