By Karen Kelly | Special to the TimesVedette
One comment I hear from people who come to the Mary J Barnett Library for the first time is that this is such a beautiful library. I have to agree. The committee who planned this facility had a great deal of foresight and anticipated that our community would “grow into” this space. Each day that I have the privilege of coming to work here, I am grateful for this building and what it provides our community. Our community benefits immensely from the large library with meeting rooms, a children’s area, and places for workspaces, conversations, and to just sit and read.
This library was built in 1998, and one of the architectural highlights of the building is the massive windows that make it feel so open and bring the outside in. While it is a beautiful building, it is more than 25 years old. As with any building, time and the elements take their toll, and regular maintenance is required to keep things looking and working well. Such is the case with the gorgeous windows.
The wood surrounding the windows is deteriorating and in need of immediate replacement. This repair is expected to be costly and exceeds the budgeted amount. While the city has allocated funds for the project, additional financial assistance is required. We are actively pursuing grants to facilitate the complete replacement of the windows in a cost-effective manner. The Friends of the Library are diligently fundraising for this cause, and community members are encouraged to support the effort by making donations towards the window renovation project. Contributions can be made by sending checks to the Mary J Barnett Library with “windows” indicated in the memo. It is crucial to maintain the library as a cornerstone of our community, providing a safe and resourceful space for all ages.
Golf Tournament
Time is running out to sign up for the Friends of the Library Second Annual Golf Tournament. The four-person best ball tournament is Saturday, June 15 at the Guthrie Center Golf Course. The $60 per person registration fee includes lunch and a cart. Businesses are encouraged to purchase a sponsorship for $100. All proceeds go to the Guthrie Center Friends of the Library to benefit the Mary J. Barnett Library.
Lunch and Learn
Remember Lunch and Learn is noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 12 in the Taylor Meeting Room. This month’s guest speaker is Karen Courtney, Iowa Homeschool Representative. A light lunch will be provided.
Summer Reading Fun
Bif Ridgway and Bike World will be here Tuesday, June 11 at 12:30 for a bike clinic and bike rodeo. Kids are encouraged to bring their bikes and helmets and participate.
The Guthrie County ISU Extension will be presenting Here and Now, a STEM workshop on Wednesday, June 12 at 12:30 p.m. Friday morning at 11 a.m., Creation Stations will be set up for summer readers to unleash their creativity.
Join us for a movie and popcorn on Monday, June 17 at 4 p.m. On Wednesday, June 19, the STEM program will be No Monkeys, No Chocolate. On Friday, June 21, Absolute Science will be sharing their Fantastic Foam Show.
Summer Reading participants are reminded to log their reading time and turn in their completed reading logs for a chance to win some great prizes.
Cribbage and Bridge
Card shark, remember that you can join the cribbage players from 9-11 a.m. each Monday morning for some competitive cribbage. Regardless of your skill level, new people are always welcome. Bridge players, check out the Wednesday morning bridge class that takes place between 9-11 a.m.
Card Making Class
Card making class will be from 9-11 a.m. on Thursday, June 20. All supplies are provided, and everyone is welcome. The $5 fee covers the cost of supplies.
Cookbook Club
The 20th Edition of the Iowa State Fair Cookbook is the featured cookbook for this month’s cookbook club. Stop in the library to choose a recipe from the prize-winning recipes collected in this book. Bring your chosen dish to the Cookbook Club meeting on Thursday, June 20 at 6:30 p.m.
Rylee Nielsen selects books to check out before the summer reading program begins. The furniture and rug were purchased with the grant money from the ALA LTC round 2 (American Library Association Libraries Transforming Communities Grant). This young patron has found a cozy spot to enjoy a book. This is part of the furnishing purchased with the ALA LTC Round 2 Grant that the library has been awarded. For those who think the library is a dull and quiet place, this is the children’s area on Monday. Kids are playing board games, using computers, playing with toys, and adults get a minute to read. Brooks and Kate Gordon enjoy the new reading space in the children’s area, which was purchased with the ALA LTC Round 2 Grant. Donna Albright’s award-winning quilt entitled Midnight Garden is on display at the MJB Library through the month of June. Stop in and take a look; a photo doesn’t capture the intricate work of this piece.
