Happy Spring! Happy Easter! March has flown by—literally! This month has been bustling with programs, activities, and visitors. We had a fantastic Spring Break Week filled with STEM activities.

Have you participated in our Beanstack Challenge yet? We are extremely grateful to FiberFirst Internet for their generous donation that covers the purchase of Beanstack for 2025. Let the challenges commence!

We warmly welcome our new library members! We encourage you to follow us on Facebook and Instagram and get involved in our library activities. If you have some spare time, we would love for you to volunteer.

I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to everyone who dedicates their time to support our library as it grows and evolves. We truly couldn't thrive without each and every one of you! It takes a community to operate a library and resource center.

• Sylvia White - Front Desk Assistant
• Donna Oestrick - Circulation and Adult Programs
• Ailina Aponte - Mental Wellness Peer Support Specialist
• Board of Directors: A heartfelt thank you to Janet Hage, Barb Horak, Shay Stearns, Wes Roach, Sterling Leavitt, and Andrew Quintana for your commitment and volunteer efforts!
• Gwen Blakeslee for her unwavering dedication as our Treasurer for over three years. We wish her all the best as she retires from our Board.
• Jennifer Leavitt - Friends of Jarrell Library Group, who fundraises to support our library. We are in need of many new volunteers to assist her as we prepare to move out of our location at the end of the year.
• Our Storytime Leaders: Shay Stearns, Anita Solsberg (Mother Goose), Tanya G. Alvarado (Bilingual), and Ann Hamman (Support)
• Volunteer Group Leaders: Katie Ware (ASD Group), Trinity Findley (Calming Crafts), Spenser Cook (Smash Bros), Jon Aponte (Dungeons and Dragons), Emily Kuehne (Seniors That Sew), Marilia Guimaraes (Crochet)
• Adult Literacy Classes: Maria Gonzalez, Felipe Garcia, Lupita Garcia
• IT/Tech Teacher: Fernando Godina
• Web Designer: Roger Jorns, Reanimation Design
• Volunteers: Karen De Simone, John and Dana Simpson, Janet Wetlund, Melinda Garcia, The DeReese Family, Magnolia Blaschke
• The Senior's Social Group
• AARP, Foundation Communities, Jarrell Chamber of Commerce, FiberFirst, American Legion Post 317, City of Jarrell, Jarrell EDC, Mexicano Grille, Love At First Bite, Heritage Broadband, Elite Technical Solutions, Sonterra MUD
• And ALL OF OUR DONORS

The Jarrell Community Library and Resource Center would not be flourishing without your support!

Exciting opportunities are on the horizon, so stay updated with our calendar!

Don’t miss out on our Beanstack Challenge, Community Market, Royal Tea Party, Tech Classes, new English and Spanish classes, Williamson County Ag Extension Master Gardener classes, D&D, Smash Brothers Tournament, and more!

Susan Gregurek

April: All Day: Mexicano Monday

1:00: Weekly Tuesdays Senior Games Group

10:00: Weekly Wednesdays Sewing for Charity

5:30: Weekly Wednesdays Crochet Group

5:30: Wednesdays Autism Support Playgroup

2:00: 2nd Weds.of the Month: Homeschool Meetup K-3rd Grades

3:30: 2nd Weds. of the Month: Homeschool Meetup 4th-12 Grades

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

5:00: 3rd Monday of the Month: Wellness Through Music

4:30: 3rd Weds of the Month: Calming Crafts

* Tech classes will begin in March. Updates will be sent out soon

5:00 pm Every Friday Dungeons and Dragons

April 6: 5:00-7:00 pm Smash Bro.s Tournament (See flyer)

April 19: 10-2 Community Market at Cougar Plaza (See flyer)

May 3: 3:00 pm Mother's Day Royal Tea Party (See flyer)

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

The library is continuing to grow and expand. We invite you to consider applying to become a new Library Board of Directors member. You may click on the link for the application. Applications may be turned in at the library.

Board Meetings are on the Third Thursday of the Month at 5:30 pm.

The State Free Ebook services have migrated to Boundless by Baker Taylor. You can get the app through Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Look for the Boundless App. Ebooks are FREE to check out online. To sign in use your library card number as your login and your phone number as the password. It's easy! For more information: https://www.boundless-app.com/

Jarrell Community Library and Resource Center would like to give special thanks to Mexicano Grille owner, Jose Leon, for his continued support of Jarrell Community Library and Resource Center each month. The generous donation from Mexicano Monday supports our operations and programs. We also appreciate the community members who visit Mexicano Grille on Mexicano Monday. Your support helps the library provide many services to the community.

Spring is the perfect time to refresh your self-care routine and focus on both mental and physical well-being. Start by spending more time outside—whether it’s a walk in the park or simply enjoying the fresh air. Aim for at least 30 minutes of outdoor time each day to boost your mood and reduce stress.

Revamp your self-care habits by trying a new morning routine, indulging in relaxing evening rituals, or journaling to reflect on the season. Spring is also great for exploring new hobbies or revisiting old passions, like gardening or painting, which can support your mental health.

Clear mental clutter by practicing mindfulness or meditation, and take time to reassess your goals for the season. Focus on personal growth, new projects, or self-compassion. Don’t forget to nourish your body with fresh seasonal foods, which are great for boosting energy and mood.

Prioritize rest by creating a calming bedtime routine, and stay hydrated with plenty of water, adding fruits or herbs for extra refreshment.

By embracing these simple practices, you can refresh your routine and embrace the growth that comes with spring.

Storytime is more than just a fun activity; it’s a powerful tool for emotional healing and personal growth. For children, stories help them understand and express their emotions, offering a safe space to process feelings like fear, sadness, and anger. Through these narratives, kids learn coping skills, build empathy, and develop resilience.

Adults also benefit from storytelling, as it allows them to reflect on their own experiences, reframe challenges, and gain hope and strength. Practical ways to incorporate therapeutic storytime include using books to address emotional issues, holding regular family storytime rituals, and writing personal stories for reflection.

In short, storytelling isn’t just for entertainment—it helps both children and adults process emotions, heal, and grow. Its therapeutic benefits make it a valuable tool for emotional well-being.

This month’s homeschool meetup was a blast with a STEM-focused activity involving Army-inspired pom-pom launchers. Students worked individually and in teams to design, build, and test their launchers using materials like popsicle sticks, rubber bands, plastic spoons, cups, and balloons. Along the way, they learned about force, velocity, and trajectory while refining their designs through trial and error.

The Army theme added an exciting twist, as participants competed in challenges to test the distance and accuracy of their launchers. It was a great opportunity for students to practice both individual problem-solving and teamwork. The event was both educational and fun, giving students a hands-on understanding of engineering principles while fostering a sense of camaraderie. Many left eager to continue experimenting with their launchers, and we can’t wait to see what next month’s meetup will bring!