Edler

STATE CENTER — The leaves are starting to turn orange and gold, and with the change in the season comes changes to the Gutekunst Public Library’s line-up of programming.

“One thing we’re really excited about is offering our LEGO Club every Monday now, instead of every other,” said Director Mara Edler. “It is held from 3:30-4:30 p.m., open to all ages old enough to play with LEGOS.”

Edler said one of the library’s most popular autumn programs is the pre-school aged Storytime, held every Tuesday morning, starting at 10 a.m.

“We offer stories and crafts during this time with Miss Linda,” Edler said. “We also have Infant Storytime, which we hold the first Tuesday of the month, at 9:40 a.m.”

Can’t make the morning storytimes?

“The last Tuesday of the month we offer Milk and Cookies Storytime, at 6:30 p.m., until the library closes at 7 p.m.,” the director noted. “We tell bedtime stories and welcome kids to come in their jammies.”

Yoga with Gutekunst, which had been meeting in the rose garden, will now meet indoors at city hall.

“We hold yoga each Sunday evening at 6 p.m. We moved this inside because of the weather and bugs,” Edler said.

Returning to the library next month is the Knitting Circle.

“Fall is our cozy season, and the knitting group will start meeting every other Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to noon, beginning Oct. 7,” Edler said. “It’s a very casual thing, with no formal instruction. People bring their own supplies for quilting, cross stitching and crocheting.”

All skill levels are welcome to join the knitting group.

The book for October’s “Cook the Book” reading group is entitled “Up a Country Lane” by Evelyn Birkby. After reading the book, participants each select a recipe from it and prepare a dish for the potluck celebration, slated for Monday, Oct. 2 at 6 p.m.

The Cribbage Club continues to meet each Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. Those new to the card game are welcome to join.

The library’s months-long building project (doubling the building in size) will not impact programming or hours of operation.

In addition to its new line-up of autumn programming, the library now has access to a host of new databases, aimed at streamlining the research process and helping students with homework.

“We’ve recently updated our website, and at the bottom of the page are links to our new databases,” Edler said. “Gale gives you reliable, accurate, searchable articles on everything from Chilton manuals to cooking questions to book recommendations. In addition, there are links specifically for elementary, middle school and high school research projects. Credo gets you access to over 1,000 different reference books that are great resources for homework projects. Transparent Language offers online interactive tutorials for 100 different languages, and there is a marvelous section for ESL learners.”

Databases are available anytime of the day from anywhere with an Internet connection. All that is required to use them is a person’s Gutekunst Public Library account number.

To learn more about the library and it’s programs, visit: www.statecenter.lib.ia.us or contact Edler at: 641-483-2741 or maraedler.lib@gmail.com. Volunteers are always needed to help run these programs.

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Contact Sara Jordan-Heintz at 641-753-6611 or sjordan@timesrepublican.com