Two exciting adult programs are scheduled at the Adel Public library during the week of Sept. 26.

John Liepa, historian and Professor Emeritus at DMAAC in Des Moines will present a program entitled “How Baseball Came to Iowa” on Monday, Sept. 26 in the library community room.

The program is free and open to the public. Several books on baseball will be given away as door prizes.

His extensive baseball memorabilia collection will be on display from 5 to 7 p.m.

At 7 p.m. Liepa, dressed as Iowa’s first major leaguer, Cal McVey, will give his program.

On display will be Iowa’s oldest known baseball card from 1867, a Babe Ruth “Rookie” card, an autographed Ruth baseball, a great photo of the October 1927 Ruth/Gehrig visit to Des Moines, baseball cards of Cy Young, Ty Cobb, Mickey Mantle, Sandy Koufax, Hank Aaron and much more.

This program is sure to be a hit with baseball fans young and old alike.

The Evening Book Club will host Iowa author Colleen Bradford Krantz at its next meeting at the Adel Public Library on Thursday, Sept. 29. Book Club members will meet with her at 6:30 p.m. and the public is invited to hear her talk about her new book, “Train To Nowhere” at 7 p.m. in the library community room.

“Train to Nowhere” is the story of 11 Central American and Mexican illegal immigrants who were trapped in a rail car with the promise that someone would rescue them when they were safely in the United States. Instead, they died a horrible death and were not discovered until the train reached Denison, IA.

Krantz, who lives with her husband and three children in rural Adel has worked as a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Des Moines Register. She is now an independent journalist and “Train to Nowhere” is her first book. Krantz also co-produced the television documentary of the same name which recently debuted on IPTV.

“We’re very excited to have Colleen as our special guest speaker. Her book is excellent and I’m sure everyone will enjoy meeting her and learning more about this story,” says Paula James, library director.

Only six copies of the book are available so book club members need to read the book quickly so everyone has a chance to finish it.

Remember, the program at 7 p.m. is for the general public. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet a local Iowa author!

The library’s Brown Bag Book Club will meet at noon on Thursday, Sept. 15 to discuss “The Book of Bright Ideas” by Sandra Kring. Bring your lunch if you wish.

The library’s monthly garage sale will be held Friday, Sept. 23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. until noon. Many items are added weekly so be sure to see what’s “new.”Proceeds from the sale will be used for library projects.

Preschool Story Time, Toddler Time, and Preschool Music Time will begin the week of Sept. 12. The meeting time for all classes is 10:30 a.m. Story Time will meet on Mondays, Toddler Time on Tuesdays, and Music Time on Thursdays. For more information, call the library at 993-3512.

School children may enjoy an early out movie on Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 1:30 p.m.

Scrapbookers are invited to the library on Friday, Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. to work on their projects. Bring a snack to share.

Teens are invited to the library on Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 4 p.m. for a craft session.

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.

It’s the book sale you’ve been waiting for!

The Friends of the Library Annual Used Book Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13 in the Adel Public Library community room.

This is in conjunction with Adel’s Sweet Corn Days and is a cool place to come if it’s a hot day and a great time to stock up on good reads for cold winter days.

If you are a Friends’ member, the book sale is open to you on Friday, Aug. 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Not a member? Pay a $5 membership and you can shop at the sale. Members are also invited to a special luncheon (free of charge) in April featuring a guest speaker.

Attention boys and girls: If you love Legos, you will love our Lego Building Contest to be held at the Adel Public Library on Tuesday, Aug. 9 from 10 to 11 a.m. Bring your own Legos or use some of the library’s collection. Prizes will be awarded in various categories.

Reservations for the “American Girl Tea Party” to be held on Tuesday, Aug. 9 from 2-3 p.m. are due by Friday, Aug. 5. The annual event will take place in the community room. No more than 50 reservations will be accepted. Adults as well as children need to make reservations. Call the library at 993-3512 or stop by to make reservations.

The tea party has been a popular event for many years. Children are encouraged to dress up and bring their American Girl Doll or their favorite doll or stuffed animal. There will be activities and refreshments.

The library’s two book clubs will meet in August.

Bring your lunch and join the Brown Bag Book Club on Thursday, Aug. 11 at noon. Just read any book you wish and share with club members.

The Evening Book Club will meet on Thursday, Aug. 25 to discuss “Lazy B: Growing Upon a Cattle Ranch in the American Southwest” by Sandra Day O’Connor and H. Alan Day.

Each club welcomes new members. Copies of “Lazy B” will be available at the front desk.

We’re gearing up for another library garage sale on Friday, Aug. 26 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 27 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. More items are added weekly so don’t miss this opportunity to find fun things. Items are yours for a nice donation to the library.

The library will show a movie to school children at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 31 which is an early out from school day. The movie title will be announced at a later date.

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.

Approximately 300 children have signed up for the “One World, Many Stories” summer reading program at the Adel Public Library.

In addition, 50 teens are registered for their program, “You Are Here.” And sign up continues!

With this large amount of kids reading lots of hours, director Paula James and youth director Laura Hanson will surely have to keep their promise of dying their hair.

If the number of hours read exceeds last year’s total, Paula and Laura will be sporting a new look at the library.

Come on, kids, we know you’re up for the challenge!

Preschoolers are having fun with their own classes this summer: 10:30 a.m. on Mondays, and Music Time at 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays. Toddlers are meeting on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.

Children grades K-5 may stop by for Drop-In Crafts held each Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. while supplies last.

The Adventurer Club meets on Wednesday afternoons at 2 p.m. with a different theme each week.

And the Magic Tree House Book Club will meet for the final time on Tuesday, July 19 at 2 p.m.

A special event for kids is the Teddy Bear Sleepover on Monday, July 11 at 6 p.m.

Children are asked to bring their Teddy Bears. The kids won’t be staying overnight but the Teddy Bears will be. Kids and bears will be reunited the next day with some surprises.

Teens are also having a great time at the library this summer reading, volunteering and attending special events.

Teens will meet on Thursday, July 7 at 2 p.m. to talk about books they have read.

An “Easy Cooking: Mexican Food” class for teens will be held on Monday, July 18 at 2 p.m. Ole!

And Harry Potter enthusiasts will love the Harry Potter Movie Marathon Week from July 11 to July 15.

The entire series will be shown in order in the community room at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday with the part one of “The Deathly Hallows” to be shown on Friday at 10 a.m.

Teens are asked to bring their own snacks and pillows.

The reading program winds down in late July with all reading logs for children and teens due on Friday, July 22.

Teens will have their Grand Finale party at 6:30 p.m. on that day.

Those earning top reader status will be treated to a bowling party on Tuesday, July 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Adel Family Fun Center.

The Blank Park Zoo will come to the library on Wednesday, July 27 at 1:30 p.m. for the Grand Finale. All participants in the reading program are invited to attend.

Upcoming activities for kids in August:

• Annual Lego Contest on Tuesday, Aug. 9 at 10 a.m.
• “American Girl Tea Party” on Tuesday, Aug. 9 at 2 p.m. Make reservations by Aug. 5

More information concerning these events will be in the August newsletter.

July adult activities include:

• Scrapbooking, Thursday, July 7 at 1 p.m.
• Friends of the Library meeting, Thursday, July 7 at 6:30 p.m. to make plans for Used Book Sale
• Brown Bag Book Club, Thursday, July 14 at noon
• Evening Book Club, Thursday, July 28 at 7 p.m.
• Exercise classes continue three mornings a week at 9 a.m. Free. Pick up a schedule at the front desk.

Many more items have been added to our next Garage Sale on Friday, July 29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, July 30 from 10 a.m. until noon.

Donations continue to be accepted.

You may also bring books for the Friends of the Library Annual Used Book Sale on Saturday, Aug. 13 in conjunction with Sweet Corn Days.

The library will be closed on Independence Day, July 4.

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.