April has been an amazing month. Besides our regularly scheduled programs, we attended a conference, had several fundraising events and were Swarmed by the Mineola FFA.

Conference was fun and we learned a few things as well as reconnected with librarians we get to see only once a year.

Fundraising. Oh my! This community is wonderful. We had a very successful Cookie Sale, and the Easter Bunny hopped by for a visit and photographs. Next we had a book sale, which accidentally fell on Hwy. 80 Sale weekend. Finally, the East Texas Giving Day on-line giving event. Every little bit helps and we appreciate the community’s support.

Students from Mineola High School FFA “swarmed” the library again this year. I was dreading a project where I had to pull most all of the mystery books and reorder them. Six young women arrived, received instructions once, and were off. In about an hour all of those 2,619 books were shifted around from their original order into a new more usable order. That would have taken this director a good 3-4 days. It was awesome. For those familiar with the mystery and large print mystery collection, books are no longer on the bottom-most shelf.

The library will be at Bizzy Bee Academy’s event at Cafe U on Friday, May 2 from 3-5:30 p.m. Stop by and visit. Find out what is happening at the library.

Regular programs will be wrapping up in May. Homeschool Heroes will wrap up on Friday, May 2 at 10 a.m. Toddler Story Time on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. will continue until May 20 for children ages 18 months to 3 years with their adult. Preschool Story Time is on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. until May 21 for children ages 3-5 with their adult. American Girls will meet on May 10 for the last time until September, and registration by May 7 is a must for girls seven and older and their mom to attend.

Lone Star Legal Aid will be here on Tuesday, May 13 from 1-3 p.m. Stop by and learn about this organization and how they may assist you. This month their visit is on the second Tuesday.

Heads up for a fun fundraiser on Tuesday, May 13 at 7 p.m. in the Historic Select Theater. “Secondhand Lions” is the movie of the night, and monetary donations will be collected for the library. Come out and join us for a good movie, fellowship and to help the library through donations and the Select through concession sales.

The library will be closed on Saturday, May 24 so our staff may enjoy the Memorial Day weekend with their friends and family.

Remember, the Mineola Memorial Library is a 501(c)3, non-profit and your donations may be tax-deductible.