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Cured: Cabin Fever Reliever

Posted on January 16, 2018 by Meinders Library

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…

Six Blind Mice~ 84min

Team Panda~82min

Those Girls Rock~ 81min

No Name Escape~ 78min

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!

Until next time…

Events and Presentations, News, STEAM Room

Big Hearts, Big Check!

Posted on October 16, 2017 by Meinders Library

Despite the rain and all the other wonderful events occurring on Saturday, Meinders Library had a great turnout for our Patron Appreciation Open House.

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A huge thanks goes to Michelle Cheeseman, her staff, and State Farm for the proof that small towns can accomplish big things.

Of course, we would be remiss in not thanking our patrons for attending this event, voting #fullSTEAMahead, and/or using our library each and every day in myriad ways. It is through your use that we remain viable. Without patrons, there would be no need for a library, let alone a library with big dreams.

Our undying gratitude goes to our Pipestone Area Friends of the Library who support us financially, by helping out at events, hosting speakers, and providing the never-ending supply of delicious treats that accompany many of our programs.

I would like to thank our Library Board members for their direction and support, as well as Superintendent Kevin Enerson for providing school support. A shout out goes to Mr. D and the tech office who will be my new best friends when it comes time to understanding all my options for technology and helping me make good choices! I look forward to working together to make our STEAM Room a success for all patrons–public and school.

My appreciation continues for all those involved in promoting our library as a whole, and our cause for this grant in particular. The Chamber, the newspaper, the radio, local businesses, organizations, individuals and groups. The sheer volume of genuine interest in our library is overwhelming. It’s a huge motivator.

Many thanks to my wonderful, amazing, smart, energetic, organized, and compassionate staff. Big dreams and big checks cannot accomplish anything without great staff–of which Meinders Library has in spades. Enough said.

And lastly, Maggie. Our library is beautiful through your daily efforts. Crumbs. Spills. Dirty feet. You take care of all the big (and little) messes and make coming to work every day a pleasure.

STEAM Room, Teen Time, Writer's Group

Fall Events Set

Posted on September 20, 2017October 10, 2017 by Meinders Library

Overall, our programming goals at the library are simple: to bring community members together to learn, share and enjoy common experiences.

This fall, our focus is on you. Through a variety of speakers and events, we aim to show that everyone’s story is unique, important and worthy of being noted. This doesn’t mean everyone needs to become an author. Rather, it means everyone needs to become the author of their own lives.

That’s the beauty of living. Every moment provides opportunity. And every opportunity provides a moment for growth.

Here’s how you can grow with us this fall:

Join the newly formed writer’s group on the 2nd Monday at 6:30pm.
Attend Doug Wolter’s author event this Saturday at 2:00pm.
Stop by on October 14 for our Patron Appreciation Open House between 2:00 and 4:00pm.
Read Andy Steiner’s book, How to Survive: the Extraordinary Resilience of Ordinary People, and discuss it with others at our Community Read book discussion at 6:00pm on October 30.
Sign up for Clue-less: an Escape Room Adventure and figure out who dunnit, with what and where. Pre-registration is required and will open on October 2.
Learn a new perspective by visiting with journalist and publisher, Andy Wahlberg. He owns Think Piece Publishing–Steiner’s publishing company.
Craft with us on the second Saturday of the month from 10:00am-1:00pm. Our first craft club will be held on October 14. Bring your crafting supplies and/or passions to share with other crafty people. We will be using our STEAM Room.
Brush up on your work force writing skills on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. From 4:00pm to 6:00pm, this Adult Writing Lab time is the perfect place to hone your resume and cover letter skills. Registration is not required.
Encourage your teen to join Teen Time on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 7:00-9:00pm for some supervised fun. (Think Escape Room, Movie Nights, Indoor Golf, etc… and snacks. Always the snacks.)

Still convinced I’m talking about writing your life story? This fall, I might be, as November is National Novel Writing Month. Meinders Library has officially declared itself a Come Write In! location for area writers. Throughout the month of November, we will host several writing sessions, get-togethers, and other crazy writing stuff with the sole purpose of helping you pen the book you always dreamed of writing.

So, if that includes you, please ask Jody all about the ins and outs of NaNoWriMo or check out their website at nanowrimo.org and start outlining your book now.

Events and Presentations, News, STEAM Room

Did you Vote #fullSTEAMahead Today?

Posted on August 24, 2017 by Meinders Library

We have had so much library love these past eight days. With only two days to go in the State Farm Neighborhood Assist voting phase, we need your continued support. I know the journey has been long, but the payoff will hopefully be worth every click you made to support Meinders Community Library in their quest to receive $25,000.

If you haven’t yet, please Vote #fullSTEAMahead for $25k.

Your vote is an absolutely free way to financially support Meinders Library, its mission, and our community.

Bee Program

Dennis Warner: Folk Singer

Jeanine Fricke: Author

Marty Seifert

Jack & Kitty

Our goal is to provide hands on opportunities, introduce new passions, and foster new skills in our youngest patrons to our most wise seniors citizens.

With your help we can start transforming our library into a community hub.

STEAM5

Thanks to all who have supported us along the way. We wouldn’t be where we are without you!

News

Pick Your Cause at Meinders Library

Posted on August 21, 2017 by Meinders Library

Stop by Meinders Library to pick a handful of cherries, some good books, and a great community cause.

Vote #fullSTEAMahead for $25,000.

Our Cause:

Provide community access to tools, education and experiences necessary to ignite new passions and learn new skills. By transforming a dedicated space into a community learning commons that targets Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math for all ages, we can provide individuals in our community with the skills and experiences necessary to better engage in their world.

News

What is a STEAM Room, anyway?

Posted on August 14, 2017 by Meinders Library

STEAM5 Contrary to popular belief, the STEAM Room at Meinders Library isn’t a sauna. Rather, STEAM represents all the wonderful aspects of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math. It is hands-on learning when you don’t realize you’re learning. It is the process of engaging in your world in a myriad of ways.

For those who attended our Full Steam Ahead event in May, our STEAM Room represents crafts, activities, presentations, and the process of building, failing and trying again. It was rainmakers and greeting cards. Kites and knitting. Spinning and quilling. It was running cricut machines, experimenting with 3D pens, and programming robots.

All these things and more are the future of our STEAM Room and STEAM events. With your help, it can be much, much more.

Two months ago, we applied for the State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant. Last week, we made the top 200. This week, voting will begin. Anyone with a valid email address and a passion for learning can support our cause and nudge it toward a $25,000 win.

So, what is our cause?

To provide community access to tools, education and experiences necessary to ignite new passions and learn new skills.

By creating a welcoming environment that pairs learning and fun, the STEAM Room at Meinders Library will provide programming and hands on opportunities to help individuals of all ages successfully understand and engage in the world at large.

VOTE FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR $25,000

Beginning Wednesday, August 16th, you can invest in your community. For ten days, individuals with a valid email can vote up to ten times per day for our cause. That’s 100 votes per person.

The top 40 causes with the most votes wins.

http://www.neighborhoodassist.com/entry/1995997