• 'Life Hacks For A Little Alien' by Alice Franklin
• 'Waiting for the Long Night Moon' by Amanda Peters
• 'Stone Yard Devotional' by Charlotte Wood
• 'Back After This' by Linda Holmes

• 'The Lost and the Found: A True Story of Homelessness, Found Family and Second Chances' by Kevin Fagan
• 'Where The Creek Bends' by Linda Lael Miller
• 'Cold As Hell' by Kelley Armstrong
• 'We Would Never' by Tova Mirvis

• 'Memorial Days: A Memoir' by Geraldine Brooks
• 'We All Live Here' by Jojo Moyes
• 'The Night Island' by Jayne Ann Krentz (large type)
• 'Hold Strong' by Robert Dugoni, Jeff Langholz and Chris Crabtree
• 'The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder' by C. L. Miller (large type)

• 'Three Days in June' by Anne Tyler
• 'The Wolf Tree' by Laura McCluskey

In the mood for a Cozy Mystery? Check out Emmeline Duncan's 'Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop' in Large Type Fiction!

"Bailey Briggs adores her year-round Halloween-themed town of Elyan Hollow, Oregon, but when she takes over her grandfather’s beloved bookshop, Lazy Bones Books, she accidentally discovers the town’s secret dark side . . ."~Goodreads.com

I recently read 'Butcher & Blackbird' by Brynne Weaver on the Libby App. As I opened the book, I noticed that the Libby App was showing a music playlist. Each chapter of the book had songs listed with a QR code for Apple or Spotify. I couldn't listen while reading but I definitely checked the music out in my free time, and it was very fitting for the book! I have seen 'Butcher & Blackbird' on some of my social media apps and it was time for me to read another crime and spicy book. If I could explain this book in one word, it would be 'Dexter.' 'Dexter' is about a man who is a serial killer that kills other serial killers. 'Butcher & Blackbird' is about a female and male that are also serial killers that kill other serial killers. However, Sloane and Rowan have always worked alone and didn't know that other people were out in the world that were similar to them. Sloane and Rowan meet after "hunting" down the same guy and hit it off. This is a fun, gory, dark romance that I couldn't put down.

~Kellie Roberts, Children's Librarian

I was excited when my hold for Coco Mellors' 'Cleopatra and Frankenstein' became available on the @libby.app after waiting several months for it! Yay! Check out this talented author if you haven't already!

"Twenty-four-year-old British painter Cleo has escaped from England to New York and is still finding her place in the sleepless city when, a few months before her student visa ends, she meets Frank. Twenty years older and a self-made success, Frank's life is full of all the excesses Cleo's lacks. He offers her the chance to be happy, the freedom to paint, and the opportunity to apply for a Green Card. But their impulsive marriage irreversibly changes both their lives, and the lives of those close to them, in ways they never could've predicted." ~Goodreads.com (3.72 rating)

Happy reading, friends! ~Heather

I recently read 'Isola' by Allegra Goodman, a historical fiction novel set in the 1500s. It tells the story of Marguerite de la Rocque de Roberval, a woman born into wealth but whose guardian squanders her fortune to fund his own interests. First her home is taken away from her, and then she finds herself aboard a ship destined for New France. While onboard, she is suddenly abandoned on an island with only her nurse and her lover as company. It is a story of both betrayal and survival, and is based upon real life events.

The cover art is what initially drew me to this story, and I am glad I read it. Everything from the descriptions of the period clothing to the survival instincts of the narrator had me eager to read more. I even loved the font choice. It currently has 4.22/5 stars on goodreads.com.

Happy reading,

Kelly Henkle, Library Director

Join us for our 2nd Annual Red Carpet Party at the library! We will be watching the celebrity red-carpet arrivals in Hollywood for the Academy Awards. Our night includes Oscar-themed trivia games, beverages, appetizers, and more! Formal dress is encouraged but not required. Thanks to a generous donation from Express Limousine of North Liberty, we are also holding a raffle for a 2-hour limo ride prior to the event. Purchase your raffle ticket at the library, or as an add-on during the Eventbrite ticketing process. Add on an optional VPL wine or beer glass for $15 as well. Beast & Bird of Vinton will be onsite selling a variety of beers and wine. All proceeds will benefit the 2025 Children's Summer Reading Program at our library. Thank you for your support!

We are excited to announce that ‘The Queen of Sugar Hill’ by ReShonda Tate is the featured title for #TogetherWeRead! Together We Read is a digital book club connecting readers to the same ebook & audiobook at the same time - no waitlists, no holds.

"The Queen of Sugar Hill" tells the story of Hattie McDaniel, the first African American woman to win an Academy Award, focusing on her life after her Oscar win for "Gone With the Wind" and the challenges she faced as a Black actress navigating Hollywood's challenging social landscape, particularly highlighting her struggles with restrictive housing covenants in a neighborhood called "Sugar Hill" where she bought a home despite facing backlash from white neighbors; the book explores her personal life, friendships with other Hollywood figures, and her fight for racial equality.

More info: www.togetherweread.com/US/

Thank you to our friends at the Libby App for sponsoring Together We Read 2025!

VS Seniors: Stop into the Vinton Public Library to work on your college and trade school scholarship applications! We’ll have free printing, free envelopes, snacks, and experienced professionals on hand to help answer your questions and provide essay feedback.

We're holding several sessions for your convenience:
Saturday, 3/15/25 from 9am-12pm
Saturday, 3/22/25 from 9am-12pm

Join Jean Wilson (writing as J L Wilson) to discover the steps that go into crafting a novel. J L has 40 books in print and can give you an idea of the who, what, where, and how of publishing. Join her in one or all of these workshops, each 60-90 minutes long:

*Saturday, March 15th, 2025 @ 9am: Class 1
Gives you the basic tools of the trade: what goes into a novel, how to determine point of view, your author voice, software to use - the nitty-gritty.

*Saturday, March 22nd, 2025 @ 9am: Class 2
Digs into the Who and Why of your book. This is all about creating characters and finding their goals and motivations.

*Saturday, March 29th, 2025 @ 9am: Class 3
The Where and When of your book. Choose your setting and time period wisely because you will be living there with your characters as you write.

*Saturday, April 5th, 2025 @ 9am: Class 4
Jumps into Plots and Pacing, making sure your plot lines hang together and your pacing keeps your audience engaged.

*Saturday, April 26th, 2025 @ 9am: Class 5
Gives you an overview of publishing: where and how do you submit your work or self-publish it? What goes into that?

Space is limited: RSVP to library@vintonia.gov to reserve your spot today! This event is intended for adults and is offered at no cost.

We love getting positive feedback from our community! We appreciate you all!

Here's to snow days!!

Better start preparing for winter weather and stop into the library today! We're open until 8pm today, 2/11/25!

Thanks to our friends at the African American Museum of Iowa we're featuring a display all month long dedicated to the life and contribution of George Washington Carver. Stop in and check it out today!

There are many different types of journals; gratitude, art, goal-setting, memoir, and more. Why not try journaling each morning for a week? A simple prompt to begin is 'Yesterday....; Today.....; Tomorrow....' Happy writing!

Last Spring we moved our carved tower of books inside; now the display has lighting! Stop into the library and check it out!

Rachel is taking us back to the 1974 Oscar ceremony when 'The Sting' took home Best Picture, and 'The Exorcist' won Best Adapted Screenplay. Who will take home the golden trophy this year? Join us for our 2nd Annual Red Carpet Party on Sunday, March 2nd, 2025 at 5pm!

Lisa is taking us back to 1999 with an unforgettable Oscar night! Remember when Roberto Benigni won for 'Life is Beautiful'? He was the happiest man in the room! Shakespeare in Love won Best Picture, and Jennifer Lopez stunned in Badgley Mischka and a 100-carat diamond necklace! We hope to see you Sunday, March 2nd at 5pm for our 2nd Annual Red Carpet Party!

Big congratulations to this friend who completed the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge using the Beanstack app! He took home a fun rocket bag, a book, and a hand puppet!

Kelly chose the year 2003 for her Oscar Rewind! J Lo lit up the Red Carpet in her mint green gown, and Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta Jones wowed in 'Chicago.' Join us at our 2nd Annual Red Carpet Party on Sunday, March 2, 2025 at 5pm!

We have set up a small used book sale table in our library's lower level; stop in and check it out today!

Oscar Rewind! Heather's taking us back to 1977 when 'Rocky' won Best Picture, and Faye Dunaway won the Academy Award for her role in 'The Network.' Don't forget our library's 2nd Annual Red Carpet Party on Sunday, March 2nd, 2025 at 5pm!

We're gearing up for our Red Carpet Party on Sunday, March 2, 2025 at 5pm! VPL staff are looking back on past Academy Award ceremonies; Kellie chose 1988! Cher turned heads in this semi-sheer Bob Mackie original and 'The Last Emperor' swept all 9 of the categories for which it was nominated!

We're gearing up for our Red-Carpet Fundraiser party on March 2nd from 5pm-7pm with this week's THIS or THAT challenge: Star in a drama or Star in a comedy ? Stop in and vote or comment below!!!

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