By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette
With the unseasonably warm weather, the staff at MJB Library has begun to think about summer. More specifically, we are thinking about the summer reading program, which will have the theme Read, Renew, Repeat. As we look forward to the upcoming events of our summer, we have been reflecting on the fantastic participation we had last summer and the fun we had.
One of the highlights of our summer reading program was the finale, which was the foam party followed by pizza and prizes afterward. Our library is grateful for all the groups that support these events. Communities 4 Children: Audubon, Carroll, Greene and Guthrie County is an organization that supports our reading program through grants. Our foam party, many of the books and prizes were possible through funds received through Communities 4 Children and Community Partnerships for Protecting Children Neighborhood/Community Network Mini-Grant.
New books
Thanks to an ALA LTC grant, we are able to purchase more new large print books. We will be getting new titles each month that will include Inspirational/Amish books, thrillers, cozy mysteries, westerns and best sellers. Stop in and see our new titles.
Fans of psychological thrillers might be interested in the new books from author Frieda McFadden. McFadden’s fast-paced dark and twisty books are hard to put down and harder to predict. “The Housemaid” and “The Housemaid’s Secret” have been flying off the shelf, so we added “The Coworker” and “The Teacher.”
Another anxiously anticipated thriller that is available now is “The Fury” by Alex Michaelides. This masterfully paced thriller is about a reclusive ex-movie star and her famous friends whose spontaneous trip to a private Greek island is upended by a murder — from the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of “The Silent Patient” and “The Maidens.”
From celebrated New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry comes the latest Cotton Malone adventure, in which Cotton unravels a mystery from World War II involving a legendary lost treasure, worth billions, known as Yamashita’s Gold. “The Atlas Maneuver” is ready to check out.
Readers hooked on the Joe Pickett series, come in for the latest in the series entitled “Three-Inch Teeth.” Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett faces two different kinds of rampaging beasts — one animal, one human — in this riveting new novel from No. 1 New York Times bestseller by C.J. Box.
Friends of the Library
Friends of the Library will be meeting on Tuesday, March 5 at 6:15 p.m. If you have an interest in supporting the growth of our library, please consider joining us. Yearly dues are $25.
Adult programs
MJB has much to offer adults in the way of programming. Each Monday, the Cribbage Club meets from 9-11 a.m. while the Bridge Club meets at the same time each Wednesday.
Between the Covers book club will meet at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12 to discuss Bill O’Reilly’s book “Killing the Legends: The Lethal Danger of Celebrity.” Copies are available to check out at the library. Cookbook Club will meet Thursday, March 21 at 6:30 p.m. to sample recipes and discuss “Big Bites: Wholesome, Comforting Recipes that Are Big on Flavor, Nourishment, and Fun” by Kat Ashmore. Be sure to stop at the library to choose your recipe to bring to the meeting.
The next Lunch and Learn is Wednesday, March 13 from noon to 1 p.m. The Farm Bureau and Erin Swalwell from Advanced Markets will present the program entitled: Changing Hands: Practical Tips in Farm Estate and Succession Planning. A light lunch will also be served. Be sure to call or go online to pre-register for this valuable event.
Living History Farms will present History of Farming in Iowa on Tuesday, March 19 at 5:30 p.m. Learn how agriculture has evolved over the past several centuries in Iowa. Photographs from the museum’s working farms will highlight the changes in what was grown on an Iowa farm, what tools and power were necessary, and the impact on Iowa farming families. Space is limited to 50 people, so be sure to call the library to get registered for this event right away.
Bluegrass music lovers should mark their calendars for Tuesday, April 2. At 1 p.m., a program will feature Cattle Trail and Songs of the West.
The Mary J. Barnett Memorial Library is located at 400 Grand St. in Guthrie Center. Contact us at 641-747-8110 or mjblib@guthriecenter.lib.ia.us. Visit us online at www.guthriecenter.lib.ia.us.
Our 2023 summer reading program kids had a fantastic time at the summer reading program finale as they played in the foam. Funds received through Communities 4 Children and Community Partnerships for Protecting Children/Neighborhood/Community Network Mini-Grants.
Friends of the Library Trivia night was a huge success. The first-place team, Brilliant Blasters, generously donated their winnings back to the Friends of the Library.
The Crazy Old Farts team took second place in the Friends of the Library Trivia Night. The team helped the fundraising by donating their winnings back to the Friends of the Library.