By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

The 2025 Summer Reading Program, Level Up at Your Library, began on Monday, June 2. Our kick-off event was a magic class. Later in the week, kids participated in the LEGO Mania activity of building the tallest tower with LEGOs. The month of June is filled with exciting opportunities to participate in the SRP. If you haven’t registered already, go online and sign up to earn chances to win prizes by reading and participating in activities.

The MJB Library and Friends of Guthrie Center Library were awarded a $1,000 grant from Communities 4 Children to help fund the MJB Library Summer Reading Program. Funds were used to pay for books that go support the theme, Level Up at your Library. Prizes and incentives for readers who complete the reading challenges were purchased with these funds as well as the fees for summer reading performers who entertained and educated our young patrons.

The first Guthrie County Extension program of the summer will be on Wednesday, June 11, at 2 p.m. The topic will be “Game of Best.” Pre-registration is appreciated. This program is open to all ages.

Friday, we will have our weekly story hour at 10 a.m., which will feature the theme flowers. Friday afternoon is a special program, so the library will be open an extra hour. Beginning at 1 p.m., Dinosaur Guide Anthony, owner of Chomp, Stomp, Roar, will be sharing a Prehistoric Pep Rally to teach us about dinosaurs and prehistoric times. He might even bring along a couple of his dinosaur friends. Kids of all ages will love this fascinating, educational and free program. Youth who are registered for the summer reading program will receive an additional prize drawing ticket for participating.

On Tuesday, June 17, the library will host the trick bubble show at 1 p.m. If you like bubbles, come learn some fun and exciting new tricks.

A reminder to book club members, stop by the library to get a copy of this month’s book. Between the Covers is discussing “Long Island” by Colm Toibin in July. Reads Well with Others will be reading “What Alice Forgot” by Liane Moriarty on June 24.

Be sure to register your team for the Friends of the Library four person best-ball golf tournament on Saturday, June 14. The $60 per person registration includes lunch and a golf cart. Shotgun start is at 9 a.m.

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

The Iowa Adventure Pass is back. After a brief pause, the Iowa Adventure Pass is relaunching thanks to the collaboration of libraries across the state and some of Iowa’s fascinating destinations. This program allows adult library cardholders to check out free passes to family-friendly destinations. 

Whether you’re planning a day at the Blank Park Zoo, touring the Science Center of Iowa, or discovering the Children’s Museum, the Iowa Adventure Pass venues at Mary J Barnett Memorial Library make it easy and affordable to try out a new destination or enjoy a repeat visit.

This is how it works.  Reserve a pass online. Print or download your confirmation. Show the printout or download along with an ID at your destination for free admission.  

Each pass offers free entry for two adults and two children (unless otherwise specified), and it’s just one more way your library connects you to new experiences. 

This relaunch represents a renewed commitment to community partnerships, learning and exploration, so more Iowans can experience the wonders right in their backyard. At the MJB Library, this program is funded by the Friends of the Guthrie Center Library.  

If you have a preschool through middle school-aged child, be sure to go to the MJB Library website and register for the summer reading program. We have many exciting programs and activities, as well as reading incentives, throughout June.  

From Wednesday, June 4, through Friday, June 6, the PBS STEM trailer will be at the MJB Library. Each day, the library will have new and exciting STEM games and activities for youth to explore.

On Thursday, June 5, LEGO Mania will be at 4 p.m. The Guthrie STEM Lab takes place on Monday, June 9. Guthrie County ISU Extension will present a STEM activity called Game of Best on  Wednesday, June 11, at 2 p.m.

Preschool Story Hour will take place on Friday mornings at 10 a.m.  On June 6, summer fun is the theme for Story Hour. Flowers will be the topic of June 13, while messes will be the topic for June 20. We will not have a story hour on June 27 since that is the Summer Reading Program Prize Party. 

MJB Library will extend its hours on Friday, June 13, because Dinosaur Ranger Anthony will be presenting a Prehistoric Pep Rally to talk about dinosaurs. The program begins at 1 p.m. Dinosaur lovers won’t want to miss this exciting program. 

Join us for Cribbage on Monday mornings from 9-11 a.m. and Bridge Club on Wednesday mornings from 9-11 a.m. Players of all skill levels are welcome to participate. Members of the Between the Covers Book Club should stop in and get a copy of “The First Lie Wins” by Ashley Elston so they are ready for the book club on Tuesday, June 10.    

Reads Well with Others Book Club is going to discuss Liane Moriarty’s novel, “What Alice Forgot.” Alice Love is 29, crazy about her husband, and pregnant with her first child. So, imagine Alice’s surprise when she comes to on the floor of a gym (a gym! She HATES the gym) and is whisked off to the hospital, where she discovers the honeymoon is truly over — she’s getting divorced, she has three kids, and she’s actually 39 years old. Alice must reconstruct the events of a lost decade and find out whether it’s possible to reconstruct her life at the same time. Ultimately, Alice must discover whether forgetting is a blessing or a curse, and whether it’s possible to start over. This interesting book should provoke a great discussion.  

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

“Rainy days and Mondays always get me down,” sang Karen Carpenter in 1974. Great song, but the Carpenters got it wrong. Rainy days and Mondays always make me want to read. That’s the way the lyrics should go.  

Last week, one of our patrons who is a voracious reader stopped in early on one of those drizzly, overcast days. As I checked out the last of her half dozen books, I said, “I hope you’re going to have some time to read today.”

She said, “I have some things left on my to-do list. I’m considering saving the rest for another day and going home to snuggle up with a book, a blanket and some munchies. What do you think I should do?” Could she have asked me an easier question? As I handed her the receipt that tells her when her books are due, I notice a sentence at the bottom. “Wow. In 2025, you have saved $2, 615.” That’s a lot of money, and we are not even half way through the year.

We at MJB Library firmly support the idea of abandoning the to-do list to read on rainy days, Mondays, and, really, any day. Not only do we support this, we enable it. Next time you check out materials from the library, look at the bottom of your receipt to see how much money you have saved by utilizing your library. The more you read, the more you save. Shoot, you can’t afford not to check out a big old stack of books and head home to read on the next rainy day. 

We have a huge variety of new fiction and nonfiction books for adults and kids. Our audiobooks for youth section is expanding with new Playaway books as well as new read-along Vox Books and Wonderbooks. The library has been adding to our beginning reader collection also. For those rainy days when everyone is confined to the house, there are new DVDs for kids and families as well as for adults. 

Creation Corner is scheduled for Wednesday, May 28, at 3:30 p.m., so be sure to get signed up for the chance to  make a fun craft project.  

The month of June holds many exciting events for library patrons of all ages. Our Summer Reading Kick Off Begins on June 3 with our Magic Class scheduled for noon. Kids preschool through middle school are invited to sign up for our summer reading program; sign-up can be completed on our library website or by calling or emailing the library if you have difficulty with the online sign up. 

On June 4 through June 7, the Iowa PBS STEM Activity Trailer will be at the MJB Library. Loaded with STEM educational toys and activities, the trailer will provide new and challenging activities each day in the youth section of the library.  

Thursday, June 5, at 4 p.m., LEGO Mania is scheduled. Guthrie STEM Lab will be Monday, June 9 at 4 p.m. Be sure to pre-register for both of these activities as we only have room for 25 participants. As usual, preschool story hour will be each Friday at 10 a.m.

Between the Covers afternoon book club will be discussing “The First Lie Wins” by Ashley Elston on Tuesday, May 10 at 3 p.m. Reads Well with Others evening book club will meet on Tuesday, June 24 to discuss “What Alice Forgot” by Liane Moriarty.

Wednesday, June 3, the Guthrie County ISU Extension will present a STEM program at noon. On Friday, June 13, the library hours will be extended to have our Prehistoric Pep Rally with Dino Ranger Anthony. Back by popular demand, Dino Ranger Anthony will share stories and information about dinosaurs with our group. The Prehistoric Pep Rally will begin at 1 p.m. You will not want to miss this exciting event.

Be sure to get your team signed up for the Friends of the Library Golf Tournament. The $60 per person registration fee includes lunch and a golf cart. This four person best ball tournament is Saturday, June 14 at the Guthrie Center Golf Course. Registration begins at 8 a.m. with a 9 a.m. shotgun start. Register online at the MJB Library website. Businesses wanting to sponsor a hole can contact the library or a member of Friends of the Library. Profits from this event will be going to pay for the replacement of the broken water fountain in the library. 

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

In a recent newsletter, I read that May is Older Americans’ Month. Established in 1963 by President Kennedy, Senior Citizens’ Month was established to acknowledge the contributions of older adults to society and to address issues relevant to aging. Recently, the month has been renamed to the kinder, gentler, more politically correct Older Americans’ Month.

Having never realized that such a month even existed, I began to ponder at what age one is considered an Older American. I reflected on all the times I recalled feeling particularly old. I was 25  when I was first called “ma’am” by a high school boy putting groceries in my car. On my 30th birthday, one of my co-workers brought his class of students into my classroom so they could see what “old looked like.” At 39, my older son asked if I remembered seeing dinosaurs when I was a little girl. When I was  42, one of my students expressed concern that I could “slip and break a hip” if I walked outside when it was snowy. Driving with my kids when I was 47, the younger one reached over, yanked a gray hair out of my head, and muttered something about not realizing there were so many other gray hairs. On my 50th birthday, I got my first mailing from AARP inviting me to buy a membership to their fine organization.

Interestingly, it turns out that aging and feeling old are not synonymous. Now I am 62, and I have retired from my first career. I thought I would feel old, but that is not how I describe my feelings about aging. I realize that feeling old is a matter of perspective and maybe a choice.  

A few years ago, something I read changed my attitude. The crux of the writing was that we should not complain about aging because growing old is a privilege that many people have been denied. Since then, I have endeavored to embrace the positives of aging and to feel grateful for each day I walk this beautiful earth.  

So, for all the patrons who are embracing their age, be aware that the Mary J. Barnett Library schedules many events with you in mind. We have morning events including cribbage (Mondays at 9-11 a.m.), bridge (Wednesdays at 9-11 a.m.), and card-making club (the third Thursday of each month from 9-11 a.m.). 

We have two book clubs to meet your scheduling needs. Between the Covers meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 3 p.m., while Reads Well With Others meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. The next book club is Between the Covers on May 13; they will be discussing “The Frozen River,” a historical novel with mystery and suspense.  

On Saturday, May 17, author Enfys McMurry will be speaking about her Pulitzer Prize-nominated book entitled “Disaster at 39,000 Feet: How Small Town America Came Together at a Time of Crisis.” Her book chronicles May 1962, when a plane fell from the sky over the heartland of America, disrupting the peace of the little towns of Centerville, Iowa, and Unionville, Missouri.  Join us Saturday at 11 a.m.

If you haven’t already signed up, registration is open online to sign up your team for the four-person best ball golf tournament sponsored by Friends of the Library. This fundraising event will be Saturday, June 14, at the Guthrie Center Golf Club, with a 9 a.m. tee time. The funds raised by the event will be used to replace and upgrade the library’s water fountain and to renew the Iowa Adventure Passes for our patrons.

MJB Library has been enlarging its large print book collection. In addition, one of the computers is equipped to meet the needs of patrons who are visually impaired. We also have a page magnifier that can be checked out.   

Many of our patrons who are grandparents enjoy bringing preschool grandchildren to our weekly preschool story hour on Friday mornings at 10 a.m. This week, story hour will focus on cars.  

Our library has a community puzzle that many of our patrons enjoy working on. We have cozy spaces to sit and read. Magazines and The Des Moines Register Online are available to peruse while spending an afternoon in the library. 

With summer just around the corner, the MJB Library has some great summer events coming up. Be sure to sign up the kids in your life for our summer reading program during June. Level Up, our game-based Summer Reading Program theme, provides a variety of opportunities for our young patrons to read and learn. 

The Guthrie STEM Lab will be happening on Wednesday, May 14, at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 28, at 3:30 p.m., the library will host a Creation Corner. Registration is required for both events.  

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

Occasionally, I hear people complaining of the inconvenience of small-town life, but I love living and working in a small town. In case I needed a reason, this week someone drew my attention to a Facebook Post that reminded me of the best part of being in a little town.

Grant Sheeder and Brett Rowley, owners of Guthrie County Quality Meats, saw a need and brainstormed a way to help. In discussing the value of our public libraries and the needs that they have, the pair decided 15% of bratwurst sales sold in store or online will be donated equally to the seven Guthrie County libraries, launching “Bratwursts for Books.” The pair even has an option for people to make a Venmo donation if they don’t like bratwurst.

When Gary Fox, owner of Fox Countertops, saw this, he generously agreed to match the Guthrie County Quality Meat’s donation. Apparently, kindness and generosity are contagious because, according to the Guthrie County Quality Facebook page, they are seeing lots of positive comments on Facebook and receiving a lot of donations via Venmo.

When the folks at Local Liquor in Panora saw this on Facebook, this was their response, “Love what you guys are doing at Guthrie County Quality Meats for the libraries!! We want in on this too and will donate $4 for every case of Busch Light we sell in the month of May!  Cheers to the Guthrie County Libraries.” Wow! Kindness really does create a snowball effect!

On behalf of Mary J. Barnett Memorial Library, I would just like to say thank you. What an amazingly helpful and generous fundraiser by these businesses. A shout out to all of you who are enjoying brats, brews or new countertops to support the libraries in the area.

We are so blessed to have such excellent community support. The MJB Library recognizes how fortunate we are to be in a community that values the library enough to make sure we are well-funded and well-utilized. Our Friends of the Library and Library Board are so generous with their time and resources. We appreciate the supervisors and city council who look out for our financial needs, as well as the many civic organizations who have donated grant money. Truly, without all this support, our library wouldn’t be able to offer nearly as many programs and services.

Please know that when the library director and board are making decisions about how to best allocate the money and resources given to us, they are deliberate and thoughtful about what they are doing. Librarians, it seems, know how to pinch a penny so hard that Mr. Lincoln screams, but in doing so, they are using the money and resources they have to provide the most services to the greatest number of patrons.

We have a summer of great events and programs for patrons of all ages in the works. Watch our Facebook page and this column for details.

As we work on programs for our youth, we are in need of more LEGOs, Hot Wheel cars, and Hot Wheel tracks. As you are spring cleaning, the library would happily accept gently used Hot Wheels or LEGOs.

On Wednesday, May 7, the library is hosting a program by author Ann Hanigan Kotz, author of “Moonshine by Moonlight.” Kotz will  be speaking about her research on Iowa’s history of prohibition and bootlegging. Be sure to join us at 4 p.m. for this interesting glimpse into Iowa History that wasn’t really taught in school.

Between the Covers, the afternoon book club will meet on Tuesday, May 13, at 3 p.m. to discuss “Frozen River.” This gripping historical mystery inspired by the diary of Martha Ballard, an 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system, will have readers on the edge of their seats as this murder mystery unravels.  Be sure to stop by the library to pick up a copy if you haven’t read it yet.

Judi Zimmerline will be facilitating a card making class from 9-11 a.m. on Thursday, May 15. The $5 fee covers all supplies and materials required to create unique greeting cards.

Also on Thursday, May 15, at 6:30 p.m., Cookbook Club will meet sample recipes and discuss the cookbook “Super Italian” by Giada DeLaurentiis. Members are encouraged to stop by the library to select a recipe which they will prepare and bring to share with the group.

Pulitzer Prize nominated author Enfys McMurry will be speaking at the library on Saturday, May 17 at 11 a.m. Join us as McMurry chronicles the plane crash and its aftermath detailed in her book entitled “Disaster at 39,000 Feet: How Small Town America Came Together at a Time of Crisis.”

Members  of Reads Well With Others evening book club are encouraged to stop by the library to check out a copy of this month’s selection, “My Travels with Mrs. Kennedy” by Clint Hill, who was the Secret Service agent who guarded Jackie Kennedy Onassis during her time in the White House and many years following. Hill describes memories of being Kennedy Onassis’s security detail who traveled extensively with the former first lady. The book club will discuss this book on Tuesday, May 27 at 5 p.m.

Golfers are reminded to sign up for the Friends of the Library annual golf tournament, scheduled for Saturday, June 14, at the Guthrie Center Golf Course. Online registration is open at the library’s web page.

The library has several STEM/STEAM activities on the calendar for May starting with LEGO Mania Day at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 8. Guthrie STEM Lab takes place on Wednesday, May 14 at 2 p.m., while Creation Corner will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28. Pre-registration is preferred to ensure adequate supplies for activities.

Story Hour is scheduled every Friday morning at 10 a.m. for preschoolers or all ages and their caretakers. This month, youngsters will learn about a variety of topics including Moms on May 10, cars on May 16, princesses on May 23, and dinosaurs on May 30.

Check the MJB Library website to see our calendar of events for our Summer Reading Program, scheduled throughout the month of June. Registration is open to sign up children of all ages who want to participate.  Level Up at Your Library is the theme for this year’s events. We offer diverse activities for all ages to participate. Sign up today.

 

By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette

 Why did the book join the gym? Because it wanted to work on its spine before all the new spring events! 

Youth Programs

LEGO Mania Day is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 8. The next Guthrie STEM Lab will occur at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14.  Participants interested in these events should pre-register by visiting the library’s website, calling, or emailing the library.

Preschool Story Hour is every Friday at 10 a.m. and is open to all preschoolers and their caregivers. Next Friday’s theme is construction.

Parents and caregivers of preschool-age children are encouraged to sign up for our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program. This free program is designed to help caregivers and parents prepare their preschoolers for school through reading. Inquire at the MJB Library to sign children up for this fun and valuable program. 

Summer Reading Program: “Level Up at Your Library”

 Join us for our Summer Reading Program! We have an exciting lineup of events planned. 

• June 3 at noon:  Summer Reading Kick-Off Event is a Magic Class
• June 4-7 during Open Hours: IOWA PBS STEAM Trailer
• The trailer is here and Full of STEAM/STEM activities. We will have tables in the library with different activities each day while the trailer is parked here.
• June 5 at 4 p.m.:  LEGO Mania – Library STEM Summer
• June 9 at 4 p.m.:   Guthrie STEM Lab – Library STEM Summer
• June 11 at 2 p.m.:  Game of Best
• Guthrie County ISU Extension Outreach Program will host “Game of Best.” 
• June 13 at 1 p.m.: Prehistoric Pep Rally
• Dino Anthony will present a fascinating program on a prehistoric pep rally about Prehistoric Antarctica.
• June 17 at 1 p.m.:  Absolute Science is BACK this time with a Trick Bubble Show.  
• June 19 at 2 p.m.:  Ann Riordan – Springbrook State Park – SRP Program
• June 23 at 4 p.m.: :  Creation Corner- SRP Creation Stations
• June 25 at 2 p.m.: :  Tricky Towers
• Guthrie County ISU Extension Outreach Program will host “Tricky Towers.” Participants will explore teamwork and individual skills, then work in teams to build a 2-foot (or taller) tower modeled after ISU’s Campanile using spaghetti and marshmallows.
• June 27 at noon: Incentive/Prize PARTY End of Summer Reading Event

 Stay tuned for updates here and on our library website about the summer reading program, which will run throughout June. This year’s theme is “Level Up at the Library.” Registration is now open, and you can find the online registration form on our website.

Adult Programs

Card sharks, please consider joining our Cribbage Group, which meets on Monday mornings from 9-11 a.m. in the Taylor Meeting Room. If bridge is more your style, join the Bridge Club, which meets weekly on Wednesdays from 9-11 a.m. Players of all skill levels are invited and encouraged to participate. 

Friends of the Guthrie Center Public Library

Friends of the Library will meet on Monday, May 5, at 6:15 p.m. to plan their Golf Tournament Fundraiser, which will be held on Saturday, June 14, at the Guthrie Center Golf Course. All interested people are invited to join the Friends of the Library. Registration for the golf tournament is open on the library website. Businesses interested in sponsoring a hole at this event may contact the library. 

Attention Book Club Participants!

Make sure you stop by the library to check out next month’s book selection. The Between the Covers afternoon book club will be diving into the gripping historical novel “Frozen River” by Ariel Lawhon, meeting on Tuesday, May 13, at 3 p.m.

The Reads Well with Others evening book club will read “My Travels with Mrs. Kennedy,” a compelling nonfiction account by Clint Hill, the Secret Service agent who protected Jackie Kennedy Onassis. This book offers valuable insights into his experiences with Mrs. Kennedy after her time in the White House. Don’t miss the chance to join us on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m.

We expect to see all of you there!

Author Talks/Programs

The library is hosting two programs with Iowa authors in May.  

On Wednesday, May 7, at 4 p.m., “Iowa Prohibition and Bootlegging,” presented by author Ann Hanigan Kotz, will feature the history of bootlegging in Iowa during prohibition. Kotz will also discuss her book entitled “Moonshine by Moonlight.” You won’t want to miss this fascinating look at a part of history you didn’t learn in school.

On Saturday, May 17, Enfys McMurry will be speaking about her book entitled “Disaster at 39,000 Feet: How Small-Town America Came Together at a Time of Crisis.” McMurry spent countless hours researching this accident, which disrupted the peaceful towns of Centerville, Iowa, and Unionville, Missouri, in May of 1961. McMurry’s book has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.