By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette
MJB Library kicked off new youth programs during National Library Week. LEGO Mania Day, attended by 15 people, was the first of several new STEAM activities that the library staff is planning to have each month.
On Monday, May 21, the library will be hosting a youth movie day; we will be showing “Moana 2” beginning at 12:30 p.m. Following the movie, there will be activities for kids to do. At 3:30 p.m., the Guthrie STEM Lab will be designing and constructing sail cars. During STEM Lab, youth will be harnessing the power of the wind — on land — and there’ll be smooth sailing ahead for this incredible STEM | STEAM activity. Kids are empowered to quickly experiment as they build a sail car by testing and re-adjusting their sail’s shape, angle and pitch. Participants will work through the engineering and design process, designing their sail cars for speed, distance or even to ferry school supplies across the room. Change wind conditions to increase the challenge.
On Wednesday, April 30, at 2 p.m., youth are invited to sign up for a Creation Corner activity. Participants will be creating and decorating May baskets.
Youth of all ages are encouraged to sign up for these activities; these are not just for elementary ages. Middle school and high school students are invited as well. These STEAM activities can be expanded to challenge older youth. Additionally, it’s a great chance for different ages to work together and mentor each other.
Youth wishing to participate in these activities should sign up either on the library website or by calling or emailing the library to ensure that we have adequate supplies for all participants.
Preschool Story Hour
Preschool Story Hour is open to all children who are not yet in kindergarten and their caregivers each Friday at 10 a.m. Easter will be the theme on Friday, April 18, while children will learn about rainbows on Friday, April 25.
Adult Activities
Card Making Class will be held on Thursday, April 17. Led by Judi Zimmerline, participants will leave with unique, one-of-a-kind greeting cards. Each class costs $5 to cover the cost of materials and supplies, which are all supplied. The class is from 9-11 a.m.
Cookbook Club will also meet on Thursday, April 17. Anyone wishing to participate should stop by the library to choose a recipe from this month’s book, “Taste of Home Copycat Recipes.” When the club meets at 6:30 p.m. on April 17, bring your prepared recipe to share with the group while you discuss the recipes in the book.
Friends of the Library will meet on Monday, May 5, at 6:15 p.m. The primary focus of the meeting will be to plan the Friends’ fundraising golf tournament, which will take place on Saturday, June 14, at the Guthrie Center Golf Course. Anyone who wishes to become a Friends of the Library member is invited to join the meeting. Registration is open for golfers who wish to sign up their team; go to the MJB Library website to register.
The Guthrie County ISU Extension Office will present a workshop at the MJB Library on Tuesday, April 29, about planting floral window boxes. Pre-registration is required; there is a $15 fee for this event to cover materials. Each participant will take home a window box that they have planted.
Half of the battle of constructing is choosing the right materials.
Merrick drops the marble to test his LEGO marble maze.
It’s time for the moment of truth to see if the construction will work.
The young engineers at the LEGO Mania Day were all creative and took unique approaches to their builds.
This group of budding engineers are all taking a unique approach to the task of building a marble maze with LEGOs.
This LEGO engineer is ready to try out his LEGO marble maze.
Several LEGO artists collaborated on their projects. Fifteen people attended the first LEGO Mania Day at the MJB Library.
On Wednesday, April 16, the MJB Library hosted its first LEGO Mania Day. Fifteen people attended this exciting event.
The Mary J. Barnett Memorial Library is located at 400 Grand St. in Guthrie Center. Contact the library at 641-747-8110 or mjblib@guthriecenter.lib.ia.us. Visit online at www.guthriecenter.lib.ia.us.