- 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
Category: Just for Fun
Bars for Books by the Numbers
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!
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
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…
Save the Date Bars for Books PAFL Fundraiser
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!
Book Blizzard Bingo Blackout Winners
It’s time to announce our Book Blizzard Bingo blackout drawing winners! Thank you to the Pipestone Area Friends of the Library providing $20 in Chamber Checks for two lucky winner:
- Sawyer P
- Teya O
April Meinders Happenings
- Classics Book Club: Thursday, April 9th reading The Epic of Gilgamesh
- Julie Klassen, Inspirational Historical Fiction Author: Friday, April 10th at 11am
- Early Bird Book Club: Thursday, April 16th at 8:30am, reading Tough Luck by Sandra Dallas
- Decorative Candle Workshop with Teri Bogstad: Sunday, April 19th at 2pm, registration required by calling the library at 507-825-6714 or with the form below, for ages 14+
- National Library Week: April 19-25, Stay tuned for fun activities all week!
- Weekly Storytime: Tuesdays at 10am
- Crafternoon: Wednesdays from 1:30-4pm
Candle Workshop Sign Up
Book Blizzard Bingo Week 12
We just have a few days of Book Blizzard Bingo left to go! If you get a blackout, drop your bingo card off at the library by Tuesday, April 7th to be entered into the grand prize drawing. Today’s pick is N42, Vegetables Love Flowers by Lisa Mason Ziegler.
In case you missed any of the posts on Facebook, here are the rest of this week’s Book Blizzard Bingo selections and links to the library’s catalog for more information about the books.
Book Blizzard Bingo Week 11
Today’s Book Blizzard Bingo pick is B14, The Wedding People by Alison Espach. Stop by the library after your first bingo for a prize and keep playing to enter the blackout bingo drawing!
In case you missed any of the posts on Facebook, here are the rest of this week’s Book Blizzard Bingo selections and links to the library’s catalog for more information about the books.
Book Blizzard Bingo Week 10
Today’s Book Blizzard Bingo pick is I21, My Three Dogs by W. Bruce Cameron.
In case you missed any of the posts on Facebook, here are the rest of this week’s Book Blizzard Bingo selections and links to the library’s catalog for more information about the books.
Book Blizzard Bingo Week 9
Today’s Book Blizzard Bingo pick is O71, the Pipestone Area Friends of the Library. Join PAFL at the Pipestone Performing Art Center on Monday, March 9th at 7:00pm for an evening of music with classical guitarist Peter Fletcher. This concert is free and open to all!
In case you missed any of the posts on Facebook, here are the rest of this week’s Book Blizzard Bingo selections and links to the library’s catalog for more information about the books.
- O62 – Creative Bug
- G59 – The Quarry Girls by Jess Lourey
- B2 – The Bog Queen by Anna North
- O75 – Wowbrary
- B5 – The Ferryman and His Wife by Frode Grytten
March Meinders Happenings
- Fraud Awareness Discussion: Tuesday, March 3rd at 2pm
- Peter Fletcher, Classical Guitarist: Monday, March 9th at 7pm at the Pipestone Performing Art Center, the library will close at 6:30pm
- Classics Book Club: Thursday, March 12th at 12pm, reading Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
- Early Bird Book Club: Thursday, March 19th at 8:30am, reading The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
- Weekly Storytime: Tuesdays at 10am
- Crafternoon: Wednesdays from 1:30-4pm