Back by popular demand at the Adel Public Library is the Silent Auction which is now in progress and ends Friday, Sept. 10 at 5 p.m.

Of special interest are the following: U of I homecoming program dated 11/6/37 with Nile Kinnick’s picture and a U of I homecoming button dated 10/21/50.

Other items up for bid include: glass water pitcher, handmade mittens, handmade quilt (size queen/king), several exceptional framed art pieces, knitted & crocheted items (baby hats, afghans), quilted table runner and wall hangings, hand made apron, 10 blue Fenton plates, Rhett Butler & Scarlet O’Hara plates, stamps and guide for stamp collecting, signed copy of “A Thousand Acres” by Jane Smiley, leather graduation photo album (MHS 1924) with pictures, scrapbook with travel memorabilia circa 1940, photo album of early Colorado photos, 20 12 & 15 cent Disney comics, 10 glass water goblets, Boyd’s Bear jacket (X-L), perfumery science kit, potpourri set, Webkinz, handpainted pitcher by Grace McConeghy, first edition of Ernest Hemingway’s “A Farewell to Arms,” illustrations by Harrison Cady from a child’s book, and a boxed copy of “Candide” by Voltaire.

Here’s how the auction works. Place your bids in the special book provided. Check back often to see if you have been outbid. Phone bids will be accepted until noon on Sept. 10. Good luck!

Minimum bids will be placed on some items. Proceeds from the sale will go toward library projects.

Preschool Story Time and Toddler Time begin again the week of Sept. 12. Preschoolers ages 3-5 may come either Monday or Thursday at 10:30 a.m. and toddlers ages 3 and under are invited on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. Activities include stories, songs, games and crafts.

Stop by the craft room to see the new tables and chairs that preschoolers will be using beginning this month. The new items were purchased by the Friends of the Library.

And what would we do without our Friends of the Library? Recent purchases by the Friends include children’s programming (Blank Park Zoo & balloon programs), membership into a mobile laptop consortium lab, laminating rolls for laminating machine, Humanities Iowa program sponsorship, and gift cards for children and adults programs. T-shirts with the slogan “We Treasure Our Friends” are now available for $8 plus tax. If you would like to purchase a shirt, call the library at 993-3512 and ask for Lynne.

Other youth activities during September:

• Wed. Sept. 1, Early Out Movie – “Nanny McPhee”, 1:30 p.m.
• Wed. Sept. 15, Early Out Movie – “Over the Hedge”, 1:30 p.m.
• Mon. Sept. 20, Teen activity, 4 p.m.

The 2010-11 Adult Program Series @ Your Library begins Wednesday, Sept. 22 with Coffee and Current Events from 10 to 11 a.m. This will be a monthly event that will be held on the fourth Wednesday of each month from September through May. Come and share your ideas on world and community events in a lively discussion group. Refreshments will be served.

Are you interested in bird watching? Tom Lawson who is an expert on this topic will guide us at the Voas Nature Area at Minburn on Saturday, Sept. 25 from 8 to 10 a.m. We will meet at the library at 7:15 a.m. to carpool to the site. This program was offered two years ago and those who went had a great time – and we had great weather! Please sign up at the library or call 993-3512.

Future programs for adults will be outlined in the October newsletter.

Other adult events during September:

• Scrapbooking Club, Friday, Sept. 10, 6 p.m. Bring a snack to share.
• Brown Bag Book Club, Tuesday, Sept. 28 at noon. Bring your lunch and enjoy discussing “Summer at Tiffany” by Marjorie Hart.
• Evening Book Club, Thursday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. “That Old Cape Magic” by Richard Russo. Copies for both clubs are available at the front desk.

Don’t miss the library’s monthly garage sale to be held Friday, Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 25 from 10 a.m. to noon. Many items are added each month. Proceeds will go toward library projects.

Library hours are:

Mondays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesdays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The library will be closed on Monday, Sept. 6 for Labor Day.