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.
Barrett loves to build with LEGOs on the library’s big LEGO table.
On April 30, our after school program, Creation Corner, was led by Judi Zimmerline. The youth in attendance made May baskets to take home and share with others.
Creation Corner participants were able to fill completed May baskets with candy and treats.
Following story hour, the STEM table is a popular place for the preschool crowd to hang out and play.