Category: Just for Fun

Posted in Get Connected, Just for Fun

This Week at Meinders

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We have lots of exciting events happening at Meinders Community Library this week!

On Tuesday, September 15th, CareerForce is hosting a career fair on the library’s lawn from 1-5:30pm. This drop-in event is free and open to all.

Join us on Wednesday, September 16th at 3pm for Amelia Earhart and Her Cousin. In this immersive experience, Nancy Earhart Burt, second cousin of aviator Amelia Earhart, will take us on a journey through Amelia’s incredible accomplishments and enduring influencing on aviation and women’s history with storytelling, slides, and audio and video clips.

This weekend, we’re celebrating the great Minnesota Libraries Read Together in variety of ways. Thanks to the Pipestone Area Friends of the Library we will be doing some prize drawings for those who participate! On Friday, September 18th, you can participate in a Silent Reading Book Club from 12-1pm or 3:30-5pm. Bring your book or pick up a new one at the library and settle in for some dedicated reading time.

Join the fun from anywhere on Saturday, September 19th with our Virtual Reading Party. We’ll have several prompts on the library’s Facebook page throughout the day to share what and how you’re reading.

On Sunday, September 20th, we’ll wrap up our Minnesota Libraries Read Together events with an Audiobook Walk. We’ll meet at the Hiawatha Pageant Park at 4pm. Sign up to attend the Audiobook Walk using the form below.

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Posted in Get Connected, Just for Fun

Where History Meets Mystery

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Join us on Saturday, September 12th at 1pm for a Twin Cities Sisters in Crime author panel. Authors Christine Husom, Judy M. Kerr, Timya Owen, and A. W. Powers will discuss how historical events have inspired their writing, the challenges of researching our past, and how we walk a fine line between mystery and history when writing ‘Mystorical Minnesota.’

Treats provided by the Pipestone Area Friends of the Library.

Posted in Get Connected, Just for Fun

September Meinders Happenings

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  • Closed for Labor Day Weekend: Saturday, September 5th—Monday, September 7th
  • Classics Book Club: Thursday, September 10th at 12:00pm, reading Moby Dick by Herman Melville
  • Where History Meets Mystery Author Panel: Saturday, September 12th at 1:00pm
  • Amelia Earhart & Her Cousin: Wednesday, September 16th at 3:00pm
  • Early Bird Book Club: Thursday, September 17th at 8:30am, reading Old Bones by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
  • MN Libraries Read Together—Silent Reading Book Club: Friday, September 18th from 12:00-1:00pm and 3:30-5:00pm
  • MN Libraries Read Together—Virtual Reading Party: Saturday, September 19th, participate on the library’s Facebook page, more details to come
  • MN Libraries Read Together—Audiobook Walk: Sunday, September 20th at 4:00pm, meet at the Hiawatha Pageant Park, registration required
  • Howard Schaap, Local Author: Tuesday, September 29th at 6:00pm
  • Story Time: Tuesdays at 10:00am
  • Crafternoon: Wednesdays from 1:30-4:00pm

Posted in Get Connected, Just for Fun

August Meinders Happenings

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  • Writer’s Retreat: Saturday, August 8th from 1-4pm
  • Summer Music Series—Project Constellation, Scandinavian Acoustic-Folk-Rock-Punk-Pop Duo: Sunday, August 9th at 3pm, bring your lawn chairs and blankets for an outdoor concert
  • No Strings Book Chat: Tuesday, August 11th at 6pm, reading These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean
  • Classics Book Club: Thursday, August 13th at 12pm, reading Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
  • Early Bird Book Club: Thursday, August 20th at 8:30am reading We Are Not Free by Traci Chee
  • Climate Resilient Communities Exhibit: Coming Soon!
  • Story Time: Tuesdays 10am
  • Crafternoon: Wednesdays from 1:30-4pm
Posted in Get Connected, Just for Fun

July Meinders Happenings

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  • Classics Book Club: Thursday, July 9th at 12pm, reading The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
  • Maker Event—Tiny School of Art and Design, Mobile Comedy Suitcase & More: Tuesday, July 14th starting at 2pm
  • Summer Music Series—Annie Humphrey, Anishinaabe Singer & Songwriter: Tuesday, July 14th at 6pm
  • Early Bird Book Club: Thursday, July 16th at 8:30am, reading The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
  • Maker Event—Printmaking INC, Nature Prints: Tuesday, July 28th from 2-5pm
  • Maker Event—Pedal to the Metal, Traveling Foundry: Wednesday July 29th from 1-4pm
  • Weekly Storytime: Tuesdays at 10am
  • Crafternoon: Wednesdays from 1:30-4pm

Thank you to the Pipestone Area Friends of the Library, United Way of Pipestone County, Prairielands Library Exchange, and Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage fund for supporting Summer Reading activities at Meinders Community Library!

Posted in Get Connected, Just for Fun

June Meinders Happenings

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  • Joe Friedrichs, Minnesota Author Wednesday, June 3rd at 6:00pm Join us for an author program with environmental and outdoor writer Joe Friedrichs. His book Last Entry Point: Stories of Danger and Death in the Boundary Waters focuses on in-depth storytelling from the canoe-country wilderness. In 2024, Friedrichs founded Paddle and Portage, a digital media company focused on the Boundary Waters. PAFL’s annual meeting will precede the presentation at 5:30pm. Image also includes a photo of a man in a canoe, the logo for Paddle & Portage, and the book cover of Last Entry Point.
  • Meinders Library Summer Music Series: McFolke Brothers Sunday, June 7th from 2:00-3:30pm Join us for our Summer Reading Kickoff and an afternoon of music with the McFolke Brothers, a dynamic acoustic duo blending decades of hits—music you’ll know, fun you won’t forget! Bring your lawn chairs and blankets for yard games, refreshments, and music on the library’s patio and greenspace. Image also includes photo of the McFolke brothers performing, one man singing into a microphone, the other playing a guitar.
  • Summer Reading Everyone from tiny tots to teens to adults can participate in Summer Reading at Meinders Community Library! Pick up an activity log starting June 1st to read books and win prizes all June, July, and August.
  • Bingo for Books on Friday, June 26th at 2pm. Celebrate National Bingo Day at Meinders Community Library with Bingo for Books. We’ll have books and other fun prizes for everyone from tiny tots to teens to adults!   Image also includes a photo with a bingo ball roller, a bingo card, and stacked books.
  • Summer Book Clubs at Meinders Community Library Join other readers and discuss classic and contemporary picks to celebrate America 250. Discussing The Pearl on Thursday 6/11 at 12pm and Killers of the Flower Moon on 6/18 at 8:30am.
  • Meinders Community Library Summer Music Series: McFolke Brothers, Acoustic Duo Blending Decades of Hits on Sunday, June 7th at 2pm. Annie Humphrey, Anishinaabe Singer & Songwriter on Tuesday, July 14th at 6pm. Project: Constellation, Scandinavian Folk-Rock-Punk-Pop Duo on Sunday, August 9th at 3pm.
  • Meinders Library will be CLOSED Friday, June 19th In observance of Juneteenth.
  • Meinders Library Will Be CLOSED Saturday, June 27th Due to the Water Tower Festival Parade & Events
  • Summer Reading Program: Sign up starting June 1st!
  • Joe Friedrichs, Minnesota Author: Wednesday, June 3rd at 6pm
  • Summer Reading Kickoff with the McFolke Brothers: Sunday, June 7th from 2-3:30pm, bring your lawn chairs and blankets for yard games, refreshments and music on the library’s patio and greenspace!
  • Classics Book Club: Thursday, June 11th at 12pm, reading The Pearl by John Steinbeck
  • Early Bird Book Club: Thursday, June 18th at 8:30am, reading Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
  • Closed for Juneteenth: Friday, June 19th
  • Bingo for Books: Friday, June 26th at 2pm
  • Closed for the Water Tower Festival Parade and Activities: Saturday, June 27th

Posted in Get Connected, Just for Fun

May Meinders Happenings

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  • Kari Trumbo, Minnesota Author Monday, May 4th at 6:00pm Join us for an author program with Kari Trumbo, who writes inspirational romantic suspense featuring faith, found family, and second chances. With a background in psychology and criminology, Kari brings emotional depth and authentic tension to stories of love, danger, and redemption, skills she first honed as a developmental editor before turning her focus to her own novels. Also includes photo of the author and book covers and logos for Meinders Community Library and the Pipestone Area Friends of the Library.
  • David LaRochelle, Minnesota Author Wednesday, May 13th at 3pm David LaRochelle has been creating books for young people for over thirty years. His many picture book titles include The Best Pet of All, How Martha Saved Her Parents from Green Beans, See the Cat: Three Stories about a Dog, and Moo! Also includes photo of the author and book covers and logos for Meinders Community Library, Prairielands Library Exchange, and the Pipestone Area Friends of the Library.
  • Kari Trumbo, Inspirational Romantic Suspense Author: Monday, May 4th at 6:00pm
  • Bee Happy at Your Library Youth Coloring Contest: Monday, May 4th-Saturday, May 16th
  • David LaRochelle, Children’s Book Author: Wednesday, May 13th at 3:00pm
  • Classics Book Club: Thursday, May 14th at 12:00pm, reading The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
  • Caitlyn VanDamme, CredibleMind Presentation: Thursday, May 14th at 6:00pm
  • Bee Happy Crafts and Author Program: Saturday, May 16th from 10:00am-1:00pm
  • No-Strings Book Club: Tuesday, May 19th at 6:00pm, reading Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney
  • Early Bird Book Club: Thursday, May 21st at 8:30am, reading Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman
  • Closed for Memorial Day Weekend: Saturday, May 23rd-Monday, May 25th
  • Senior Life Solutions Presentation: Wednesday, May 27th at 2:00pm
  • Weekly Storytime: Tuesdays at 10am
  • Crafternoon: Wednesdays from 1:30-4pm
Posted in Get Connected, Just for Fun

Bars for Books by the Numbers

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Bars for Books Servers

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Pipestone Area Friends of the Library’s inaugural Bars for Books Fundraiser! From our talented bakers to the enthusiastic bar-tasters to the many PAFL volunteers, we couldn’t have done it without you. Over sixty people came to sample seventeen different bars, bedazzle books and notebooks, enjoy some accordion music, and raise money for new books. Between bar entry fees, general donations, bar voting money, and new memberships, PAFL raised over $1,500!

  • First Place: Raspberry Almond Bars by Dorie Sendelbach with $94.25
  • Second Place: Val’s Almond Bars by Jeanette Larson with $60.21
  • Third Place: Chocolate Mint Bars by Bev Slinger with $53.23
  • PAFL’s Choice: Chocolate Highlander Cookie Bars by Samantha Davis, who got her recipe from Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke
  • Closest to a Tie: Pecan Pie Bars by LaVonne Blom and Can’t Leave Alone Bars by Carrie Backer were only 2¢ apart!
  • Honorable Mention: Caramel Bars by Sharon Wolff, Dutch Letter Almond Bars by Nancy Koets, and Heavenly Bars by Janine Aaland were all within $5 of Third Place!
Bars for Books Winner, Dorie Sendelbach holding her Raspberry Almond Bars
Bars for Books Winner
Trivia Winner Natalie Resch standing by bookshelf, holding her prize
Trivia Winner

We had two trivia questions for attendees to answer for a chance to win prizes. Congratulations to our winners Natalie Resch and Laurie Welu! Here are the answers:

  • How many books did PAFL buy for the library in 2025: 209
  • How much money did the Pipestone Community save in 2025 by checking out library materials instead of buying them: $541,644.58
Accordian player and people sitting at tables doing a craft

We had so much fun with Bars for Books, thank you again to everyone involved! Now it’s time to start brainstorming and test-baking for next year…

Posted in Events and Presentations, Get Connected, Just for Fun

Save the Date Bars for Books PAFL Fundraiser

Posted on by Meinders Library

To help celebrate National Library Week, Pipestone Area Friends of the Library is hosting a tasty event on Thursday April 23. Their first ever Bars for Books will run from 3pm to 6pm and will raise funds for new library materials across all ages and formats.

During the event, over a dozen local bakers will be putting their signature bars on the table and leaving it up to you to decide who bakes the best bars in Pipestone.

From Blueberry Lemon Blondies to Chocolate Highlander Cookie Bars, and tried and true brownies to newly created concoctions, everyone should find something to love.

All PAFL asks is that you put your money where your mouth is. Instead of talking about your #1 bar, use your dollars to upvote your favorite(s). Winners will be decided by the funds their bars bring in.

We’ve already heard a lot of strategizing by people planning to attend. One patron is planning to pay a dollar per bite-sized sample. She will then put a second dollar into her third place choice, a $5 bill into her second place bar, and $10 toward her favorite recipe. She told us she will spend roughly $25-$30 to help PAFL find Pipestone’s best baker.

As PAFL will use 100% of the proceeds for this fundraiser to purchase new library materials, this strategy could net the library a new adult hardcover novel, or a picture book and board book combo, or two middle grade novels and one young adult novel.

Another patron plans to give a free will offering of $20 straight to PAFL to taste the goods, followed by pocket change toward his favorite treats. Yet another claims they will jar watch–bumping the best baked goods with a few bucks here and there if the competition appears to be edging closer to a win. Whatever your method, you get to choose your own fundraising adventure while supporting a worthwhile organization and the literary needs of our entire community.

BONUS: Your vote(s) will also provide bragging rights to the top three bakers of the day!