By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette
For those of you who are going back to school or sending someone back to school, remember that the MJB Library is here to meet your needs.
For students, be sure to check out our online resources. The library website offers links to many online educational resources. Check out the digital resources menus on the website.
Kanopy is our newest addition to digital resources. Residents of Guthrie Center and rural Guthrie County can stream up to three videos a month for free. Kanopy features 30,000 movies, documentaries, PBS shows and educational videos.
Libby is also available to patrons at Guthrie Center and in rural Guthrie County and offers free access to thousands of eBooks, audiobooks and online magazines.
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. This online resource is available to all Iowa residents and authorized users and is funded by an appropriation from the Iowa Legislature.
Access the MJB Library Online Catalogue at this site as well. Use our online catalog to find items, place reserves, renew items, and so much more.
The online resource link also provides links to virtual tours, activities and sites, including PBS, AEA, Homeschool Iowa and the Iowa State Historical Society.
The library also has free Wi-Fi, computers to check out, and inexpensive printing services. For students who need quiet places to study, reserve the small meeting room during library hours. College students who need a test proctored can also reserve the small meeting room and request a proctor for exams.
For homeschool families, MJB Library offers a homeschool exchange. The library has many homeschool textbooks and workbooks available at no cost. We accept donations of homeschool books and materials.
Readers and supporters of the library are reminded that the Friends of the Library still have T-shirts available for $30. Profits go to support Friends of the Guthrie Center Library.
For patrons who have not used the Iowa Adventure Pass this year, 2026 is a great year to visit the Blank Park Zoo, as it’s the zoo’s 60th anniversary. In addition to celebrating its Diamond Jubilee, the zoo is showcasing new faces. Two female lions and a male lion have joined the lion pride at the zoo. By the end of the summer, the expanded lion enclosure is due to open as well. Walnut, a harbor seal, moved from the Los Angeles Zoo to Des Moines.
Victoria, a rare Addax Antelope, was born in late May of this year, while Hiro, the Japanese Macaque, was born July 6. Kida and Eddie, endangered cotton-top tamarins, just produced twins on Aug. 12. Two reticulated giraffes are expecting this summer. Skye’s calf was born at 8 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 17, while Zola’s calf will be born in September 2026. Schedule the Iowa Adventure Pass so you can take your family to enjoy these new faces.
Each month, the MJB Library displays a quilt and a collection in our locked display case. If you have a quilt you would like to loan to the library to display for a month, or if you have a collection you’d like to share for a month in our display case, please call or email Karen at the library.
Upcoming events
- Wednesday, Aug. 19 – Bridge Class, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- Wednesday, Aug. 19 – Creation Corner, 4 p.m.
- Thursday, Aug. 20 – Card Making Class, 9-11 a.m.
- Thursday, Aug. 20 – Cookbook Club, 6 p.m.
- Friday, Aug. 21 – Preschool Story Hour, 10 a.m.
- Monday, Aug. 24 – Cribbage, 9-11 a.m.
- Monday, Aug. 24 – Craft and Connect, 4-6 p.m.
- Tuesday, Aug. 25 – Evening Book Club, 5 p.m.
Story Hour kids worked on fine motor skills during craft time.
The Story Hour craft on Friday allowed children to be creative and to develop fine motor skills as they cut, color and glue to make pretty butterflies.
Story Hour every Friday at 10 a.m. is a great chance for preschoolers to hear stories and be creative.
Mason displays his STEM creation.
Parker and Mason are competing on the game table.