By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

Spring is on the horizon, and the MJB Library is bursting with events for patrons of all ages. We have some exciting programs and events scheduled.

Youth Programs

On Wednesday, April 30, the MJB Library will host a Creation Corner activity for youth of all ages. Facilitated by Judi Zimmerline, participants will have the opportunity to construct and decorate May baskets. In addition, another LEGO Mania Day is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 8. The next Guthrie STEM Lab will take place at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14. Participants interested in these events should pre-register by visiting the library’s website, calling, or emailing the library.

Preschool Story Hour is every Friday at 10 a.m. and is open to all preschoolers and their caregivers. Next Friday will feature the theme of rainbows. 

Parents and caregivers of preschool-age children are encouraged to sign up for our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program. This free program is designed to help caregivers and parents prepare their preschoolers for school through reading. Inquire at the MJB Library to sign children up for this fun and valuable program. 

Stay tuned here and on our library website for updates about our summer reading program, which will take place throughout June. We have exciting programs and activities planned. This year’s theme is “Level Up at the Library.” Registration is now open, and you can find the online form on our website.

Adult Programs

Card sharks, please consider joining our Cribbage Group, which meets on Monday mornings from 9-11 a.m. in the Taylor Meeting Room. If bridge is more your style, join the Bridge Club, which meets weekly on Wednesdays from 9-11 a.m. Players of all skill levels are invited and encouraged to participate. 

Sign up for the floral window box planter workshop on Tuesday, April 29 in the Taylor Meeting Room. Presented by the Guthrie County ISU Extension Office, the workshop will require pre-registration and a $15 fee to cover materials. Each participant will leave with a finished window box.

Friends of the Library will meet on Monday, May 5, at 6:15 p.m. to plan their Golf Tournament Fundraiser, which will be held on Saturday, June 14 at the Guthrie Center Golf Course. All interested people are invited to join the Friends of the Library. Registration for the golf tournament is open on the library website. Businesses interested in sponsoring a hole at this event may contact the library. 

Author Programs

The library is hosting two programs with Iowa authors in May. On Wednesday, May 7, at 4 p.m., “Iowa Prohibition and Bootlegging,” presented by author Ann Hanigan Kotz, will feature the history of bootlegging in Iowa during prohibition. Kotz will also discuss her book entitled “Moonshine by Moonlight.” You won’t want to miss this fascinating look at a part of history you didn’t learn in school. 

On Saturday, May 17, Enfys McMurry will be speaking about her book entitled “Disaster at 39,000 Feet: How Small-Town America Came Together at a Time of Crisis.” McMurry spent countless hours researching this accident, which disrupted the peaceful towns of Centerville, Iowa, and Unionville, Missouri, in May of 1961. McMurry’s book has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. 

Craft time! Our preschool story hour attendees always look forward to craft time that follows the stories.

Caden can’t wait to see what treats are waiting inside the bunny gift bag he got after Preschool Story Hour.

Preschool Story Hour participants each got an Easter treat bag to take home after the program last Friday.

Tayen takes a break from building on the STEM table to check out her treat bag.

Keeping with the theme of Easter, story hour participants decorated eggs with puffy paint.

Our new furniture in the youth section provides a cozy and comfortable spot for Barrett and his grandma to enjoy a story together.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

MJB Library kicked off new youth programs during National Library Week. LEGO Mania Day, attended by 15 people, was the first of several new STEAM activities that the library staff is planning to have each month.

On Monday, May 21, the library will be hosting a youth movie day; we will be showing “Moana 2” beginning at 12:30 p.m. Following the movie, there will be activities for kids to do. At 3:30 p.m., the Guthrie STEM Lab will be designing and constructing sail cars. During STEM Lab, youth will be harnessing the power of the wind — on land — and there’ll be smooth sailing ahead for this incredible STEM | STEAM activity. Kids are empowered to quickly experiment as they build a sail car by testing and re-adjusting their sail’s shape, angle and pitch. Participants will work through the engineering and design process, designing their sail cars for speed, distance or even to ferry school supplies across the room. Change wind conditions to increase the challenge.

On Wednesday, April 30, at 2 p.m., youth are invited to sign up for a Creation Corner activity. Participants will be creating and decorating May baskets.

Youth of all ages are encouraged to sign up for these activities; these are not just for elementary ages. Middle school and high school students are invited as well. These STEAM activities can be expanded to challenge older youth. Additionally, it’s a great chance for different ages to work together and mentor each other.

Youth wishing to participate in these activities should sign up either on the library website or by calling or emailing the library to ensure that we have adequate supplies for all participants.

Preschool Story Hour

Preschool Story Hour is open to all children who are not yet in kindergarten and their caregivers each Friday at 10 a.m. Easter will be the theme on Friday, April 18, while children will learn about rainbows on Friday, April 25.

Adult Activities

Card Making Class will be held on Thursday, April 17.  Led by Judi Zimmerline, participants will leave with unique, one-of-a-kind greeting cards. Each class costs $5 to cover the cost of materials and supplies, which are all supplied.  The class is from 9-11 a.m.

Cookbook Club will also meet on Thursday, April 17. Anyone wishing to participate should stop by the library to choose a recipe from this month’s book, “Taste of Home Copycat Recipes.” When the club meets at 6:30 p.m. on April 17, bring your prepared recipe to share with the group while you discuss the recipes in the book.

Friends of the Library will meet on Monday, May 5, at 6:15 p.m. The primary focus of the meeting will be to plan the Friends’ fundraising golf tournament, which will take place on Saturday, June 14, at the Guthrie Center Golf Course. Anyone who wishes to become a Friends of the Library member is invited to join the meeting. Registration is open for golfers who wish to sign up their team; go to the MJB Library website to register.

The Guthrie County ISU Extension Office will present a workshop at the MJB Library on Tuesday, April 29, about planting floral window boxes. Pre-registration is required; there is a $15 fee for this event to cover materials. Each participant will take home a window box that they have planted.

Half of the battle of constructing is choosing the right materials.

Merrick drops the marble to test his LEGO marble maze.

It’s time for the moment of truth to see if the construction will work.

The young engineers at the LEGO Mania Day were all creative and took unique approaches to their builds.

This group of budding engineers are all taking a unique approach to the task of building a marble maze with LEGOs.

This LEGO engineer is ready to try out his LEGO marble maze.

Several LEGO artists collaborated on their projects. Fifteen people attended the first LEGO Mania Day at the MJB Library.

On Wednesday, April 16, the MJB Library hosted its first LEGO Mania Day. Fifteen people attended this exciting event.

The Mary J. Barnett Memorial Library is located at 400 Grand St. in Guthrie Center. Contact the library at 641-747-8110 or mjblib@guthriecenter.lib.ia.us. Visit online at www.guthriecenter.lib.ia.us.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

Happy National Library Week, everyone. If you don’t have a library card yet, now is the perfect time to get one. If you already have a card, come on in and see all the fantastic things we have going on. We have just refreshed our children’s area with new, neurodivergent-friendly furnishings that provide comfort for everyone.

We have loads of fun programs for both adults and kids, so there’s something for everyone. If you’re looking for a warm, welcoming place to hang out, the library is ready to welcome you. You can check out computers, browse through our selection of magazines, or join a community jigsaw puzzle while enjoying a nice cup of coffee.

Need a quiet spot to focus? Our small meeting room is available for you to reserve, whether you are studying, working or having a Zoom meeting. Don’t forget to check out the beautiful quilts and intriguing collections that our wonderful patrons share for display each month. We can’t wait to see you at the library. 

The library has so many resources for you besides the vast selection of children’s books, adult books, audiobooks and DVDs to check out. Laptops, tablets and hotspots are also available to check out. We have cake pans and candy molds to borrow. Homeschool families are welcome to participate in our sharing library of homeschool books and materials. Patrons who have an interest in astronomy can check out our telescope.

For fans of ebooks, digital magazines and audiobooks, use your library card to access the app called Libby; this app will give you access to thousands of resources.  

These are just a few of the many reasons that you might be drawn to the Mary J. Barnett Library. Stop by this week to celebrate the library and the many people who support it including our Friends of the Guthrie Center Library, the Library Board, and our many volunteers who make the library so special. 

Youth Programs

MJB Library will be hosting several new STEM activities for youth of all ages. Be sure to register online or by calling or emailing the library. All ages are welcome for these events. Some of the activities have advanced options; teens can also mentor younger participants.

Wednesday, April 9 is LEGO Mania Day at the MJB Library. Participants will be constructing a marble run with LEGOs. The activity begins at 2 p.m.

On Monday, April 21, the youth movie “Moana 2” will be playing at 12:30 p.m. Following the movie, there will be some activities and coloring activities. At 3:30 p.m., the Guthrie Center STEM lab will be making sail cars.      

Creation Corner will be happening on Wednesday, April 30, at 2 p.m. Youth will be engaging in an art activity. 

Fridays at 10 a.m., MJB Library holds a Preschool Story Hour. Preschoolers and their caregivers are invited to attend to enjoy stories and crafts centering around a particular theme. Flowers will be the topic of April 11’s story hour, while Easter is the subject of April 18. April 25 will focus on rainbows. 

Adult Programs

Cribbage meets each Monday morning and the Bridge Class/Club each Wednesday; both groups meet from 9-11 a.m. and welcome newcomers. 

 Card-Making club, led by Judi Zimmerline, will meet on the third Thursday of the month from 9-11 a.m. All supplies and materials required to make lovely, one-of-a-kind greeting cards will be provided for the $5 cost for each class. 

At 6:30 on Thursday, April 17, Cookbook Club will be meeting to discuss the Taste of Home Copycat cookbook. Stop by the library to pick out a recipe to make and share with the group on April 17. 

Reads Well With Others evening book club will meet at 5 p.m. to discuss “The Briar Club,” a haunting and powerful story of female friendships and secrets in a Washington, D.C., boardinghouse set during the McCarthy era. Everyone in this all-woman boardinghouse keeps to themselves until the lovely widow Grace March moves into the attic room and draws her odd collection of neighbors into unlikely friendships. 

Be sure to sign up for the Guthrie County ISU Extension program, Window Floral Box Planter, in the Taylor Meeting room on Tuesday, April 29, at 5:15 p.m.  Participants will be planting a floral window box to take home. Sign up soon to secure your spot. A $15 registration fee is required. 

Friends of the Library will have their regular meeting at 6:15 p.m. on Monday, May 5. The meeting topic will focus on the June 14 golf tournament. Registration for the tournament is open at the library website. 

Be sure to explore the seed library at MJB Library. We encourage people to take some seeds for their gardens. We have herbs, vegetables and flowers. Patrons are welcome to donate any leftover seeds to the library. After harvest, seeds that have been saved and dried are welcomed.

As people are spring cleaning, the library would welcome donations of Guthrie Center High School Yearbooks, LEGOs and Hot Wheel cars and tracks.  

The new furniture in the children’s section of the library is being enjoyed by patrons of all ages. New seating purchased with the donation from the Friends of the Library, using funds from 10 Squared Women, provides a cozy spot for caregivers to enjoy reading with their youngsters.

Cindy Steensen’s intricate quilt is on loan to the library through the month of April. The pattern is Celestial Garden. Cindy created this quilt using strip pricing and paper piecing; it was quilted by Laura Brenner.

The Mary J. Barnett Memorial Library is located at 400 Grand St. in Guthrie Center. Contact us at 641-747-8110 or mjblib@guthriecenter.lib.ia.us. Visit us online at www.guthriecenter.lib.ia.us.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

What draws people to the library? Everything! From books to digital resources to job assistance and creative programming, libraries are essential to thriving communities.

National Library Week, April 6-12, is a time to celebrate the many ways libraries bring people together, spark imagination and support lifelong learning.

Whatever draws you in, the library has something for everyone. Whether you’re a lifelong patron or haven’t visited in a while, now is the perfect time to explore all the library has to offer.

After School Programs

The library is planning a number of after-school programs for the next month. Because we only have room for 25 participants, pre-registration is required. Register by following the link on the library website or emailing or calling the library.

Wednesday, April 9, at 2 p.m. is LEGO Mania Day.  Sign up for an exciting LEGO activity. Youth Movie Day is Monday, April 21, at 12:30 p.m. We will be showing “Moana 2.” Following the movie, there will be some activity sheets and coloring sheets. Beginning at 3:30 p.m. that day, the Guthrie STEM lab will feature a STEM activity. On Wednesday, April 30, at 2 p.m., the library will host a creation corner, which will have arts/crafts activities.

Preschool Story Hour

Friday mornings at 10 a.m. are an exciting time at the MJB Library. This is the time that the library fills up with little people and their caregivers who are excited to see friends, play with the library toys, read some books, and do some craft and art projects. Bunnies will be the theme of story hour on April 4. The kids will learn about flowers on April 11 while focusing on Easter on April 18. On April 25, the children will study rainbows.

Friends of the Library

Friends of the Library will meet on Monday, May 5, at 6:15 p.m. at the library to plan their golf fundraiser and support the library. The annual Golf Tournament will be on Saturday, June 14. The sign-up on the library website is now open.

Book Clubs

Between the Covers Book Club will meet on Tuesday, April 8, at 3 p.m. to discuss the critically acclaimed book “James.” Copies are still available for check out. Reads Well With Others Book Club will meet on Tuesday, April 28 at 5 p.m. to discuss Kate Quinn’s historical fiction novel entitled “The Briar Club.” Anyone who would like to join may stop by the library to borrow a copy.

Adult Groups

Cribbage players are invited to join the Cribbage Club every Monday from 9-11 a.m. Bridge Club meets each Wednesday morning from 9-11 a.m. Players of all skill levels are welcome. The card-making class meets on Thursday, April 17 from 9-11 a.m. to create handmade greeting cards. The $5 covers all the needed supplies and equipment required to make the cards. Cookbook Club will be cooking recipes from Taste of Home’s Copycat Cookbook at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 17. Anyone wishing to participate can stop at the library to choose a recipe to share with the group. All of these classes will meet in the Taylor Meeting Room.

Donations for STEM activities

The library is working to develop STEM activities for our young patrons. We are looking for LEGOs and Hot Wheels brand cars and tracks donations for these activities.

Seed Library

The MJB Library has started a seed library to help patrons who would like to exercise their green thumbs. Gardeners are welcome to stop in and take some of our vegetable, herb, fruit and flower seeds to plant this spring.

Once the seeds are growing and producing, please share photos by tagging the library on Facebook. After growing season is over, please consider saving and drying seeds from what you have grown. Because this is a sharing seed library, please bring any leftover or saved seeds to the library to add to our seed library.

Thank You

The MJB Library would like to express our thanks to 10 Squared Women for the generous donation to Friends of the Library to finish our youth area in our library. This furniture is suited to all of our young patrons and is especially geared to meet the needs of neurodivergent children. Thanks to this generous donation, we have added seating and three book bins just the right size for our little patrons. 

Library aide Ava Campbell sits on the new seating in the children’s area of the library. Behind her are two of the three book bins recently purchased. The new furnishings are made possible from a gift from the Friends of the Library who were awarded a grant from 10 Squared Women.

The Mary J. Barnett Memorial Library is located at 400 Grand St. in Guthrie Center. Contact us at 641-747-8110 or mjblib@guthriecenter.lib.ia.us. Visit us online at www.guthriecenter.lib.ia.us.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

During an ordinary week, the Mary J Barnett Memorial Library is a hive of activity. Groups meet in the Taylor meeting room for bridge club, cribbage games, card making club and cookbook club. Children rush through the door after school to play games, use the STEM table and maker space, read books and use tablets. People use computers, check out books, movies, puzzles and board games. Some people come in to socialize, drink a cup of coffee, or put some pieces in place in the communal jigsaw puzzle. Patrons send faxes, make copies and get help with problems they have with their electronic devices. Preschoolers and parents play in the interactive play space while older kids use the electronic game table. For many reasons, people are drawn to the library. 

April 6-12 is National Library Week, and the theme is Drawn to the Library. May I suggest you take a moment to see what your library has that might draw you to it. We have programs and resources for patrons of all ages and interests. Having a library card also provides you with access to many digital resources such as Libby, which provides library card holders access to ebooks, digital magazines, and audio books. The library truly has something for everyone at every age and interest level. If you doubt this, watch this space for events and programs we offer.  

Story Hour

Preschoolers and their caregivers are welcome to join us each Friday at 10 a.m. to have fun with stories and crafts. This week, on March 28, the topic will be bugs. 

Book Clubs 

Between the Covers book club meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 3 p.m. This month’s book is “James” by Percival Everett. “James” is a brilliant retelling of Huckleberry Finn from the viewpoint of James, the slave who overhears that he is about to be sold away from his wife and daughter. James hides on Jackson Island where he runs into Huck Finn who has faked his death to escape his violent father. James and Huck begin a dangerous journey down the Mississippi River on a raft  toward the promise of Free States. While much of the original story remains, the intelligence and compassion displayed by James shows the story in a radically new light. Stop in and check out a copy today.

Reads Well with Others book club meets the fourth Tuesday of each month from 5-6 p.m. The April book will be “The Briar Club” by Kate Quinn. Set in 1959 Washington, D.C., the book focuses on residents of the all-female boarding house, Briarwood House. When the mysterious widow Grace March moves into the attic rooms, she draws the oddball collection of neighbors into unlikely friendship. Capturing the paranoia of the McCarthy era, and highlighting the changing roles of women in post-war America, “The Briar Club” is an intimate and thrilling novel of secrets and loyalty put to the test. We still have copies available for those who would like to join us. 

After School STEM activities

On Wednesday, April 9, the library will be hosting a LEGO Mania Day at 2 p.m. Students of all ages are invited to stop by for a challenging STEM activity using LEGOs.  

Monday, April 21, the library will be showing a youth movie, “Moana 2,” at 12:30 p.m. Following the movie, there will be some coloring and activities. At 3:30 p.m., a Guthrie STEM Lab will be featured.  

Creation Corner, youth craft time will be available for school-age children beginning at 2 p.m. on April 30. For each of these youth activities, students must pre-register either through the link on Facebook, a phone call, or email to the library. We only have spots for 25 children for the activities. 

Story hour participants decorate their Z’s with zebra stripes.

Brooks uses the alphabet tiles to work on his ABC’s.

Miss Cass read books about the alphabet to the preschoolers at story hour on March 21.

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.