By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette
National Library Week is this week. Monday, April 20 is Right to Read Day, a day to take action to protect, defend and celebrate the right to read. Tuesday, April 21 is National Library Workers Day, a day for library staff, users, administrators and Friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers. Wednesday, April 22 is National Library Outreach Day, a day to celebrate library outreach and the dedicated library professionals who are meeting their patrons where they are. Thursday, April 23 is Take Action for Libraries Day, a day to rally advocates in support of libraries.
Find Your Joy at the Library is this year’s theme. MJB Library provides many opportunities for patrons of all backgrounds and ages to find their joy.
Sometimes readers get in a rut and read the same authors all the time. To help patrons find new authors to enjoy, MJB is offering a service called book bundles. Patrons simply need to visit the library website and click the book bundle on the banner at the top of the page. A series of questions about reading preferences will pop up for the patron to complete. Using that information, librarians will select three to five books for the patron to check; book bundles are ready within three business days. Give it a try. You might discover some interesting new authors.
Parents and caretakers are reminded that kids from birth to kindergarten are encouraged to sign up for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Completely free and with no obligation, children who are signed up receive a book mailed to them each month from birth until they begin kindergarten. The first book is one of Dolly’s favorite children’s books, “The Little Engine that Could.” Parton started the Imagination Library as a tribute to her father, whom Parton describes as a very intelligent man who was limited by his inability to read. Parton wants children to know the magic of books regardless of their financial situation.
To sign up for the Imagination Library, go to the website imaginationlibrary.com or stop by the library to use the QR code on the Imagination Library fliers. A child who is signed up at birth will receive 60 volumes for his or her personal library. Books are developmentally appropriate and are intended to foster the joy of reading and help with reading readiness.
Our preschool patrons are also encouraged to sign up for 1,000 Books before Kindergarten. This free program rewards kids for every 100 books they read with adults on their literacy journey. Research indicates that children who have read 1,000 books prior to beginning kindergarten will have the vocabulary and literacy skills to be ready to learn to read.
The library also offers a weekly story hour for preschoolers and their caregivers each Friday at 10 a.m. Each story hour focuses on a theme for the stories and the craft project.
Creation Corner, on Wednesday, April 29, at 2 p.m., is also for youth of all ages. Wednesday, May 13, at 2 p.m., is LEGO Mania day for youth of all ages.
The Summer Reading Program will bring joy to young library patrons. Registration is open on the MJB Library page now. Check our library website for dates and times of summer reading program events.
Evening Book Club meets at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28. The April book, “Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk” by Kathleen Rooney, is still available for check out for anyone who wishes to read it and join the book club.
Of course, in addition to all the library programs available, a huge room full of books is pure joy for many patrons. Looking for a book that will help you find your joy and fill your soul? Try “Theo of Golden” by Allen Levi.
Rich Wicks shows off some of the prizes that were in the bag that he won from the drawing of Friends of the Guthrie Center Library membership drive. Friends are still accepting new members if anyone is interested in supporting the Friends of the Guthrie Center Library.
These kids were up for the challenge at LEGO Mania Day on April 15.
As part of the MJB Library’s outreach, someone from the library does story time with the Guthrie Center’s two elementary preschool classes. This month, library director Jerri Hawkins shared books that highlight finding your joy at the library. Additionally, she took puppets to share with the young patrons. Hawkins follows up by sending activity sheets for the children to complete later in the day.