Joplin Public Library (JPL) has a full month of programming and events lined up for April! A few of them include:
- Teen Takeout Kit – DIY Bookmark (April 9)
- American Red Cross Blood Drive (April 18)
- Super Saturday: Won’t You Be Our Neighbor (April 20)
- Teen Junk Journal Basics (April 25)
View JPL’s online calendar to see a full list of their events, and read highlights from their newsletter below.
April is Joplin Reads Together Month
Joplin Public Library is thrilled to host extensive programs for Joplin Reads Together throughout the month of April! JPL hopes you’ll join them as they explore these programs related to the selected book, The Henna Artist. And be sure to mark your calendar for the author visit on April 23.
The full list of events is as follows:
- The Henna Artist Book Discussion (April 4 @ 6:00 to 7:00 pm)
- Yoga Class with Sarah Kelly (April 6 @ 9:30 to 10:30 am)
- “The Henna Artist in Context: A Brief History of Britain, India, & Indian Independence” by Dr. Rebecca Shriver of Missouri Southern State University (April 9 @ 5:30 pm)
- Master Gardening Class: Herbs with Eric Osen (April 11 @ 6:00 to 7:30 pm)
- Plant Swap (April 13 @ 10:00 to 11:00 am)
- Adult Take-Home Kit: Mug Decorating (April 15 @ 12:00 pm)
- The Henna Artist Book Discussion (April 17 @ 1:00 to 2:00 pm)
- Author Visit and Book Signing: The Henna Artist with Alka Joshi (April 23 @ 7:00 pm)
Resource Spotlight: Health & Wellness Library of Things Launches
JPL is launching a new Health & Wellness category as part of our Library of Things, thanks to a recently awarded Bramlage & Willcoxon Foundation Grant. Because of the grant award, twenty new items were purchased for the Health & Wellness category, including such items as a professional-grade carpet cleaner, a blood pressure monitor, light therapy lamp, exercise equipment, and more. The new component to the Library of Things is available starting April 1, 2024.
“The Library of Things has been an extremely popular collection since its debut in May of 2023, and we believe that adding this category to the collection will only increase its usefulness to our patrons,” said Lori Crockett, PR/Marketing Assistant. “We want each member of the community to have resources available to them to not only increase their informational awareness surrounding health and wellness topics, but also to be able to provide some physical resources that will help. Inclusivity is important to the Library and this collection will be available for all community members who have a Joplin Public Library card.”
The Bramlage & Willcoxon Foundation mission of “improving the lives of people and communities it touches by focusing on health, education, and children” is in direct alignment with the Health & Wellness addition to the Library of Things. The Library is thankful for the award and the opportunity to enrich and improve the lives of our community members by providing access to health and wellness resources.
New Computers in Makerspace
Two new computers have been purchased and installed in the Makerspace! The computers are 27″ top tier Dell Inspiron All-in-One Windows 11 touch screen PCs with a separate Nvidia graphics card. They have plenty of power for 4K video editing and beyond.
Each computer features the latest full suite of Adobe Creative Cloud 2024 software and a full Microsoft Office suite as well. They also have current 3D print slicing and model repair programs like Cura, MeshMixer, etc.
There are also high-speed data transfer hubs featuring USB, USB-C, MicroSD, and full-sized SD card readers. Come in today and check them out in the Makerspace!
From the Post Reading Room
Spring Exhibits in the Library
Did you know that the Post Art Library curates arts exhibits in the Library? The next time you visit, check out one of these offerings! Or perhaps you’re interested in showing your own artwork in the Library? If so, you can complete and submit the Exhibit Your Work form on the Post Art Library’s website here.
This month, the Post Art Library is proud to present Sgraffito by Joplin-based artist Linda Ellard-Brown. Her exhibit will be on display until Tuesday, April 30. The word “sgraffito” means the cutting or scratching through an outer coating of slip, glaze, or englobe to expose the different colored clay body beneath. It comes from the Italian word “graffito,” which means to scratch. In use in Europe since classical times, especially in 16th century Italy, sgraffito can also be found in African art. Linda is drawn to sgraffito because of the positive and negative spaces that can be created. Her work is very cohesive, yet each piece is unique. Although she typically uses organic patterns, such as flowers and leaves, she occasionally adds something different, such as a bird or koi fish. “It’s nice to discover your gift, but the real joy for me comes in sharing this gift. I hope you enjoy my work as much as I have enjoyed creating it,” says Linda.
The Post Art Library has also partnered with JPL to preset Artrageous, an exhibit featuring the watercolor paintings of artist Joan Allen in the Library’s Bramlage and Willcoxon Foundation Gallery from Thursday April 4 to Thursday, May 30. Joan is a graduate of the University of Alabama and loves working with the elements of art, using many colors and lines within her watercolor and acrylic works. Her Twiglette collection, which comprises half of this exhibit, portrays women in action, enjoying life, and was inspired by Joan’s observations of friends and family. The other half of her exhibit consists of watercolors featuring bird and floral themes. In addition to exhibiting her artwork, Joan teaches techniques in painting and drawing, as she has for many years. The public is invited to an artist talk with Joan and a closing reception in the gallery on Thursday, May 30 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. This event is free and open to the public, and registration isn’t necessary. Find out more here.
The Post Art Library is also partnering with the Boys & Girls Club of Southwest Missouri to present a selection of artworks inside JPL for National Library Day, a celebration of the crucial role that libraries and librarians play in our society that takes place each year on April 6. This year, members of the Joplin Boys & Girls Club created spring-themed artworks that will be exhibited in the Library’s Local History Room from Saturday, April 6 to Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
Want to learn more about current or upcoming exhibits hosted by the Post Art Library? Contact the Post Art Library Director Jill Halbach at 417.623.7953, ext. 1041.
About Joplin Public Library:
Since 1902, JPL has been fulfilling the information needs of citizens of Joplin and the surrounding community. JPL opens tomorrow’s doors today through diverse opportunities to learn, create, explore, and have fun.
Reference:
Joplin Public Library
417.623.7953
joplinpubliclibrary.org
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