By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette
“We’d all be smarter if we used library cards as often as we do credit cards.” – Arnold H. Glasow
One card, endless possibilities; that’s the feeling when you have a library card. Since 1987, September has been Library Card Sign-Up Month. Back-to-school time is the perfect time to bring youth in to get their first library card.
A library card gives users access not only to the book collection but also to all the other resources including DVDs, hot spots, tablets, computers, board games and audiobooks, as well as the Iowa Adventure Pass, Libby and Kanopy. My summer has not allowed me much reading time, but since the new fiscal year began in July, I have saved $449 just from the books I have checked out instead of purchasing them.
Stop by during library hours or go to the library website to get your library card and access so many resources.
Remember that the Friends of the Guthrie Center Library are selling T-shirts for $30. The next Friends meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Oct. 5.
For patrons who live in Guthrie Center and rural patrons with a Guthrie County address, remember to download Libby and Kanopy. Libby gives patrons access to thousands of eBooks, audiobooks and online magazines at no cost, with no limit on how many can be checked out. Kanopy is a streaming service that can be downloaded on a smart TV, smartphone or other device to view hundreds of movies, TV shows, documentaries and children’s programs.
For patrons who are considering retirement, Social Security 101: Everything You Need to Know is a program that the MJB Library will be hosting on Thursday, Nov. 5, from 5-6 p.m., led by Kirsten Goodwin, a public affairs specialist with 18 years of experience at the Social Security Administration in the Midwest-West Region. The workshop will cover topics such as when you are eligible to receive retirement benefits; how early retirement affects benefits; whether you are eligible for disability, survivors and spouse benefits; how to get the most from benefits; when to file for Medicare; and the future of Social Security.
Remember that this week, Canasta class will meet on Tuesday at 1 p.m., and Bridge class will meet on Wednesday at 9 a.m. Card-making class with Judi Zimmerline will meet from 9-11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17; all materials and equipment are supplied for a $5 fee. At 6 p.m., Cookbook Club will meet to share a potluck of recipes that were chosen this month. Patrons who have questions regarding any of these events may contact the library.
Cribbage will meet next Monday at 9 a.m., while Craft and Connect will meet next Monday from 4-6 p.m. On Tuesday, Sept. 22, Reads Well with Others will meet at 5 p.m. to discuss “The Unraveling of Julia” by Lisa Scottoline.
Upcoming youth events include preschool story hour each Friday morning at 10, and Creation Corner, which will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23.
The staff of the MJB Library is honored to have been voted runner-up for the Best Guthrie County Library. Every day, we strive to enrich our community, educate minds and energize curiosity. We couldn’t have achieved this without your support and your votes. We are so much more than books.
STEM Projects require a lot of concentration. The next STEM workshop entitled “Fractions and Stained Glass” will be at the MJB Library at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8.
Following the workshop, Library Director Jerri Hawkins provided a real pizza for the workshop participants to enjoy.
Youth were tasked with creating a pizza using layers of materials during the Layers workshop.
On Sept. 10, the ISU Extension presented a library program with the theme “Lots of Layers.” The idea was to get young people to think about layers, textures and how individual pieces come together to create something unique.
MJB Library Aide Karen Kelly is pictured with Miss Alaina’s preschool class at the Guthrie Center Elementary School on Sept. 11, when she read to both preschool groups. The MJB Library Staff visits the preschool classes each month to share books as part of their community outreach.
The library is a place where curious, young minds can explore and learn. Using a STEM kit on loan from the State Library, these creative minds are building a large structure.