By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette 

One of the strengths of the Mary J. Barnett Library is the Friends of the Guthrie Center  Library, which provides support to the library in many forms. This volunteer group has been active since the mid 1990s and played a vital role in the construction of the building that currently houses the library. Currently, the group is embarking on a membership drive.  

Friends of the Guthrie Center Library president Diane Flannery explains the mission and the way your membership helps in the following paragraphs.  

“The Mary J. Barnett Memorial Library has always been more than just books — it’s a gathering space, a learning hub, and a cornerstone of our community. From children’s programs and summer reading to special events and expanded resources, your library continues to grow because of the support of people like you. 

The Friends of the Guthrie Center Library invite you to become a member and help us continue enriching our community. For just $25 in annual dues, your membership directly supports:

• Educational programs for all ages
• Special events and community outreach
• New books, materials and resources
• Improvements that make our library welcoming and vibrant

Every membership makes a difference, and, together, we can ensure our library remains a thriving space for generations to come. Joining is easy and your support truly matters. Thank you for believing in the power of libraries.”

As the Friends’ president points out, membership is easy. You can contact Diane Flanery or reach out to the MJB Library. Your $25 annual membership dues go directly to fund library programs, materials and community events. Friends will accept cash, a check made to Friends of the GC Library, or Venmo to @FriendsofGCLIbrary. Additional donations are also always welcome. 

Members can choose to be active members who participate in meetings, events and fundraising or supporting members who primarily support through dues.

Become a Friend of the GC Library before March 31, 2026, and be entered into a drawing for a gift basket valued at roughly $100.  

It’s impossible to put a price tag on the value of the Friends of the Library Group. Their generosity and contributions of money, time, knowledge and resources contribute to the success of the MJB Library and are crucial to its operations. Don’t miss your chance to make a difference to our community by joining Friends of the Guthrie Center Library.

Remember that MJB Library has many on-going events for all ages. Monday from 9-11 a.m., cribbage players of all ages and skill levels are invited to participate in weekly cribbage games at the library’s Taylor Meeting room.  

On Mondays, Craft and Connect meets from 4-6 p.m. Crafters of all ages and backgrounds are invited to bring a project and work while visiting with other creative people in the Taylor Meeting Room.  

Bridge classes are each Wednesday from 9-11 a.m. On the third Thursday of each month, cardmaking class meets from 9 to 11 a.m. to create handmade greeting cards while the Cookbook Club meets that evening at 6:30 p.m. to sample and discuss cookbooks. 

The library hosts two book clubs each month. Members can check out the book for the month and then come to the discussion. The afternoon book club, Between the Covers, meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 3 p.m. Reads Well With Others Evening Book Club meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m.  

The March book for the afternoon club is “Too Old for This” by Samantha Downing, described as equal parts hilarious and disturbing, tells the story of a retired serial killer whose world is upset by an unexpected visitor. “Sandwich” by Catherine Newman tells the story of Rocky, a middle-aged woman sandwiched between her half-grown children and fully aging parents, who is forced to navigate her family’s past and future on the week-long multigenerational vacation while accepting that she can no longer hide secrets from the people she loves. Both books are available to be checked out.  

As part of our STEM programming for youth, LEGO Mania Day will be Wednesday, March 2 at 2 p.m. Youth of all ages are welcome. Preregistration is appreciated. 

Each Friday at 10 a.m., the library offers preschool story hour for preschoolers of all ages and their caregivers. Each  week, the youngest patrons can plan on a few stories and a craft focusing on a theme. 

Each person is invited to be involved in the future of the MJB Library by joining the Friends of the Guthrie Center Library and by being involved in the programs offered by the library. Remember, we have so much to offer — including some great new books.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

When considering the resources that are available at the MJB Library, be sure to remember the digital resources. The library webpage https://www.guthriecenter.lib.ia.us is loaded with links to valuable information. Mometrix will prove to be invaluable to students, professionals and job seekers.  

Mometrix eLibrary provides a wide range of study materials to help test-takers, including flashcards, practice tests and guides, covering subjects from foundational education to specialized trades and advanced academic fields. Funded by an appropriation from the Iowa Legislature, this online resource is available to all Iowa residents.  

To access this resource, go to the library website and select “Online Resources.” The first option in the pull-down menu will be Mometrix eLibrary. Once at that link, users will need to create an account, which only requires a working email and a password.

The site has a tutorial video to help users get started. Once users are comfortable with the site, they can go to the page with test categories. Sixteen categories include business, college admissions and placement, financial insurance and real estate, K-12, public service and legal, construction and industry, medical professionals, nursing, and teaching.  

Each category has some study aids, including PDFs of study guides, and interactive study materials, including practice test questions, flashcards and practice tests. Each exam is hyperlinked to the materials relating to the topic. Within study guides and instructional videos are hyperlinks to take users directly to additional information relating to the topic. Some other user-friendly features are the ability to change font sizes and to flag flash cards to review later. 

In addition to more than 150 exams, the site also features a wealth of employment resources. Mometrix covers the following job-related topics:

• Employment resources
• Common interview questions
• Questions to ask in an interview
• Updating your resume
• How to negotiate a job offer
• Selecting a career or job
• How to apply for financial aid
• How to apply for scholarships
• How to apply for college online
• How to apply for jobs online
• Job interview tips

Contact information is provided to reach someone who runs the site in the event that the site is lacking something the user is looking for. All of this is free online to access from the library’s website. Set up is quick and easy, and the materials are current and comprehensive. Students, professionals who need to take exams, and job seekers will find this to be a very useful, user-friendly, free site that is available for all Iowans. The link is on the MJB Library website. 

February youth programs include LEGO Mania Day at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11, and Creation Corner at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 18. These events are available to youth of all ages, though pre-registration is preferred. Preschool story hour will be at 10 a.m. each Friday. This coming Friday will focus on Valentine’s Day, while owls are the topic of the Feb. 20 story hour; cookies are the subject for Feb. 27.

Cardmaking Class will have its monthly gathering on Thursday, Feb. 19, from 9-11 a.m. Participants are reminded that all necessary materials are provided for a $5 fee. Cookbook Club also meets on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m.  Those who wish to come to the meeting are invited to stop at the library to choose a recipe from the featured cookbook to prepare and bring to the meeting.

Reads Well With Others Evening Book Club will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 5 p.m. to discuss the Freida McFadden thriller, “The Tenant.” Copies are available in large or regular print to check out. 

Patrons are reminded that our weekly adult events are open to anyone in the community. Cribbage meets each Monday from 9-11 a.m. Craft and Connect meets weekly from 4- 6 p.m. on Monday. Wednesdays from 9-11 a.m. are when the Bridge Class meets. 

This month’s quilt is not only beautiful but also rich in local history. On loan from Lisa Calvert, this quilt was created in 1939 by the Seely W.C.T.U. Ladies as a fundraising project. The cream-colored fabric between the fan patterns features embroidered signatures. These names were included as part of the fundraising effort, with each signature costing 10 cents to add to the quilt. When it was finished, the quilt was auctioned off and purchased by Anna Cotes, the highest bidder. Anna Cotes, part of the original Sheeder family that settled in the Guthrie Center area, passed the quilt to her only daughter, Ella Garloch, who had three children (Roger Garloch, Marjorie Calvert and Lela Schwartz) with her husband, Bryan Garloch. This quilt has been in Marjorie’s cedar chest. Marjorie and her husband, Kenneth Calvert, had six children — Ron Calvert, Sharon Prunty, Karen Brown, Jim Calvert, Cathy McEntee and Randy Calvert. Prunty, who is now the keeper of the quilt, loans it to her sister-in-law, Lisa Calvert, who is sharing it with the library and our patrons for February. Stop in and take a look at this little bit of Guthrie County history.

The February display in the library display case also reflects local history. Loaned to the library by Bryan Crowder is a display of Iowa High School State Basketball Tournament Memorabilia. The display includes tournament programs, many of which feature Guthrie Center teams, state basketball yearbooks, clippings from the local Guthrie Center paper about the tournaments, a trophy and tickets from the 1963 girls state tournament games. The memorabilia will be on display through the end of the month.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

Valentine’s Day is coming up on Saturday, Feb. 14 (same day every year, guys!). Tired of doing the same thing year after year? Maybe this year, use the resources at the library to plan a special Valentine’s Day event for your love. Or consider a family Valentine’s Day Celebration of some type. MJB Library is here to help you plan a fun, unique and affordable celebration. 

Plan a romantic night of stargazing; the MJB Library has a telescope for checkout. Make a charcuterie board to nibble while you look at the stars; we have books to help you do that. 

A romantic, candlelight dinner is always special. Need help planning a menu? MJB Library has an extensive cookbook collection to consult.  

In the mood to snuggle up and enjoy a movie? We have DVDs to check out. Romantic comedies, mysteries, action movies, series that are on a streaming service you don’t subscribe to — we’ve got you covered.

If a jigsaw puzzle and snacks by the fire are your idea of a cozy date night, we have plenty of puzzles of all sizes and difficulty levels. 

Want to make a special gift for your loved one? We have candy molds and cake pans to bake special treats. Our craft sections can help you make a scrapbook, candles, soaps or many other unique gifts.

Planning a “Galentine’s Day” Party with your friends? How about cocktails (we have books with recipes) and games? The library offers an extensive collection of board games and card games for checkout. Cards against Humanity and Cosmopolitans, anyone? Have a spa night; we have books to teach you how to make at-home spa treatments using herbs and ingredients found in your kitchen. Craft night is always more fun with friends, and we have dozens of books with crafts you can make at home. Make some appetizers and binge-watch a favorite series.  

Want to include the family in your Valentine’s Day celebration? Consider using our Iowa adventure pass to take a family trip to the Blank Park Zoo, the Blue Zoo, or the Science Center of Iowa. 

Make a special meal together with the kids. Our children’s section has several cookbooks geared toward young chefs. Have a craft night using ideas from our youth books. Pick a topic that your kids love and read books together about that. Dinosaur fans will love the virtual reality books about Jurassic creatures. The library also has family-friendly games, puzzles and movies. 

Want to show your love by teaching your kids to love reading? Snuggle up with a picture book and read together. Older kids are big fans of audiobooks and our Play Away Collection. Put on an audiobook and listen as a family while you put together a puzzle.  

Not a fan of Valentine’s Day? We can help you, too. We have a large selection of Freida McFadden and Stephen King novels. Check out our book display of books that are being made into movies. Spring is just around the corner, so maybe you’d like to check out a gardening book to start planning your flower and vegetable gardens. Read a magazines and relax; we have a large selection of magazines available. Check out the “Downton Abbey” DVDs, make a pot of tea, and have a marathon. 

No matter how you decide to celebrate, the library is here for you. We have so many resources available to treat yourself and make the day special and budget-friendly. 

Library patrons might have had a problem accessing the Libby App, the Iowa Adventure pass, or might have gotten a message saying it’s time to renew their library card. Renewing your library card is important to verify your contact information (address, email, phone) and residency, ensuring you remain eligible for library services. This process is typically required every one to three years and helps clear any fines, allows for account updates, and maintains access to resources.

The key reasons to renew your library card are first, to verify your contact information; this ensures the library has your current address and contact details. Second, this adds a layer of account security; the library can confirm ownership and resolve any outstanding fines blocking access. The third reason is to maintain access; it prevents expiration that could limit borrowing, computer use, and access to digital services like Libby or OverDrive. The final reason is that it is a library policy. Libraries are required to make regular updates to keep their patron database accurate.

So if you are having difficulties or if you suspect it’s time to renew your library card, contact the library. The entire process is complete in a matter of minutes. 

Book club members, books are in and available for checkout for both book clubs. Between the Covers  afternoon book club will be reading Emily Henry’s romantic comedy “Funny Story,” while the evening book club, Reads Well With Others, will be reading Freida McFadden’s thriller “The Tenant.”

Remember that Craft and Connect meets weekly on Mondays from 4-6 p.m. Cribbage meets each Monday from 9-11 a.m. in the Taylor Meeting Room, and the Bridge Class will play every Wednesday from 9-11 a.m.

LEGO Mania day will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11, and Creation Corner will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 2 p.m.  Youth of all ages are encouraged to attend. Pre-registration is preferred. 

February Story Hour for Preschoolers and their caretakers are each Friday at 10 a.m.  Feb. 6, the theme is love. Valentine’s Day is the focus of Feb. 13 while owls will be the topic of Feb. 20. On Feb. 27, cookies will be the subject of story hour. 

Friends of the Library will meet at 6:15 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 2. The library has some exciting events and activities in the works for 2026, so if you would like to support the library, joining The Friends of Guthrie Center Library would be a great way to do that. 

After making the craft, creation corner participants made bookmarks and colored Valentine’s Day totes.

Each finished paper heart chain was unique. The next Creation Corner will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 18.

Kids of all ages are welcome at Creation Corner. Ezra enjoyed creating the project.

Mrs. Meneffe and her helper Hadley demonstrate how to make the Valentine’s Day craft for the January Creation Corner.

Kathy Albright, Charlotte Holle and Judy Avey enjoy working on their craft projects and socializing.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

As we are winding up the first month of the year, remember that if one of your goals was to read more nonfiction, the MJB Library has new books that will help you reach that goal. Some of our new biographies include “Ain’t Nobody’s Fool: the Life and Times of Dolly Parton” by Martha Ackmann, “The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe: a True Crime Thriller” by James Patterson, and “Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice” by Virginia Roberts Giuffre. 

Published posthumously, Charlie Kirk’s book “Stop in the Name of God: Why Honoring the Sabbath Will Change the World” offers a guide to help readers unplug, slow down and reconnect. Brene Brown’s popular new book, entitled “Strong Ground: The Lessons of Daring Leadership, the Tenacity of Paradox, and the Wisdom of the Human Spirit,” is waiting to be checked out. 

“How to Test Negative for Stupid: and Why Washington Never Will” by Louisiana Senator John Kennedy shares his interesting take on Washington politics. Author Robin Wall Kimmerer discusses the lessons we can learn from the plant world in what we value most in “The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World.” “How Not to Die: Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease” by Michael Gegaer focuses on the connection between nutrition and longevity.  Be sure to check our new nonfiction shelf for more new titles.

As January finishes up, we have a few more events, including our Creation Corner on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 2 p.m. Youth of all ages are encouraged to attend. Pre-registration is preferred. 

Our Preschool Story Hour is at 10 a.m. on each Friday. The theme for the Jan. 30 story hour is seasons. 

Craft and Connect, our new adult craft group, meets each Monday from 4-6 p.m. Participants just bring whatever craft they are working on and socialize while they work.  

Cribbage and Bridge classes meet every week from 9-11 a.m. Cribbage meets on Monday mornings, and Bridge meets on Wednesdays. 

The February Between the Covers Book Club will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 3 p.m. to discuss “Funny Story” by Emily Henry. Reads Well With Others Book Club will be reading Freida McFadden’s thriller “The Tenant” on Feb. 24 at 5 p.m. Copies of both books are available for checkout for those who would like to read the books and join the book clubs. 

February youth events are LEGO Mania Day on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 2 p.m. and Creation Corner on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 2 p.m. Pre-registration is preferred.

Ann Bolton and Diane Flanery enjoy chatting and crafting. For those who would like to join the Craft and Connect group, the group meets each Monday from 4-6 p.m.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

Library Patrons, watch our weekly space for an exciting announcement about new digital in the coming weeks.

Friends of the Guthrie Center Library have again committed to paying for the Mary J. Barnett Library’s Adventure Pass for 2026. The Iowa Adventure Pass is a partnership between participating libraries and specific venues. The MJB Library adventure pass gives patrons who have a Guthrie Center address, are 18 years of age or older, and are in good standing with the library discounted admission to the Blank Park Zoo, the Science Center of Iowa, and the Blue Zoo. In addition, the Des Moines Performing Arts is partnering with the Iowa Adventure Pass this year to bring live theater to more Iowa families. 

Two adults and two children are admitted for free to both the Blank Park Zoo and the Science Center of Iowa. The Blue Zoo provides two free child admissions with one regular-priced adult admission. Cardholders are allowed to use each venue pass once every 365 days per venue.

Tickets to the Wellmark Family Series shows are limited and will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. Passes can only be reserved up to 60 days in advance. Library patrons who reserve tickets must bring their confirmation pass and photo ID to the Des Moines Civic Center Ticket Office (221 Walnut St., Des Moines) prior to the performance to redeem their tickets. Tickets must be redeemed no later than 45 minutes before the show.

See the MJB Library website for additional restrictions and guidelines, as well as to reserve a pass. We strongly encourage our Guthrie Center patrons to take advantage of this exceptional value for family outings. 

We have many regular adult activities scheduled right now. Cribbage meets each Monday morning from 9-11 a.m. in the Taylor meeting room. New players are always welcome. Craft and Connect meets each Monday from 4-6 p.m. to work on individual projects. The group members like to bring their projects, some coffee or tea, and then chat while they craft. The group would love more participants. On Wednesday mornings from 9-11 a.m., Bridge Class meets. New members are always encouraged to attend. 

Reads Well with Others Book Club will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 5 p.m. to discuss this month’s selection, “The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife.” This charming novel tells the heartwarming story of a kind, elderly widower who, through a series of unfortunate events, unintentionally assumes the identity of a gentleman living in a nursing home. This story deals with the challenges of aging, forgiveness and second chances. There are still copies available to check out and read before the book club meets.  

Preschool Story Hour takes place each Friday at 10 a.m. Preschoolers and their caregivers are invited to join Miss Cass for stories and crafts. This week’s theme is winter. The MJB Library Creation Corner, available to kids of all ages, will be on Wednesday, Jan. 28, at 2 p.m. Pre-registration is appreciated. 

Between the Covers afternoon book club met on Jan. 13 to discuss their first book of the year, “When Crickets Cry” by Charles Martin. The group meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 3 p.m. Stop by the MJB Library and pick up the February book, Emily Henry’s “Funny Story.”

A proud participant in the LEGO Mania Day event shows off his construction.

LEGO Mania Day is a great way for kids of all ages to use problem-solving and creative skills to solve STEM challenges.

For this month’s LEGO Mania Day, participants chose a challenge and created it with LEGOs. This is the flower that was created.

LEGO Mania is one of the many STEM activities offered at the Mary J. Barnett Library. Youth of all ages are encouraged to pre-register and attend this popular monthly event.

Library aide Karen Kelly read to the two ACGC preschool classes on Friday, Jan. 16, as part of the library’s outreach to the local school. Once a month, one of the MJB Library staff members reads to the preschool classes.