By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette
“There are so many library kids and library grown-ups who have yet to fully embrace their library joy, and I am so excited for them. When they enter the world of libraries and stories, I am confident they will find not only their library joy but their courage to believe in their own story and maybe even share it with others,” commented Mychal Threets, National Library Week Honorary Chair, author, award-winning librarian and new host of “Reading Rainbow.”
Sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA), National Library Week first sponsored this observance in 1958 to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries — school, public, academic and special libraries.
Concerning research in the mid-1950s indicated that Americans were spending less money on books than on radios, televisions and musical instruments. The ALA and the American Book Publishers formed a nonprofit organization intended to promote reading and library use. The committee’s thought was that once people were motivated to read, they would support and use libraries. Thus, National Library Week was born in 1958 with the theme “Wake up and Read!” This tradition has continued, and this year’s theme is “Find Your Joy at the Library.”
During National Library Week, the staff at MJB Library invites patrons to stop by the library and find their joy at the library. April 19-25 is National Library week, and it is the perfect time for everyone to take a few minutes to stop by the library to see what might spark joy for them.
Most people think of the library as a big building filled with books. That in and of itself quite honestly makes this place seem like an oasis to me, but there is just so much more that the library has to offer to the citizens of this area. In addition to the hundreds of books, magazines, audiobooks and read-along books, patrons can check out board games, DVDs, jigsaw puzzles, cake pans, candy molds and a telescope. If patrons want a book that MJB Library doesn’t own, it can be borrowed from other libraries.
Homeschool families can utilize a textbook or homeschool materials exchange. Homeschool families can donate materials that they no longer need and take materials that they can use.
Gardeners can take advantage of the seed library which has flower, vegetable, and herb seeds that they may take to plant this spring; this fall, harvest the seeds and donate them back to the library which will add them to the seed library.
Patrons can check out computers and tablets. The library offers free Wi-Fi to patrons. For a small fee, patrons can print, fax and laminate documents.
MJB Library offers educational and recreational programs for youth and adults. Regular programs include preschool story hour for preschoolers of all ages and their caretakers each Friday at 10 a.m. For school-age youth, monthly LEGO Mania Day and Creation Corner provide challenging and creative learning opportunities. In addition, watch the calendar for special programs and events.
The library promotes and helps families enroll their children from birth to 5 years old in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Preschool families are encouraged to enroll their children in 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, a free program the library operates to encourage reading readiness.
Each summer, the library offers a Summer Reading Program (SRP). Not only does the program provide recreational activities for youth, SRP also provides learning and creative programs as well as a program to help prevent summer reading slide. This year’s theme is “Plant a Seed, Read!” Registration is now open and can be completed on the library’s website.
The youth area of the library is an inviting area with a play area for toddlers which includes age-appropriate toys and activities, a Wii and a Nintendo Switch which can be used in another area of the youth space. Puzzles, puppets and STEM activities can be used in the library. Cozy reading spaces for youth are also available.
The library has a meeting room which is utilized for programs and meetings but is also available to rent for a small fee. Inside the library, a small meeting room is available for use for meetings for eight or fewer people, a private study room, zoom calls or test proctoring.
Several seating areas and tables are available for patrons who want to work here or just enjoy a reading space. A communal puzzle is out and available for anyone to sit and spend a bit of time working on the jigsaw. Take a minute to look at the collection on display in the display case by the front desk or the quilt on display by the fireplace.
For adults, each Monday from 9-11 a.m. cribbage players gather to play. Bridge class is every Wednesday from 9-11 a.m. Canasta Class will be Tuesday, April 21 at 1 p.m. Each Monday, a group of crafters meets in the Taylor Meeting Room from 4-6 p.m. for Craft and Connect; participants bring a project to work on while they socialize with other creative people. Everyone is welcome to participate in these activities.
On the second Tuesday of each month, the afternoon book club, Between the Covers, meets at 3 p.m. to discuss a book. The April meeting will be April 14 to discuss “Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murders” by Jesse Q. Sutanto. The evening book club Reads Well With Others meets at 5 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month. This month’s selection is “Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk” by Kathleen Rooney. For those who wish to participate in the book clubs, the library provides copies for patrons to check out so there is no expense for book club participants.
From 9-11 a.m. on the third Thursday of each month, a card making class is held for people who are interested in making greeting cards. All materials and supplies are provided for a $5 fee. At 6 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month, Cookbook Club meets to sample and discuss recipes from the featured cookbook.
To help patrons discover their library joy, MJB Library is offering Book Bundles; fill out a form about your preferences and dislikes in stories, and one of our librarians will choose three to five books for you to try. This is a great way to discover a new author or series you might not find on your own. Interested? Type in https://www.guthriecenter.lib.ia.us/find-book-2. Please allow up to three weekdays for your bundle to be selected and ready for pickup. You will be notified by text, email or phone call.
In addition to all these things, patrons 18 and older can use their library cards to access an Iowa Adventure Pass. Funded by the Friends of the Guthrie Center Library, the Iowa Adventure Pass allows patrons to get special admission deals to local destinations once every 365 days. Patrons get two adult and two youth free admissions to the Blank Park Zoo or the Des Moines Science Center. For the Blue Zoo, get two free youth admissions with one paid adult admission. The newest venue to the adventure pass is the Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn. This pass allows admission for up to four individuals. To reserve the Iowa Adventure Pass, go to the MJB Library website.
Also available for library card holders of all ages is the Libby App which can be downloaded to smart phones and tablets. This free app allows card holders to access hundreds of eBooks, audio books and magazines for no cost.
With so much available at the MJB Library, how could one not find their joy at the library. Stop by and check us out!
The April display is this collection of American Girl dolls, accessories and books on loan from Bria Steensen who received them from her grandmother. The dolls previously belonged to Bria’s Aunt Jennifer.
This quilt is on loan to the library for the month of April from Lorrie Stringham, owner of Gap Creek Quilt Shop. The quilt was made exclusively with fabric from the 2024 All Iowa Shop Hop.