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.

 

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.

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.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

The library is so much more than books. We have a new addition to the library that we are calling the Memory Lab, a collection of equipment that can be used for converting different kinds of recordings, videos, and pictures to digital files that can be stored on a USB drive or SD card. The Memory Lab is available for use during library hours.  

The Memory Lab equipment includes an Eyesen 8 mm and Super 8 Reels, Elgato Video Capture, and Kodak Slide N Scan, as well as various peripherals and software programs for digitizing video from DVD, VHS and 8mm film formats. Materials that are copyrighted may not be duplicated.  

September is Library Card Sign Up Month. If you don’t already have one, this is an excellent time to stop by or go online and apply for a library card. It costs nothing and requires only a photo ID with a current address. A library card opens a whole new world. Besides books, a library card gives you access to Libby online books, the Iowa Adventure Pass, the Memory Lab, telescope check out, and many online and digital resources. Stop in the library to get a card and see what we have to offer. One card, endless possibilities. 

We have a number of youth programs coming up. Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 2 p.m. Creation Corner will be making  butterfly suncatchers. LEGO Mania Day will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 8. Both of these events request preregistration. Remember that each Friday at 10 a.m., we have Preschool Story Hour. The theme of the next story hour will be tractors. 

Friends of the Library will be meeting on Monday, Oct. 6 at 6:15 p.m. If you want to support the library, this is a great opportunity.  

Mark your calendars for our annual Boo Bash on Oct. 31, which is Guthrie Center’s Trick or Treat night at 5-7:15 p.m. We will have family-friendly activities and special treats for trick-or-treaters.  

It’s time to think of signing up to participate in the library’s annual Festival of Trees. This year’s theme is Silver and Gold.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

“Libraries are community treasure chests, loaded with a wealth of information available to everyone equally, and the key to that treasure chest is the library card. I have found the most valuable thing in my wallet is my library card,” former teacher, librarian and First Lady Laura Bush remarked. Bush understands that a public library encapsulates all that is best about a democracy; resources are equally accessible to anyone who has a library card. 

If you are someone who has not yet obtained a library card, September is your month because it is Library Card SignUp Month. For students, a library card is the beginning of lifelong learning and is the most cost-effective back-to-school item. 

“One Card, Endless Possibilities” is the 2025 theme for this month. From the American Library Association’s website, “It may be small, but a library card packs a punch! Borrow museum passes, musical instruments, and even tools from your library’s collection. Take part in engaging programs like book clubs, movie nights, crafting classes, and lectures. Access technology, Wi-Fi, and career resources to support your goals, whether you’re a student, job-seeker, entrepreneur, or lifelong learner. It’s one card with endless possibilities!” 

Stop by the library during our business hours with a photo ID with current address, or a photo ID and valid proof of current address. If you prefer, go to the library website and submit an online application. It only takes a few minutes to obtain your card, which you can use for a lifetime. 

Adult programs

Card-making class will be on Thursday, Sept. 18, from 9-11:00 a.m. Led by Judi Zimmerline, this class will guide participants through the steps of creating handmade greeting cards. A $5 fee is charged to cover the cost of all the supplies needed to make cards. 

After a short hiatus, Cookbook Club is back. Meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 18, the group will choose recipes from “Wanda E. Brunstetter’s Amish Friends Farm to Table Cookbook.” To participate, stop in the library to choose a recipe from this month’s cookbook. Prepare it and bring it to share with the group the night of the meeting.  

Evening book club, Reads Well With Others, will be discussing Nora Roberts’s first book in the Lost Brides Trilogy entitled “Inheritance.” Copies are still available for check out. The meeting is at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23. Afternoon book club, Between the Covers, will be reading “Home before Dark” by Riley Sager. 

Youth/family programs

Creation Corner will be on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 2 p.m. Please remember to pre-register.  

Preschool Story Hour is each Friday at 10 a.m. Cars will be the theme on Sept. 19, while tractors are the focus of the Sept. 26 Story Hour.  

Saturday, Sept. 20, from 10 a.m. to close will be the final Family/ Neighbor Puzzle or Board Game Event. Join us at the library for a fun time and a chance to meet new neighbors.  

A reminder to those of you who want to participate in the National Good Neighbor Day Bingo Challenge: Get a BINGO on your card and turn it in at the front desk by Sept. 30 to be eligible for a prize drawing. 

In celebration of National Good Neighbor Day, the library is providing Good Neighbor coloring sheets to anyone who would like one. Color it and share it with a neighbor, or give it to the library to decorate our walls.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

Through the month of September, Mary J. Barnett Library is celebrating neighbors and community in honor of National Good Neighbor Day on Sept. 28. National Good Neighbor Day was signed into law in 1978 by President Jimmy Carter, yet it isn’t widely observed.

Since the MJB Library is a hub of our community, we like the idea of getting to know our neighbors better. Neighbors are vital to our library’s mission. The library exists to promote life-long learning and community services to our neighbors. 

Neighbors are also vital to the existence of the library in that they contribute a great deal to our programs and services. While we appreciate the monetary donations to the library and to the Friends of the Guthrie Center Library, we also appreciate many types of gifts from our neighbors.

As Jon M. Huntsman points out, “ Wealth isn’t always measured in dollar signs. We each have time, talent and creativity, all of which can be powerful forces for positive change.  Share your blessings in whatever form they come and to whatever level you have been blessed.”

While working at the MJB Library, it has been my extreme pleasure to get to know my neighbors better and to learn of their gifts and talents. Each month, library patrons are treated to a beautiful quilt created by one of the amazing artisans in our community who have the vision to turn a pile of fabric into a work of art. 

Our display case houses a variety of things including collections curated by dedicated collectors, family heirlooms passed down through generations, or items created as the result of developing a hobby.

We are always looking for quilters who want to share their creations on our quilt hanger or someone who has something to display in our display case for a month.

Many of our programs are an outgrowth of interests or skills that someone would like to teach others. If you have a hobby or skill that you would like to share, or some interesting experience that you would like to turn into a program, reach out to us. 

We know our neighbors are rich in talent and creativity, and we at the MJB Library, as well as our community, appreciate those who are generous enough to invest their time. We are grateful for people who generously take time to make our library such a wonderful place.

The MJB Library Board are volunteers who invest time to make decisions about the policy and the running of the library. We are so appreciative of the energy they invest each month. The Friends of the  Guthrie Center Library are neighbors who work tirelessly to raise money for the needs of the library beyond what is budgeted. Their efforts are appreciated and enjoyed by all who use the library. Friends is open to anyone who would like to join.

We appreciate people like Becky Carico, who donates her time and green thumb to tend to all the gorgeous plants inside and outside of the library. We value Judi Zimmerline, who shares her creativity to lead our card making classes and some youth craft days. Think you have nothing to share with the community at our library? We bet you’re wrong! 

We would love to have guest readers who want to read to our preschoolers during story hour. Let us know if you know how to make something that you can teach others. Join the Friends of the Library for opportunities to enhance our library. We can always use volunteers who are willing to dust and straighten book shelves. Let us know if you have time and talents you want to share.

In addition to our regular programs and activities, we are adding some events to observe National Good Neighbor Day. Join us for Family and Neighbor Puzzle and Board Game events on Saturday, Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tuesday, Sept. 16 from 4-6 p.m.; and Saturday, Sept. 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

We have Good Neighbor Bingo cards with activities to do with your family. Pick up a card at the library, complete the good neighbor suggestions to earn a BINGO, and turn in your card to the library by the end of September to be eligible for a prize drawing.

We invite our youth to sign up for LEGO Mania day on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 2 p.m. STEM lab will be Monday, Sept. 15 at 4 p.m. while Creation Corner will be Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 2 p.m.  We have exciting things planned, so be sure to preregister.

Get one of the coloring sheets at the library desk. Color it and give it to a neighbor, someone at the care center or hospital, or return it to the library to decorate our walls. Do something neighborly and tag the MJB Library on Facebook to inspire other patrons. We have a display with ideas on the window behind our front desk at the library. We challenge you to build a stronger community, one neighbor at a time.