Keep reading to learn how everyone can stay on top of Meinders Happenings!
Meinders Community Library is moving into the broader social media arena to meet you where you’re at. Please follow/friend/tweet with us from the comfort of your preferred social media account.
Traditionalists, never fear. We will continue to provide email updates through our blog, and newspaper columns for our die hard readers.
Still like rabbit ears and radio programs? Our programming flyers can be found on the public access channel, and many of our programs are videotaped and shown at a later date. Likewise, we will try to up our game for our auditory patrons by utilizing the radio station to help you #GetConnectedAtMeinders.
May Programming Preview
Our goal is to bring community members together to learn, share, and grow through common experiences. All our programs are free and open to the public, so please attend those that interest you and share with others who may also enjoy what we have to offer!
The Pipestone Area Robotics Team #3298, aka the ArrowBots, are battling their way to the top in Minneapolis this Friday and Saturday. To watch the qualifying rounds, simply follow the link below. These matches are streamed live and are super fun to watch!
If you have time between watching #3298 and our upcoming World War II program on Monday night, stop by the school to cheer for the Pipestone Area Speech team during their sub-section meet on Saturday. The first round starts at 10am, with the second round at 11:30 and finals expected to begin at 1:30.
At this point you may asking yourself: what does speech have to do with STEAM? To which I say, communication is an art. Performing is an art. So is writing. For months, these youth (and their un-pictured teammates) have worked hard to mold the written word into something compelling, informative, and artistic.
In short, speech is the basis for understanding an idea and providing a path for others to follow. Without communication, there is no STEAM. And without steam, there is no programming. Lucky for you, we have lots STEAMy activities headed your way.
Our goal is to bring community members together to learn, share, and grow through common experiences. All our programs are free and open to the public, so please attend those that interest you and share with others who may also enjoy what we have to offer!
This past weekend, the town of Pipestone filled with intergalactic travelers on a mission to escape from a toxic planet. In all, ten brave expeditions attempted the Launched: Escape Room at Meinders Library.
Best Quote: “Guys, we have a dead comrade over here!”
Just for fun, we’ll share some of our favorite moments from the weekend.
Observing the space shenanigans on the big screen in the library. If extraterrestrials exist and have front row seats to our daily lives, I imagine them belly laughing at all our secret moments in much the same way we giggled at our wannabe-astronauts.
Listening to the screams emanating from the far side of the planet when Dr. Bones was found in a crashed rocket.
Watching the crews (and Emily-yes, we saw you!) singing and dancing to our Launched soundtrack! Creating auditory clues for this escape room was by far our best decision ever.
Hearing the many names given to our feathered friend constellation. Cygnus, aka the Swan, is a cluster of stars otherwise known as the Northern Cross. Our crews called it by names of their own choosing such as goose, crow, duck and pigeon. Unfortunately, none of those imaginative names opened a lock. (To learn more about the stars, stop out on Friday night and view the heavenly bodies with meteorologist Mike Lynch.)
Realizing that time math is more difficult than algebra is for most people.
Seeing the smiles on all the faces when the crews returned to Earth and took their victory photos!
Popma’s Astronauts
The Pinheads
Star Troopers
4H-ers of the Galaxy
After School Crew
Da Bears
The Celestial Countdown
Popma’s Astronauts: test group
Star Troopers: completed 5 locks
4H-ers of the Galaxy: completed 7 locks in 77 minutes
After School Crew: completed 8 locks
The Pinheads: Mission Completed with 10 locks in 80 minutes
Da Bears: Mission Completed with 10 locks in 74 minutes
To Infinity and Beyond: Mission Completed with 8 locks in 64 minutes (not pictured due to a glitch in the Meinders Mission Control video satellite feed. Sorry, Wagners, Nelsons, Winters and Juhls.)
Not surprisingly, there is a bit of contention among the top three expeditions as to who really won! Is the key to success completing your mission and finding an alternate fuel source in the least amount of time even if (or because) you bypass solving 1/5 of the puzzles? Or does victory go to the team who received the fewest clues? What about finishing this complicated mission despite a lock malfunction and a few bugs on behalf of the Meinders Mission Control?
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Lunar Rovers: Mission Completed with 10 locks in 62 minutes
Super Locky: Mission Completed with 8 locks in 52 minutes
Team Minnesota: Mission Completed with 9 locks in 52 minutes
You decide who gets to claim the ultimate victory in Launched, because to us, every last soul who boarded the rocket ship is a winner in our hearts.
Lastly, a big shout out to Mrs. Popma and her astronomy class. Without Stacy, we might never have considered a space theme even though it fit perfectly with Mike Lynch’s visit. In addition, our very tricky constellation of the Swan was created by a talented PAS student, while the astronomy class dedicated its time and talents to test-driving our escape room before we went public.
Thanks so much for the amazing partnership and the opportunity to bring a little fun to our community!
Our goal is to bring community members together to learn, share, and grow through common experiences. All our programs are free and open to the public, so please attend those that interest you and share with others who may also enjoy what we have to offer!
For one night only, the Pipestone Country Club will open a Wild & Wooly Prohibition-era Speakeasy.
This large-scale escape room is free and open to the public (21+). Gather clues, solve puzzles, and learn the password to earn entrance into the coveted speakeasy.
Beginning at 6:00pm on Saturday, you will be surrounded by 1920s fact-filled fun. Individuals, couples, or groups are invited to join the adventure.
Soup supper provided.
Costumes not required. Registration is. Call, email, or stop by the library to reserve your spot.
During this community event, teams will compete to find the clues, crack the codes, and be the first to unlock Paddy’s treasure.
A $10 burger bar will be available after the second session for participants to commiserate or celebrate as they deem necessary. Dessert complements of Pipestone Area Friends of the Library.
This event is sponsored by or in partnership with the following: PAFL, Pipestone Country Club, and our State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant.
A few groups have yet to lock themselves into the Meinders Library escape room, but many staunch Midwestern souls have already braved the winter blues and busted free from their Cabin Fever.
The countdown begins…
No Name Escape~ 78min
Team Panda~82min
Those Girls Rock~ 81min
Six Blind Mice~ 84min
Just Over An Hour…
Champions~ 67min
Sinners and Saints~ 66min
CMWork~ 64min
JUST UNDER AN HOUR…
Third Place: R12 cured their blues in 58 minutes!
Tied for 1st at 54 Minutes…
The Paige Turners (Gavin and Jessica Winter, Paige Ahrendt, Keri Prins, Jill Boucher, Liz Winsel, and Janet Bush) and The Boys Club (unavailable for photo shoot, but if you’ve seen one Wacker boy, you’ve seen them all, plus Avery Wagner)!
Additional campers included students who worked twice as hard to finish cracking the codes within their limited class times:
1/2 MassCom class: unlocked 7 of 10 locks and started communicating like rock stars toward the end.
3 and 4 year French Students: unlocked 8 of 10, half of which were written in French! Ooh la la!
ELL Students, Teacher and Interpreter: 10 of 10 with added time, clues in several languages, and lots of fun.
Several classes yet to go through…
Thanks for all who played. We enjoy your time in the escape room as much as you do!
