By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette
And just like that, Summer Reading Program 2026, “Plant a Seed: Read!” is over. This year, 91 children registered for the Summer Reading Program (SRP). On Friday, June 26, SRP participants gathered at the library to celebrate a month of programs and reading. The morning began with donuts donated by Casey’s General Store. Following snacks, the prize drawings for reading incentives were held.
At 11 a.m., the foam production began, and the foam party hijinks ensued. For the next hour, kids of all ages frolicked, played and laughed as bubbles filled the parking lot of the MJB Library. According to one of the Little Chargers youths, it was “The best day ever!” More than 80 people attended the Summer Reading Program celebration.
The staff of the MJB Library would like to extend a huge thank-you to all the community partners who contributed to the success of the 2026 Summer Reading Program. Thank you to the Guthrie County Farm Bureau, Anne Riordan and the Guthrie County ISU Extension for the outstanding programs they provided for our young patrons this year. Thanks to the Little Charger Daycare for participating in our library programs. Thank you to Casey’s General Store for donating donuts for our young readers. Additionally, we are grateful for all the events, including our foam party, which were made possible by funds received through Communities 4 Children and Community Partnerships for Protecting Children, neighborhood/Community Network Mini Grants. It really does take a village to make these events work, and we are so very appreciative of all who helped in some fashion.
Even though the summer reading program is over, the MJB Library still offers many events for youth over the summer. The Farm Bureau will have youth events entitled “Apples and Orchards” at 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, and “Grains We Grow” at 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 23.
Additionally, the library is partnering with the Mason Orange Lodge No. 123 to encourage preschool through sixth grade youth to read. The Masonic Lodge is donating a bicycle to be awarded to the winner of a drawing in August. To be eligible, youth should turn in reading logs of books read between June 1 and July 31. Each book read allows the reader a chance to enter the drawing for the bike.
Plan ahead, library patrons. Remember that the MJB Library will be closed on Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4, in observance of the Fourth of July holiday, so stock up early on books for the weekend.
A new and exciting service will begin for Guthrie Center patrons beginning July 1. Kanopy, a video streaming service, will be available to anyone eligible with Libby through the MJB Library. Patrons can download the Kanopy app and watch a limited number of videos each month for free.
Guests at the SRP party were treated to donuts donated by Casey’s General Stores.
Jump in! The bubbles are fine.
The mounds of bubbles provided a lot of joy for our youngest patrons.
Everyone wants to share the bubbles.
It’s impossible not to smile when covered in bubbles.
Library director Jerri Hawkins took some time to play in the bubbles with SRP participants.
Lots of bubbles and lots of laughter were in the air on Friday at the MJB Library parking lot.
The foam party was a big hit with the summer readers!
Friends of the Guthrie Center Library are sprucing up the outside of the MJB Library in anticipation of RAGBRAI. Local artist Elizabeth Baughman is painting the large book in front of the library.
Chance’s attendance at library programs and reading independently earned him the first prize of the day.
Perfect weather on Friday made the yard a good place to hang out before the foam party.
The MJB Library welcomed more than 80 people for the Summer Reading Program party on Friday, June 26.