By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

Friends of the Library have many plans and can use your help. On Nov. 7, Friends of the Guthrie Center Library will hold a bake sale from 5-8 p.m. to coincide with the Holiday Showcase at the park by the corner of Dowd Drug. Contact the library for additional information if you want to bake and donate items for the bake sale. 

Mary J. Barnett Library is taking registrations for trees to be set up for the library’s annual Festival of Trees. The theme this year is Christmas Stories. Please call the library or register online if you want to decorate a tree for this event.  

In conjunction with the Festival of Trees, the Friends will be hosting a Holiday Vendor Fair at the MJB Library on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The vendor cost to register for a table at the vendor fair is $20. Contact the library at mjblib@guthriecenter.lib.ia.us or by phone at 641-747-8110 to register and get additional information. 

Trivia Night is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 8. Get the date on your calendar and round up your team. 

Friends of the Library is still taking donations to update the donor tree mural in the children’s section. You can pay for the cost of a square foot of painting with an $18 donation. 

The regular meeting of Friends of the Library will be at 6:15 p.m., Monday, Nov. 4. Anyone who would like to have more information about becoming a Friend of the Library, please email, call or come to our November meeting. We welcome everyone who would like to join. 

Boo Bash

The fifth annual Li-BOO-ary Bash, a not-so-scary Halloween celebration at the MJB Library, will be on Thursday, Oct. 31 from 5-7:15 p.m. Stop by our family-friendly event featuring games, a photo booth, a “spooky walk” and a treat at the end. 

Iowa Libraries Adventure Pass

The Friends of the Library sponsor the Adventure Pass for local library patrons. Currently, we have adventure passes for Blank Park Zoo, Science Center of Iowa, and Des Moines Children’s Museum. Library patrons 18 and older may use their library card to check out a pass to participating locations through the library’s website. Check out our website for more details. 

Story Hour

Our preschool Story Hour is every Friday at 10 a.m.; this Friday’s story hour will feature turkeys. On Nov. 8, we will celebrate birthdays. Sharing is the theme for Nov. 15. Thanksgiving is the focus for Nov. 22. There will be no story hour on Nov. 29, as the library will be closed. 

Programs

On Saturday, Dec. 7, Michelle Cowan, an Iowa author, will present a book talk at 10 a.m. Cowan will discuss her book “Better, Not Bitter,” which is currently available to check out at the MJB Library. 

Cookbook Club

Cookbook Club featured recipes from the newly released, “Good Lookin’ Cookin’ ” by Dolly Parton and Rachel Parton George this past Thursday. The top two favorite recipes were the: Family Favorite Meatloaf and Au Gratin Potatoes. Stop by to check out this treasured cookbook to help plan your next family menus. “Good Lookin’ Cookin’ ” by Dolly Parton and Rachel Parton George is filled with more than 80 delicious dishes as well as photographs of Dolly and Rachel cooking and hosting all year long. Want to join our next meeting? Stop by the library to pick out a recipe from the upcoming cookbook “175 Essential Slow Cooker Classics” and join us on Thursday, Nov. 21 with your dish.  

Holiday Closures for November

A reminder that the library will be closed on Monday, Nov. 11 in honor of Veteran’s Day. We will also be closed on Thursday, Nov. 28, and Friday, Nov. 29, in celebration of Thanksgiving.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Veedtte

As the year unfolds, many of us set out to read a specific number of books, whether at the start of the year or with daily reading targets. How’s your reading journey for 2024 going? Have you explored any new authors? Which titles have you enjoyed or not liked as much?

I’m pleased to say I’m on track to meet my yearly goal. I based my target this year on last year’s reading habits, adding six more books to my list. Finding time to slow down, unplug from life’s hustle, and get lost in a good book can be tough, but I’ve discovered some fantastic new authors and writing styles. So why not turn off the TV, pick up a great book, and treat yourself to a relaxing day of self-care?

I most often read on my Libby app with my MJB Library card; on Libby, I have access to thousands of eBooks, audiobooks and magazines. 

To help local readers, here are the Top 30 most popular adult fiction books of 2024 here at the MJB Library. Stop in and check them out. 

• “The Women” (Hannah, Kristin)
• “The Teacher” (McFadden, Freida)
• “Things We Never Got Over” (Score, Lucy)
• “The Coworker” (McFadden, Freida)
• “The Women: A Novel” (LP) (Hannah, Kristin)
• “Yellowstone” — Seasons 1-4  (DVD)
• “The housemaid” (McFadden, Freida)
• “Twisted Love” (Huang, Ana)
• “The Housemaid’s Secret” (McFadden, Freida)
• “You Shouldn’t Have Come Here” (Rose, Jeneva)
• “The Paradise Problem” (Lauren, Christina)
• “The Unhoneymooners” (Lauren, Christina)
• “Never Lie” (McFadden, Freida)
• “Remarkably Bright Creatures” (VanPelt, Shelby) Funny story (Henry, Emily)
• “Darling Girls” (Hepworth, Sally)
• “Too Late” (Hoover, Colleen)
• “Lone Oaks Crossing” (Dailey, Janet)
• “The Worst Best Man” (Score, Lucy)
• “The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell” (Dugoni, Robert)
• “First Lie Wins” (Elston, Ashley)
• “Mind Games” (Robert, Nora)
• “The Little Liar” (Alborn, Mitch)
• “The Friendship Club” (Carr, Robyn)
• “The Edge” (Baldacci, David)
• “The Housemaid Is Watching” (McFadden, Freida)
• “Rock Bottom Girl” (Score, Lucy)
• “Hidden Pictures” (Rekulak, Jason)
• “The Cliffs” (Sullivan, J Courtney)

Save the Date

Friends of the Library are planning events: 

• Holiday Showcase Bake Sale: Nov. 7, 5-8 p.m. Looking for Bakers to bake and donate items to Friends to sell. Contact the library with your name and for more information. 
• Holiday Vendor Fair at MJB Library Festival of Trees: Saturday, Dec. 7, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Vendors $20 to reserve a table. Contact the Library by email: mjblib@guthriecenter.lib.ia.us or by phone 641-747-8110.
• Trivia night fundraising event – Feb. 8.  Start rounding up your team and put the date on the calendar. More information will be coming soon. 
• Golf Tournament in June 2025. Watch for more details to come. 

Happy National Friends of Libraries Week

Oct. 20-26 is National Friends of Libraries Week. This is a pretty important week for any library, and this is the case for the Mary J. Barnett Memorial Library. We want to thank the members of the Friends of the Guthrie Center Library for their steadfast support of our library. Anyone who would like to have more information about becoming a Friend of the Library, please email, call or stop by the library. We welcome everyone who would like to join. 

Story Hour

Our preschool Story Hour is every Friday at 10 a.m.; this Friday’s story hour will feature Halloween with a witch hat decorating.  

Iowa Libraries Adventure Pass

The Friends of the Library sponsor the Adventure Pass for local library patrons. Currently, we have adventure passes for Blank Park Zoo, Science Center of Iowa, and Des Moines Children’s Museum. Library patrons 18 and older may use their library card to check out a pass to participating locations through the library’s website. Check out our website for more details. 

Programs

On Saturday, Nov. 9, Michelle Cowan, an Iowa author, will present a book talk at 10:00 a.m.  Cowan will discuss her book “Better, Not Bitter,” which is currently available to check out at the MJB Library. 

Cookbook Club

Cookbook Club featured recipes from the newly released, “Good Lookin’ Cookin’ ” by Dolly Parton and Rachel Parton George on this past Thursday. The top two favorite recipes were the: Family Favorite Meatloaf and Au Gratin Potatoes. Stop by to check out this treasured cookbook to help plan your next family menus. “Good Lookin’ Cookin’ ” by Dolly Parton and Rachel Parton George is filled with more than 80 delicious dishes as well as photographs of Dolly and Rachel cooking and hosting all year long. Want to join our next meeting? Stop by the library to pick out a recipe from the upcoming cookbook “175 Essential Slow Cooker Classics” and join us on Thursday, Nov. 21 with your dish.  

Boo Bash

The fifth annual Li-BOO-ary Bash,  a not-so-scary Halloween celebration at the MJB Library, will be on Thursday, Oct. 31 from 5-7:15 p.m. Stop by our family-friendly event featuring games, a photo booth, a “spooky walk” and a treat at the end. 

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

Oct. 20-26 is National Friends of Libraries Week. For any library, this is an important week, and this is the case for the Mary J. Barnett Memorial Library. We want to thank the members of our Friends of the Guthrie Center Library for their steadfast support of our library.  

For those of you who don’t know much about the Friends of the Library, the group is composed of people from our community who value our library and want to support it any way they can. What this often means is fundraising to allow the library to acquire things that are above what we have the budget to provide. Sometimes the friends volunteer to help with special projects like decorating for our festival of trees, straightening shelves, or handing out treats at our annual Boo Bash. The Friends are the monetary sponsors for the library’s Iowa Libraries Adventure Pass.

Because of their fundraising, the library has acquired the electronic message board on Fifth Street. They matched funds with a Guthrie County Community Foundation and Grow Greene Grant to allow us to update computers for public and staff use. The very building that houses our library is in large part here because of their fundraising and dedication. Currently, the friends are fundraising to repaint the donor mural in the children’s section of the library.  

Those of us who use the library appreciate the Guthrie Center Friends of the Library daily, but we want to take this time to thank all former, current and future Friends of the Library for your contributions to our community through our library.  

Anyone who would like to have more information about becoming a Friend of the Library, please email, call or stop by the library. We welcome everyone who would like to join. 

Story Hour

Our preschool Story Hour is every Friday at 10 a.m.; this Friday’s  story hour will feature spooky books and crafts. Halloween will be the focus of Oct. 25.  

Iowa Libraries Adventure Pass

The Friends of the Library sponsor the Adventure Pass for local library patrons. Currently, we have adventure passes for Blank Park Zoo, Science Center of Iowa, and Des Moines Children’s Museum. Library patrons 18 and older may use their library card to check out a pass to participating locations through the library’s website. Check out our website for more details. 

Programs

On Saturday, Nov. 9, Michelle Cowan, an Iowa author, will present a book talk at 10 a.m. Cowan will discuss her book “Better, Not Bitter,” which is currently available to check out at the MJB Library. 

Cookbook Club

Thursday, Oct. 17 at 6:30 p.m. will be the regular Cookbook Club meeting. This month’s featured cookbook is “Good Lookin’ Cookin’ ” by Dolly Parton and Rachel Parton George. Stop by the library to choose a recipe

Boo Bash

The fifth annual Li-BOO-ary Bash,  a not-so-scary Halloween celebration at the MJB Library, will be on Thursday, Oct. 31 from 5-7:15 p.m. Stop by our family-friendly event featuring games, a photo booth, a “spooky walk” and a treat at the end. 

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

“The Wild Robot” movie is out and filling up theaters, but did you know that before it was a movie, it was a book? The Mary J. Barnett Library has a three-book series written by Peter Brown that follows Roz, a robot who finds herself on a remote island with no idea of how she got there. After surviving a storm and a bear attack, she realizes that she must adapt if she is to survive. Before long, the island begins to feel like home, until one day, she begins to recall her past. 

This No. 1 New York Times bestselling illustrated middle-grade novel from a Caldecott Honor winner tells an extraordinary story full of action and thought-provoking questions as a robot learns to survive — and live — in the wilderness. Not only do we have the series in print, but we also have it on Playaway audiobooks. Come in and check the books out because you know the book is always better than the movie.

We have other new books that will appeal to upper elementary and middle school students including the 12th “Spy School” book and “The New Girl” graphic novel by Cassandra Calin. 

For young patrons who love non-fiction, we have a new book from National Geographic Kids entitled “Weird But True, World 2024.” Discover Earth’s strangest natural wonders, animals, festivals, ancient architecture, news and more in this annual compendium of everything “Weird But True!” fans love… and then some. Readers will journey across the seven continents, dive into the ocean, and even blast off into space to discover a whole wide world of weird. From volcano-surfing in Nicaragua to a beach in Japan where the “sand” is shaped like stars to extreme ironing competitions in the United Kingdom, “Weird But True! World” offers an unparalleled adventure-filled exploration of our world’s amazing uniqueness.

And speaking of kids, we are working to update our children’s section of the library. Above is the before and after plan for the donor tree in the juvenile section of MJB Library. If you would like to support this project, you can pay for a square foot of the mural for $18. The old donor tree leaves will be repurposed to create the beautiful butterflies pictured in the new design. Please make checks payable to the Guthrie Center Friends of the Library to contribute. Donations of a foot or more are greatly appreciated. Checks or cash may be dropped off at the library during library hours.

Story Hour

Our preschool Story Hour is every Friday at 10 a.m.; the theme will be pumpkins on Friday, Oct. 9. On Oct. 18, story hour will feature spooky books and crafts. Halloween will be the focus of Oct. 25.

Programs

Donald Todd, Jr. will present his program entitled “A Tale of Two Soldiers” on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 11 a.m. The encore performance of this program will chronicle the story of how his father, Dr. Donald Todd, Sr., and Dr. Herbert Neff came to start a medical practice in Guthrie Center that thrived for decades.

On Saturday, Nov. 9, Michelle Cowan, an Iowa author, will present a book talk at 10 a.m. Cowan will discuss her book “Better, Not Bitter.” 

Cookbook Club

Thursday, Oct. 17 at 6:30 p.m. will be the regular Cookbook Club meeting. This month’s featured cookbook is “Good Lookin’ Cookin’ ” by Dolly Parton and Rachel Parton George. Stop by the library to choose a recipe

Boo Bash

The fifth annual Li-BOO-ary Bash, a not-so-scary Halloween celebration at the MJB Library, will be on Thursday, Oct. 31 from 5-7:15 p.m. Stop by our family-friendly event featuring games, a photo booth, a “spooky walk,” and a treat at the end.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

So what can you buy for $20 these days? Let me make a suggestion. How about a square foot of the mural for which we are fundraising? The Friends of the Guthrie Center Public Library are spearheading a project to revamp the painting and design of the Mary J. Barnett Memorial Library Donor Tree. We are seeking donations to cover the cost to turn this tree into a stunning focal point of our children’s area. While we plan to create a new mural, the original donor names will still be prominently featured.  

The price is $18 per square foot with a total area of 154 square feet. Donations of a foot or more are greatly appreciated. Cash or check donations made out to Friends of the GC Library are accepted at the library. Your generous support is crucial for the success of this project. For the cost of your monthly morning coffee expenditure, you could make a huge difference in our children’s area. Thank you for being so supportive. 

Friends of the Guthrie Center Library will have their regular monthly meeting on Monday, Oct. 7 at 6:15 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend. 

Story Hour

Our preschool Story Hour is every Friday at 10 a.m. The theme for Oct. 4 will be monsters; pumpkins will be the topic of Oct. 11. On Oct. 18, story hour will feature spooky books and crafts. Halloween will be the focus of Oct. 25.  

Book Club

Between the Covers book club will meet Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 3 p.m. to discuss Ana Reye’s novel “The House in the Pines.” Stop by the library to check out a copy. 

Programs

Donald Todd, Jr. will be presenting his program entitled “A Tale of Two Soldiers” on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 11 a.m.  The encore performance of this program will chronicle the story of how his father, Dr. Donald Todd, Sr., and Dr. Herbert Neff came to start a medical practice in Guthrie Center that thrived for decades.  

On Saturday, November 9, Michelle Cowan, an Iowa author, will present a book talk at 10 a.m. Cowan will discuss her book “Better, Not Bitter.” 

The scheduled after school programs by the Guthrie County ISU Extension office scheduled for Oct. 9 and Nov. 13 are going to be postponed to a later date. 

Boo Bash

Mark your calendar for a not so scary Halloween celebration at the MJB Library on Thursday, Oct. 31 from 5-7:15 p.m. Stop by our family-friendly event featuring  games, a photo booth, a “spooky walk,” and a treat at the end. 

Cookbook Club

Thursday, Oct. 17 at 6:30 p.m. will be the regular Cookbook Club meeting. This month’s featured cookbook is “Good Lookin’ Cookin’ ” by Dolly Parton and Rachel Parton George. Stop by the library to choose a recipe. 

Special to the Times Vedette

The MJB Library has preschool StoryHour each Friday at 10 a.m.  The audience on Friday, Sept. 20 was in for a treat because we had a special guest reader. Stephanie Hafner from Lake Lumber read “The House that She Built” to the young patrons and their caregivers. The book is based on a true story, inspired by a team of women who came together from around the country to build a one-of-a-kind home.

Hafner commented, “I am new to the building industry, but I was surprised to learn less than 3% of the onsite workforce in housing are women. I hope to bring awareness to all of the opportunities for females and males in the building industry. We will always need homes. It is important to educate our future generations on careers in the building industry, as they will continue to be in demand and not something that can be built by a computer or robot.”

Following the story, the participants completed activity sheets and building projects; Lake Lumber gave each child a measuring tape and a carpenter’s pencil to use for the activity sheets. House construction using the mag shapes was also an activity for the young readers. At the end of StoryHour, Hafner handed out special “House that She Built” cookies to everyone.

If you’re interested in being a guest reader for one of our Friday morning StoryHours, contact the MJB Library. Our next StoryHour will be at 10 a.m.  Friday, Sept. 27 and  will be about fall.

Library Card Sign Up Month

Just a reminder, September is Library Card Sign Up Month. Sign-up is quick and easy and requires only a form of identification to verify your address. Stop in and get your card during library hours.

Upcoming Adult Programs

Cribbage  meets each Monday from 9-11 a.m. On Wednesdays, from 9-11 a.m., Bridge Club will meet. Players of all abilities are invited to join.

On Oct. 2 at 6:30 p.m., Art on the Fly will be presenting a class on how to do needle felting. Participants must pre-register for this class through the Facebook link; if you don’t have Facebook, stop in the library for help to register. For $25, each participant will create a pumpkin and an acorn.

Between the Covers book club will meet to discuss “The House in the Pines” by Ana Reyes at 3 p.m. on Oct. 8. Anyone interested in book club may stop in to check out a copy of this month’s selection.

Early Out Day Program for Kids

The library will be hosting an early out day program to be presented by the Guthrie County Extension Office on Wednesday, Oct. 9 and Wednesday, Nov. 13. Both programs will begin at 2 p.m. since school is dismissed early on those days. The October program theme is agriculture. The November program topic will be announced later.

Do Todd, Jr.

Don Todd, Jr. will be sharing an encore performance of his presentation entitled “A Tale of Two Soldiers” on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 11 a.m.  This talk will highlight the career of his father, Dr. Donald Todd, Sr. and his medical partner, Dr. Herbert Neff, and how these two World War II Soldiers found their way to set up a medical practice in Guthrie Center that treated Guthrie County families for decades.

Movie Night in The Park

As part of the Guthrie Center Fall Festival, Main Street will be hosting a movie in Mitchell Park at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12. “Casper” will be shown. MJB Library is pleased to partner with Main Street to help secure the movie license for this fun event. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. There will be food trucks. MJB Library Director Jerri Hawkins will be reading a Halloween story before the movie begins. Don’t miss out on this fun night.

Card Making Club

Card Making Club will be meeting on Thursday, Oct. 17 from 9-11 a.m. to create unique greeting cards. Judi Zimmerline leads the group and provides all needed materials for a $5 fee to cover the cost of supplies.

Michelle Cowan

Iowa native author Michelle Cowan will be at the library Saturday, Nov. 9 at 10 a.m. for an author talk and meet and greet. Cowan will speak about her book entitled “Better, Not Bitter, A Journey from Heartache to Healing.”

Displays

Stop in during September to enjoy the library displays. Felipe Castillo has loaned us his collection of vintage model cars. Karen Benton has loaned a lovely quilt created by her mother, Audrey Stetzel.

Holiday Fun

Mark your calendar to attend our annual Li-BOO-ary Bash on Thursday, Oct. 31 from 5-7:15 p.m. Trick or Treaters can stop in for a not so scary Halloween experience and leave with a treat from the MJB Library.

It’s time to think about a tree for the library’s annual Festival of Trees. The theme this year is Christmas Stories, so think how your favorite holiday story, Bible story or family story might provide the decorations for your tree. Please complete your registration by Nov. 20. Remember to bring your tree and decorations before Thanksgiving. Tree pick up should be done within the first week of January. Visit the library website to complete the registration process.