The New York Public Library and the University of Pennsylvania's Positive Psychology Center recently published a report titled 'Libraries and Well-Being.' Check out this fascinating link to their findings, which highlight the critical role libraries play in individual well-being and collective flourishing!

• 'A Sea of Unspoken Things' by Adrienne Young
• 'The Heart of Winter' by Jonathan Evison
• 'The Stolen Queen' by Fiona Davis
• 'The Note' by Alafair Burke
• 'Never Say Never' by Danielle Steel
• 'Where The Creek Bends' by Linda Lael Miller

• 'Whale Fall' by Elizabeth O'Connor
• 'Alter Ego' by Alex Segura
• 'Like Mother, Like Mother' by Susan Rieger

• 'It Had To Be You' by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke
• 'A Wild and Heavenly Place' by Robin Oliveira
• 'Mercury' by Amy Jo Burns
• 'There Are Rivers In The Sky' by Elif Shafak

• 'The Mirror' by Nora Roberts
• 'Christmas in Bethel' by Richard Paul Evans
• 'The Stolen Queen' by Fiona Davis

• 'World of Wonders' by Aimee Nezhukumatathil
• 'Inheritance' by Nora Roberts

VPL staff recently read 'The Silence Between Us' by Alison Gervais, a young adult novel that follows Maya, a senior in high school who is deaf. Maya has recently moved to a new state and must attend a hearing school. Maya is not thrilled since she now has to have a translator follow her to all of her classes making it so that she can't just blend into the classroom. Maya remains guarded throughout her senior year, focusing on studies and helping her mom and brother. Maya is taken by surprise when a couple of students take the time to learn ASL and perhaps one might become romantic...

Check this book out and read how Maya never uses her deafness as a disadvantage.

What a fantastic book to read and ponder while we enter the new year and well anytime for that matter. Allow me to share a brief glimpse into Nora Seeds’ life of choices.

Nora Seed finds herself living with a belief that she has made nothing but bad choices her whole life. That is until she finds herself at the midnight library with her favorite librarian Mrs. Elm and the never-ending shelves of books. The magic that is written within these books gives Nora a chance to live the parallel lives she always thought would make her happy and feel complete. Which life does she choose and what will she discover about herself and living life to its fullest.

This suspenseful fiction is easy to read and packed full of lovely reminders of life and the importance of self-discovery, love, and complete happiness to live.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Midnight Library' by Matt Haig.

~Lisa

I don't know what kept me from reading Anne Tyler before but 'The Accidental Tourist' should have won a Pulitzer for her as well. Macon Leary is a man in his 40's that has recently lost his only child and soon discovers his marriage falling apart, as a result. There was something endearing about how he could have been anyone you meet on the street quietly suffering, stuck in his ways, and unwillingly to succumb to grief entirely. Macon Leary is so ordinary that he is extraordinary in that he finds a way to survive loss by slowly changing his entire life. I love a good character study and Tyler is more than apt in this department. Check it today and then treat yourself to the film (it was a winner, too.) Happy reading, friends! ~Heather

‘More and more, he comes to realize that people fall into three camps: those who hardly, if ever, see beauty, even when it strikes them between the eyes; those who recognize it only when it is made apparent to them; and those rare souls who find beauty everywhere they turn, even in the most unexpected places. (‘There are Rivers in the Sky’ by Elif Shafak, p. 97)’

I would add that of the souls who find beauty everywhere, Shafak has distinguished herself as an author who can convey that beauty through great literature. This historical epic celebrates storytelling, history, beauty, and culture while woven into the same tapestry as despair, poverty and human suffering. The story begins in the ancient city of Mesopotamia, and travels through 19th century London to present day Turkey. Water and a poem written on ancient tablets of stone and lapis lazuli are the constant, grounding elements connecting three characters. Most memorable to me is the character, Arthur; his remarkable memory and dogged determination to pursue his passions allow him to navigate circumstances most couldn't endure.

This novel currently has 4.46/5 stars on Goodreads.com, and I would recommend it to lovers of literary fiction with global significance.

Happy reading!

~Kelly Henkle, Library Director

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

National Puzzle Day is January 29th, 2025, and we're celebrating with a puzzle swap! Between January 10th and January 22nd, drop off your puzzle and pick up one in exchange! Puzzles must be clean, in like-new condition, with all pieces included. Puzzles for all ages and difficulty levels welcome!

Join us for our monthly book club where you pick the book! This month’s theme is ‘Beginning Anew’; this could be a book with ‘Begin’ or ‘New in the title, or a story about a fresh start. Get creative and have fun with it!

• Thursday, January 16th at Noon
• Thursday, January 16th at 6pm

Pick the time that works best for you!

Our town enjoyed a light snowfall yesterday; here is a picture of our beautiful Carnegie library submitted by one of our patrons! #carnegielibrary #librarylife

Check out who has read 200 books!

Meet our January Kid Librarian! Come check out his display.

Calling all quilters!! We're in the final month of our community quilt project, and we have received several beautiful designs! It's not too late--bring us your 9 1/2" X 9 1/2" quilt blocks to be included in this year's community quilt! #librarylife

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