Mexico-Audrain County Library District

On this rainy day, you need to take time to listen to this wonderful story about a good little pig read by Crystal Heaston McCurdy at your Vandalia Branch Library. May 27, 2021

Eric Carle, children's author and illustrator will be missed. If you haven't read any of his stories stop by your library and pick up one of his many titles such as The Grouchy Ladybug, Pancakes Pancakes!, The very busy spider, and many more titles.

Llama Llama story time with Brenda Gower at your Farber Branch Library. May 26, 2021

May is National Military Appreciation Month, and we thank you for your service. If you know someone who is on active duty military and they have a dream to start a new business in Missouri please forward them this information from the Missouri Secretary of State office.

The library district staff from Mexico, Farber, Laddonia, Martinsburg and Vandalia donated supplies for the Room at the Inn. Accepting the donation is Phillip Iman, Director of the Help Center. In additional pictures are Monica Taylor, library district staff and Christal Bruner, library director. January 8, 2021

Welcome back to Facebook Friday reads. Every other Friday, we will showcase a current favorite read from a staff member, as well as provide personalized reading suggestions on Facebook. If you would like to participate, just look for our Facebook post. Then tell us about two or three great books or authors you like, and we will recommend your next great read. This week we would like to showcase The Little Shop of Lost Things by Paula Brackston, a time travel novel, recommended by staff member, Crystal McCurdy. We would also like to recommend Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang, which is a picture book recommendation by staff member, Ashley Rubemeyer. Please reply to our post with two or three great books or authors you enjoy, and we’ll share with you our recommendations.

https://fb.watch/2TzOlhwQFY/ Hope you have fun watching the first virtual storytime video with Crystal Heaston McCurdy at your Vandalia Branch Library. January 7, 2021

Please stop by the library and view the art work by Missouri Military Academy cadets.

Spotlight on a New YA Title at your local library: Super Fake Love Song by David Yoon with review by Lindsey Eick. Super Fake Love Song introduces us to seventeen-year-old Sunny Day, a Korean-American teenager who loves sharing his nerdy hobbies of Dungeons and Dragons and cosplay with his best friends, Milo and Jamal, in Rancho Ruby, California. Then Sunny meets the beautiful, confident, music-loving, Korean-American Cirrus Soh. Once Sunny meets Cirrus and she mistakes Sunny...’s older brother Gray’s bedroom, with its electric guitars and rock posters, for Sunny’s own room, Sunny accidentally tells her that he is the frontman of a rock band, The Immortals. Soon, Sunny finds himself knee-deep in the lie. He begs his friends to form a fake band with him, and he starts to wear his brother’s rock-and-roll castoffs. But will this be enough to trick Cirrus into thinking that he’s cool? Just when he is about to reveal the truth to Cirrus, she asks to see their band play sometime. Now Sunny and his friends must fake it till they make it by performing at their school’s talent show. As Sunny immerses himself more into his lie, he begins to get noticed at school and invited to events. He gains confidence in his life and with Cirrus. He is falling in love, having fun, and becoming a rocker. But with all lies, it is only a matter of time before they begin to catch up with Sunny. He is forced to wonder if his lies were worth it and if it is possible to ever truly change. Will things work out for The Immortals and for Sunny and Cirrus? For fans of romantic comedies, this novel explores one’s identity, perception, and just how hard it is to truly be yourself. If you like what you read, be sure to check out or place this title on hold at your library.

https://www.facebook.com/1802505734/videos/10215150868164044/ We know you will have a fun time watching the first virtual storytime video of 2021 from Brenda Gower at your Farber Branch Library.

Just a little fun during the holiday season. --with Aletha Hayton Taylor, Crystal Heaston McCurdy, Christal Bruner, Debbie McGrew-Marshall, Peggy Darlene Rosson

Ms. Aletha Hayton Taylor invited Marvin so he could tell everyone about his holiday and all of the fun that he had with family in our first virtual storytime of 2021 at your Mexico Headquarters. January 7, 2021

Aletha Hayton Taylor reminding the parents and children about the Letters to Santa that are due in to the library by Saturday, December 12th. Some of the letters will be read during the Family Holiday Virtual Story Time on Wednesday, December 16th. --Santa

Virtual Story Time at your Vandalia Branch Library with Ms. Crystal Heaston McCurdy

Don't forget to pick up your craft at the Mexico Library in the Children's Department. --with Aletha Hayton Taylor

Time for a new mystery at your Martinsburg Branch Library.

To receive one of these handy, colorful tote bags, stop by your local library to sign up for our Winter Reading Program. "Reading Bingo" and other fun programs to participate in!

January 2021's staff library selection comes to you from Christal Bruner, Library Director. She has selected Twelve Angry Librarians: a cat in the stacks mystery by Miranda James. See below her review of this title. Miranda James’s engaging eighth Cat in the Stacks mystery finds the main character Charlie Harris, the interim director of the Athena College library in Athena, Mississippi, looking forward to chairing a discussion panel and giving a short opening speech at the S...outhern Academic Library Association’s conference that his college is hosting. The conference looks to be a fun-filled week of catching up with old friends from his days in library school. Things suddenly don’t seem to go as planned, when someone from the past turns up at the conference with vengeance on their mind. When Fong is found dead, poisoned with a bottle of water from his private stock, Charlie steps up to investigate, accompanied by his leash-trained Maine Coon cat, Diesel. If you like cozy mysteries with amateur sleuths and a storyline that progresses at a leisurely pace, this is the book for you. If you enjoy this title, you might want to start with the first title in the series, Murder Past Due. See more

We are CLOSED, Saturday, January 2, 2021 and will reopen for business on Monday, January 4, 2021. You can check out our online resources at http://mexico-audrain.lib.mo.us and access Missouri Libraries to Go and Hoopla Digital for your online and streaming needs.

Good information for you to know from the Audrain County Missouri Emergency Management.

Happy New Year from the Library Board of Trustees and the Staff of the Mexico-Audrain County Library District.

If you are looking for something to read, checkout the Staff Picks at your Vandalia Branch Library.

Winners of the Gingerbread House contest sponsored by the City of Laddonia as part of Light of Laddonia for Christmas were on display at your Laddonia Branch Library this past week. ---with Pam

John le Carré’s career spanned fifty-eight years which included bestsellers in many genres. Dec. 12, 2020

This is the last Story Time of the year at your Martinsburg Branch Library. The children heard a story, made Christmas star ornaments and had some snacks. Fun time for all with Ms. Kim.

It's Ugly Sweater Day at the library today! Stop by - we'd love to see yours! Look in the comments for additional staff members in their ugly Christmas sweaters

Virtual Story Time with Ms. Crystal Heaston McCurdy at your Vandalia Branch Library. December 17, 2020

Family Holiday Virtual Story Time December 16, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. Mrs. Claus reading a holiday story and reading Christmas letters from the children that left letters for Santa at the library. Special guest Grandmother Claus.

Family Holiday Virtual Story Time tonight at 6:30 p.m. There will be a presentation by Mrs. Aletha Taylor and Marvin. The second presentation will be Mrs. Claus and Grandmother Claus reading Christmas letters from the children that dropped off letters at the library.... We are sorry that we are unable to have an in person presentation this year, but we hope you enjoy our virtual presentations. with Aletha Hayton Taylor

Mrs. Harby's Preschool and Kindergarten class came to your Martinsburg Branch Library and had a wonderful time making Christmas tree ornaments and crafts. with Ms. Kim.

Congratulations to Joan Fecht for being one of the Mexico Public Schools 2020 Pioneers in Education. After Joan retired from the Mexico Public Schools she became an employee of the Mexico-Audrain County Library District. Joan works in the Children's Department at the Mexico Headquarters and she is in charge of the Lapsit program at the library. Children from birth to age 3 along with their parents can participate in the program which uses songs, finger plays and other things that help children develop their cognitive and motor skills. We are proud of you!

Join us tomorrow morning at 8 for Public Perspectives as Christal Bruner, Director of the Mexico-Audrain Library District talks about COVID changes and holiday happenings.

Your Laddonia Branch Library will be closed Saturday, December 5th and possibly Monday, December 7th. We are sorry for the inconvenience.

Be sure to drop off your letter to Santa at any of our library locations by December 12th! This is Martinsburg's drop-box for letters to Santa.

Story Time at your Martinsburg Branch Library. The children heard a story about Santa, for their craft they made Christmas Trees and visited the Community Room to see the beautifully decorated trees. --with Ms. Kim December 4, 2020

Welcome back to Facebook Friday reads!! Every other Friday, we will showcase a current favorite read from a staff member, as well as provide personalized reading suggestions on Facebook. If you would like to participate, just look for our Facebook post. Then tell us about two or three great books or authors you like, and we will recommend your next great read (s). This week we would like to showcase a title recommendation from staff member, Ruth Nation. She recommends Simple superfood smoothies: a smoothie recipe book to supercharge your health by Sondi Bruner. To participate, please reply to our post with two or three great books or authors you enjoy, and we’ll share with you our recommendations.

Don't forget to drop off your letters for Santa.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at your Vandalia Library. ---with Crystal Heaston McCurdy

Great time to borrow more items and view or listen to them with family and friends.

If you plan to visit your Vandalia Branch Library today you will have to enter the parking lot from the back entrance, Monroe Street. There is some work being done to improve Olive street and the main parking lot entrance may be blocked. ---with Crystal Heaston McCurdy

Hurry, you have until December 12th to drop off your letters to Santa. Note to the parents, make sure the children note in their letters where they live (Laddonia, Farber, Martinsburg, Vandalia, Mexico, etc.) so Santa can send something back for them that they can pick up at their local library. --with Aletha Hayton Taylor, Crystal Heaston McCurdy, Brenda Gower, Peggy Darlene Rosson, Ms. Pam and Ms. Kim.

Come check out our staff library book recommendation for December 2020. It is The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson and is recommended (and reviewed below) by Farber Branch Manager, Brenda Gower. This book was first published in 1971, but I had not read it until recently and believe it will become one of those annual reads around the holidays. The story focuses on the six Herdman children and the time they decide to volunteer to star in their town’s Sunday Sch...ool Christmas pageant. The Herdman children: Imogene, Ralph, Claude, LeRoy, Ollie, and Gladys are known town wide for their misfit behavior. They started attending church near the holidays because they heard food was provided. When these children volunteer to be in key roles of the pageant, because the other children do not want to take part, it is a recipe for disaster. The other children are talked into taking small parts just so they can see what happens. Because the Herdmans are not familiar with the Christmas story, all of us receive an introduction to this important biblical event. The story is funny and yet very moving. In a light way, it reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas. It is a short, quick read.

Once upon a snowman, Olaf from Frozen is ready for some fun at your Vandalia Branch Library.

--with Aletha Hayton Taylor and Santa.

You're a mean one Mr. Grinch Display at your Vandalia Branch Library with Crystal Heaston McCurdy, Debbie McGrew-Marshall

Download the Libby app and happy reading! https://molib2go.overdrive.com/

Donations were dropped off today at the Senior Center for the Homebound Christmas program by your library district staff. All donations were from library district staff from Mexico, Farber, Laddonia, Martinsburg, Vandalia and retired staff member Jane Teague. Pictured: Christal Bruner, Library Director; Mare Prosso, Assistant Director; and Ione Bickell, Director of Senior Nutrition Center.

Ruth, Hannah, Elley and Kasi were the winners by popular vote. Congratulations!

Please stop by your Mexico Library in the children's area to check out the art work of the children that attend Eugene Field Elementary School. Thank you to the GFWC Mexico's Women's Club for co-sponsoring the exhibit.

Just a few photos of the water damage and clean up process at your Mexico Headquarters Library. We had 7-8 radiators that had built up too much water pressure and the water in the system came out of the air valves, thus flooding your library. The areas with the blue tape on the wall still have moisture in the walls. Thank you to to everyone who responded in our emergency. Our local trades people rock! We are on our way to recovery, but there is still much to do. We will reopen on Monday, November 23rd, but the lower level (basement) will not be accessible to the public.

It will be a few days until the water damage clean-up at your Mexico Library is complete enough that we can re-open to the public. Staff will be here working, however it will not be safe for customers until Monday. We hope to see you next week!

Census records are a mainstay for genealogists tracking their family over time. The Missouri State Archives has territorial, state, federal and special census r...ecords from 1752 to 2004, which can be used to locate an ancestor’s specific location. https://s1.sos.mo.gov//arch/archivesdb/census/Default.aspx See more

Come check out our newest Young Adult titles!

Don't forget to stop by the Mexico library for your turkey craft kit.

Alex Trebek's autobiography "The Answer Is" is available now at your public library.

Spotlight on YA: Here is a book review from a most recent title added to the library's Young Adult collection: The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. If the book is interesting to you, please take the time to check it out from the library or place it on hold through our catalog on our website at http://mexico-audrain.lib.mo.us/mexico-audrain/ . The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Reviewed by Lindsey Eick) In The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, w...e meet Avery Grambs. She is down on her luck-her mother is dead, her father has been missing for years, and her guardian half-sister is rebounding with her abusive boyfriend. All these things have led her to begin living out of her car with her plan for the future being to survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her luck changes quickly. The next day she is on a plane to Hawthorne House, a mansion in Texas, where she learns she is the beneficiary of virtually all of billionaire Tobias Hawthorne’s fortune. In order to gain this fortune, she must abide by one condition, which is to move and live for a full year at Hawthorne House with the rest of the disinherited Hawthorne family, which includes four young adult Hawthorne grandsons. While residing at Hawthorne House, Avery learns Tobias Hawthorne was a master of games and manipulation. To understand why she is heir to his fortune, Avery must participate in a final game piecing together clues, solving riddles, and cracking codes that are left in this sprawling mansion with its secret passages and chambers. To help her solve these riddles, Avery must rely on the four Hawthorne grandsons, who each perceive her as a threat and are determined to take her down. One brother, Grayson, views her as a con woman while another brother, Jameson, views her as their grandfather’s last hurrah of twisted riddles helping to solve a bigger puzzle. In the end, Avery must play the game herself just to survive, with danger lurking everywhere. If you enjoy books like The Westing Game and We Were Liars, Barnes’ compelling mystery is sure to entertain and intrigue you with its secrets, puzzles, and thrills along the way.

Thanksgiving for Kids on Hoopla!

Thanksgiving on Hoopla!

The library is working through the logistics to facilitate public access while ensuring preservation of the newspaper’s collection.

Story Time at your Martinsburg Branch Library. The children heard stories about turkeys and received a turkey coloring sheet. It was such a nice day so the children went outside for a musical instrument parade.