By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

The MJB Library Preschool Story Hour will have a special guest this week. Overall, Buddies will be entertaining our group on Friday, Nov. 7, at 10 a.m. Lori Lynn will have her guitar and puppets and will entertain with books and songs. Lynn, an early childhood educator, will not only engage the preschoolers but will also offer tips to parents and caretakers to help the young people in their lives with reading readiness. 

Our Nov. 14 story hour will have the theme of foxes, while turkeys will be the subject of the Nov. 21 story hour.  Story hours begin at 10 a.m.

Card players, we offer Cribbage each Monday from 9-11 a.m. and Bridge Class on Wednesdays from 9-11 a.m. Everyone is welcome, regardless of your skill level. 

Youth are invited to preregister for our events this month. Lego Mania Day will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12. The Guthrie STEM Lab will be on Monday, Nov. 17 at 4 p.m. 

Reads Well with Others Evening Book Club will meet to discuss the thriller “Listen for the Lie” by Amy Tintera on Tuesday, Nov. 25, at 5 p.m. Interested participants are encouraged to stop by the library and check out a copy to read before the meeting. 

Businesses and Organizations that are interested in decorating a tree for the library’s Festival of Trees can sign up on the MJB Library Website. This year’s theme is Silver and Gold. Tree setup begins Nov. 20. We would encourage groups to get trees up before Thanksgiving. 

The MJB Library will be closed on Tuesday, Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans’ Day. Additionally, the library will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 27 and Friday, Nov. 28 to celebrate Thanksgiving. We will open again at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29. 

The MJB Library Boo Bash welcomed 330 guests this year.

Trick-or-Treaters enjoyed a little bit of putt-putt golf.

The Limb-Boo was a popular game at the library.

Boo Bash Trick or Treaters left with a book of their own.

This little flamingo is excited to be at the Boo Bash!

This little duck was so excited to have a new book.

This cowboy got his own Curious George book!

There were books for all ages of trick-or-treaters.

Each trick-or-treater got some candy, too.

The little fireman had trouble deciding which book to take.

Again this year, the MJB Library celebrated Halloween with our annual Li-BOO-ary Bash. This year, we welcomed 330 guests. Pictured is the MJB Boo Crew: Cass Fronapfel, Director Jerri Hawkins, Karen Kelly and Lynda Menefee.

Saturdays at the MJB Library are filled with young patrons who like to hang out. These guys are busy coloring some Halloween pages.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

Guthrie Center residents with a library card, have you been utilizing your Iowa Adventure Pass (IAP)? As many of you are aware, due to the financial commitment of the Friends of the Guthrie Center Library, which sponsors the IAP, patrons with a Guthrie Center address are currently able to use their library cards to obtain Iowa Adventure Passes for two central Iowa destinations. 

The Iowa Adventure Pass will still allow two adults and two children to have admission to the Blank Park Zoo and the Science Center of Iowa, but it also offers new perks. Blue Zoo Aquarium in West Des Moines will have a Buy One, Get Two Free offer: Buy one adult admission and get two free child admissions. This feature should be active at the IAP link on our library website.  

Located on Mills Civic Parkway, The Blue Zoo Aquarium offers many things to see as well as touch and feed opportunities. Programs change daily and include touch and feed stingrays and reptiles, opportunities to feed birds as well as sharks, clown fish, seahorses, birds and lizards. Visitors can watch mermaid shows and pirate ships, as well as enjoy the freshwater center and the saltwater center. Water play tables and opportunities for interactive play are available as well.

The final addition to the Iowa Adventure Pass is available only to students aged 7-18 years of age. In conjunction with the Des Moines Performing Arts, the IAP is offering admission to the Wellmark Family Series shows this year to students. Ticket passes are reserved on the IAP website and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The pass confirmation will need to be reserved in person up to 60 days before the event. These reservations must be made in person at the box office of the Civic Center or Hoyt Sherman Place. Students present their library card and proof of reservation at the box office of the appropriate venue, select their seat, and leave with either a paper or electronic ticket to the shows. For more information, contact the venues directly. 

The first show is “Sugar Skull! A Dia de Muertos Musical Adventure” on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 11 a.m.  Other shows in the series include “Forward,” Sept. 3-19; “The Nutcracker,” Oct. 27 – Dec. 5; “Nothing Holds Still,” Jan. 13 – Feb. 20; and “Cinderella,” April 3 – May 8. 

Remember that our annual Li-BOO-ary Bash will be Thursday, Oct. 30, from 5-7:15 p.m. at the MJB Library. The event will feature plenty of not-so-scary fun and a treat.  

Story hour for preschoolers and their caretakers is each Friday at 11 a.m. The final story hour of October will be all about witches. On Nov. 7, the library will have a special guest, as Lori with Overall Buddies will be here. Lori will have her guitar and puppet friends to entertain our young guests. For adults attending, she will offer tips for improving reading readiness in preschoolers. 

For our patrons who are looking for the latest releases in our new book section, thank you for being patient with us. Baker and Taylor, the main book vendor for public libraries, is in the process of closing following financial difficulties. This unexpected situation has created a difficulty in our supply chain, as some of our other vendors were not prepared to meet the increased demand that Baker and Taylor’s closing has caused. Consequently, we are dealing with severe back orders and delays. If there’s a specific book you thought we would have, be sure to mention it to us, and we will do our best to get it in.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Tmes Vedette

This week is National Friends of Libraries Week. We here at MJB Library wish to thank all of the members of our Friends of the Guthrie Center Library for their tireless support of the Mary J. Barnett Library. Our volunteers invest time to plan and work fundraisers, attend meetings and think of ways to enhance our library. We appreciate all who are members of our organization, and all of you who are not, we invite you to join. The next meeting will be at 6:15 p.m. on Jan. 5. 

We have some exciting events coming up. The annual Boo Bash will be on Thursday, Oct. 30. Trick-or-Treaters are invited to stop by the library in their costumes to enjoy some family-friendly activities and get a treat. We will have places where you can take photos of your littles in their costumes. Boo Bash will run from 5-7:15 p.m.

On Mondays, Cribbage will meet from 9-11 a.m. in the Taylor meeting room. Bridge meets on Wednesday mornings, same place and same time. Both of these groups welcome all new players, regardless of skill level. 

The Creation Corner will be busy with a new craft at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 22. This activity is a coffee filter owl, suitable for all ages. Pre-registration is preferred. Other upcoming children’s programs include our Friday preschool story hour, which begins at 10 a.m. each Friday. The subject for the next story hour will be monsters.

The evening book club, Reads Well with Others, will be meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 5 p.m. to discuss “The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell.” In addition to discussing this exceptional novel, club members will be choosing books for the upcoming year, as well as doing a craft project. Consequently, the group will meet in the Taylor Meeting Room this month.

For people who would like to learn a new craft or find a unique way to make home-crafted gifts, the library is offering an adult class that might be of interest. Join us at the Taylor Meeting Room on Saturday, Nov. 1, for an exciting and fun adult library program presented by Art on the Fly. Learn how to make a warm and cozy lap blanket approximately 40 inches by 50 inches. It’s so simple, and the blanket makes a great gift for yourself or someone special. The cost for the class is $80, which covers the cost of supplies, which are all included. Class time is 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The registration deadline is Sunday, Oct. 26. Class size is limited. Pre-registration and prepayment are required. You can pre-register for the Art on the Fly class by visiting the library’s website calendar. Just go to the November community calendar, click on the Art on the Fly event for more details, and then click on the tickets section to complete your registration. Call the library if you need help registering for this fun event.

Festival of Trees at MJB Library

The Festival of Trees is just around the corner, and this year’s theme is “Silver and Gold.” Trees may begin to be set up on Thursday, Nov. 20. Please note that the library will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday. It is preferred that trees be picked up by Jan. 10. If you have any questions or need assistance in scheduling a time to set up your tree, feel free to call the library.

The Friends of the GC Library will host a Festival of Trees Showcase featuring a bake sale, music, and kids’ crafts on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. to noon. If you would like to donate baked goods or pies for this fundraiser, please call us at the library.  

Firefighter Chuck Cleveland and First Assistant Chief Brady Langgaard took time out of their day to bring the firetruck to the library and speak with our youngest patrons about firetrucks and the equipment firefighters use during our weekly story hour.

Guthrie Center Fireman Brady Langgaard demonstrates how firefighters use safety equipment while fighting fires.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

The library was invaded by snakes, spiders and lizards last week, but that was part of our plan. Friday morning’s story hour had a special visitor, known as the Cold-Blooded Redhead, aka Lindsay Butikofer. Butikofer, who lives in Swisher, is a reptile enthusiast who pursues her passion for reptiles and invertebrates through school and library programs, as well as birthday parties.

The Cold-Blooded Redhead entertained and educated the audience with information about the animals she brought to share. The most exciting part of the program was the opportunity to touch the animals.

A total of 48 people attended the program, which was sponsored by a grant from Guthrie County Community Foundation, the Grow Greene Grant, and matching funds from the Friends of the Guthrie Center Library.

A reminder that preschool story hour takes place each Friday at 10 a.m. at the MJB Library. On Oct. 17, the fire department will have a fire truck at story hour for kids to see, since October is fire prevention month. Monsters are the subject of Oct. 24, with witches as the topic on Oct. 31.

Card-making class will be on Thursday, Oct. 16,  from 9-11 a.m. in the Taylor Meeting Room. Led by Judi Zimerline, the class will guide participants through making their own, unique greeting cards. All supplies are provided for a $5 materials fee.

Cookbook Club is at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16.  Membership is simple. Stop by the library and choose a recipe from the month’s featured cookbook, prepare the dish, and show up with food to share with the group on the night of Cookbook Club. Meetings involve tasting the goodies that everyone brings and discussing how well everyone liked the cookbook. “Kick-off Kitchen: 64 Game-Day Recipes Inspired by Every Professional Football Team” by Tim Lopez is the October cookbook. \

Creation Corner for youth is going to be on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 2 p.m. Pre-registration is preferred.

Save the date for the MJB Library Li-BOO-ary Bash on Thursday, Oct. 30. The library staff will be there from 5-7:15 p.m. to greet trick-or-treaters, direct them to try out our family-friendly activities, and hand out a treat at the end.

During the month of October, Laura Sheeder is loaning us two quilts. Her Witches Quilt is hand-embroidered. After embroidering the design, Laura colored the design with crayons. She said the entire project, from embroidery to piecing the quilt, took a year to complete. The second quilt is smaller but equally detailed. The Witch’s Hat Quilt is appliqued and embroidered. Both quilts are intricate and beautiful. Stop in during October to take a look. While you’re here, stop and look at the hand-made wooden toys made by Kieth Merrill, which are also on loan to the library for the month.

On this busy afternoon, we had kids reading, playing Nintendo, and just hanging out.

The quilts displayed for the month of October are on loan from Laura Sheeder. These two quilts must be seen in person to really appreciate the detailed embroidery and intricate design.

Even when the library is busy and filled with people, there are quiet places to curl up with a good book.

You are never too young to work on the STEM table projects.

The Cold-Blooded Redhead reptile program on Friday, Oct. 10, was funded by a grant from the Guthrie County Community Foundation, the Grow Greene Grant, and matching funds from the Friends of the Guthrie Center Library.

Below are some fun photos from our Cold-Blooded Redhead program:

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

MJB Library is excited to announce some special programs this fall, made possible by a grant from the Guthrie County Community Foundation, the Grow Green Grant and matching funds from the Friends of the Guthrie Center Library.

On Friday, Oct. 10, The Coldblooded Redhead will be visiting with some of her favorite snakes, arachnids and invertebrates. This engaging program will begin at 11 a.m. While it coincides with our Friday story hour, the program is suitable for all ages. We especially invite local homeschool families to join in on the fun.

In addition to this event, the Guthrie County Community Foundation and the Grow Green Grant, along with the Friends of the Library, sponsored last summer’s Absolute Science Indoor Bubble Program. Looking ahead, we have another program scheduled for Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. featuring Lori Lynn Ahrends and the Overall Buddies Program. Additionally, these grants are helping fund summer reading programs for 2026 and support a yearly subscription to increase our collection of youth Playaway books.

Stop in this week and celebrate Banned Books Week by selecting anything you want to read.  Remember this year’s theme, “Censorship is so 1984! Read for your rights!”

LEGO Mania Day will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 8. Participants will be working on a special project that will be part of the Library’s BOO Bash. On Monday, Oct. 13, the Guthrie STEM Lab at 4 p.m. will be designing Wiggle Bots. Creation Corner takes place on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 2 p.m. As always, preregistration for these events is preferred.

At 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, the Guthrie Center Fire Department will speak with our young patrons about Fire Prevention Month.

Those participating in either of the book clubs are reminded that the books for the book clubs are available for checkout at the library. This month, Between the Covers afternoon book club will meet at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 14, to discuss Riley Sanger’s thriller “Home Before Dark,” while Reads Well with Others evening book club will reflect on “The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell” by Robert Dugoni at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28.

Keep your calendar open for the annual Li-BOO-ary Bash on Thursday, Oct. 30, from 5-7:15 p.m. There will be family fun and treats for our young trick-or-treaters.

Reptile enthusiast Lindsay Butikofer, also known as the Cold Blooded Redhead, will travel from Swisher to present a program at the MJB Library on Friday, Oct. 10, at 11 a.m. We invite interested people of all ages to learn about and meet some of Lyndsay’s cold-blooded friends, including snakes, lizards, arachnids and invertebrates.

The October display features toys handcrafted by local woodworker, Kieth Merrill. Kieth has been making toys for years and often donates them for fundraising purposes at the Guthrie County Fair. The display features old cars, a horse-drawn carriage, a chopper, a bulldozer and construction equipment. Stop in and take a look while it is on display at the library.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

Banned Books Week is Oct. 5-11 this year, and the theme is “Censorship Is So 1984…Read for your Rights.” Banned Books week is noted for bringing together the national book community in the shared support of American’s rights to read books of their own choosing, even if some of those books contain unorthodox or unpopular ideas.  

In order to affirm that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, the American Library Association (ALA) adopted basic policies that should guide library services. Known as the Library Bill of Rights, this important document had its origins here in Iowa. The Director of the Des Moines Public Library in the 1930s, Forrest Spaulding, is credited as the author.

Banned Books Week began in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of book challenges in libraries, schools and bookstores. Celebrate our freedom to read by stopping by the MJB Library to take home some books because Censorship Is So 1984. 

Upcoming Events

The Friends of the Guthrie Center Library will be meeting on Monday, Oct. 6 at 6:15 p.m. for their next meeting. Anyone who wants to support the library is invited to join the group. 

LEGO Mania Day is 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 8.  Participants will be doing a special project that will be part of our annual Boo Bash. Guthrie STEM Lab will be at 4 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 13, and Creation Corner will be Thursday, Oct. 22 at 2 p.m. Remember to preregister for these fun events.

October preschool story hours have an eerie feel this month. Oct. 3 will feature skeletons. Special guest, the Reptile Lady, will be sharing creepy crawlies on Oct. 10. On Oct. 17, ghosts will be the focus while monsters will be the theme on Oct. 24.  Our last story hour of the month will have the theme of  witches. All story hours begin at 10 a.m. except the one on Oct. 10, which will meet at 11 a.m.

Families, keep the date open on Thursday, Oct. 30 for our annual Boo Bash. Coinciding with Beggars Night, the library will be open from 5-7:15 p.m. for family-friendly fun and treats.  

Book Clubs this month have exciting reads. Between the Covers Book Club, which meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 3 p.m., will be reading Riley Sager’s thriller “Home Before Dark,” a haunted house story with a twist. Maggie  inherits the home that her father claimed to be haunted. Even though she doesn’t believe that apparitions exist, Maggie experiences some unsettling events as she discovers the house’s dark history. 

Reads Well With Others book club meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. In October, they will be discussing “The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell,” a novel by Robert Dugoni. Sam Hill was born with ocular albinism, which resulted in his eyes having red pupils. Because of his eyes, the children at school called him Devil Boy or Sam Hell. Despite his mother’s faith and his father’s encouragement, school was difficult until his two misfit friends arrived on the scene. Forty years later, Sam is a small-town eye doctor who has turned his back on his painful past, until he embarks on a journey halfway around the world that allows him to see what truly matters. Join either or both book clubs to discuss these books. We have plenty of copies available for check out. 

As always, Cribbage meets each Monday morning from 9-11 a.m. in the Taylor Meeting Room. On Wednesdays, from 9-11 a.m., the Bridge Class meets in the Taylor Meeting Room. Players of all skill levels are welcome to join these groups.

Brooks is enjoying sorting and organizing cars following the story hour that focused on transportation.

Calvin R. from Chandler, Arizona, stopped by the library to read in the little house in our youth area.

Creation Corner participants made beautiful butterfly suncatchers.

Following story hour, the children enjoyed playing with cars that were on loan from the Iowa State Library.