By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Thanks to the annual Festival of Trees, the library is looking quite merry. Stop in during December to enjoy the beautiful decorations, check out some of our new Christmas books, or spend some time just hanging out here to enjoy the creative trees. This year’s theme is “Christmas Stories,” and these trees will not disappoint.

Upcoming events

Cribbage players, be sure to join the group at the library on Mondays from 9-11 a.m. All players, regardless of skill level, are welcome to participate.  Bridge Class/Club meets every Wednesday from 9-11 a.m. 

December Story Hours 

Preschool Story Hour is each Friday at 10 a.m.  Children from birth to first grade and their caregivers are welcome to attend. Friday, Dec. 6 will focus on winter. On Dec. 13, the topic will be trees. Christmas is the theme of the Dec. 20 story hour while Dec. 27 will feature snowmen. 

Iowa Author Presentation

Iowa author Michelle Cowan will be doing an author talk followed by a meet and greet on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. Cowan’s book “Better, not Bitter,” chronicles her story following the sudden death of her husband in a car accident. Her powerful message is sure to leave a lasting impression on audience members and will resonate with anyone who has experienced grief. 

Between the Covers

Between the Covers Book Club will meet on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 3 p.m. The group will share their favorite books of 2024. All are welcome to attend. 

Afterschool STEM Program

The Guthrie County Extension will be presenting after-school youth programs from 3:30-4:30 p.m. on Dec. 12, Jan. 9 and Feb. 13 for elementary-age children. 

Adventure Passes

Due to issues with the company used to make reservations, the Iowa Libraries Adventure Pass will be put on pause starting Dec. 31. The calendar is still open for new reservations through Dec. 31. Reservations that were previously made for dates past Dec. 31 will still be honored. However, new reservations are not being taken for dates after Dec. 31. 

We know that you all love the Adventure Pass, and we are working on finding a new reservation software to get it back up and running as soon as we can. If you have reservations for an adventure pass, be sure to print them out prior to Dec. 31.  

These Cass Pioneer 4-H members spent their Saturday morning decorating a tree to display at the MJB Library.

These Cass Pioneer 4-H members work to get the lights placed in just the right spot.

The Davis Family decorated this “Frosty the Snowman” themed tree for the MJB Library Festival of Trees.

Lee Lehman proudly shows off his certificate of completion for the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program. Lee has been reading diligently with his family to accomplish this goal.

These members of the Cass Pioneers patiently untangle the lights for their tree for the library’s Festival of Trees.

Teresa Mowrer, one of Santa’s helpers, stopped by the library to decorate a “The Christmas Story” themed tree for the MJB Library Festival of Trees.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

Do you ever feel like the whole idea of Thanksgiving often gets obscured by all the holiday expectations? Maybe this is uniquely my experience, but I always picture this Norman Rockwell kind of day, which isn’t my reality. There’s always some cooking disaster. My guests don’t always arrive on time. Of course, there’s always one or two people who can’t keep their opinions to themselves at dinner. (OK, I am one person!) In the effort to make the day “perfect,” somehow the meaning sometimes gets lost, and, at the end of the day, I just feel relieved that I survived the day. 

So, this year, I decided the goal is gratitude rather than perfection. If the gravy is lumpy or if we eat late, the day will not be ruined. I am going to be grateful we have enough food, a roof over our heads, and people we love around the table. 

And so it is with my job. Even though most people assume a job in the library is quiet and calm and involves reading at work, this is not the case. Especially around the holidays, there is much to do at the library. Some days it is easy to lose track of the things that matter here, too. 

I am so grateful for this library. It is an amazing place compared to the small building that previously was our library. I appreciate the work and the foresight of the people who planned this building. We have a spacious building with a meeting room and a small conference room that provide places for programs, meetings and work spaces for our community.  

I am thankful for the library board and their vision for our library and dedication to take time to come to meetings, go through training, and do the hard work of keeping the library focused on its mission of  “enriching our community, educating minds, and energizing curiosity.”

Our Friends of the Library organization is also a cause for appreciation. They work tirelessly to fundraise and support the library as well. They are presently working to fundraise for our donor tree update project. 

I am appreciative of  a community that values the library and supports us in so many ways. It’s a blessing that so many people utilize our library.  It fills my heart with joy to see people who wander in and spend an afternoon putting together a puzzle, a family who comes in and plays a game of checkers before they check out books or someone who needs to use a computer.

My favorite thing is seeing kids and young adults coming in and spending time here because they love the library. When they come and get me to look at something they built on the STEM table, show me a picture they colored, or tell me about a book that they liked, I get excited that we can provide learning opportunities for them. 

I am grateful for our city council and the patrons who support our programs and welcome the opportunity to provide materials as diverse as the people we serve. I appreciate the people I work with who love this library and are committed to serving the community. I am thankful for the visionary thinking and the long-term goals our director and board have for this institution.  

As we approach the holiday season, I would invite everyone to stop in and enjoy the beauty of the Festival of Trees displayed throughout the library. There’s always something going on here. It’s a great spot to just spend a little time. Read the newspaper, work on the community puzzle, have a cup of coffee, and look through a magazine. Don’t leave empty-handed; while you’re here, check out a book, a DVD, an audiobook, or a hotspot. Don’t have a library card? We can fix that problem, too. There’s no need to spend your hard-earned money to read that new best-seller or watch the new movie releases. 

Holiday Closure

Patrons are reminded that the MJB Library will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 28, and Friday, Nov. 29, in observance of Thanksgiving, but we will be open on Saturday, Nov. 30.

Author Talk

Life-long Iowa resident and author of “Better, not Bitter,” Michelle Cowan, will be speaking at the library on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. Cowan’s talk will focus on how she and her teenage daughter moved forward following the sudden death of her husband in a car accident.

Computers for Sale

The library has two Dell All-In-One desktop computers for sale. The cost is $50 each or a free will offering. If you’re interested, call or email the library for additional details. 

Drew Carney and Leo Solorzano show off the creative drawing they made on the new tactile glitter graffiti sensory mat.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

Since I can remember, reading has been one of my most favorite pastimes. I look for any excuse to shut out the world and open a book. Rainy days and snow days are my favorite times to curl up on the couch with a mug of hot tea, a fuzzy blanket, and a book. Despite the recent rains, I have not been able to enjoy such a day for a long time. Adulting seems to interfere with my reading time.

So, I was scrolling through one of those “National Days Calendars” recently — you know, the ones that have all these odd days to celebrate. I’m thinking if we play our cards right, my fellow readers and I might be able to find a day that would work for a readathon before the flurry of holiday activity begins.

Nov. 19 happens to be National Carbonated Beverage with Caffeine Day. Who knew such a celebratory day even existed? I am thinking that if I celebrate with gusto all day, I should be wired enough to stay up all night reading.

Nov. 22 is National Flossing Day. Did you know Nov. 23 is National Eat a Cranberry Day? Gee, who can eat just one? Nov. 26 is National Cake Day, which seems like a great day to celebrate but not with reading. There seems to be a day for everything but reading. Perhaps National Personal Space Day on Nov. 30 would be best celebrated by ignoring the world and reading all day.  

If you are planning ahead for any of these days, be sure to stop by the library. We have so many new books to choose from. Nonfiction fans, we have a couple of new memoirs that might be of interest. Pope Francis shares his life story in a new book entitled “Life: My Story through History.” “Citizen: My Life after the White House” is former president Bill Clinton’s account of what he’s been working on since leaving the White House.

Janet Evanovich has just released “Now or Never,” book 31 in the popular Stephanie Plum series, while Craig Johnson’s “Tooth and Claw” is the latest in the Walt Longmire series. A quick but powerful read would be Sophie Kinsella’s book “What Does it Feel Like A Novel” about Eve, a successful writer who must learn to walk, talk and write again following surgery to remove a large brain tumor, a fictionalized account of Kinsella’s own battle with cancer. 

This is just a small sample of the many great books that are waiting to be checked out. Stop in and grab some books so you are ready for the next rainy day or for National Personal Space Day.

Adult Groups

Remember that every Monday morning from 9-11 a.m., Cribbage players meet at the library while the Bridge Clubmeets on Wednesday mornings from 9-11 a.m. Card Making Class will meet on Thursday, Nov. 21 from 9-11 a.m. while Cookbook Club meets that same day at 6:30 p.m. to share slow cooker recipes from this month’s cookbook.Friends of the Library will meet on Monday, Dec. 2 at 6:15 p.m. 

Story Hour

Friday, Nov. 22, the preschool story hour will begin at 10 a.m. and will be about Thanksgiving. There will be no story hour on Nov. 29 as the library will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. 

Holiday Closure

Patrons are reminded that the MJB Library will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 28, and Friday, Nov. 29, in observance of Thanksgiving. 

Author Talk

Life-long Iowa resident and author of “Better, not Bitter,” Michelle Cowan, will be speaking at the library on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. Cowan’s talk will focus on her journey and grief following the sudden death of her husband. 

Festival of Trees

There’s still time to sign up to set up a tree for the library’s Festival of Trees. We remind participants that we would like trees to be up and decorated by Thanksgiving this year. We invite everyone to stop in during the holidays to enjoy the beauty of the decorations. This year’s theme is Christmas Stories.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

We’ve had a couple of weeks to get used to night falling earlier, and some of you might be looking for ways to pass the time inside. Mary J Barnett Library is here to help you with this. We have so many excellent books including a lot of the newest best-sellers.

Some of the New York Times Best Sellers List books that are on our shelves include “In too Deep” by Lee Child and Andrew Child, “The Women” Kristin Hannah, “The Boyfriend” by Frieda McFadden,  and “Counting Miracles” by Nicholas Sparks. We have a number of the nonfiction best sellers including “Melania” by Melania Trump and “Framed” by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey.

For middle school age readers, we have recently acquired many new best-sellers including “Impossible Creatures” by Katherine Rundell, “The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science” by Kate McKinnon, and “The Bletchley Riddle” by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin. “The Wild Robot” series by Peter Brown is available in print and on audiobooks.

We have DVDs, audio books, and board games that can be checked out for family nights.  Since it’s dark earlier, this would be a great time to check out our library’s telescope and do some stargazing.

Remember, you can also download the Libby app, using your library card to listen to audiobooks and to read ebooks and online magazines.

Clubs

The Card  Making Club will meet from 9-11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21. For a $5 fee, all needed supplies are provided to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind greeting cards. Get a start on those holiday greetings.

On Thursday, Nov. 21, the Cookbook Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. The group will make recipes to share from “175 Essential Slow Cooker Classics” by Judith Finlayson. Stop by the library to choose a recipe to share with the club.

November Storyhours

The MJB Library offers preschool story hours each Friday beginning at 10 a.m. On Nov. 15, sharing will be the topic while Thanksgiving will be the focus of Nov. 22. There will be no story hour on Nov. 29, as the library will be closed for Thanksgiving.

Festival of Trees

It’s time to sign up for the Festival of Trees. We would ask that trees go up between Nov. 16-27. This year’s theme is Christmas Stories. Vendors, please contact the library to sign up for a spot in our Holiday Vendor Fair on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

Another Li-BOO-ary bash is in the books, and it was a great success. Two-hundred-sixty children and their caretakers attended the event. Boo bash attendees took photos in front of our Halloween backdrop, walked through the “spooky” tunnel, and explored sensory bins where they found Halloween treats. Each child left with candy and a Halloween toy. Thank you to CW Thomas, Vicki Crannell and Lorrie Stringham for the donations to our sensory bins. 

Friends of the Library Bake Sale

Friends of the Library will be doing a bake sale on Thursday, Nov. 7 from 5-8 p.m. during the Holiday Showcase. The bake sale will be set up in the park next to Dowd Drug.  

Clubs

Between the Covers Book Club will meet on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 3 p.m. The group will be discussing “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt. 

Card Making Club will meet from 9-11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21. For a $5 fee, all needed supplies are provided to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind greeting cards. Come and create.

On Thursday, Nov. 21, the Cookbook Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. The group will make recipes to share from “175 Essential Slow Cooker Classics” by Judith Finlayson. Stop by the library to choose a recipe to share with the club.

November Storyhours

The MJB Library offers preschool story hours each Friday beginning at 10 a.m. On Friday, Nov. 8, the theme will be birthdays. On Nov. 15, sharing will be the topic while Thanksgiving will be the focus of Nov. 22. There will be no story hour on Nov. 29 as the library will be closed for Thanksgiving. 

Festival of Trees

It’s time to sign up for the Festival of Trees. We would ask that trees go up between Nov. 16-27. This year’s theme is Christmas Stories. Vendors, please contact the library to sign up for our Holiday Vendor Fair on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Stop into the MJB Library during November to see this beautiful quilt entitled Falling Leaves; this stunning quilt was created by Robyn Corkins.

Mary Castillo has generously loaned the MJB Library part of her collection of M&M memorabilia to display for the month of November. Stop in and take a look.

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Boo Bash photos:

The Frels family brought one of our youngest trick or treaters.

This year, the library featured sensory bins for their little guests. The trick-or-treaters found little Halloween treats in the bins mixed in with other objects with unusual textures.

These little patrons were all smiles for their big night.

This tiny witch stopped by for some treats.

These girls picked warm costumes for a chilly Halloween night.

This little Incredible is enjoying Halloween.

Trick-or- treaters had creative costumes.

Some costumes were scary.

The Gordon Family took time for a photo.

The MJB Library had 260 guests who stopped by the Boo Bash.

Inflatable costumes were popular this year for Halloween.

Special to the Times Vedette

Get ready to embark on an enchanting journey through Washington Park, Chicago with Montgomery “Monty” Carver in Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key, by debut author Tracy Occomy Crowder. Residents in Guthrie Center/Guthrie County in Mary J Barnett Memorial Library service can experience this nostalgic adventure with Big Library Read, the world’s largest digital book club. From Nov. 7-21, Tracy Occomy Crowder’s “Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key” is available for free as an ebook and audiobook on the Libby app through Mary J Barnett Memorial Library. Library card holders can join thousands of others around the globe in reading the digital book without waitlists or holds and access lesson plans and discussion guides from TeachingBooks.netfor facilitating age-appropriate conversations about story writing, cultural representation, and historical fiction. A fabulous family read, “Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key” promises to captivate readers of all ages with its delightful story of discovery, resilience, and the power of community.

This Big Library Read novel is available through more than 22,000 libraries around the world, including approximately 90% of public libraries in North America, and hundreds of thousands of readers are expected to participate. The program is facilitated by OverDrive, the leading digital reading platform for popular ebooks, audiobooks and magazines, and the creator of the Libby app.

“The staff and I are excited to share this thrilling tale with our patrons here at the Mary J. Barnett Memorial Library. We look forward to hearing all the positive feedback about the Big Library Read and Libby,” Library Director Jerri Hawkins states.

Allow us to set the stage for this heartwarming middle-grade novel: It’s 2008 in Washington Park, an African-American community on Chicago’s South Side, which is the center of the universe that summer. We are introduced to Monty, a 10-year-old boy who likes to use the scientific method to prove just about everything. As Monty unravels the origins of a mysterious golden key he and his friends find in their backyard, he discovers the true essence of community, and the power of curiosity, and uncovers the rich history and heritage of his Chicago neighborhood. From the legacy of famous Black jockeys to the excitement surrounding Barack Obama’s run for the presidency and the potential arrival of the Olympics in 2016, Monty’s summer adventure becomes an exploration of his community’s past, present and future. 

“As a community leader and new author, I want young readers to walk away with two clear messages, the importance of learning about the rich histories in our neighborhood, especially around Black history and culture, and building our communities,” Occomy Crowder said. “There is a lot developing for Monty in this novel, and I believe many kids can relate to one, two, or all aspects of his summer adventure.”

Tracy Occomy Crowder was the recipient of the 2019 New Visions Award for Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key. This award is given annually by Tu Books, an imprint of LEE & LOW BOOKS INC., to a middle-grade or young adult novel by an unpublished writer of color or Indigenous/Native writer. 

“I felt like it was important to expand the adventure/mystery genre to include more books with Black boys like my son as protagonists,” Occomy Crowder said. “My goal is to write mysteries that involve different periods of Black history and aspects of Black culture as the backdrop for characters who experience the funny little occurrences and tensions of everyday life.”

Legler Regional Library in Chicago, Illinois will be hosting a live event on Nov. 21 from 5-7 p.m. CDT, with Occomy Crowder attending for a live reading, audience Q&A, and story writing activity from 6-7 p.m. Any readers who are interested in attending virtually can register via the Legler Regionals website.

Big Library Read is an international reading program that connects readers around the world with an ebook through public libraries. Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key is the 35^th selection of this program which began in 2013 and takes place three times per year. 

Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key was published as an ebook by Lee & Low Books and an audiobook by Recorded Books. The title can be read without waitlists or holds on all major computers and devices through Libby or libbyapp.com, including iPhone®, iPad®, and Android™ phones and tablets. Through Libby, readers can also “send to Kindle®” [U.S. libraries only]. The title will automatically expire at the end of the lending period, and there are no late fees.

Download Libby, use Libby in the browser (libbyapp.com), visit http://bridges.overdrive.com, or stop by a local library branch to get started. Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key is available wherever books are sold, including Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.

Find more information about Big Library Read.