Our latest Beanstack reading challenge for adults is titled 'Read Grateful.' Log your reading for the chance to win one of two cozy gift baskets perfect for Fall! This challenge ends Saturday, November 30th.

New Adult Fiction!

*'I Think I Was Murdered' by Colleen Coble

*'To Die For' by David Baldacci

*'Every Arc Bends Its Radian' by Sergio de la Pava

• 'Tell Me Everything' by Elizabeth Strout
• 'Christmas at the Castle Library' by Ann Swindell
• 'Waiting for Christmas' by Lynn Austin
• 'Sandwich' by Catherine Newman
• 'The December Market' by RaeAnne Thayne
• 'Peg and Rose Play the Ponies' by Laurien Berenson

• 'All The Colors of the Dark' by Chris Whitaker
• 'The God of the Woods' by Liz Moore'
• 'Here One Moment' by Liane Moriarty
• 'Camino Ghosts' by John Grisham
• 'Trial By Fire' by Danielle Steel
• 'The Thursday Murder Club' by Richard Osman
• 'The Life Impossible' by Matt Haig

• 'One Last Stand' by Susan May Warren
• 'Over the Edge' by Irene Hannon
• 'The Night We Lost Him' by Laura Dave

New Adult Nonfiction!

*'Dinners with Ruth: A Memoir on the Power of Friendships' by Nina Totenberg

If you fell in love with the book 'Wonder' by R.J. Palacio, then you will enjoy this added story that goes right along with it. This time the story is not about Auggie, but about Julian and his grandmother's past. Julian has a school project and chooses to write about his grandmère and a boy she met during WWII. Grandmère, who goes by Sara, is a young Jewish girl who has hidden from the Nazis. A boy, that was shunned by her other classmates saved Sara by hiding her and keeping her safe. Check this book out to hear more about Sara's story and the power of kindness.

"A must-read graphic novel that is both heartrending and beautifully hopeful."

-Kirkus Reviews

~Kellie

I recently read ‘We Begin At The End’ by Chris Whitaker. It was my selection for our library’s November Community Book Club and I am so glad I read it! It tells the story of Vincent King, Star Radley, and Police Chief Walk, three childhood friends whose lives took dramatically different paths following King’s incarceration as a teenager. We meet Duchess and Robin, Star’s children, who have basically raised themselves with arm’s-length guidance from Walk. Duchess is a born and bred outlaw who I grew to cherish over the course of the story. This novel takes an unflinching look at love and grit amid strife, and I would recommend it to readers that love 'Where The Crawdads Sing' and 'To Kill A Mockingbird.'

Chris Whitaker wrote this book in 2020, and we have this title along with his latest, ‘All The Colors Of The Dark,’ available for checkout at the library.

Happy Reading!

~Kelly

To encourage a sense of community and creativity, our library is holding a community quilt project. The blocks will be assembled into a finished quilt that will be auctioned off in the Spring/Summer of 2025. The proceeds from the auction will benefit future programming at the Vinton Public Library. We hope the project appeals to beginning quilters, experienced quilters, and everyone in between. Thank you for supporting our library!

• Submit a 9 1/2" X 9 1/2" unfinished quilt block
• Fabric available at the library
• Email library@vintonia.gov with any questions
• Team of quilters helping with the project

Join us for a special Fireside Read-Aloud Series in the Vinton Public Library Reading Room:

• Tuesday, November 26th at 6pm, "The Thanksgiving Visitor" by Truman Capote
• Tuesday, December 10th at 6pm, "A Christmas Memory" by Truman Capote, Part I
• Tuesday, December 17th at 6pm, "A Christmas Memory" by Truman Capote, Part II

Cookies and Hot Chocolate will be provided.

Let's get creative and have some fun this holiday season with a Gingerbread House contest!!
*Contest open to readers of all ages
*Entries will be accepted December 9th-20th, 2024
*Please include a display baseplate with your entry
*1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will be announced Friday, December 20th, 2024 at 3pm

Lisa and I were recently able to attend the 3rd Annual DeWolf Innovation Center Forum; here we are pictured with Kathy Good, Senior Director of the Innovation Center for Aging and Dementia of Mercy. It was last year's forum that inspired me to apply for the funding that supports our library's Memory Cafe. This center does incredible things to support individuals living with dementia, and I am so grateful for the connections we have made to help support these individuals in our community! Our Memory Cafe meets on the second and fourth Fridays of the month and is offered at no cost. We bake cookies right here in the library, and we have dementia friendly conversation along with our refreshments. If you know of someone who would benefit from this program please reach out!

~Kelly Henkle, Library Director

Today in journaling we explored the difference between happiness and joy, and how practicing gratitude can lead to a fuller, more joyful life. So, tell us, what are you grateful for? #librarylife

Thank you to Dr. Shana L. Stuart with the Carnegie Libraries in Iowa Project for visiting our library last evening! We learned about our library's unique history with the Carnegie Corporation, and enjoyed cookies provided by the Friends of the Vinton Public Library. For more information about the project, and to view digital archives of our library and other Carnegie libraries in Iowa, visit https://carnegielibrariesiowa.org/. #librarylife #carnegielibrary

To best serve our youngest readers, the Play Area located in our Children's Library is for ages 10 and under only. Thank you for your cooperation!

~VPL Staff

Want to win a Bluey Book? Preschoolers-1st Graders can color a Bluey Christmas Sheet for a chance to win "Bartlebee's First Christmas." Stop by the Vinton Public Library to pick up your coloring sheet and return by Friday, Dec. 6th. Please write your name and phone number on the back of the sheet. Winner will be announced Thursday, Dec. 12th.

Melissa H. won Prize 1 in the Hallow-Read 2024 Beanstack reading challenge! She took home a Pumpkin Spice themed gift basket! Yay! #beanstackreadingchallenge #librarylife #librarylovers

Sitting by the fire won the last THIS or THAT challenge! The latest challenge is TURKEY or HAM? Stop in and vote or let us know in the comments below! #thisorthatchallenge #librarylife #librarylovers

This friend is excited that she has read 800 books!

Thank you, Benton County ISU Extension, for coming to the library to discuss the life cycle of the butterfly, pollination and coding!

This one is all smiles after reading 600 books! Keep up the great work. #1000booksbeforekindergarten

Thank you to Theisen’s for supporting our library! With the support of the Friends of the Vinton Public Library, we were awarded $1,000 for supplies related to our Breathe For Change program. This program will allow Kellie, our Children’s Librarian, to lead local children through free yoga and mindfulness classes at our library and throughout our community.

Our latest display centers around 'The Nutcracker' and the holiday season just in time for ACT I of Benton County's original holiday production of Genevieve's Nutcracker! The first showing is November 18th @ 7pm! Tickets are available online at:

https://tickets.act1.org/#/event-list

Mondays: 9a-5p

Tuesdays: 9a-8p

Wednesdays: 9a-5p

Thursdays: 9a-8p

Fridays: 7a-4p

Saturdays: 9a-Noon

Sundays: Closed

Copy services: $0.20 per black and white, $0.25 per color

Fax services: $1.00 for 1-2 pages, $2.00 for 3+ pages

Notary services: No charge, call 319-472-4208 for availability

Free Wifi

Boardroom available at no charge; reservations required

Email: library@vintonia.gov
Website: vinton.lib.ia.us
Location: 510 2nd Avenue, Vinton, IA, USA
Phone: (319) 472-4208
Facebook: facebook.com/heartofvinton