December 2025 Newsletter

Dear Library Community,

Can you believe it’s already December? In November, we had a blast at the “Stand Up for Books and Vets” Comedy Show and our 2nd Annual Harvest Street Festival! A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in the fun and laughter.

We want to extend a SPECIAL THANK YOU to:

THE SPONSORS OF STAND UP FOR BOOKS AND VETS:

American Legion Post 317 – donated space, Ralph Gracie - Georgetown Security, Furniture Medic by AFD, Cozmo Lewis - Bespoke, Pupology Georgetown, Leander Beer Market, Jonah Tafoya Entertainment.

This event wouldn’t have been possible without our amazing sponsors!

THE HARVEST FESTIVAL SPONSORS:

Tanya Clawson, ACDI - Al Clawson Disposal, A+ Bounce Houses, Fiber First, Action Septic Services, Safeguard Controls, Lite and Barricades, Fidelis Media, QMart, Sonterra MUD, Andrew Bilger, JRMS Honor Society, American Legion Security.

ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND SUPPORT:

Audion Broadcasting - Nate Gregurek, JISD High School Honor Society, Key Club, Spanish Honor Society, Student Council, Honor Choir and their teachers - Jamie Pruitt, Aston Little, The DeReese Family, Our Teen Techs, Georgetown Sertoma Group, Greg Gregurek, Bill Lawson, Jeff Hage for prepping the parking spaces, All the other wonderful volunteers who dedicated their day to making our event a success.

ALL OF THE VENDORS, LIBRARY BOARD, STAFF, AND FRIENDS GROUP.

We could not have achieved this success without your contributions!

With immense gratitude, we’re pleased to announce that Sonterra M.U.D. has voted to extend the library's contract through June 30, 2026, enabling us to plan and construct our new location.

We’re thrilled to move forward with plans for the new library! Gary Wang Architects has shared several design concepts to kick off discussions about the future of the library complex. Nate Chessher of Parker Communication will handle utility construction, while the City of Jarrell has committed to facilitating permitting and zoning. Jarrell Schwertner Water will provide the necessary services for the water hookup. Our next step is securing funding for both the temporary building and the new library. In January, a committee will be formed to lead a Capital Campaign for the new permanent facility.

Library leaders encourage everyone who supports us to assist in raising funds for our temporary building, as this has become a pressing need for the library's future. The construction will take approximately 12 weeks, followed by a move to the property. Building this community complex will truly take a village.

Wishing you a joyful and restful holiday season!

We continue to THRIVE in 2025! Join us in celebrating our success!

Sincerely,

Susan Gregurek

Support Jarrell Community Library and Resource Center this Giving Tuesday!

Your support helps craft a vibrant learning environment for our community. At JCLRC, your contribution fuels quality resources and programs. Together, we nurture literacy, wellness, and digital skills, as well as, begin building our future home.

Why Give?

* Our staff works diligently to bring in health, business and social services to the community.

*Our food bank provides a daily source of food for those in need.

*The Library is a hub of resources for those entering the workforce.

*Early Literacy, Homeschool, Summer Reading, and Adult Literacy classes provide educational, STEM, and socialization for the community.

*The Library provides a community space for all ages to meet new friends and socialize.

*The library must move to it's new location in within 6 months. The new temporary building will take 3 months to build.

Your generosity plays a key role in sustaining our shared space of growth and discovery.

https://tinyurl.com/2b4zvuc7

Due to the unexpected closure of Baker & Taylor, access to Boundless will end on December 15, 2025. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) is exploring all options to move the E-Read Texas program to another vendor, but a new app likely won’t be available until March 2026 at the earliest.

Unfortunately, this means there will be about two months with no e-book/audiobook access. Checkout history, wish lists, and holds will not transfer from Boundless to the new app, so please make a note of what you have on your lists if you want to retain this information. If you have any questions, please contact your local library staff, and thank you for your patience as we work through this unexpected challenge.

The Library and community appreciate the fantastic Frost Bank of Georgetown's staff for their fantastic seminar on Understanding Banking and Finances. Our audience was impressed with the knowledge they gained from the Frost Team. Thank you for the information and snacks.

Dec. 1: All Day MEXICANO MONDAY

Dec. 13: Very Merry Jarrell 3:00-7:00 pm

Dec. 14: Super Smash Bros Tournament 5:00-7:30pm

Dec. 18: Songs with Santa 10:30-11:30pm

Senior Games Group: Tuesdays 1:00 pm

Seniors That Sew: Wednesdays 10:00 am

Crochet for Charity: Wednesdays 5:30 pm

Dungeons and Dragons: Fridays 5:00 pm

Magic the Gathering: 2nd ,3rd, 4th &5th Monday at 5:00 pm

Wellness Through Music Exploration: 1st Monday of the Month 5:00 pm

Veterans Support Group: 3rd Monday of the Month 6:00 pm

Crafting with Deb: 2nd Tuesday of the Month 4:30pm

Teen Support Club: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays 6:00 pm

Grief Support for Adults: 1st & 3rd Thursdays of the Month 6:00 pm

Serenity Seekers : 3rd Saturday of the Month 2:00 - 4:00 pm

Neurodivergent Friends: 2nd and 4th Thursday 6:00 pm

ASL - American Sign Language Community Coffee Social: 3rd Friday of the Month 6:00 pm

Green Thumb Gardeners: 2nd Saturday of the Month 10:30 am

Visit the website for updated calendar events: https://jarrellcommunitylibrary.org/

Our next session will be on December 10th from 3-4pm with more exciting Holiday themed topics with PreK–2nd graders, led by Ms. Anne , 3rd–5th graders, led by Ms. Kathleen, 6th–12th graders, led by Ms. Ophelia.

This program is a wonderful way for children to discover new skills, spark curiosity, and form friendships, while parents and guardians gain valuable support and community connections. We can’t wait to see you at the next session!

We had a wonderful start to our Storytimes this month! We had an exciting month of great activities and stories prepared by the students. All Storytimes run from 10:30–11:30 AM:

• PreK Storytime – Tuesdays for ages 3–5

  • Dec 2: Little and Big

  • Dec 9: This is a Peach

• Books and Babies – Thursdays for ages 0–3

  • Dec 4: Newt

  • Dec 11: Otter

• Bilingual Storytime – Fridays for all ages

  • Dec 5: Special Guest (in English)

  • Dec 12: A las escondidas

Please arrive on time to enjoy the full experience. We look forward to seeing families join us for fun, learning, and community connection!

The holidays can be fun, but they can also get loud, stressful, and just… a lot. Mindfulness can help you stay steady when everything feels chaotic. Simple things like taking a slow 4-2-6 breath, noticing one thing around you, or tuning into just one sense—a sound, a color you like, or the warmth of your drink—can calm you down fast.

Taking one deep breath before you answer stressful questions can help you protect your peace and keep from reacting in the moment. You can also step away for a minute, dim the lights if you can, lower the noise, or take mini-breaks every hour. Some people like carrying a small grounding item, like a ring or bracelet, to help them reset.

And if you can, create a little calming spot at home or even in your car—a soft blanket, a gentle light, or a scent you like can help your body relax. Mindfulness isn’t about doing it perfectly; it’s just giving yourself permission to slow down and find small pockets of peace during the holiday rush.

Taking a break during the Holiday Season! We will re-group at the start of the New Year January 2026!

With thanks and understanding, Ailina and Gina!

Families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are invited to join our ASD Support Group, meeting on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month from 6:00–7:00 PM. Designed for children ages 0–12 and their parents, this program offers a safe, supportive space to connect, share, and learn together.

While children enjoy fun, age-appropriate activities, parents can engage in open discussions, exchange ideas, and gain valuable resources. The group’s goal is to build community, provide encouragement, and offer practical tools for families navigating the ASD journey.

December is recognized as Seasonal Depression Awareness Month

How to focus on wellness in December

• Address seasonal depression: Recognize the signs of SAD and prioritize self-care, such as getting as much natural light as possible and maintaining a routine.
• Practice holiday stress management: Focus on self-care, exercise, and sleep, and use resources like workshops or online articles for strategies to manage holiday stress.
• Prioritize safety: Take steps to prevent impaired driving and ensure any gifts are safe and age-appropriate.
• Stay informed: Follow health observances on social media or through professional organizations to access tips and resources throughout the month.

The Friends of the Jarrell Library Group is the fundraising branch of the Jarrell Community Library and Resource Center's library system. This group's mission is to engage with the community to gather sponsorships, generate fundraising ideas, and spearhead initiatives to secure the funds necessary for the library's continued operation. If you would like to request a volunteer form, please contact jarrellfriends@gmail.com.

We're calling on passionate and dedicated individuals like YOU to help us create unforgettable events and raise essential funds. Whether you can lend a hand with event logistics, help spread the word through marketing, or bring fresh and exciting ideas for new events, we need your talents!

Every bit of help counts, and your support will directly impact our success. If you're ready to make a real difference, we’d love for you to be part of our amazing team.

Sign up today and help us create something special! 💫