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So much more than books

Oct 6, 2026 | MJB LIBRARY NEWS

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

Now that Iowa’s monsoon season seems to be over, it’s time to begin thinking of fall. The MJB Library is here with everything you need to get ready for cooler days and upcoming holidays.  

Be sure to include a stop at the MJB Library when your family goes out to trick-or-treat. The annual Li-BOO-Ary Bash will be on Thursday, Oct. 29, from 5-6:30 p.m. The library will be decked out in family-friendly decor and will include activities and a sweet treat for young patrons. 

LEGO Mania Day will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7. At 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, the Guthrie County ISU Extension will present a youth program entitled “Fractions and Stained Glass.” Creation Corner will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 21. These programs are for youth of all ages. 

Friday mornings at 10 a.m., the library offers Preschool Story Hour for preschoolers of all ages and their caregivers. On Oct. 9, the theme is fall. A special guest will present on Oct. 16. Monsters will be the focus on Oct. 23, and Halloween is the topic for Oct. 30. 

For creative patrons, remember that Craft and Connect is each Monday from 4-6 p.m.; participants bring their current craft project and spend time socializing and creating.  On Thursday, Oct. 15, Cardmaking Class will meet from 9-11 a.m. to create handmade greeting cards. Judi Zimmerline leads the group. All materials are provided for a $5 fee. At 6 p.m. on Oct. 15, Cookbook Club will meet to share Halloween-themed recipes for a group potluck.  

Card players have a lot of options. Cribbage meets each Monday from 9-11 a.m. at the library.
Canasta Class is the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 1 p.m., and Bridge Class plays on Wednesday mornings from 9-11. 

“The Secret Life of Audrey James” by Heather Marshall is the title of the afternoon book club. Between the Covers will meet at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 13. Reads Well with Others, the evening book club, will meet at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27, to discuss “Remain” by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan. Books for both groups are available for checkout at the front desk.

Planning ahead, at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 5, the program Social Security 101 will be featured. A Social Security specialist will share everything that future retirees should know and plan for. Preregistration is appreciated. 

Merry Christmas America 250 is the theme for this year’s Festival of Trees. It’s not too early to begin planning your decorations for this exciting event. 

Friends of the Guthrie Center Library are still selling T-shirts for $30. Shirts are available for purchase at the library. 

Libby and Kanopy users, beginning on Oct. 12, OverDrive will require users to enter a PIN/password in addition to a library card. Your PIN/password will be the primary phone number as it appears on your library card account, including the area code (no dashes or spaces).

Library card holders, make sure you’re using all the resources your card offers. Check out the library website to see the online resources like the Law Library and Mometrix. Sign up to use the Iowa Adventure Pass, Kanopy and Libby. The library offers so much more than books these days.

Mom helps as Brinley chooses the colors she needs for her craft project.

Preschool Story Hour theme was fall, so the craft featured autumn leaves. Edward shows his mom the leaves he has created.

A big congratulations to Lainey for completing the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Program. Created to encourage literacy, this program is free and available to all preschool children through the MJB Library.

So much more than books

Sep 22, 2026 | MJB LIBRARY NEWS

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

Although summer is over, things are heating up at the MJB Library this fall with new programs, events and classes being added regularly.

“Iowa Scenic Views by Foot,” presented by Iowa author Tyler Sullivan, will take place Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 4 p.m. Sullivan has visited 98 of Iowa’s 99 counties and 101 courthouses. He runs at least one mile in each community and writes a poem about every county he visits. In 2024, he visited more than 150 museums and attractions across the state. In 2025, he saw an astonishing 366 attractions. So far in 2026, Sullivan has visited more than 230 museums. Join us to hear about his adventures across Iowa.

Youth of all ages are invited to Creation Corner at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23. Preschoolers and their caregivers can also attend Story Hour each Friday at 10 a.m. for stories, crafts and optional playtime afterward.

LEGO Mania is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7. On Thursday, Oct. 8, at 4 p.m., ISU Extension and Outreach in Guthrie County will present “Rainbow Fish and Stained Glass.” During this engaging STEM program, youth will explore fractions while creating their own stained-glass-inspired artwork. This colorful, hands-on activity combines math and creativity.

Families, mark your calendars for Thursday, Oct. 29, from 5-6:30 p.m. for the seventh annual Li-Boo-Ary Bash. Be sure to bring the kids to the library for family-friendly “spooky” decorations and a sweet treat during beggars night.

The library has many adult events scheduled this fall. Cribbage players meet every Monday from 9-11 a.m. to challenge one another. Craft and Connect meets Mondays from 4-6 p.m.; bring your current project and socialize with other crafty adults while you work.

Canasta players meet on the first and third Tuesdays of each month from 1-3 p.m. to play and learn more about the game. Between the Covers Book Club meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 3 p.m. For October, the group will discuss “The Secret History of Audrey James” by Heather Marshall. Reads Well With Others Book Club meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m.; its October selection is “Remain” by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan.

Bridge Class meets each Wednesday from 9-11 a.m. to play cards. As with all of our groups, everyone is welcome regardless of skill level. On the third Thursday of each month, Cardmaking Class meets from 9-11 a.m. Under the guidance of Judi Zimmerline, participants learn to make unique, handmade greeting cards. For a $5 fee, all materials are provided. Also, on every third Thursday, Cookbook Club meets at 6 p.m. This club is open to anyone who would like to choose a recipe from the month’s cookbook, prepare it and attend the monthly meeting where the group shares the food they prepared.

“Social Security 101: Everything You Need to Know” will be held Thursday, Nov. 5, from 5-6 p.m. The workshop will be led by Kirsten Goodwin, a public affairs specialist with 18 years of experience at the Social Security Administration in the Midwest-West Region. Topics will include eligibility for retirement, disability, survivor and spousal benefits; the effects of early retirement; how to maximize benefits; when to file for Medicare; and the future of Social Security.

It’s not too early to plan a tree for the MJB Library’s annual Festival of Trees. This year’s theme is “Merry Christmas America 250!” Setup begins Nov. 20. Contact the library to reserve a space for your business or organization’s tree.

Kanopy and Libby users, please note an upcoming change effective Oct. 16. OverDrive will require a PIN or password in addition to a library card when signing in to Libby and Kanopy. Your PIN or password will be the primary telephone number listed on your library account, including the area code, with no dashes or spaces.

Quilters and collectors, the library is looking for items to share with patrons. Quilts are displayed on the north wall, away from direct sunlight and collections are placed in a locked display case at the front of the library. Please contact us if you would be willing to display a quilt or collection for one month.

The Friends of the Guthrie Center Library will hold their monthly meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 5. Shirts are still available for $30. Contact the library to purchase yours today.

So much more than books

Sep 15, 2026 | MJB LIBRARY NEWS

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

“We’d all be smarter if we used library cards as often as we do credit cards.” – Arnold H. Glasow

One card, endless possibilities; that’s the feeling when you have a library card. Since 1987, September has been Library Card Sign-Up Month. Back-to-school time is the perfect time to bring youth in to get their first library card.

A library card gives users access not only to the book collection but also to all the other resources including DVDs, hot spots, tablets, computers, board games and audiobooks, as well as the Iowa Adventure Pass, Libby and Kanopy. My summer has not allowed me much reading time, but since the new fiscal year began in July, I have saved $449 just from the books I have checked out instead of purchasing them.

Stop by during library hours or go to the library website to get your library card and access so many resources.

Remember that the Friends of the Guthrie Center Library are selling T-shirts for $30. The next Friends meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Oct. 5.

For patrons who live in Guthrie Center and rural patrons with a Guthrie County address, remember to download Libby and Kanopy. Libby gives patrons access to thousands of eBooks, audiobooks and online magazines at no cost, with no limit on how many can be checked out. Kanopy is a streaming service that can be downloaded on a smart TV, smartphone or other device to view hundreds of movies, TV shows, documentaries and children’s programs.

For patrons who are considering retirement, Social Security 101: Everything You Need to Know is a program that the MJB Library will be hosting on Thursday, Nov. 5, from 5-6 p.m., led by Kirsten Goodwin, a public affairs specialist with 18 years of experience at the Social Security Administration in the Midwest-West Region. The workshop will cover topics such as when you are eligible to receive retirement benefits; how early retirement affects benefits; whether you are eligible for disability, survivors and spouse benefits; how to get the most from benefits; when to file for Medicare; and the future of Social Security.

Remember that this week, Canasta class will meet on Tuesday at 1 p.m., and Bridge class will meet on Wednesday at 9 a.m. Card-making class with Judi Zimmerline will meet from 9-11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17; all materials and equipment are supplied for a $5 fee. At 6 p.m., Cookbook Club will meet to share a potluck of recipes that were chosen this month. Patrons who have questions regarding any of these events may contact the library.

Cribbage will meet next Monday at 9 a.m., while Craft and Connect will meet next Monday from 4-6 p.m. On Tuesday, Sept. 22, Reads Well with Others will meet at 5 p.m. to discuss “The Unraveling of Julia” by Lisa Scottoline.

Upcoming youth events include preschool story hour each Friday morning at 10, and Creation Corner, which will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23.

The staff of the MJB Library is honored to have been voted runner-up for the Best Guthrie County Library. Every day, we strive to enrich our community, educate minds and energize curiosity. We couldn’t have achieved this without your support and your votes. We are so much more than books.

STEM Projects require a lot of concentration. The next STEM workshop entitled “Fractions and Stained Glass” will be at the MJB Library at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8.

Following the workshop, Library Director Jerri Hawkins provided a real pizza for the workshop participants to enjoy.

Youth were tasked with creating a pizza using layers of materials during the Layers workshop.

On Sept. 10, the ISU Extension presented a library program with the theme “Lots of Layers.” The idea was to get young people to think about layers, textures and how individual pieces come together to create something unique.

MJB Library Aide Karen Kelly is pictured with Miss Alaina’s preschool class at the Guthrie Center Elementary School on Sept. 11, when she read to both preschool groups. The MJB Library Staff visits the preschool classes each month to share books as part of their community outreach.

The library is a place where curious, young minds can explore and learn. Using a STEM kit on loan from the State Library, these creative minds are building a large structure.

So much more than books

Sep 8, 2026 | MJB LIBRARY NEWS

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

Fall has arrived, and temperatures will soon drop, but things are heating up at the MJB Library. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and check the library’s website for upcoming events.

On loan through September, Lynda Menefee is sharing her collection of teacher memorabilia to celebrate back-to-school. Community members who have collections that they would like to share for a month with the library are invited to contact the library to arrange a month to display their items.

Youth events for the month include LEGO Mania Day at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9. On Thursday, Sept. 10, at 4 p.m., the Guthrie County ISU Extension Office will present “Lots of Layers” in the Taylor Meeting Room for youth of all ages. Creation Corner is happening on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 2 p.m.

Friday mornings at 10 a.m., MJB Library offers preschool Story Hour for preschoolers of all ages and their caregivers. Sept. 11 will feature the theme “B is for bus.” School is the topic of Sept. 18, and clouds will be the subject of Sept. 25.

The MJB Library offers programs for adults of all interests. On Mondays, from 4-6 p.m., the library hosts Craft and Create, a time for creative adults to bring a craft project and socialize with other crafters while they work. Cribbage players gather every Monday morning from 9-11 a.m. to play. On the first, third the fifth Tuesdays of the month, Canasta Class meets beginning at 1 p.m. Bridge Class meets each Wednesday from 9-11 a.m.

Two book clubs are available for readers. Between the Covers afternoon book club meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 3 p.m. The evening book club, Reads Well with Others, meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 5 p.m.

On the third Thursday of each month, card-making class meets from 9-11 a.m. Later on the third Thursday, Cookbook Club meets at 6 p.m.

The Friends of the Guthrie Center Library still has T-shirts available from RAGBRAI for sale for $30. These shirts can be purchased at the library. Anyone who would like to support the library is invited to join Friends of the Guthrie Center Library; contact the library for membership information.

This tidewater quilt and matching pillow were created by Jerri Hawkins. The quilt is on loan to the library during September.

Library patrons are reminded to take advantage of the perks of being a library cardholder. Guthrie Center town and rural Guthrie County library cardholders 18 years of age or older are encouraged to use the Iowa Adventure Pass, which is sponsored by the Friends of the Guthrie Center Library, to go to The Blank Park Zoo, the Des Moines Science Center, the Museum of Danish America and the Des Moines Performing Arts Center. New to library users is the streaming service called Kanopy, which offers movies, documentaries, children’s shows, TV shows and educational programs for patrons to view.

Each month, the library displays collections in the locked display case by the front desk and a quilt on the quilt display rack on the North wall. We are looking for patrons who would like to share their talents and collections. If anyone has a collection of Halloween items that they would like to display, we would love to be able to use it for October. Please contact the MJB Library if you have collections or quilts you would be willing to loan to us for a month-long display.

The library will once again be hosting the annual Festival of Trees. This year’s theme will be “Merry Christmas, America 250!” Local businesses, organizations and groups are invited to decorate a tree for the festival.

So much more than just books

Sep 1, 2026 | MJB LIBRARY NEWS

Miss Cass shares a new book during MJB Library’s Preschool Story Hour, which is held each Friday at 10 a.m.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

The flag in front of the MJB Library is at half-staff today, and a sparkly “Remembering Dolly” display encourages patrons to read about the woman considered to be an icon and a national treasure. During a time when our country is so divided, it seems that the love for Dolly Parton is universal. 

What is it about this self-proclaimed “Backwoods Barbie” that makes her so appealing? Everyone is aware of her talents as an entertainer, but there are a lot of multi-talented performers who are not so revered and admired. What is it about Parton that caused a nation to mourn, the British Band of the Coldstream Guard to play “9 to 5” during the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and the President to declare that flags should fly at half-staff for a week? 

In a world that reveres money more than character, power more than kindness and accumulating wealth more than charity, Dolly Parton was a unicorn.  She commented, “I always count my blessings more than I count my money. I don’t work for money. Never did.” 

Parton, whose humanitarian deeds were not widely publicized before her death, believed that philanthropy didn’t set her apart from others; rather, she saw it as just part of being human. In 2022, Parton told the Associated Press, “I think it’s important for everyone to do their share to help their fellow man.” 

In a culture that admires billionaires, Dolly Parton made a choice not to be a billionaire, but rather to reinvest her money in people instead of hoarding wealth for the sake of accumulating wealth. 

During her career, Parton has supported medical, educational and social charities that were important to her. The most personal cause that Parton funded is the Imagination Library, which sends children all over the world a book each month from birth until the child turns five. More than 300 million books have been sent since 1995. 

Parton said, “My father could not read and write, and I saw how crippling that could be.” Aside from improving early literacy, the program helps children’s self-esteem. As Parton said, “It’s the fact that they get recognized. They get this little book with their little name on it in the mail, and they feel special. They start taking pride in themselves, and they know somebody out there is thinking of them.”

When asked in 2024 how she wants to be remembered, Parton said, “I hope people will just say she was a good ol’ girl, you know? She tried hard, she worked hard and she tried to make the world a better place and tried to make people happy. And I will be doing that till I keel over.” 

We can all learn a lesson from Parton. All of us can share our time, talents and energy to improve the world around us. Maybe each of us can be a little more like Dolly to celebrate her extraordinary life. To help carry on her legacy, her family requested donations to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Our library invites anyone interested in promoting literacy to join our Friends of the Guthrie Center Library. 

Young residents of Guthrie, Greene, Audubon and Carroll Counties can join the global community of readers fostered by the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, made possible through local support from Our Counties Health Foundation. From the moment of birth until they reach the milestone of kindergarten, children can be registered to receive a complimentary book delivered to their doorstep every month. To begin this literacy journey, families may visit the official program website or simply utilize the QR code available at our library to complete the enrollment process.

The library has exciting programs lined up for fall, including LEGO Mania Day at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9 and Creation Corner at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23.  Working with the Guthrie County/ISU Extension, the library will present a youth program entitled “Lots of Layers” on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 4 p.m. 

Adults, be sure to put the Social Security Pre-Retirement Presentation on your calendar for Thursday, Nov. 5 at 5 p.m.

Patrons are reminded that due to the Guthrie County Fair and Labor Day, the library will be closed Saturday, Sept. 5 and Monday, Sept. 7.

Stop by the MJB Library to check out a book from our Remembering Dolly display.

More than just books

Aug 24, 2026 | MJB LIBRARY NEWS

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

The MJB Library, in conjunction with the Orange Lodge No. 123 AF and AM, offered a Bikes and Books program for elementary-age children. The purpose of the contest was to promote summer reading among youth. Participating youth got an entry for the drawing for each book they read during the month of June and July.

Winners drawn by the Wylie Wood, representative of the Free Masons Orange Lodge No. 123, were Ainsley Schreiber and Bailey Tinken. Each of the prize winners was awarded a new bike and helmet. Twenty-five youths signed up for the program.

Thanks to the Friends of the Guthrie Center Library, the MJB Library offers Guthrie Center and Guthrie Center rural patrons the Iowa Adventure Pass. With the pass, patrons 18 and older are eligible to have a pass for each venue once every 365 days. The Blank Park Zoo, The Science Center of Iowa, and the Museum of Danish America are the venues that offer discounted admission fees.

In addition to these venues, the Des Moines Performing Arts will have free passes available. The Des Moines Performing Arts passes went live on the Iowa Adventure Pass website starting Thursday, Aug. 20. The program was so successful last season that the number of eligible shows has been expanded.

Reminders about using the pass for Des Moines Performing Arts shows: There are 100 tickets available for each performance on a first-come, first-served basis for each show. Eligible cardholders may reserve up to eight passes for one performance. Once patrons make a reservation, they will need to redeem their print/digital confirmation at the Civic Center box office before the show. This can happen 60 days in advance of the show but must be redeemed no later than 45 minutes before the performance.

Wellmark Family Series: Pass LIVE date on IAP website (subject to change): Performance Date:
“Velveteen, A New Musical” Aug. 20, 2026 Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026
“Tales of the Sun and Moon” Jan. 6, 2027 Saturday, March 6, 2027
“What Do You Do with a Problem?” March 7, 2027 Saturday, April 10, 2027
The Dance Series:
“Ailey II” Sept. 24, 2026 Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026
“Ballet Hispanico” Feb. 27, 2027 Tuesday, April 27, 2027
National Geographic LIVE Speaker Series:
“Wild Wolves of Yellowstone” Sept. 24, 2026 Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026
“The Ghosts of Pompeii” Nov. 27, 2026 Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2027
“Chasing Monarchs” Feb. 28, 2027 Thursday, April 29, 2027

Shows included are the Wellmark Family Series: “Velveteen, A New Musical,” “Tales of the Sun and Moon,” “What Do You Do with a Problem?” From the Dance Series, shows are “Ailey II,” and “Ballet Hispanico.” Three shows with the National Geographic LIVE Speaker Series are “Wild Wolves of Yellowstone,” “The Ghosts of Pompeii,” and “Chasing Monarchs.” See the Iowa Adventure Pass for dates and availability.

Remember we have several programs for adults including Cribbage on Monday mornings, Canasta on the first and third Tuesday afternoons, and Bridge on Wednesday mornings. Craft and Connect meets each Monday afternoon. Card-making class and Cookbook Club meet on the third Thursday of each month while afternoon book club meets on the second Tuesday and the evening book club meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month. See the library website for times for these programs.

Readers, be sure to plan ahead for Labor Day weekend. The library will be closed on Saturday, Sept. 5 and Monday, Sept. 7.

Winners of new bikes from the Books and Bikes program at the MJB Library are Ainsley Schreiber and Bailey Tinken. The program was done with community partner, The Orange Lodge No. 123 AF and AM, which donated the bicycles and helmets. Winners were drawn by Wylie Wood, representative of the Masonic Orange Lodge No. 123. Pictured are Jerri Hawkins, MJB Library Director; Bailey Tinken; Ainsley Schreiber; and Wylie Wood, representative of the Orange Lodge No. 123.

Canasta Class meets at the MJB Library at 1 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month.

Canasta Class is an adult library program available to card players of all ability levels.