By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

Back to school displays are popping up in stores, and advertisements for school supplies are seemingly everywhere — the universal sign for the end of summer. So, before the summer runs out and kids have to actually use those new backpacks and notebooks, squeeze a little more summer into your lives with the help of the MJB Library.  

Schedule a family fun day using the library Adventure Pass. Paid for by The Guthrie Center Friends of the Library, the Adventure Pass is available to patrons with a Guthrie Center address to use once each 365 days for each venue. With the pass, patrons can get two adult and two children’s admissions for free. The Blank Park Zoo, The Children’s Museum and The Des Moines Science Center are the three venues that are available. Schedule from the Mary J. Barnett Library website.  

Join us on Wednesday, Aug. 7 for the Magic Show that will be at 3:30 p.m. at the library. The show is designed for children of all ages. Come and be amazed and entertained.

Bring the kids in to get their own library card and check out some fun books to read together. No matter how old they are, kids love to be read to (We all love that! Why do you think audiobooks are so popular?) Parents and grandparents, do you realize that reading aloud is the most important thing you can do to support literacy?  

Reading aloud has so many benefits. Increasing vocabulary is one of the greatest advantages of reading aloud to children. Reading aloud allows kids to hear new words, and children are more likely to incorporate them into their speech after hearing the words used.  

Reading aloud helps children understand grammar better by exposing them to complex sentence structures and proper grammar. Hearing standard grammar helps kids discern how to speak and write properly. 

General knowledge is increased by reading aloud. Sharing a story together also helps children understand a sense of story; they learn how a literature is structured. The greatest benefit of reading aloud is that it makes reading more pleasurable. That time spent reading together is fun and special. Reading isn’t a chore. Some of my best memories are reading aloud time — first, with my mom, listening to favorite teachers in school, sharing amazing books after recess, and, later, snuggling and reading with my own kids.  

For kids who love audio books, we have a large selection of Playaways. The Playaways are self-contained audiobooks that require no Wi-Fi. The battery operated audiobooks just require you to plug in headphones or plug them in with an auxiliary cord while riding in the car.  

We also have Vox and Wonderbooks — read-along books that also have an audiobook attached to the hardcover book. These books are great for little people who can’t read yet for those times when your little one wants to hear a story but you’re not able to read to them.  Read-alongs are also great from emerging and struggling readers. Listening to the book while following the text aids in comprehension and helps with fluency. The great thing is we have many levels of read along books, including  picture books, beginning readers and chapter books.

If you have a child younger than 5 years old, be sure to sign him or her up for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. This program, started by Parton in 1995, is designed to promote a love of reading by sending books to children free of charge from birth until age 5. Due to a sponsorship by Partnerships 4 Families Early Childhood Iowa, children in Audubon, Carroll, Greene and Guthrie Counties are eligible. Go to the Imagination Library website or stop in the MJB Library for help to get signed up.  

Preschool children are also encouraged to sign up for the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program. Reading 1,000 books to your child before kindergarten will promote reading readiness. We welcome all preschool kids to sign up for this program at our library. 

Author Scott Reister shows off his batting skills while posing with Burton Bendickson following his presentation about his new book, “Baseball Spy.”

He’s out! Jaxon Knobbe tags special guest Scott Reister during his question-and-answer time with young patrons who came to learn about Reister’s new book.

Sportscaster and author Scott Reister poses with his young fans following the presentation he did on Wednesday, July 31, at the MJB Library. Reister’s new children’s book, “Baseball Spy,” is an Amazon Bestseller and is available to check out from the MJB Library.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

What’s the Director reading? 

Our library director Jerri is currently reading “The Paradise Problem” by Christina Lauren. This summer romance is filled with witty banter, a complicated situation, and interesting characters.

When Anna Green was in college, she agreed to marry her friend’s brother, Liam Weston, so they could live in subsidized family housing while he was a graduate student and she was an art student at UCLA. Two years later, they both got their degrees and went their separate ways.

Three years after college, Anna is a starving artist, and Liam is a Stanford professor who happens to be one of four heirs to the Weston Foods conglomerate and stands to inherit 100 million dollars. The only catch is that his grandfather’s will includes an antiquated clause that requires Liam to be happily married for five years before he sees a penny of the money.

Just when Liam thinks the problem is solved, his family demands to meet his mystery wife. So he is forced to reconnect with his not-so-ex-wife Anna and invite her to a family destination wedding. Liam quickly goes from worrying whether foul-mouthed, spunky Anna will be able to fit in with the family to being concerned that the toxic family and their wealth will corrupt the surprisingly pure-hearted Anna. Liam is forced to decide if the money is worth losing true love that started out as a lie.

Jerri says it’s a fun read so far. MJB Library has this book in regular and large print. If you enjoy it, check out “The Unhoneymooners” by the same author. See our book display for additional librarian recommendations.

Celebrate National Golf Month

August is National Golf Month.  Celebrate by checking out “Tiger, Tiger: His Life as it’s never been told before” by James Patterson, the only major author who has nine holes-in-one. James Patterson reveals how Tiger became the G.O.A.T., what drove him to fall so spectacularly, and how he has made his way back to the pinnacle of golf.

Author Event for tweens and teens

Iowa sportscaster and hit author Scott Reister will be appearing at  the MJB Library on Wednesday, July 31 at 4:30 p.m.  This event is open to all ages but especially is geared to upper elementary through early high school patrons. Following the program, Reister will sell autographed copies of his books for $16.

Magic Show

Magic fans of all ages need to mark their calendars for Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 3:30 p.m. Our library will be hosting an exciting magic show from the same people who presented the Absolute Science Foam Show.

Between the Covers

Books are ready to be picked up for the August book club meeting.  The August book will be “The Villa” by Rachel Hawkins. Book club will meet at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 13.

Cookbook Club

Cookbook Club will meet Thursday, Aug. 15 at 6:30 p.m. to share dishes from “The Farm Made Cookbook: Traditional Recipes from America’s Farm”. Stop in and select a recipe that you’d like to share at the meeting on Aug. 15.

Adult Programs

Cribbage Club will meet each Monday morning from 9-11 a.m. in the Taylor meeting room.  Bridge Club will meet every Wednesday morning from 9-11 a.m. in the Taylor meeting room.  Card Making Club meets the third Thursday of each month also in the Taylor meeting room from 9-11 a.m. The August Card Making Club will be Aug. 15.  A reminder that all materials are provided for a $5 fee.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

Author Event for tweens and teens

Iowa sportscaster and hit author Scott Reister will be appearing at  the MJB Library on Wednesday, July 31 at 4:30 p.m. This event is open to all ages but especially is geared to upper elementary through early high school patrons.

Scott Reister’s book is entitled “Baseball Spy” and is a top new release on Amazon. An adrenaline-packed adventure, the book features 14-year-old Zane Mitchell who finds his mom missing and a mysterious Federal Agent at his door when he returns home from a tough baseball game with his new team. Zane discovers one of his teammates is a hacker who is trying to expose a government secret. Racing against the clock, Zane plays a deadly game of cat and mouse while trying to save his family and protect national secrets. 

Reister’s interactive program is especially appealing to young sports fans. Attendees are encouraged to bring their ball gloves. Reister will discuss what the book is about and how he came up with the idea. He also shares hoops he had to jump through to get the book published.  Workshop participants will also have an activity related to spies and/or baseball.

This thriller is available for check out at the MJB Library. Following Scott Reister’s program, autographed copies may be purchased from the author for $16. Sports fans and spy enthusiasts will not want to miss this captivating program.

Magic Show

Magic fans of all ages need to mark their calendars for Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 3:30 p.m. Our library will be hosting  an exciting magic show from the same people who presented the Absolute Science Foam Show. 

Between the Covers

Books are ready to be picked up for the August book club meeting. The August book will be “The Villa” by Rachel Hawkins. Childhood friends who drifted apart as adults, Emily and Chess reconnect and decide to take a girls’ trip to Italy. The two stay at an Italian villa with a notorious past. Rented in the summer of 1974 to a rock star and his entourage, the rock star sets in motion a chain of events resulting in one guest writing a platinum album, another writing one of the greatest horror novels of all time, and a third brutally murdered. Emily begins to dig into the villa’s past and the events surrounding the murder. As she gets closer to the truth, Emily senses tension between herself and Chess. Secrets are revealed. Will the summer end in another brutal murder? 

This book is inspired by Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders and the summer that Percy and Mary Shelly (author of “Frankenstein”) spent at a Lake Geneva Castle with Lord Byron. 

Book club will meet at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 13.

Cookbook Club

Cookbook Club will meet Thursday, Aug. 15 at 6:30 p.m. to share dishes from “The Farm Made Cookbook: Traditional Recipes from America’s Farm.” Stop in and select a recipe that you would like to share at the meeting on Aug. 15.

Adult Programs

Cribbage Club will meet each Monday morning from 9-11 a.m. in the Taylor meeting room.  Bridge Club will meet every Wednesday morning from 9-11 a.m. in the Taylor meeting room.  Card Making Club meets the third Thursday of each month also in the Taylor meeting room from 9-11 a.m. The August Card Making Club will be Aug. 15. A reminder that all materials are provided for a $5 fee.

New Nonfiction

“The Kneeling Man: My Father’s Life as a Black Spy Who Witnessed the Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.” by Leta McCollough Seletzky tells the true story of her father’s life as a spy set deep in the Jim Crow South during the Civil Rights Movement. In the iconic photo of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel, the author’s father is the man kneeling next to King, trying to stop the bleeding. “The Kneeling Man” is the result of the author’s research into her father’s past as a spy who went on to have a career in the CIA. This captivating story is both a spy thriller and a portrait of the author’s family. This book is available for check out at the MJB Library.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

 Parents, have you reached the point in the summer where you’ve begun to count the days until school starts? Have the exciting family adventures you envisioned in May left you wondering if it’s too late to send your kids to summer camp until August?

Well, if that’s where you are, let the MJB Library help you out. Let us share ways to integrate reading into your family time. By doing so, you will improve your family time as well as prevent your kids from falling behind in reading.

Game night is always a fun family time — unless your kids insist on playing Candyland so often that you’re thinking of hiding the game from them. Fear not! The library has a large selection of board games for all ages and interests that can be checked out.

Meal time is such a good time for family conversation, but do you find yourself in a rut, cooking the same thing every week? We can help with that, too. We have an extensive collection of cookbooks. We even have cookbooks that are geared to children. Have your child read and make a recipe with you. It’s a great way for kids to work on reading while also learning fractions.

Bring your child to the library to get his or her very own library card. Then use the library card to pick out books for bedtime reading. Reading bedtime stories together is a special part of a bedtime routine. If your child is too young to read, we have an extensive collection of picture books that make great bedtime reading. For older children, have them help you choose a book or a series of books that you can read together before bed.

When you’re riding in the car, instead of everyone wearing headphones or earbuds to listen to their own thing, consider listening to an audiobook as a family. It’s fun to know what your kids enjoy reading and to see their reactions as a story unfolds. This doesn’t have to be expensive. Download the Libby app using your library card, and choose an audiobook. Another option is to check out some of our Playaway books. These are self-contained audiobooks that do not require the internet. Simply plug the Play Away into the radio using your auxiliary cord and enjoy.

Consider creating a cozy reading space in your home where you and your kids can relax and read on those rainy days when you don’t want to go out. It could be a comfy chair, a window seat or even a fort made out of couch cushions and blankets. This is a good reason to keep library books on hand.

If you need to get out of the house, there is always the Adventure Pass. Paid for by the Friends of the Library, the Adventure Pass provides free access to three venues this year: The Blank Park Zoo, the Des Moines Children Museum, and the Science Center of Des Moines. Patrons older than 18 may check out a pass to each venue once every 365 days. This pass provides admission for two adults and two children (DSM Children Museum 4 children admission). Passes have to be reserved by going to the MJB Library Website or the library.

If all that fails, just come to the library with your child. We have a great cool area for preschoolers to play. We have new sensory furniture and toys that kids enjoy. Play a game of checkers on the giant checkerboard.

Explore our STEM table or our Lego table. Ask for STEM projects from our STEM cart to build together. Enjoy some relaxing time with coloring sheets, or get creative with the maker card craft supplies.

Play a game of bowling on the Wii. Listen to a Wonderbook with your toddler. Look at the quilt and the display case collections. Come to Friday morning Storytime or one of the many programs we offer. Or just find a quiet spot to sit and read with your kids.

Let the library help you make memories and adventures with your family. Take it from a mom whose kids are all grown up, those 18 summers when your kids are under your roof will fly, so don’t waste it.

Pre-K Story Hour

PreK Story Hour is in full swing again. Starting at 10 a.m. on Fridays, the storytime is geared toward preschool children, but anyone may attend. July 19 will focus on “Summer,” while the theme for July 26 will be fun food.

Adult Programs

Adults are reminded that all the regular programs are running through the summer.  

Cribbage will continue to meet each Monday morning from 9-11 a.m. in the Taylor Meeting Room.

Bridge will meet Wednesday morning from 9-11 a.m.  

Card Making Club will meet from 9-11 a.m. on Thursday, July 18, to create handmade greeting cards, under the direction of Judi Zimmerline. The Card Making Club provides all needed materials for a fee of $5.

Cookbook Club will be meeting on Thursday, July 18 at 6:30 p.m. to share the recipes they have chosen from this year’s Taste of Home magazines.

Magic Show

On Wednesday, Aug. 7, the MJB Library will be hosting a magic show at 3:30 p.m. Prepare to be amazed and entertained by this magic show for all ages.

New books

Are you finding yourself needing something to occupy the time you are waiting for baseball games to start or dance practice to end? Or do you just want to lounge at the pool and read? If so, stop in the MJB Library or check out our online catalog at the library website. We have so many new and interesting books.

We have some great new summer reads like “Swan Song” by Elin Hilderbrand, “The Next Mrs. Parish” by Liv Constantine, and “Look on the Bright Side” by Kristan Higgins. Tom Selleck’s new memoir entitled “You Never Know” is a delightful read about his acting career.

David Maine concentrates on his craft project at preschool Storytime, which takes place every Friday at 10 a.m.

Tayen Flanery, with her mom, Samantha, proudly shows off her finished bug jar.

Craft time is a favorite part of Storytime. Last week’s project was making bug jars.

This little patron is fascinated by the bug jar she created during Storytime.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

On July 5 and 6, the Mary J. Barnett Library hosted class displays, class composites and Al Bell videos during the All-School Reunion. Saturday, Don Todd, Jr. presented a performance of his talk called “A Tale of Two Soldiers” about how his father, Dr. Donald Todd, Sr., and Dr. Herbert Neff during World War II and how they came to set up a medical practice in Guthrie Center. 

Story Hour

After a month-long hiatus, the preschool Story Hour will resume at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 12. The topic will be bugs. Story Hour is geared for pre-k youngsters, but everyone is welcome. Story Hour will be every Friday at 10 a.m.

Card Making Club

Card Making Club will meet on Thursday, July 18, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Led by Judi Zimmerline, participants will learn to make stunning, hand-made greeting cards. The $5 fee covers the cost of all provided materials. 

Cookbook Club

Cookbook Club will meet on Thursday, July 18 at 6:30 p.m. This month’s recipes will come from 2024 Taste of Home Magazines. Stop by the library to choose a recipe. Bring your prepared dish to the Cookbook Club to share and discuss recipes.

Friends of the Library

Community members who would like to join Friends of the Library are invited to come to the next meeting on Monday, Aug. 5 at 6:15 p.m. If you’re looking for an opportunity to volunteer your time in a meaningful way for our community, Friends of the Library is the organization for you. 

Magic Show

Kids, keep your calendar open on Wednesday, Aug. 7. The library will be hosting a magic show at 3:30 p.m. that day. Kids of all ages will enjoy this entertaining afternoon.

Adventure Pass

If you haven’t used an Adventure Pass to go to the Blank Park Zoo, the Des Moines Children’s Museum, or the Science Center of Iowa, go online to the MJB Library website to sign up. The adventure pass provides free admission for two adults and two children to these locations. See the website for more details. 

Many visitors to the MJB Library stopped in to enjoy the Al Bell videos during the All School Reunion.

Be sure to stop at the library during July to enjoy the collection of Americana Santas, bears and Longaberger baskets on loan from Glenda Bascom for the month.

While you’re out and about, make a stop at the library to see this beautiful quilt on loan to the library from Glenda Bascom. The quilt, which is the Lone Star pattern, was hand pieced and hand quilted by Beulah Whitman, Dr. Steve Bascom’s grandmother. The extraordinary quilt was a wedding gift to the Bascoms.

All School Reunion Guests enjoyed the display of class photo composites displayed in the Taylor Meeting Room.

The response to Donald Todd, Jr.’s talk at the MJB Library was so well attended that a second presentation was scheduled on Saturday afternoon.

Donald Todd, Jr. gave a repeat performance of his talk entitled “A Tale of Two Soldiers,” chronicling the history of his father’s medical practice in Guthrie Center. Dr. Donald Todd, Sr., and Dr. Herbert Neff came to Guthrie Center and began a successful medical practice in Guthrie Center following World War II.

Guthrie Center All School Reunion attendees visit while waiting for the presentation by Donald Todd, Jr. on Saturday after the parade.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

Hey there! We made it through an awesome Summer Reading Month with 14 fun events in June, and we had an average of 36 attendees at each event. We had a total of 507 attendees at our summer reading events. Our amazing presenters included Anne Riodian (Iowa DNR Educator), Skie Shull (GC ISU Ext. Outreach), Bif Ridgway (Bike World), Ken (Absolute Science) and Misty (Blank Park Zoo Educator). Huge thanks to everyone who helped make our programs and events such a great success, Cafe on the Hill, and a special shoutout to Casey’s General Store for donating delicious single one-topping pizzas for our Pizza Prize Party.

Library Closure/Extended Hours

Remember that the library will be closed on Thursday, July 4 to celebrate Independence Day. The library hours will be 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Friday, July 5 and Saturday, July 6 to welcome visitors to the All School Reunion. 

All School Reunion 

The library will be hosting class displays for the all-school reunion. Displays are set up throughout the library. The Taylor Meeting Room will display class composite photos. Additionally, the Taylor Meeting Room will be playing Al Bell Videos during the day on Friday and Saturday. On Saturday, July 6 at 11 a.m., Donald Todd, Jr. will be presenting his program “A Tale of Two Soldiers,” which chronicles the history of his father, Dr. Donald Todd, Sr., and Dr. Herbert Neff who ran a medical practice here for decades. 

StoryHour

Our summer StoryHour schedule is in full swing. Please note that there will be no story hour on July 5 due to the All School Reunion activities. On July 12, we’ll be exploring the fascinating world of bugs, and on July 19, our theme will be all about summer. Finally, on July 26, we’ll be celebrating with a theme of food and fun.

Between the Covers

Between the Covers Book Club will meet at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 9 to discuss David McCullough’s biography of Teddy Roosevelt entitled “Mornings on Horseback.” Stop by the library to check out a copy if you’d like to join the book discussion. 

Card Making Club

Card Making Club will meet on Thursday, July 18, from 9-11 a.m. to create beautiful, handmade cards. Judy Zimmerline will lead the class. All materials are provided. There is a $5 fee to cover supplies. 

Cookbook Club

The July Cookbook Club will be using recipes from the Taste of Home Magazines from this year. To participate, stop by the library to select a recipe to prepare for the meeting. On the night of the meeting, bring your dish to share with the group. You will be able to enjoy some delicious food, share recipes and discuss the magazines.  

Friends of the Library

The next Friends of the Library is Tuesday, July 2 at 6:15 p.m. We welcome new members. 

Cribbage and Bridge

Cribbage players meet every Monday from 9-11 a.m. to play. Bridge Club meets each Wednesday from 9-11 a.m. Players of all skill levels and all ages are welcome to participate. 

Adventure Pass

The Friends of the Library again are sponsoring 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.  

Patrons may check out one pass per venue per 365 days. The pass is valid for two adults and two children. The printed pass and a valid photo ID must be presented at the gates to be admitted to the venue. Reservations can be made up to 90 days in advance. The adventure pass is a great way to have an affordable family outing. Check it out.   

Linden Library Director position open

The City of Linden is seeking a library director who will be responsible for supervising all facets of library operations, such as strategic planning, budget, staff management, collection development, and community outreach. Working closely with the library board or administrative authority. The director ensures the library’s mission is fulfilled and the community’s information, educational, and recreational needs are met. Three years of experience in library management or administration, preferable in a public library setting is preferred. Certificate of Public Library Certificate Director Endorsement or be able to obtain within the first year of employment. Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire staff and volunteers. Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with a demonstrated ability to engage diverse audiences. Proficiency in library technologies and integrated library systems. Knowledge of current issues and best practices in library services, including intellectual freedom, privacy, and access to information. Commitment to lifelong learning and professional development.

See job posting at https://gctimesnews.com/job/library-director-at-linden-public-library.

Email resume to lindenlibraryboard@gmail.com by Friday, July 12.

The City of Linden is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The Blank Park Zoo did a presentation about animals for the summer reading program. The kids were able to get an up close look at a lizard.

A few of the prize winners from our Summer Reading Program happily show the great prizes they won. Pictured are Rylee Irlbeck, Kane Knobbe, Jaxen Knobbe and Hadley Knobbe.

Summer Reading Program participants and parents enjoy a pizza party to celebrate their hard work with summer reading. A big thank you to the Guthrie Center Casey’s for providing pizza for the youth participants.

Library Directory Jerri Hawkins congratulates the Summer Reading Participants for their hard work before doing the prize drawings.