By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

If you are a Facebook user, chances are you have seen the meme that goes around each year at Christmas time regarding the tradition of Jolabokaflod among the people of Finland.  Jolabokaflod, which translates to “the Christmas book flood,” is the tradition of the people of Finland gifting each other books on Christmas Eve. According to Facebook, they then put on pajamas and crawl into bed to spend the evening reading their new books and drinking hot cocoa. This sounds like the most glorious Christmas Eve tradition of all time. So I began to explore this idea.

In researching, I discovered an online forum in which several people from Finland said that first, some people might do this, but it isn’t as if every citizen of Finland grabs their books and cocoa and jumps into bed on Christmas Eve. In fact, Dec. 24 is the day Fins celebrate Christmas, so it isn’t even Christmas Eve. Furthermore, according to Finnish people who responded to the online discussion, people give books because it’s a safe gift, especially if one isn’t well-acquainted with the recipient. Additionally, book publishing houses in Finland release most new books between September and December, another reason books are popular gifts. Allegedly, according to Martha Stewart, the tradition of giving books for Christmas became common during World War II since paper was one of the few commodities that was readily available during the war. 

Here’s what I have decided. I don’t care if this is truly the way all the people of Finland spend Christmas Eve; I think it’s brilliant. I very likely will start this tradition in my home, but I might do it the night after Christmas when nothing pressing is left to do.  

So, if you care to join me in adopting this idea, I suggest you stop by the library to gather up a pile of new releases to check out. Save your Christmas money. 

Holiday Hours 

The MJB Library will be closed on Dec. 24 and 25 for Christmas. We will be closing early at 3 p.m. on Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve, and will be closed on Jan. 1 for New Year’s Day. 

Children’s Activities During Winter Break

On Monday, Dec. 23, and Monday, Dec. 30, the library will provide a craft for children to do. Thursday, Dec. 26, will be movie day. These activities will be on a come-and-go basis, so these will be available during regular library hours of noon to 6 p.m. On Friday, Dec. 27, the preschool story hour will feature the theme of snowmen. Storyhour is at 10 a.m. for preschoolers and their caregivers. 

Adventure Pass on Pause

Due to issues with the ticket software 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. (Please print or save your email for any reservations that are made after Dec. 31.) We know 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.   

This will affect all libraries that participate in the Adventure Pass program. If you have reserved an Adventure Pass, remember to print out all the materials you will need to use the Adventure Pass prior to Dec. 31. 

Festival of Trees

Be sure to stop in the Library before Dec. 31 to see the creative trees that have been shared with us this season. Take time to look at the intricate quilt on loan from Cindy Steensen and the collection of Hallmark village pieces that are on loan from Judy Hilgenberg as well.

Wichita Wildcats 4-H Club is responsible for this charming tree.

This lovely tree was the product of Synergy Wellness and Physical Therapy and Outdoor Odyssey.

This creative tree decorated by RSVP tells the story of the importance of volunteering.

MJB Library Staff is responsible for this “Polar Express”-inspired tree.

Guthrie County/ISU Extension Office decorated this lovely tree.

The Guthrie County Arts Council created this “Grinchy” tree for the MJB Library Festival of Trees.

Girl Scout Troop 649 put up this lovely tree that tells the story of the Girl Scout mission.

Friends of the Guthrie Center Library created a tree inspired by the “Grinch Who Stole Christmas.”

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

Adventure Pass

Due to issues with the software used to make reservations, the Iowa Libraries Adventure Pass will be put on pause starting Dec. 31. The calendar is still open for the 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 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. 

This will affect all libraries that participate in the Adventure Pass program. If you have reserved an adventure pass, please be sure to print out all necessary materials that are required for admission prior to Dec. 31.

After School STEM Events

The Guthrie County ISU Extension will be presenting a series of after school STEM events at the Taylor Meeting Room of the MJB Library from 3:30-4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9, and Thursday, Feb. 13. These fun and educational events are geared toward students of all ages. 

December Storyhours

Preschool children of all ages and their caregivers are invited to our weekly storyhour at 10 a.m. each Friday. This Friday’s theme is Christmas while Dec. 27 will center around snowmen. 

Friends of the Library

Friends of the Library will meet at 6:15 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 6. Discussion will center around the upcoming fundraising events. All are welcome to join. 

So much to see at the Library

The Festival of Trees will be displayed throughout the holiday season, so stop in and look at the Christmas stories these trees are telling. As you’re strolling through the library, stop at the display case and look at the Hallmark village on loan from Judy Hilgenberg and don’t miss the intricate quilt created by Cindy Steensen.  

Holiday Hours

Because of the holidays, the library hours will be closed on Dec. 24 and 25.  The library will close at 3 p.m. on New Year’s Eve on Dec. 31 and will be closed on New Year’s Day on Jan. 1. 

Winter Break Activities

During winter break, MJB Library will be providing come and go activities. On Monday, Dec. 23 and Monday, Dec. 30, a come-and-go craft will be available for kids to create. Thursday, Dec. 26, there will be a movie playing throughout the day.

The tree decorated by Prime Time showcases all that is magically about Dr. Seuss books.

Peoples Bank’s tree is beautifully decorated in blue and white.

Merrick Schreiber shows off the giant Lego tower he built after school.

The Guthrie County State Bank Christmas tree decorations reflect the story “The Mitten.”

The Cass Pioneers decorated a tree for the MJB Library Festival of Trees.

Ainsley Schreiber proudly displays the bridge that she created with Legos.

Hadley Knobbe is working to sort her puzzle pieces during the STEM workshop.

These students are busily working on the STEM activities at the December after school STEM workshop.

Merick Schreiber is sorting shapes during the Shape-o-saurus workshop at the MJB Library.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

Children’s Events

• Preschool Storyhour is scheduled each Friday at 10 a.m. for preschool children of all ages and their caregivers. Each session includes listening to stories and making an age-appropriate craft. It’s a great chance for littles to learn to love books and mingle with other littles. It’s also a great opportunity for caregivers to interact with other caregivers. Dec. 13 will be a lucky day for our storyhour attendees because they will be focusing on trees. The theme for Dec. 20 will be Christmas. Dec. 27’s topic will be snowmen.
• After school STEM activities for elementary aged children are scheduled for 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12; Thursday, Jan. 9; and Thursday, Feb. 13. These events will be presented by the Guthrie County ISU Extension Service in the library’s Taylor Meeting Room.
• During winter break, MJB Library will be having Winter Break Afternoons at the MJB Library. These will be come-and-go events during regular library hours for school-aged children. On Monday, Dec. 23 and Monday, Dec. 30, the library will have an exciting craft project available. Thursday, Dec. 26 will be movie afternoon.

Adult Events

• Card Making Class will meet from 9-11 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19. The cost of $5 covers all the needed materials to create gorgeous, one-of-a-kind greeting cards.
• Cookbook Club will meet for their annual cookie exchange on Thursday, Dec. 19. The group will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19. To participate, bring a dozen cookies along with the recipe to share with the group.
• Cribbage players meet each Monday from 9-11 a.m. and welcome all who would like to play. Each Wednesday, from 9-11 a.m., the Bridge Club meets and would love to have new faces at their card tables.

Computers for Sale

The library has two Dell all-in-one computers available for sale for $50 each or a free will offering. Contact the library with questions or to purchase.

Festival of Trees

Be sure to stop in the library during December to look at the gorgeous trees decorated by various businesses and  groups from around the county. The trees will be on display through the holidays during regular library hours.

Holiday Hours

The MJB Library will be closed Tuesday, Dec. 24, and Wednesday, Dec. 25, in observance of Christmas. The library will close at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31 and will be closed all day on Wednesday, Jan. 1 to celebrate the New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

This “Frosty the Snowman” tree decorated by the MJB Library Board features a before and after look at Frosty with him posed next to the tree as well as in a puddle of melted snow with Frosty’s hat and carrot nose under the tree.

Iowa author Michelle Cowan spoke at the MJB Library on Saturday, Dec. 7. Attendees learned of her husband’s sudden death in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. She shared her journey through her grief and parenting her teenage daughter. If you missed her talk but want to learn more, her book entitled “Better, Not Bitter” is available to check out at the MJB Library.

This clever tree by the Panorama Daycare Center highlights a favorite children’s story “How to Catch a Snowman.”

Big Green Umbrella Media’s tree at the Festival of Trees is highlighting the many stories covered by their local publications including the Guthrie Center Times.

Cindy Steensen has loaned this lovely quilt to the library to display through the month of December. As gorgeous as this photo is, it’s even more impressive in person. Stop by and see for yourself.

During the month of December, Judy Hilgenberg’s Hallmark Holiday Village is on loan to the library. Stop in and have a look at this stunning collection.

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.