February Newsletter 2026

Dear Library Community,

February is a month filled with celebrations, including Valentine's Day, Mardi Gras, Presidents' Day, Black History Month, American Heart Month, Chinese New Year, Dental Health Month, and Random Acts of Kindness Day. Here at the library, we take pride in honoring our history, our community, and our nation.

The library is proud to announce we are in the process of creating a Community Business Directory. If you own a business (large or small) and would like to be included in our business directory, there is a link below for details. This will allow our community to "shop local" and support the business owners in Jarrell.

Important Dates and Events

• Voter Registration- February 2nd is the final day to register to vote in the Primaries. You can pick up a Voter Registration applications at the library. The Women's League of Voters will be at the library on February 17th with Voter Guides to assist you in the upcoming March Primaries.
• Palentine's Party- If you are 55 or older, we invite you to join us for our collaborative Palentine's Party with Sonterra Parks and Recreation on February 5th from 1-4 p.m. at the Sonterra Club House.
• Coding Club- For children in grades 5-8. Joe, an industry professional, will be leading a Coding Club. He is eager to share his expertise with the young minds of our community, and we are grateful for his dedication to our children.

Acknowledgments and Updates

The Library staff and Library Board extend their heartfelt thanks to the City of Jarrell for their ongoing support in 2026, as well as to Wilco Scrap Metal for their generous contribution toward our new portable building. Here’s an update on our future location: we are just two months away from needing to begin work on our portable building. So far, we've raised $15,000 of the $94,000 needed for construction, and we urgently need contributions to our fund. All donations, large or small, are greatly appreciated. Our library partners are actively working to finalize the site plan and prepare the site for our future. The only missing piece is our portable building, and the excitement is building! Join us in creating a legacy for the future hub of community services and a new library.

Upcoming Activities

Many exciting activities are on the horizon at the library, including:

• Teen Entrepreneur Class
• A K-Pop Party
• STEM Adventures Party
• Crafting Craziness
• 1st Annual Flower, Art, and Wine Festival

Stay tuned for more details!

Warm Regards,

Susan

February 2: All Day MEXICANO MONDAY

February 5: 55+ Palentine's Day Party 1:00-4:00 pm

February 12: Google Workspace Tech Training 1:00-3:00 pm

February 21: Teen Entrepreneur Workshop 11:00-2:00

February 21: Overdose Awareness Informational Class 1:00 pm

February 26: Navigating Health Apps Tech Training 1:00-3:00 pm

Spring Break Parties: Located at Coolwater Clubhouse

March 16: Crafting Craziness 2:00-4:00 pm

March 17: K-Pop Party 1:00-4:00 pm

March 18: STEM Adventures Party 2:00-4:00 pm

March 25: Investigating AI Tech Training 1:00-3:00 pm

April 11: Frost Bank Class- Banking Options 10:30 am

April 11: Flower, Art, Wine Festival at Axis Winery 11:00 am 5:00 pm

April 22: Investigating Wellness Apps Tech Training 1:00-3:00 pm

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

Coding Club: Saturdays 11:00 pm Grades 5-8

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

Smash Bro.s Tournament: 3rd Sunday of the Month 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

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

Exciting Classes Scheduled by Marquita Fagan, Our DigitalLift Navigator

Marquita Fagan, our DigitalLift Navigator, has organized a series of engaging classes for the community. Be sure to mark your calendars and sign up to participate!

Class Highlights

• Explore Google Workspace

• Learn about Health Apps:

  • MyChart

  • Nutrition

  • Healthy habits

  • Additional apps to enhance your well-being

• Introduction to A.I. Apps:

  • Discover practical uses for A.I.

  • Understand how to differentiate between "real" and "not real" information

We welcome your suggestions for other topics of interest for future classes. We are grateful for Marquita's expertise and her willingness to share her knowledge with us!

The next language classes will begin April 12th. Classes are $30 for first time students and free for returning students. Last day to register is April 6th.

Join us for our Homeschool Group Meetup on Feburary 11th from 3-4pm.

This monthly meetup features hands-on STEM activities for students Pre-K through 12th grade, led by our fantastic teachers: Ms. Anne (Pre-K–2nd), Ms. Kathleen (3rd–5th), and Ms. Ophelia (6th–12th). It’s a great way for students to learn, explore, and connect with other homeschooling families.

Storytime isn’t just about books—it’s about connection. For kids, it builds early literacy skills, imagination, and emotional understanding. For adults, it offers a chance to slow down, be present, and share meaningful moments together. Reading aloud creates routine, comfort, and connection at any age, making storytime a simple but powerful way to support learning, bonding, and well-being for the whole family.

All Storytimes run from 10:30–11:30 AM:

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

Occasional forgetfulness is a normal part of aging, but memory or thinking problems that interfere with daily life may be signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and typically develops gradually.

Early symptoms often include forgetting recent information, repeating questions, difficulty finding words, and trouble completing familiar tasks. People may also become confused about time or place, make poor decisions, or withdraw from social activities. Mood and personality changes, such as increased anxiety or irritability, are also common.

While some changes are normal with age, symptoms that worsen over time or affect independence should be discussed with a healthcare provider. Early evaluation can help identify treatable conditions and provide support and guidance.

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.

February we can focus and practice being Thankful and exploring 30 Days of Gratitude https://healthwealthbridge.com/30-days-of-gratitude/

Heart Health (American Heart Month):

Get Active: Engage in 15-30 minutes of daily exercise like walking, skiing, or hiking to improve cardiovascular health.

Nutritious Eating: Focus on heart-healthy meals, reducing sodium, and incorporating more "meatless" days.

Check-ups: Use this month to check your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Mental Well-being & Emotional Health:

Gratitude Practice: Keep a daily journal or share thankful thoughts to combat winter blues.

Mindfulness: Practice 5-10 minutes of deep breathing or meditation to reduce stress.

Unplug: Dedicate time away from screens to focus on hobbies like reading, painting, or bathing.

Social Connection & Self-Care:

Foster Relationships: Reach out to friends or family for a coffee, walk, or to share feelings.

Celebrate Love: Use Valentine's Day to show appreciation for friends, family, and yourself.

Plan Ahead: Combat winter fatigue by planning spring activities and goals.

Physical Activity & Self-Care:

Consistent Activity: Try fun, short, and frequent workouts rather than intense, sporadic ones.

Indoor Wellness: If cold, try indoor yoga or home workouts, or take a warm bath with salts to soothe muscles.

February 2026 is set to be a significant month for new book releases across genres, featuring highly anticipated titles from bestselling authors in thrillers, romance, fantasy, and non-fiction. Key releases include new works from Brandon Sanderson, Kate Quinn, Tayari Jones, and a memoir from Gavin Newsom.

Stop by and ask about our NEW arrivals. We have them in all genres and demographics.

• We have a fee for all new library card holders with three Categories (Individual, Family and Military.) This applies for existing members with your renewal. Ask your friendly front desk staff for assistance.
• We will issue a TexShare Card after 30 Days. Ask at the front desk. There is no fee and is issued each year.
• Patrons will be notified if items are not returned in a timely manner. You will be charged if a book is lost or destroyed.
• We currently do not have an eBook service. The State Library is working to obtain a new service. We will update you as soon as we have information.

• Dictionary Milestone: The very first installment of the Oxford English Dictionary was published on February 1, 1884, a massive project that took over 40 years to complete.

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! 💫