Posted in Awareness, Get Connected

Resource Spotlight – CredibleMind

Posted on by Meinders Library

The Summer 2025 Reading Program is in full swing at Meinders Library!  The library is buzzing with events and activities for people of all ages!  Less than two months of summer break and then it is back to school for the kiddos.  Whether you are enjoying the pool, going on family vacations, or having a blast with friends, summer is a busy time of year for everyone!

I want to continue writing and sharing about mental health and suicide more than just twice a year.  I’ve come up with a plan, so if it goes well, and it is well-received by our patrons and followers, I will do something once a month.  All of the information I share will be about mental health and suicide prevention and awareness and can be used for your wellbeing.  It will be called “Resource Spotlight” and will include local, state, and national resources.  Some you may be familiar with and others you may not.  My goal is to bring more resources to light and to get the right information into the right hands.  That is what a librarian does, after all.  Our library’s motto is “Get Connected” and that is the purpose of this project.  To connect with the community, bring awareness, and start a conversation about important topics.

Southwest Health and Human Services has launched a new mental health website.  Area residents now have access to CredibleMind, a free website with information on health-related topics, self-assessments, and links to community mental health resources in the six-county SWHHS service area. SWHHS covers Lincoln, Lyon, Redwood, Pipestone, Murray and Rock Counties.  The CredibleMind website (swmn.crediblemind.com) offers mental health and wellbeing resources that are free, confidential and available 24/7.

CredibleMind offers over 100 topics for your mental wellbeing.  From anxiety and depression, to parenting and time management, you can search to suit your needs.  Create a profile to be able to save your customizations and assessment results!  Get started on your wellbeing journey today with resources you can trust!

I hope you take advantage of the resources that SWHHS and CredibleMind have to offer. The first time I used the website, I browsed for over 2 hours and really lost track of time! It has so many wonderful topics and resources right at your fingertips!

Until next time my friends, stay happy, healthy, and safe! ~Sally~

Posted in Get Connected, Just for Fun

Oral Storytelling Today

Posted on by Meinders Library

We had an amazing time with Full STEAM Ahead and The Suitcase Junket this weekend. Thank you to everyone who attended and to all of our fantastic volunteers and sponsors!

Today we have another great event on our patio and greenspace. Join us at 2pm for an afternoon of Native American creation tales with storyteller Bud Johnston.

Posted in Get Connected, Just for Fun

Full STEAM Ahead and Concert Schedule

Posted on by Meinders Library

In honor of The Suitcase Junket, our 8th Annual Full STEAM Ahead will feature musical activities.

  • 10am-12pm: Full STEAM Ahead Activities: make and take or experiment with sound during this family fun event.
    • Tattoos
    • Shrink Art Charms
    • Sound Stations
    • Pan Flutes
    • 2 Kinds of Kazoos
    • Tamborines
    • Wind Chimes
    • Pinwheels
    • Pony Beads
    • Castanets
    • Drumkit
    • and more!
  • Special Guests: Mr. D and the Pipestone Area Schools Arrowbots. Come check out the robot and see the culmination of tinkering and hard work from the Robotics Team.
  • 12pm: Free lunch while supplies last. Many thanks to our generous community donors for providing a meal for our community event.
    • Pipestone Area Friends of the Library for lining up and serving
    • Coborns for the delicious hotdogs
    • Dan Wildermuth, Grill Master Extraordinaire
    • Hanks Foods for putting the crunch in lunch (potato chips)
    • Pepsi for keeping everyone hydrated
    • Nancy Dethlefs for heat defying Otter Pops
    • Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau for the shade tents and volunteer time
    • City of Pipestone for the picnic tables
  • After lunch: yard games
  • 2pm: The Suitcase Junket Concert on the Patio
    • Huge thanks to Reggie Gorter and Mark Thode for their expertise as Sound Crew. I never knew how much work went on behind the scenes.

While we have some seating, bring your lawn chair or blanket to truly make the most of this outdoor musical event!

  • More Shout Outs!
    • Promotion: Pipestone Publishing, Pipestone Public Access Channel, Christensen Broadcasting Network, Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce
    • All our intrepid volunteers whose tireless work makes it possible for us to host such wonderful events
  • Grants and Donors! We can’t say enough about the generosity of our state, community, organizations, and individuals. Full STEAM Ahead and The Suitcase Junket are sponsored by the following:
    • MN Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund
    • Prairielands Library Exchange
    • Pipestone Area Friends of the Library (Delores Runge Estate)
    • United Way of Pipestone County

Posted in Get Connected, Just for Fun

Free Concert on the Patio

Posted on by Meinders Library

If you haven’t enjoyed our library green space and outdoor patio yet, you should check us out this Saturday at 2pm for a free 90-minute concert.

An internet search of The Suitcase Junket nets vast and varied descriptions of his original, one-man-band music. My favorite description I’ve found is that his “music spans from soft folk-rock to punk-infused blues…with a hint of Dylan.”

Matt is truly a delight to see and the perfect performer for a lazy Saturday afternoon with family and friends.

hope to see you there~ Jody

Posted in Alerts, Get Connected

No Walk & Talk or Crafternoon This Week

Posted on by Meinders Library

We will not have Walk & Talk Book Club tonight 7/22, because of the heat advisory in the area. We will also not have Crafternoon tomorrow 7/23 because some library staff will be helping at the Teddy Bear Picnic.

Join us for crafts and other maker activities at Full STEAM Ahead this Saturday, 7/26 from 10am-1pm and music on the patio at 2pm. Here’s a sneak peak of our musician, The Suitcase Junket.

Posted in Get Connected, Just for Fun

Full STEAM Ahead is Back!

Posted on by Meinders Library

Join us this Saturday, July 26th for Full STEAM Ahead at Meinders Community Library. Come tinker to your heart’s content, enjoy a free lunch courtesy of the Pipestone Area Friends of the Library and other local sponsors, and play yard games outside. This year’s Full STEAM Ahead has something extra special: an outdoor concert at 2pm. Bring your chairs and blankets and enjoy an afternoon of music with one-man band, The Suitcase Junket.

Posted in Get Connected, Just for Fun

Library Closed for Independence Day & Upcoming Events

Posted on by Meinders Library

Meinders Community Library will be closed Friday, July 4th through Sunday, July 6th for Independence Day weekend. We will reopen at 9am on Monday, July 7th.

We have several fun events going on next week at the library and around town! Our next Pop Up Park Storytime is Wednesday, July 9th at Harmon Park at 10:30am. We’ll have a special crafternoon on Wednesday, July 9th with Didgeridoo Music Exploration & Instrument Creation at 2pm. Join us at the Pipestone Senior Center on Thursday, July 10th at 2pm for musicians Sherwin & Pam Linton.

Posted in Alerts

Library Closed Saturday 6/28

Posted on by Meinders Library

Meinders Community Library will be closed on Saturday, June 28th due to the Water Tower Festival parade and events.

Join us on Monday, June 30th for The Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Zoo at 4pm. Thank you to the Pipestone Area Friends of the Library and United Way of Pipestone County for sponsoring this event!