Edler

 STATE CENTER – Gutekunst Public Library Director Mara Elder said her goal is to make people feel at home at the library. This means offering a variety of programming that encompasses the myriad of interests of its patrons.

Yoga with Gutekunst, a program for adults, meets every Sunday night at 6 p.m. in the facility’s Fireside Room. It’s formatted to appeal to beginners and those with advanced skills.

“We’ve tried doing yoga for young ones — trying it out on the first Saturday of the month — and we were just getting very low response to that, so we decided to move it to Wednesday mornings,” Edler said.

The result of that change is Nature Yoga for Young Ones, which launches at 10 a.m. on Nov. 7, to be held every Wednesday morning thereafter.

“It is for preschoolers — aimed at the same crowd that comes for our Tuesday morning story time, which starts at 10 a.m.,” she said. “We will be doing very doable poses — just really to engage ‘little people’ with some nature awareness.”

Youngsters will spend 30 minutes doing yoga, making poses that resemble things found outdoors — trees, mountains, camels, cats and cows, for example. Edler will lead the instruction.

“It’s things they can relate to and understand,” she said.

The sessions are free of charge and do not require registration. It is recommended to bring a towel or mat to use, but it is not required.

Agriculture in Iowa

Also debuting on Nov. 7 is the first installment of Agriculture in Iowa, a series for elementary-age children, using a curriculum designed by the Farm Bureau.

“The theme is ‘Harvest in Iowa’ and it will begin at 2 p.m.,” Edler said.

The series allows children getting out of school early on Wednesday afternoons a chance to stay engaged with learning. Math, vocabulary and hands-on activities will be incorporated.

“We’re wanting to have different farming themes at each session and also bring in guest speakers to talk about some non-traditional farming things like beekeeping,” she said.

These sessions are free of charge and do not require registration.

Edler said the library board has established hours of operation for the library’s park area and property. The grounds are open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The library is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon and from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed Sundays.

For more information, Edler may be reached at 641-483-2741 or maraedler.lib@gmail.com.

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Contact Sara Jordan-Heintz at

(641) 753-6611 or

sjordan@timesrepublican.com