Submitted by Joey May

Community Services Librarian

It’s back to school next week for many of our library families! We hope that you had a fabulous summer filled with lots of reading, pool time, ball games, 4-H projects and fun with family!

The library has been a little quieter since Summer Reading has concluded, but we have still seen a lot of your smiling faces as you come to hang out or pick out books. We are also busy working on some fall events!

As school starts we are finalizing our after school programs. Look for After School Is Cool to kick off Tuesday, Aug. 25, in the large meeting room. Kids in elementary and middle school are invited to join Miss Lindsay in the large meeting room for activities, experiments, crafts and more from 3:45-4:45 p.m. every Tuesday that school is in session. Look for K-State Extension of Brown County to be back with STEAM and Wildlife Adventures alternating monthly – also for elementary age through middle school. They will have the first session after school at 3:45 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17. Learn about animals, nature and more with Wildlife Adventures and with STEAM join in on some fun experiments. For the remainder of the fall, sessions will be every first Thursday after school!

We had our Morrill Public Library Family Game Night Back to School Bingo Night this week on Tuesday with BombPop drinks, prizes and lots of fun! We appreciate everyone who came! Look for our Family Game Night to continue at 5:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month this fall.

We switch out our displays on a monthly basis based on themes and seasons. One display upstairs is always dedicated to our Staff and Trustee Picks. This week I want to highlight a few of the Staff picks, that are some of our favorites we encourage you to check out.

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult: In a 2024 release, Picoult does not disappoint with this novel that connects two women, both writers in their own worlds who struggle with prejudices of their own time. I hope you enjoy this sweeping 400-year saga about two women who are both determined to succeed and see their stories live on.

Mind Games by Nora Roberts: In this 2024 release by the best-selling author who writes everything from romance to fantasy to mysteries, Roberts tells a story of a 12-year-old girl, Thea, and her grandmother who share a special gift. They both awaken one morning and their “sight” tells them something terrible has happened. Follow Thea as she grows, finds love and a career, but her “sight” remains as does the threat of the person who shattered her childhood innocence.

Talking to the Sky by Aimee Mayo: This unforgettable memoir trails Aimee Mayo, a Grammy-nominated songwriter and author, who started her life out in a world full of trauma and drama and a series of disasters. After almost taking her own life, she finally made it to Nashville, where more strife met her, but she never lost sight of her dreams as she believed in faith over fear.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros: Join Yarros with her adult fantasy romance novel, the first book in the Empryean series that follows the life of Violet Sorrengail, who is forced by her mother to join the Basgaith War College and become a dragon rider in the kingdom. Yarros is well-known for her many heart-wrenching love stories such as The Last Letter, Great and Precious Things and The Things We Leave Behind. If you are a fan of Rebecca Yarros, check out the new fantasy series!