March into the Library!

Storytimes – 

  • Monday evenings at 5:30 pm
  • Wednesdays at 10:00 am 
  • Saturdays at 11 am in English and 11:30 in Spanish

Jigsaw Puzzle Exchange

If you participated in our jigsaw puzzle exchange last week, don’t forget to come in this week to exchange your tickets for new (to you) jigsaw puzzles.

Mahjong

Are you interested in learning a new game to play with family and friends? Every Friday at 1 pm we will get together for a fun game of Mahjong here at the library. Learn the rules of this traditional Chinese game and play some Mahjong.  No experience necessary. For adults only.

LEGO Play Day

Kids, unleash your imagination! Every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at 4pm, join us for free-play with LEGO bricks galore!

Bunco Party

On Friday, March 22nd at Noon, join us for the popular dice game, Bunco! Let the dice roll, meet friends, and win some fun prizes. Registration is required, so register online, or in person. Adults only. Snacks will be provided.

Zen Den

Welcome to the “Zen Den” – the ultimate after-school hangout for teens! Every other Thursday at 4pm we will dive into crafts, binge-watch movies and anime. Challenge your friends to video game battles in a welcoming space just for you.

Closed for Good Friday

The Library will be closed on Friday, March 29th and Saturday, March 30th for Good Friday and Easter. We will reopen the following Monday at 9 a.m.

Sunflower eLibrary – Overdrive

Liberal Memorial Library is now part of the Sunflower eLibrary consortium. That means our patrons now have access to all of the Sunflower eLibrary ebooks and audiobooks. Read or listen to them on your phone or tablet using the Libby app by OverDrive. You can even send your borrowed ebooks to your Kindle ereader! It’s free and easy to get started.

Great Selection

Choose from bestsellers, fiction, nonfiction, books for kids and more.

Free from our library

No subscription. No late fees. No monthly limits. Check out up to 5 books at a time. Place a hold on up to 5 currently unavailable books at a time. Use your Liberal Memorial Library card and password to check out.

If you are unsure of your library card number or password, please call us at 620-626-0180 and we will be happy to help.

Your perfect reading companion

  • Make any text large print and adjust light settings for ebooks
  • Change playback speed or set a sleep timer for audiobooks
  • Read or listen on your phone, tablet, kindle, or other ereader
  • Listen to audiobooks in your car with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
  • Get help in the app from the Libby support team

Easy to get started

The Libby app will walk you through set up, so you can start reading right away. All you need is a device to get started!

  1. Download the Libby, by OverDrive app from your device’s app store
  2. Follow the app’s walk-through setup instructions
    • First question: do you have a library card? Select Yes
    • Select Search For A Library
    • Search for Sunflower eLibrary – the results of your search will show Sunflower eLibrary in Abilene, Kansas and other branches. This is the one you want to select.
    • Next choose the Sign In With My Card option
    • Select MORE to list all of the libraries. Scroll down to select Liberal Memorial Library.
    • Enter your Liberal Memorial Library card number and password, then choose Next to finish.
    • If you use a Kindle eReader, you can choose to have eBooks sent to your Kindle apps and devices.

Borrow a title & start reading

Don’t have a device? You can still borrow ebooks & audiobooks. Check out: https://sunflowerelibrary.overdrive.com/

What’s Happening at the Library this month

Storytimes – 

  • Monday evenings at 5:30 pm
  • Wednesdays at 10:00 am 
  • Saturdays at 11 am in English and 11:30 in Spanish

Mahjong

Are you interested in learning a new game to play with family and friends? Every Friday at 1 pm we will get together for a fun game of Mahjong here at the library. Learn the rules of this traditional Chinese game and play some Mahjong.  No experience necessary. For adults only.

Movie Time

On Thursday, January 25th at 4pm, come to the library and enjoy a movie and free popcorn!

After years of being sheltered from the human world, the Turtles set out to win the hearts of New Yorkers and be accepted as normal teenagers through heroic acts. But they soon get in over their heads when an army of mutants is unleashed upon them.

Teen Club

Are you in middle or high school?  On Wednesday, January 31st at 4 pm, come hang out with your friends to do crafts, watch anime, and decompress from the stresses of life.

Game Day

On Friday, February 2nd starting at 4 pm, join us to play video games, board games and card games. This event is open to all ages, bring a friend or family member to try out a new game!

Mardi Gras Bunco

On Friday, February 9th at noon, come to our Mardi Gras themed Bunco Party!

We will have masks, beads and prizes! Seating is limited. (Snacks will be served)

Library and Lunch

On Wednesday, February 14th​ at Noon, our book club will meet to discuss “The Lonely Hearts Book Club” by Lucy Gilmore. Bring your lunch and join the discussion.

Valentine’s Day Inspired Book Display

With Valentine’s day coming soon, we’ve put together a Valentine’s day inspired book display. Here are a few of the romance novels on display.

Say You’ll Be Mine
by Naina Kumar

Meghna Raman defied her parents’ wishes and followed her life’s passion, becoming a theater teacher and aspiring playwright. When she discovers that her beloved writing partner, best friend, and secret crush, Seth, is engaged she realizes he’s about to become the one-that-got-away. Determined to try and move on, Meghna agrees to let her parents introduce her to a potential match. Maybe she could marry the engineer that her parents still wish she’d become.

Grumpy engineer Karthik Murthy has agreed to his mother’s matchmaking attempts to make her happy, never dreaming he would meet someone as vibrant as Meghna. A fake engagement could help Meghna soothe the sting of planning Seth’s wedding festivities and help Karthik avoid the absurd number of set-ups his mother has planned for him.

As the two find common ground and start for each other, an undeniable chemistry emerges. But soon, their insecurities threaten something that’s become a lot more real than they’d planned.

Raiders of the Lost Heart
by Jo Segura

Archaeologist Dr. Socorro “Corrie” Mejía has a bone to pick. Literally. It’s been Corrie’s life goal to lead an expedition deep into the Mexican jungle in search of the long-lost remains of her ancestor, Chimalli, an ancient warrior of the Aztec empire. But when she is invited to join an all-expenses-paid dig to do just that, Corrie is sure it’s too good to be true…and she’s right.

As the world-renowned expert on Chimalli, by rights Corrie should be leading the expedition, not sharing the glory with her disgustingly handsome nemesis. But Dr. Ford Matthews has been finding new ways to best her since they were in grad school. Ford certainly isn’t thrilled either—with his life in shambles, the last thing he needs is a reminder of their rocky past.

But as the dig begins, it becomes clear they’ll need to work together when they realize a thief is lurking around their campsite, forcing the pair to keep their discoveries—and lingering attraction—under wraps. With money-hungry artifact smugglers, the Mexican authorities, and the lies between them closing in, there’s only one way this all ends—explosively.

Dealbreakers
by Lauren Forsythe

Coder Marina Spicer has no time to waste when it comes to love. Frustrated by the online dating world, she created Dealbreakers, an anonymous app where women review how men stack up to their internet profiles. Her high standards have served her well at work, so why not in love?

Enter Lucas Kennedy. A charming Irish content writer, he’s the only one standing between Marina and her long-deserved promotion. Much to Marina’s chagrin, the two are paired on a project to test out dating ideas. Looking him up in Dealbreakers hoping to learn some dirt about her rival, she finds he’s the worst-rated man on the entire app.

As Lucas and Marina argue their way through mixing cocktails, salsa dancing, and throwing axes, Marina finds herself having more fun than she’s had in years. So when temptation becomes too strong to resist, Marina allows herself to break some of her own rules. After all, if the Dealbreakers say he’s Mr. Wrong, he can’t possibly be Mr. Right . . . can he?

Happy Holidays from the Library

Storytimes – 

  • Monday evenings at 5:30 pm
  • Wednesdays at 10:00 am 
  • Saturdays at 11 am in English and 11:30 in Spanish

Mahjong

Are you interested in learning a new game to play with family and friends? Every Friday at 1 pm we will get together for a fun game of Mahjong here at the library. Learn the rules of this traditional Chinese game and play some Mahjong.  No experience necessary. For adults only.

Game Day

On Friday, December 22nd starting at 4 pm, join us to play video games, board games and card games. This event is open to all ages, bring a friend or family member to try out a new game!

Library Closed for Christmas

Closed for Christmas Holiday

Wishing all of you a merry and safe Christmas holiday from the Liberal Memorial Library family to yours.  In celebration of the holiday, we will be closed December 25th and 26th. 

Teen Club

Are you in middle or high school?  On Wednesday, December 27th at 4 pm, come hang out with your friends to do crafts, watch anime, and decompress from the stresses of life.

Library and Lunch

On Tuesday, January 9th​ at Noon, our book club will meet to discuss “The Thursday Murder Club” by Richard Osman. Bring your lunch and join the discussion.

Kid’s Blacklight Bingo

Kids, on Thursday, January 11th at 4 pm, join us for this fun spin on bingo. Be sure and wear neon and you may win some prizes!

Christmas Fiction Books

Check out our display of Christmas fiction books to help you get in the holiday spirit.

Mr. Nicholas: A Magical Christmas Tale
by Christopher de Vinck

When it becomes known that Mr. Nicholas, the eccentric owner of the local hardware store, is somehow involved with reindeer, toys, and children, the town becomes more and more suspicious that this man is more than just a clerk on Main Street.

Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas: A Year-Round Christmas Mystery
by Vicki Delany

It’s the beginning of December in Rudolph, New York, America’s Christmas Town, and business is brisk at Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, a gift and décor shop owned by Merry Wilkinson. The local amateur dramatic society is preparing a musical production of A Christmas Carol. But it’s not a happy set, as rivalries between cast and crew threaten the production.

Tensions come to a head when a member of the group is found dead. Was someone looking to cut out the competition? Everyone in the cast and crew is a potential suspect, including Aline, Merry’s mother, and Merry’s shop assistant Jackie O’Reilly, who was desperate for a starring role.

It could be curtains for Christmas—and for Merry—unless the killer can be ferreted out of the wings.

The Christmas Boutique: An Elm Creek Quilts Novel
by Jennifer Chiaverini

Just weeks before Christmas, severe wintry weather damages the church hall hosting the Christmas Boutique—an annual sale of handcrafted gifts and baked goods that supports the county food pantry. Determined to save the fundraiser, Sylvia Bergstrom Compson offers to hold the event at Elm Creek Manor, her ancestral family estate and summertime home to Elm Creek Quilt Camp.

But while the Elm Creek Quilters work tirelessly to make sure the Christmas Boutique happens, it may take a holiday miracle or two to make it the smashing success they want it to be.

Marley: A Novel
by Jon Clinch

“Marley was dead, to begin with,” Charles Dickens tells us at the beginning of A Christmas Carol. But in Jon Clinch’s ingenious novel, Jacob Marley, business partner to Ebenezer Scrooge, is very much alive: a rapacious and cunning boy who grows up to be a forger, a scoundrel, and the man who will be both the making and the undoing of Scrooge.

They meet as youths in the gloomy confines of Professor Drabb’s Academy for Boys, where Marley begins their twisted friendship by initiating the innocent Scrooge into the gentle art of extortion. Years later, as Marley toys with the affections of Scrooge’s sister, Fan, Scrooge falls under the spell of Fan’s best friend, Belle Fairchild. 

Now, for the first time, Scrooge and Marley find themselves at cross-purposes. The two men engage in a shadowy war of deception, false identities, forged documents, theft, and cold-blooded murder. Marley and Scrooge are destined to clash in an unforgettable reckoning that will echo into the future and set the stage for Marley’s ghostly return.

Meticulously crafted and beguilingly told, Marley revisits and illuminates one of Charles Dickens’s most cherished works to spellbinding effect.

November Events at the Library

Storytimes – 

  • Monday evenings at 5:30 pm
  • Wednesdays at 10:00 am 
  • Saturdays at 11 am in English and 11:30 in Spanish

Mahjong

Are you interested in learning a new game to play with family and friends? Every Wednesday at 10 am and Friday at 1 pm, we will get together for a fun game of Mahjong here at the library. Learn the rules of this traditional Chinese game and play some Mahjong.  No experience necessary. For adults only.

LEGO Play Day

Kids, unleash your imagination! On Tuesday, November 21st at 4 pm, join us for free-play with LEGO bricks galore.

Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

Have a happy Thanksgiving everyone! The library will close early at 1 pm on Wednesday, the 22nd and will be closed Thursday and Friday. We will reopen on Saturday at 9 am.

Teen Club

Are you in middle or high school?  On Wednesday, November 29th at 4 pm, come hang out with your friends to do crafts, watch anime, and decompress from the stresses of life.

Holiday Open House

On December 7th starting at 6 pm, we are having a holiday celebration at the library. There will be cookies, musical performances, and a special visit from Santa. Bring the kids to listen to Santa tell stories and to take their pictures with Santa. 

hoopla BingePass

A hoopla BingePass gives you unlimited access to great online content for seven days – with a single borrow! hoopla is available FREE with your Liberal Memorial Library card.

If you haven’t tried hoopla yet, it is an all-in-one media service where you can borrow titles in six different formats—audiobooks, eBooks, comics/graphic novels, full music albums, movies, and TV.

Borrow up to 6 titles (also called borrows) per month. You can access the titles you borrow instantly on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. With hoopla, there are no holds or waiting!

To register, please visit your device’s store and download the hoopla digital app, or visit www.hoopladigital.com and go to “Sign up Today”. Enter your email address and create a password for hoopla. After that choose Liberal Memorial Library from the list of nearby libraries. 

It will ask for your Library Card Number and Library PIN (password) to finish creating a hoopla account. If you are unsure of your library card number or password, please call us at 620-626-0180 and we will be happy to help. After you are finished, you will log in to hoopla with your email address and the password that you created.

Also available on

itunes store
amazon play store
chromecast
apple tv
android tv
fire tv
roku

If you choose to use one of your borrows on a BingePass, you can access all of the content in that collection free for seven days. Here is a list of the currently available BingePasses

List of Binge Passes

Hallmark Movies Now BingePass

Stream feel-good films and series for free with your library card!

Puzzle Palace BingePass

All Your Favorite Puzzles in One Place
New games are added daily!

The Great Courses Video BingePass

Each course is broken into multiple easy-to-watch video lessons on a wide range of topics, from Art to Zoology.

Cuentos para niños en español BingePass

Stories for Children in Spanish

These eBooks are ideal for young readers and those new to Spanish. 

GoKidGo Universe BingePass

Adventure-Packed Podcasts for Kids

Hellosaurus BingePass

Screen Time, Reimagined.

Empowers kids to be active participants in every story. Your child can enjoy skill-building activities and hands-on fun for seven days, at no cost to you.

Note: You must download the Hellosaurus iOS or Android app to your mobile device to play this content. No signup is required.

KidzVidz BingePass

Fun-Filled Videos for Every Child

This collection includes dozens of movies and TV shows designed for children of all ages and offers hours of entertainment and education. 

Read-Along 2 Learn BingePass

Looking for an easy way to encourage your emerging reader? With Read-Along eBooks, young readers can explore independently or with narrator support and word highlighting. 

The Highlights Collection BingePass

Positive Fun for Everyone

Does your child love Highlights magazine? Now they can check out fun, interactive content straight from the magazine’s publisher — including puzzles, videos, activities, and more.

hoopla Magazines BingePass

Your Favorite Magazines
Flip through recent digital issues of your favorite magazines.

Curiosity Stream BingePass

Access thousands of films, shows, and series covering science, nature, travel, history, and more. 

Comics Kingdom BingePass

Catch Up on the Comics You Love
With thousands of comic strips at your fingertips, this collection will surely keep you entertained!

GoKidGo Spine Chillers BingePass

Spooky Podcasts for Kids

Keep calm and scare on! This collection of audio podcasts is designed for kids who enjoy a good spooky story. 

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Growing Up BingePass

Social-Emotional Learning for Kids

Kids’ Books in Action BingePass

On-Screen Tales and Adventures

A variety of short entertaining films based on popular picture books, bedtime stories, and nursery rhymes. 

Learn About the World BingePass

Explore People, Places, and Holidays

These carefully selected, kid-friendly titles explore the people and places that shape our world. 

STEAM Powered Kids BingePass

Unlock Your Child’s Curiosity

Fuel your child’s passion for all things STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) with this collection of eBooks and comics.

The Reading Corner BingePass

Enriching Story Time Videos for Kids

Bring story time to your home or take it on the go! With this BingePass, you can view The Reading Corner’s entire collection of more than 900 videos. Designed for kids of all ages.

Go to https://www.hoopladigital.com/browse/binge for more information about hoopla BingePass.

October Events at the Library

Storytimes – 

  • Monday evenings at 5:30 pm
  • Wednesdays at 10:00 am 
  • Saturdays at 11 am in English and 11:30 in Spanish

Mahjong

Are you interested in learning a new game to play with family and friends? Every Wednesday at 10 am and Friday at 1 pm, we will get together for a fun game of Mahjong here at the library.

Game day

On Friday, October 20th starting at 4 pm, join us to play video games, board games and card games. This event is open to all ages, bring a friend or family member to try out a new game!

Teen & Adult Haunted House Contest

If you entered our Teen & Adult Haunted House Contest, Friday, October 20th is the last day to return your entry for the contest. Voting for the best haunted house will begin on Monday the 23rd and end on Saturday the 28th. Be sure to come in and vote for your favorite. Winners will be announced on Tuesday the 31st.

Trunk or Treat

On Monday, Oct. 23rd at 6 pm, the Library will be at the Liberal Rec Center for Trunk-or-Treat with the Library Van. Be sure to stop by and pick up some goodies! Get dressed up and bring your candy bucket to the largest Halloween event in our area.

Teen Club

Are you in middle or high school?  On Wednesday, October 25th at 4 pm, come hang out with your friends to do crafts, watch anime, and decompress from the stresses of life.

Halloween Party

On Tuesday, October 31st Kiwanis will end their Pet & Spook Parade at the library. Everyone’s invited to the library afterwards for our Halloween Party at 4:30 pm, there will be games with plenty of candy and goodies! All ages are welcome.

You must have participated in the Kiwanis Pet & Spook Parade to receive a Kiwanis treat bag.

Lineup for the parade starts at 4 pm. The parade will start at 4:15 pm at the Rock Island Depot. Get a coupon at the beginning of the parade so you can get a treat bag when it is over.

Library and Lunch

On Tuesday, November 14th at 12 p.m. our book club will have a special meeting where they will write down the names of authors they are most thankful for and put them in a bowl for others in the group to draw from.

September Events at the Library

Storytimes – 

  • Monday evenings at 5:30 pm
  • Wednesdays at 10:00 am 
  • Saturdays at 11 am in English and 11:30 in Spanish

Movie Time

On Tuesday, September 19th at 4:30 pm, come to the library and enjoy a movie and free popcorn! A plumber named Mario travels through an underground labyrinth with his brother, Luigi, trying to save a captured princess.

Teen Otaku Club

Do you love anime and manga and are in middle or high school? Then come to our Teen Otaku Club meeting.

On Wednesday, September 20th at 5 pm, we will meet to watch and discuss anime!

Sign up in advance to get a free sticker at the meeting! Join us for your chance at an anime door prize and fun anime/manga discussion.

Game day

On Thursday, September 21st starting at 4 pm, join us to play video games, board games and card games. This event is open to all ages, bring a friend or family member to try out a new game!

Mahjong

We are now offering a 10 am Wednesday game session!

Are you interested in learning a new game to play with family and friends? Every Wednesday at 10 am and Friday at 1 pm, we will get together for a fun game of Mahjong here at the library. Think Gin Rummy using tiles! Learn the rules of this traditional Chinese game and play some Mahjong.  No experience necessary. For adults only. 

Books, Coffee & Donuts

On Wednesday, October 4th starting at 9 am, come to the library to chat with our staff over coffee and donuts about new releases and new events happening that month.

Library and Lunch

On Tuesday, October 10th​ at 12pm, our book club will meet to discuss “Home Before Dark” by Riley Sager. Bring your lunch and join the discussion.

Cozy Mysteries

Now that our evenings are starting to cool off, I’m inclined to curl up with a good book and maybe some fresh baked cookies or muffins. 

Come in and check out our Cozy Mysteries book display. Here are a few cozy mysteries to choose from:

Mrs. Plansky’s Revenge
by Spencer Quinn

Mrs. Loretta Plansky, a recent widow in her seventies, is settling into retirement in Florida while dealing with her 98-year-old father. One night Mrs. Plansky is startled awake by a phone call from a voice claiming to be her grandson Will, who desperately needs ten thousand dollars to get out of a jam. Of course, Loretta obliges―after all, what are grandmothers for.

By morning, Mrs. Plansky has lost everything. Law enforcement announces that Loretta’s life savings have vanished, and that it’s hopeless to find the scammers behind the heist. First humiliated, then furious, Loretta Plansky refuses to be just another victim.

In a courageous bid for justice, Mrs. Plansky follows her only clue on a whirlwind adventure to a small village in Romania to get her money and her dignity back―and perhaps find a new lease on life, too.

Six Sweets Under (A True Confections Mystery)
by Sarah Fox

Former actress Becca Ransom lived her dream in Hollywood for seven years before returning to her hometown of Larch Haven where Becca is pursuing her newest passion as a chocolatier at True Confections, the chocolate shop owned by her grandparents, Lolly and Pops.

While Becca’s testing new flavors and reconnecting with old friends, the town is gearing up for the annual Gondola Races, popular with both residents and tourists, with one exception, local curmudgeon Archie Smith.

Following a heated argument with Pops, Archie is found floating face-down in the canal, and Pops finds himself in hot water as one of the top suspects. Becca’s determined to clear her grandfather’s name, but when the case heats up, she could be facing a sticky end.

Flop Dead Gorgeous: An Andy Carpenter Mystery
by David Rosenfelt 

Retired lawyer Andy Carpenter remembers every dog that’s come through the Tara Foundation’s doors, but the most well-known alum of the dog rescue organization may be Mamie. Adopted by famous actress Jenny Nichols―Andy’s high school girlfriend―the miniature French poodle is now practically a starlet in her own right.

Andy and his wife, Laurie, have dinner with Jenny while she’s in town filming her next big hit. But after an eventful meal, Jenny’s costar is found dead, a knife in his back. It’s not long before Jenny is arrested for the murder and finds herself in need of Andy’s legal services.

While Mamie becomes reacquainted with Tara, Andy’s golden retriever, Andy digs into the lives of the rich and famous.

A Dark and Stormy Tea (A Tea Shop Mystery)
by Laura Childs

A possible serial killer on the loose sends tea maven Theodosia Browning into a whirlwind of investigation in this latest installment of the New York Times bestselling series.

As she approaches St. Philips Graveyard, Theodosia sees two figures locked in a strange embrace. Wiping rain from her eyes, Theodosia realizes she has just witnessed a brutal murder and sees a dark-hooded figure slip away into the fog.

While alerting police, Theodosia recognizes the victim—it is the daughter of her friend, Lois, who owns the Antiquarian Bookshop next door to her own Indigo Tea Shop.

Even though this appears to be the work of a serial killer who is stalking the back alleys of Charleston, Lois begs Theodosia for help. Against the advice of her boyfriend, Detective Pete Riley, amateur-sleuth Theodosia launches her own shadow investigation. 

What’s Happening at the Library this month

Storytimes – 

  • Monday evenings at 5:30 pm
  • Wednesdays at 10:00 am 
  • Saturdays at 11 am in English and 11:30 in Spanish

Cutest Pet Contest Voting

Voting is open this week for our cutest pet contest. Come in to the library and vote for the cutest of the cute.

For the last couple of weeks, people have sent us pictures of their dogs, cats, and other pets to enter our contest. Now it’s time for you to decide the winners. 

Voting ends on Saturday, August 26th and the winner will be announced on the following Monday.

Prizes for the contest were donated by:

  • FURology
  • Liberal Animal Hospital
  • Prairie Pet Mobile Vet
  • Shirley’s Critter Care

Adventurepack “Beginning Bird Watching” Presentation

On Tuesday, August 22nd at 4:30 pm, Dr. Jackie Augustine of Audubon of Kansas will visit the library and teach us how to start the hobby of bird watching. Learn tips and tricks and how to check out the new “Adventurepack” backpacks from the library.

Game day

On Thursday, August 24th starting at 4 pm, join us to play video games, board games and card games. This event is open to all ages, bring a friend or family member to try out a new game!

 Library Closed

The library will be closed on Friday, August 25th for staff training. Our regularly scheduled Mahjong game will be cancelled this week. We will reopen on Saturday for our regular hours, 9am to 1pm.

Books, Coffee & Donuts

On Wednesday, September 6th starting at 9 am, come to the library to chat with our staff over coffee and donuts about new releases and new events happening that month.

Library and Lunch

On Tuesday, September 12th​ at 12pm, our book club will meet to discuss “The Book of Lost Names” by Kristin Harmel. Bring your lunch and join the discussion.

For the Birds – book display

Come in and check out our bird themed book display. It is inspired by Jackie Augustine, the Executive Director for Audubon of Kansas coming to visit our library.

Birder, She Wrote: A Meg Langslow Mystery
by Donna Andrews

Meg is relaxing in the hammock and watching the hummingbirds at their feeders when her hopes for a relaxing early summer morning are dashed.

Meg’s grandmother, Cordelia, shows up, trailed by a nosy reporter who is writing a feature on her for a genteel Southern ladies’ magazine.

Cordelia drafts Meg to accompany her – and the reporter, alas – in their search for a long-lost cemetery. Unfortunately what they discover is not an ancient cemetery but a fresh corpse. Can Meg protect her grandmother – and Caerphilly – from the reporter who seems to see the worst in everything . . . and help crack the case before the killer finds another victim?

 

All the Birds in the Sky
by Charlie Jane Anders

When Patricia Delfine was six years old, a wounded bird led her deep into the forest to the Parliament of Birds, where she met the Great Tree and was asked a question that would determine the course of her life. 

When Laurence Armstead was in grade school, he cobbled together a wristwatch-sized device that could send its wearer two seconds into the future. 

When Patricia and Laurence first met in high school, they didn’t understand one another at all. But as time went on, they kept bumping into one another’s lives. Now they’re both grown up, and the planet is falling apart around them. 

Laurence is an engineering genius who’s working with a group that aims to avert catastrophic breakdown through technological intervention into the changing global climate. Patricia is a graduate of Eltisley Maze, the hidden academy for the world’s magically gifted, and works with a small band of other magicians to secretly repair the world’s every-growing ailments. 

Neither Laurence nor Patricia can keep pace with the speed at which things fall apart. But something bigger than either of them, something begun deep in their childhoods, is determined to bring them together. And will.

Summer Fun at the Library

Summer Reading 

We had a great time during this year’s Summer Reading program and want to thank all of the sponsors who helped make it possible. Without your help funding special events, such as the visit from the Lee Richardson Zoomobile, Mad Science, and Dan Dan the Magic Man, and without your help with Summer Reading prizes, this year’s Summer Reading program could not have been the success that it was.

Summer Lunch Program

Summer Reading may be over but the Summer Lunch program is still continuing until July 27th. USD 480 Nutrition Services is providing free grab-and-go lunches to any child from 1 to 18 years old. The program runs Monday through Thursday and does not require special identification or registration. Limit one meal per child per day.

Time: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Pick-up Locations:  Liberal Memorial Library, Recreation Center (950 S. Grant Avenue), Blue Bonnet Park (1101 W. 8th Street), Light Park (1100 N. Kansas Ave.) and Mary Frame Park (200-298 E. Pancake Blvd)

For more information contact Connie Vogts @ 620-604-2230 or connie.vogts@usd480.net

Teen Otaku Club

Do you love anime and manga and are in middle or high school? Then come to our Teen Otaku Club meeting.

On Wednesday, July 19th at 5 pm we will watch & discuss the anime “Sweetness & Lightning”.

Sign up in advance to get a free sticker at the meeting! Join us for your chance at an anime door prize, snacks, a craft/activity and fun anime/manga discussion.

Bee Jay Storytime

Two of the Liberal Bee Jays will visit the library for a special storytime on July 20th at 4 pm. We will read a couple books, make a craft, and do a meet and greet with the Liberal Bee Jays.

Regular Storytimes – 

  • Monday evenings at 5:30 pm
  • Wednesdays at 10:00 am 
  • Saturdays at 11 am in English and 11:30 in Spanish
  • Facebook Storytimes in English and Spanish

Books, Coffee & Donuts

On Wednesday, August 2nd starting at 9 am, come to the library to chat with our staff over coffee and donuts about new releases and new events happening that month.

Mahjong

Do you love to play Mahjong? Are you interested in learning a new game to play with family and friends? Every Friday at 1 pm, we will get together for a fun game of Mahjong here at the library. Learn the rules of this traditional Chinese game and play some Mahjong.  No experience necessary. For adults only. Signup is required.  

Library and Lunch

On Tuesday, August 8th​ at Noon, our book club will meet to discuss “Remarkably bright creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt. Bring your lunch and join the discussion.

Summer Book Display

Come in and check out our Summer themed book display. Here are a few of the books on display available for checkout.

The Summer List
by Amy Mason Doan

Laura and Casey were once inseparable…

Coming of age in California, Laura felt connected to her best friend in every way. Until one summer night, when a shocking betrayal sent Laura running through the pines, down the dock, and into a new life, leaving Casey and a first love in her wake.

But the past is impossible to escape, and now, after seventeen years away, Laura is pulled home and into a reunion with Casey she can’t resist—one last scavenger hunt. But just as the game brings Laura and Casey back together, the clues unravel a stunning secret that threatens to tear them apart…

Mesmerizing and unforgettable, Amy Mason Doan’s The Summer List is about losing and recapturing the person who understands you best—and the unbreakable bonds of girlhood.

Invincible Summer
by Alice Adams

Four friends. Twenty years. One unexpected journey.

Eva, Benedict, Sylvie, and Lucien graduate in 1997, into an exhilarating world on the brink of the new millennium. But as their dizzying twenties evaporate into their thirties, the once close-knit friends, now scattered and struggling to navigate thwarted dreams, lost jobs, and broken hearts, find themselves drawn together once again in stunning and unexpected ways.

A dazzling depiction of the highs and lows of adulthood, Invincible Summer is a story about finding the courage to carry on in the wake of disappointment and a powerful testament to love and friendship as the constants in an ever-changing world.

Summerlong
by Dean Bakopoulos

From the author of Please Don’t Come Back from the Moon and My American Unhappiness, a deft and hilarious exploration of the simmering tensions beneath the surface of a contented marriage which explode in the bedrooms and backyards of a small town over the course of a long, hot summer.

Claire, Don, and their neighbors and friends find themselves on an existential odyssey, exploring the most puzzling quandaries of marriage and maturity. 

Award-winning writer Dean Bakopoulos delivers a brutally honest and incredibly funny novel about the strange and tenuous ties that bind us, and the strange and unlikely places we find connection. Full of mirth, melancholy, and redemption, Summerlong explores what happens when life goes awry.

#IMAFAN Summer Reading 2023

Summer Reading is nearly here!

Help us kickoff Summer Reading on Thursday, June 1st from 2 to 4 pm at our Summer Reading Kick Off Party. We will have games, hotdogs, chips, lemonade, and more! All ages welcome.

Signup begins June 1st. Sign up online at https://lmlibrary.org/srp2023 or stop by the Kick Off Party to sign up!

This summer’s theme is all about exploring the different characters and stories that get people of all ages excited about reading.

The Children’s Summer Reading Program

How it Works

Children’s program is open to kids ages 0-11 years old. Kids who read (or are read to) 25 hours or more will earn a prize! Fill out and turn in a reading log by July 15th to qualify to earn a prize. Fill out one star on the reading log for every hour your child reads,. When all the stars are filled, your child has read 25 hours and earned a prize!

Come in to the library to pick up your reading log and a copy of the Summer Reading calendar.

The Teen and Adult Summer Reading Programs

How it Works

The Teen Summer Reading Program is open to teens ages 12 to 17 and the Adult Program is open to adults ages 18 and up.

Earn a Liberal Memorial Library Book Buck for every book you read and earn 5 Book Bucks for every Summer Reading event you attend.

After you’ve earned your Book Bucks, you can redeem them anytime at the Library Store located across from the front desk at the library. The store’s inventory will change regularly.

You can also use your Book Bucks to purchase raffle tickets. A raffle drawing for larger prizes will be held at the end of the Summer Reading Program.

Come in to the library to pick up a copy of the Summer Reading calendar.

Summer Reading Events

In addition to our regular library events, we will also have lots of fun Summer Reading events:

Reoccurring

  • Monday evenings at 5:30 pm – Evening Storytime
  • Wednesdays at 10:00 am – Morning Storytime
  • Fridays at 1 pm – Mahjong for Adults
  • Saturdays at 11 am – Saturday Storytime
  • Saturdays at 11:30 in – Saturday Storytime in spanish

1st Week

  • Tues, June 6th at 11 am – Smoky Hills PBS Share A story “All Together Now”

2nd Week

  • Mon, June 12th at 10 am – Exploration Place of Wichita
  • Tues, June 13th at Noon – Book club for Adults
  • Tues, June 13th at 6 pm – Teen Advisory Group

3rd Week

  • Mon, June 19th – Library closed for Juneteenth
  • Wed, June 21st at 5 pm – Teen Otaku Club
  • Thurs, June 22nd at 2 pm – Southern Pioneer Electricity demonstration

4th Week

  • Fri, June 30th at 10 am – Mad Science

5th Week

  • Mon, July 3rd – 4th – Library closed for Independence Day
  • Wed, July 5th at 9 am –  Books, Coffee & Donuts
  • Wed, July 5th at 10 am – Llamas at the library

6th Week

  • Tues, July 11th at Noon – Book club for Adults
  • Tues, July 11th at 6 pm – Teen Advisory Group     
  • Thurs, July 13th at 1 pm – End of Summer Reading Party with Magician Dan Dan the Magic Man
  • Sat, July 15th – Last day to turn in reading logs and to earn and redeem Book Bucks

These are just some of the events we’ll have this Summer. Come in to the library for a copy of the full Summer Reading calendar or visit our website, https://lmlibrary.org, in the coming weeks for more information.

#IMAFAN Summer Reading Book display

Come in to the library and check out our Summer Reading themed book display. It includes books about all kinds of fandoms from a “Tolkien Bestiary” to “The Office, the untold story”. Here are a few:

I Find Your Lack of Faith Disturbing: Star Wars and the Triumph of Geek Culture
by A. D. Jameson

A. D. Jameson takes geeks and non-geeks alike on a surprising and insightful journey through the science fiction, fantasy, and superhero franchises that now dominate pop culture. Walking us through the rise of geekdom from its underground origins to the top of the box office and bestseller lists. “I Find Your Lack of Faith Disturbing” tells the story of how the geeks have inherited the earth.

Religions of Star Trek 
by Ross S. Kraemer, William Cassidy, and Susan L. Schwartz

Is there a God? What evil lurks beyond the stars? Can science save one’s soul? Profound questions like these have inspired the original creators of the Star Trek canon of TV series and films. Religions of Star Trek tackles these challenging questions head-on and examines in detail the humanistic vision of creator Gene Roddenberry.

The Doctors Are In: The Essential and Unofficial Guide to Doctor Who’s Greatest Time Lord
by Graeme Burk

From his beginnings as a crotchety, anti-heroic scientist in 1963 to his current place in British pop culture as the mad and dangerous monster-fighting savior of the universe, the titular character of Doctor Who has metamorphosed in his 50 years on television. And yet the questions about him remain the same: Who is he? Why does he act the way he does? What motivates him to fight evil across space and time?

The Unofficial X-Files Companion: An X-Phile’s Guide to the Mysteries, Conspiracies, and Really Strange Truths Behind the Show
by Ngaire E. Genge 

A comprehensive fan’s guide to the provocative television show providing detailed background information on the program’s subject matter, scripts, characters, and more.

Spring Book Sale at the Library

Storytimes – 

  • Monday evenings at 5:30 pm
  • Wednesdays at 10:00 am 
  • Saturdays at 11 am in English and 11:30 in Spanish
  • Facebook Storytimes in English and Spanish

Books, Coffee & Donuts

On Wednesday, May 3rd starting at 9 am, come to the library to chat with our staff over coffee and donuts about new releases and new events happening that month.

Spring Book Sale and Reception 

Support the library and pick up some good deals at our book sale Tuesday, April 25th – Saturday, April 29th during regular library hours.

  • Tuesday through Thursday – paperbacks will be $0.50 each and all other items will be $1 each.
  • Friday and Saturday – $1 for every bag full of books and $2 for every box full of books.

Funds from the Book Sale go to the Friends of the Library to help support library programs including Baby’s Bookshelf, Budding Bookworms, Summer Reading Program, etc.

Reception

On Monday evening, April 24th from 6 pm – 7:30 pm, there will be an exclusive first pick Book Sale reception for current and new Friends of the Library members only.

Sign up to become a Friend of the Library today. You can renew your membership by paying online with PayPal or in person at the library.

Teen Volunteer Work Day

Teens, there’s still time to get your volunteer hours in. During the month of April, the library will have Teen Volunteer Work Days every Monday starting at 4:30 pm. Volunteer for different creative tasks that will help you achieve your needed volunteer hours.

Kids Bingo

Kids, on Tuesday, April 18th at 4:30 pm, join us for a fun game of Bingo! Snacks and fun prizes will be available!

Teen Otaku Club

Do you love anime and manga and are in middle or high school? Then come to our Teen Otaku Club meeting.

On Wednesday, April 19th at 5 pm we will watch & discuss the anime “Sk8 the Infinity”!

Sign up in advance to get a free sticker at the meeting! Join us for your chance at an anime door prize, snacks, a craft/activity and fun anime/manga discussion.

Game Day

On April 20th, starting at 4:30 pm we’ll have a special “battle the staff” game day. Test your skills against some of the library staff.

This event is open to all ages, bring a friend or family member to try out a new game!

Mahjong

Do you love to play Mahjong? Are you interested in learning a new game to play with family and friends? Every Friday at 1 pm, we will get together for a fun game of Mahjong here at the library. Learn the rules of this traditional Chinese game and play some Mahjong.  No experience necessary. For adults only. Signup is required.  

Library and Lunch

On Tuesday, May 9th​ at Noon, our book club will meet to discuss “ The Last Flight” by Julie Clark. Bring your lunch and join the discussion.

Spring Flowers Book Display

Here are a few books from our Spring Flowers book display.

Death and Daisies: A Magic Garden Mystery
by Amanda Flower

Florist Fiona Knox left behind her gloomy life for a magical garden in Scotland, but a murder on her shop’s opening day spells doom.

The parish minister, Quaid MacCullen, makes it clear that he would be happy to send Fiona back to Tennessee. Then the village’s police chief finds a dead body on the beach, thought to be that of the parish minister. Which makes Fiona a suspect. 

The last thing Fiona wanted to do was play detective again. But now, the rosy future she’d envisioned is going to seed, and if she and Chief Inspector Neil Craig can’t clear her name, her idyllic life will wilt away in Death and Daisies, national bestselling author Amanda Flower’s second enchanting Magic Garden mystery.

The Late Bloomers’ Club
by Louise Miller

Nora, the owner of the Miss Guthrie Diner, is perfectly happy serving up apple cider donuts, coffee, and eggs-any-way-you-like-em to her regulars, and she takes great pleasure in knowing exactly what’s “the usual.” But her life is soon shaken when she discovers she and her free-spirited, younger sister Kit stand to inherit the home and land of the town’s beloved cake lady, Peggy Johnson.

Kit, an aspiring–and broke–filmmaker thinks her problems are solved when she and Nora find out Peggy was in the process of selling the land to a big-box developer before her death. The people of Guthrie are divided–some want the opportunities the development will bring, while others are staunchly against any change–and they aren’t afraid to leave their opinions with their tips.

When a disaster strikes the diner, the community of Guthrie bands together to help her, and Nora discovers that doing the right thing doesn’t always mean giving up your dreams.

The Dandelion Field (A Banister Falls Novel)
by Kathryn Springer

After Raine’s dad walked out, Ginevieve Lightly never lived in one place too long, a rambling lifestyle that defined her daughter’s youth. When their car dies in Banister Falls, Gin promises Raine they can stay until she finishes her senior year of high school. Gin will do anything to make sure her daughter has a bright future . . . a future that’s compromised when Raine reveals she’s pregnant.  

Dan Moretti has only ever called Banister Falls home. After losing his best friend in a tragic accident, Dan devoted himself to responding to fires, rescuing the helpless, and guiding Cody Bennett, his best friend’s son, through life. With Cody being the epitome of the good kid, it was an easy job. Until he says four little words: “The baby is mine.”

As Gin and Dan do the best they can to guide the two teenagers through their early entry into adulthood, they discover together that romance can bloom in the rockiest of situations. And God can turn the pieces of a broken past into a beautiful new beginning.