By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

August is Family Fun Month. In case you need help to find ways to celebrate Family Fun Month, the Mary J. Barnett Library is here for you. We have shelves of ways to entertain your family this month.  

The library has a large selection of jigsaw puzzles and board games that are perfect for that family night at home. Our DVD collection features a number of family friendly movies and series to check out. Our Wii games collection is fairly extensive and is a great way for families to play together. 

Our juvenile section of the library has something for every age and interest level. In addition to our picture books and chapter books, we have an extensive selection of read along books. We have Vox and Wonderbooks, which are picture books and chapter books that have a device that allows the child to listen to the audiobook as they follow along with the print text. These are great for children who are too young to read or for beginning or struggling readers who are able to use a multi-sensory approach to reading. Additionally, we have a large selection of Play Away books, which are self-contained audiobooks. The Play Aways are great for kids to listen with headphones, but they are also wonderful for car trips since they can be plugged into your car’s audio system with an auxiliary cord. Listening and discussing books as a family is a great way to foster your children’s imagination and love of reading.

We have some new “Bluey” books, which are quite popular with our youngest patrons. The Moana and Minecraft beginning readers are some of our most-checked-out books with young readers. For dinosaur lovers, the Tyrannosaurus Rex virtual reality book has been a big hit; readers can download an app and use special viewing glasses that pair with a cell phone to enjoy VR content in the book. We are still expanding our Who Was, What Was and Where Was collection of nonfiction books about historical people, places and events which are extremely popular.  

We have a great collection of new chapter books including the latest in the following series: “Judy Moody,” “Sophie Mouse,” “The Forgotten Five” and The Magic Treehouse. The “Who Would Win” series is one that children of all ages enjoy, and we have several new additions to that series. 

Our new children’s “Farm to Table Cookbook” is a great way to involve your child in cooking and to teach them about nutrition and where food comes from. The MJB Library has a large section of children’s cookbooks. These are great not only to teach reading and culinary skills, but also a fun and painless way to learn about fractions and measuring.

Our telescope is available for check out so you can star gaze with your family during the month. While you’re in the library, take time to browse our shelves of book sale items. We have books for all ages as well as some games and puzzles for sale for a free will donation to the Friends of the Library. If you don’t have time to stop at the library, download the Libby app and enjoy ebooks and audiobooks for the entire family.  

Remember that we have a number of children’s activities planned for the month of August including The LEGO Mania Day on Thursday, Aug. 7; STEM Lab on Wednesday, Aug. 13; and Creation Corner on Wednesday, Aug. 20. All of these events begin at 4 p.m., and we request that you preregister your children so we have adequate supplies.

During the school year, we have planned youth events to coincide with the Guthrie Center Elementary school early releases so kids can take the bus to the library and come directly from school to the library activities. Watch our website for additional details. Again, we request that you preregister students for these events. 

Our 10 a.m. preschool Story Hour is filled with fun stories and activities this month. Aug. 8, our topic is sheep. On Aug. 15, horses will be featured while cows are the theme of our Aug. 22 event. We will skip Story Hour on Aug. 29, as it is county fair week.

If you are still needing family fun ideas, be sure to consider checking out the Iowa Adventure Pass to one of the three venues that we offer: the Blank Park Zoo, The Children’s Museum, and the Science Center. See our website for details and instructions. 

Our 3:00 o’clock book club will meet on Aug. 12 to discuss “The Trouble with You.” Reads Well with Others evening book club will be discussing Jeneva Rose’s thriller “The Perfect Marriage” on Tuesday, Aug. 26 at 5 p.m. Both books are available for check out at the library.

Card making class will be Thursday, Aug. 21 from 9-11 a.m. Supplies are provided for a $5 materials fee. Cookbook Club will take a hiatus this month but will be back in September. 

Please remember that Friends of the Guthrie Center Library will meet on Aug. 4 at 6:15 p.m. If you’re not already a member, this is a great time to get involved and support the library. 

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

July is over, but the library still has a month of summer fun planned. Our schedule is jammed packed with events for patrons to enjoy.

August Story Hours will feature animal themes. Aug. 1 will focus on farms while Aug. 8 will have a sheep theme. Horses will be the topic of Aug. 15 with cows being the theme on Aug. 22. There will be no story hour on Aug. 29. Story Hour takes place at 10 a.m. on Fridays and is geared toward preschool age children and their caregivers.  

Youth activities for the month include LEGO Mania Day on Thursday, Aug. 7 at 4 p.m., Guthrie STEM Lab on Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 4 p.m.; and Creation Corner on Wednesday, Aug. 20 at 4 p.m. Participants are encouraged to pre-register as only 25 spots are available for each event.

The Friends of the Guthrie Center Library are meeting on Monday, Aug. 4, at 6:15 p.m. Anyone who would like to support the library is invited to join the group at that time. 

The library offers two weekly card clubs. The cribbage players meet each Monday morning from 9-11 a.m. in the Taylor meeting room. Bridge club meets at the same place every Wednesday also from 9-11 a.m. Card players of all experience levels are invited to join the fun. 

Between the Covers afternoon book club will meet on Tuesday, Aug. 12, to discuss “The Trouble with You” by Ellen Feldman. Their book for September will be “West with Giraffes” by Lynda Rutledge. Reads Well with Others evening book club will discuss the thriller “The Perfect Marriage” by Jeneva Rose on Tuesday, Aug. 26, at 5 p.m. Both book clubs have novels available for check out to anyone who would like to join the groups.

Cookbook Club is taking a month off during August but will be back in September. Card Making Club will meet on Thursday, Aug. 21, from 9-11 a.m. Led by Judi Zimmerline, participants will  create unique greeting cards. There is a $5 fee to cover the cost of supplies. 

In August, the library will be closed for County Fair on Saturday, Aug. 30 and also Monday, Sept. 1 for Labor Day.  

Do you have an interesting collection or hobby that you would like to share with the community? If so, contact Karen at the library. We have display cases in the library, and, each month, we feature a different collection or hobby. 

With a month left before school starts, there is still a lot of time left to take advantage of the Iowa Adventure Pass sponsored by the Friends of the Library. See our website for details. The Adventure Pass is available to adult patrons with a 50115 address, and each pass allows two adults and two children free admission to the Blank Park Zoo, the Science Center of Iowa, or the Children’s Museum once every 365 days. 

Our Friends of the Library Book Sale is still going on. Shoppers will find children’s picture books, beginning readers and juvenile fiction to choose from. There is a huge selection of adult fiction, nonfiction as well as a few games, puzzles, DVDs, and Wii games. Stop and shop and make a donation to the Friends of the Library. 

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

The annual library book sale is currently underway. Stop in and take a look. We have children’s books, fiction, cookbooks, craft books, gardening, home improvement books and nonfiction. Books are available for a free will donation. You receive new books, and your donation to Friends of the Guthrie Center Library helps provide items to support special projects to help your local library thrive. So come in, take a look at the vast selection of books, and take some new reads home with you.

Friends of the Guthrie Center Library will have their regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 5, at 6:15 p.m. at the MJB Library. Please join us to support the library. New members are welcome to attend.

The Iowa Adventure Pass is up and running again. Sponsored by Friends of the Guthrie Center Library, the Iowa Adventure Pass gives library cardholders the opportunity to discover and explore museums, gardens, zoos, and other destinations across Iowa — for free. How It Works: reserve your pass online at www.guthriecenter.lib.ia.us/iowa-libraries-adventure-pass, print or download your confirmation, present your confirmation and a valid ID at the destination for free admission for two adults and two children (unless otherwise specified). Passes from the Mary J Barnett Memorial Public Library are available exclusively for Guthrie Center residents.

On Thursday, July 24, at 4 p.m., the library will be hosting Creation Corner for youth of all ages. Be sure to pre-register to participate in the creative crafts that we have planned. Our next LEGO Mania Day will be at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7; registration is open now.

Preschool Story Hour is at 10 a.m. every Friday. The next story hour will be Christmas in July. Join us for fun stories followed by a special craft project.

Both book clubs have extra copies of books available if you would like to join either or both of them. The afternoon book club is reading “The Trouble with You” by Ellen Feldman, a historical fiction novel set after World War II. It tells the story of a young woman navigating the changing roles of women in post-war society. Meanwhile, the evening book club is reading Jeneva Rose’s debut novel, “The Perfect Marriage.” This thrilling and twisty story will keep you engrossed until the surprising ending that you won’t see coming.

Remember that every Monday from 9-11 a.m., cribbage players meet in the Taylor meeting room. On Wednesdays, the bridge club also meets from 9-11 a.m. in the Taylor meeting room. All interested card players are welcome.  

Johnny gets a little help from his mom to get paint on the pool noodle he is using to create his picture.

Kimber loves painting crafts at Story Hour.

Piper studies directions while deciding what the next step in her construction is.

The rubberband racers in the STEM lab were challenging but fun to construct.

Kylie is proud of the rubberband racer she built during our last STEM lab.

Last week’s story hour craft, painting with pool noodles, was a big hit with the young crafters.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

“Amazon is doing four days of deals. Walmart is doing six. Target said let’s make it a week. The library? We’ve been serving 100% off every single day. No promo codes. No shipping delays. No buyer’s remorse. Just books, movies, internet, events and air conditioning. Totally free. All year long.” This Facebook meme stirred something in me.

I have long considered libraries the physical manifestation of the First Amendment and the great equalizer in our nation. Throughout history, books have been regarded as luxuries that only the wealthy can access, but because of America’s public library system, this is not the case.

Libraries offer free access to ideas, ensuring freedom of thought and speech. Public libraries allow all people in America to access print and digital materials for free.

Every resident of Guthrie Center can afford a library card because library cards are free. If you have an ID, you can get a library card. And if you have a library card, you can access the world. Not only can you borrow materials from our shelves, thanks to our SILO program, which enables us to share resources with many other libraries around the state, but we often obtain requested material that our library might not own.

Our library allows digital access to everyone. We have computers, tablets and Wi-Fi hotspots available for checkout. If you have a device but no Wi-Fi at your home, the library has free Wi-Fi. With your library card and a cell phone or tablet, you can download an app called Libby that allows free access to thousands of ebooks and audiobooks, as well as digital copies of magazines to borrow.

Our website offers links to digital resources, including Mometrix eLibrary, digital newspaper archives, DOT practice tests, educational resources and government and legal resources.

Additionally, the library provides activities, clubs and programs for all ages. The library is a source for information and ideas, but it is also a safe place to gather. The library is a great spot for play dates and an after-school hangout. It is a place for teens to work on homework or meet up with friends. Adults often find it a comfortable and relaxing spot to spend some time reading a magazine, putting together a puzzle or gathering with friends.

Thanks to people like Benjamin Franklin who is credited with starting the first book-borrowing library in the U.S. and Andrew Carnegie who used his vast fortune from his steel business to build thousands of libraries in the U.S. and around the world, knowledge and resources in the U.S. don’t just belong to people who have the money to purchase them. Public libraries allow all of us to read the latest best-sellers, acquire the most expensive magazines or access digital resources.

One of the programs that our library is providing for our community this week includes the Guthrie STEM Lab on Wednesday, July 16, at 4 p.m. This tween/teen program will be building rubber band race cars. Those who intend to participate are encouraged to go online and pre-register.

Card-making club will meet on Thursday, July 17, from 9-11 a.m.; this program is led by Judi Zimmerline, who will provide all needed materials to make unique greeting cards. Participants are asked to pay a $5 fee to cover the cost of the consumable materials.

At 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 17, Cookbook Club will meet to sample and discuss the recipes from “Every Day with Babs,” this month’s featured cookbook. To participate, stop by the library to choose a recipe and then prepare it and bring it to share with the group.

Story Hour for preschoolers and their caregivers will be on Friday, July 18, at 10 a.m. Blue is the topic of the books and crafts for the week.

The evening book club will meet again on Tuesday, July 22, at 5 p.m. to discuss James McBride’s book entitled “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store.” If you need a copy of the book, the library has plenty available for checkout.

Cribbage and Bridge Clubs meet from 9-11 a.m. each Monday and Wednesday, respectively. There is no cost, and all are welcome regardless of skill level.

This innovative LEGO engineer created a three-dimensional rainbow.

This LEGO artist created an abstract interpretation of a rainbow.

The LEGO Mania challenge was to use LEGOs to create a rainbow. This guy nailed it.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

The library is buzzing with activity during July. Even though the summer reading program is over, our calendar is still full. 

The Guthrie County ISU Extension office will share another STEM program this month. On Wednesday, July 9, at 2 p.m., youth can participate in the robotics and programming activity in the Taylor meeting room. 

On Thursday, July 10 at 4 p.m., the library will have a LEGO Mania program that is open to kids of all ages. On July 16, at 4 p.m., the Guthrie Center STEM Lab for tweens and teens is scheduled. Creation Corner will be at 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 24 for all ages. Pre-registration is requested for these programs as we have a 25-person limit. 

Preschool Story Hour is each Friday at 10 a.m. On July 10, the theme for the day will be red. Blue is the topic of July 18, and on July 25, participants will celebrate Christmas in July. 

As usual, Cribbage and Bridge Club will meet from 9-11 a.m. each Monday and Wednesday respectively. New players are always welcome.

MJB Library has two book clubs. The afternoon book club will be meeting on Tuesday, July  8, at 3 p.m. to discuss “Long Island” by Colm Toibin. The evening book club will be sharing about “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride at 5 p.m. on July 22. Be sure to stop in and check out a book if you would like to join. 

Card-making club will meet from 9-11 a.m. on Thursday, July 17. Participants are asked to pay a $5 fee to cover the cost of all the materials. CookBook Club is at 6:30 p.m. on July 17. Participants in the cookbook club should stop by the library to pick a recipe to prepare and bring to share with the group on July 17. 

The July display features Teresa Mowrer’s John Deere collection.

This group is making progress with their pinball game at the STEM workshop at the MJB Library last week.

The pinball STEM workshop began with a story.

Stop by the library to see this month’s quilt. Karen Sparks stitched this charming baby quilt with cross stitched squares.

Young problem-solvers at the STEM workshop sponsored by the Guthrie County ISU Extension Office work on creating their own pinball game.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

MJB Library wrapped up its Summer Reading Program on Friday, June 27 with a Level Up at the Library party. HomeTown Foods provided grilled hamburgers and hot dogs for the celebration; the MJB Library extends their thanks to HomeTown Foods for their generous support of the Summer Reading Program.  

Following lunch, prizes were drawn. Participants earned drawing tickets by turning in reading logs, activity sheets and by attending library programs. After the drawing, each child was able to choose new books to take home for his or her personal library. Prizes and programs for the summer reading program were made possible by grants that were designated for the summer reading program.

Forty-six children signed up for the summer reading program, and those children logged 38,330 minutes of reading time during the month of June.

Readers who won prizes include Chase Betts, Emmerich Hernandez, Edward Irlbeck, Rylee Irlbeck, Clark Knobbe, Hadley Knobbe, Kane Knobbe, Eli Langgaard, William Langgaard, Ella Lewis, Chance Nielsen, Piper Peterson, Brylon Redfern, Kroy Redfern, Ainsley Schreiber, Merrick Schreiber, Reagan Terwilliger and Blair Tinken.

Please plan ahead for your holiday reading needs since the MJB Library will be closed on Friday, July 4. We will be open our normal Saturday hours of 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 5.

The Guthrie County ISU Extension will be presented two STEAM programs for our youth during July. On Wednesday, July 2, at  2 p.m., they will have a workshop entitled “Pinball Machine.” On Wednesday, July 9, the 2 p.m. program will be about robotics and coding.

The library will have LEGO Mania at 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 10. Guthrie STEM Lab will be on Wednesday, July 16 at 4 p.m.; this event is geared to tween and teen participants. Younger children must be accompanied by an adult helper if they are attending the STEM Lab as the activities are more challenging. Creation Corner on Thursday, July 24, at 4 p.m. is open to all school age youth. Please pre-register for these events as we have spots for 25 participants.

Cribbage and Bridge groups meet at the Taylor meeting room from 9-11 a.m. on Monday and Wednesday respectively. Players of all skill levels are encouraged to join.

Between the Covers Book Club will meet on Tuesday, July 8 at 3 p.m. The group will be reading Colm Toibin’s “Long Island.”

Members of Reads Well With Others evening book club may stop by at their convenience to check out a copy of our July read, “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride. In 1972, when workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, were digging the foundations for a new development, the last thing they expected to find was a skeleton at the bottom of a well. Who the skeleton was and how it got there were two of the long-held secrets kept by the residents of Chicken Hill, the dilapidated neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans lived side by side and shared ambitions and sorrows. As these characters’ stories overlap and deepen, it becomes clear how much the people who live on the margins of white, Christian America struggle and what they must do to survive. When the truth is finally revealed about what happened on Chicken Hill and the part the town’s white establishment played in it, McBride shows us that even in dark times, it is love and community — heaven and Earth — that sustain us.

Blair assists Director Hawkins with the prize drawing.

STEM participants are working to construct a tower using only spaghetti and marshmallows.

This group of clever engineers think they have figured out the best way to build their structure.

Merrick won a Simon game.

The kids enjoyed grilled hot dogs and hamburgers provided by HomeTown Foods.

Eli won the prize that he had his eye on.

Clark is happy with his new game. Since the SRP theme was “Level Up at your Library,” all the prizes were game related.

Kane needed to be persuaded to put down his burger to go pick a prize when his name was drawn.

Library Director Jerri Hawkins congratulates the group on their excellent reading accomplishments.

All of Chase’s time spent reading paid off since his name was chosen for a prize.

Area youth who participated in the MJB Library Summer Reading Program had a celebrational lunch on Friday, June 27. Prize drawings were held, and all participants left with brand new books for their personal libraries. The 46 participants read a total of 38,330 minutes during the month of July.