January 2026 DIRECTOR’S NOTE Gary Branson MEMORY KITS NOW PART OF COLLECTION Designed to spur stories and recognition It’s that time of year again when we put the last year in the books and start an exciting new year! This year America will celebrate 250 years of Independence. We have so many great programs lined up to mark different parts of our grand history and we look forward to seeing all of you, our amazing patrons, as we remember what has made us the country we are. To start the year-long celebration, you can find the full list of planned programs and information about getting your own America 250 Passport at Marion Library.org/America250. Of course, we are also excited about new books and authors in 2026. You can find an ever-growing list of authors scheduled to visit your Library at MarionLibrary.org/ authorseries. And every year we find books that move us, make us laugh and cry, and explore the wonders of our world. I’m challenging everyone to read something out of your comfort zone. Something you would normally skip. Maybe something from our 2026 book discussion list. Just stop by the display at the library or find a full list at MarionLibrary.org/ bookdiscussions. Marion, I love my comfort reads but I also enjoy finding new treasures that surprise me. Happy 2026 Everyone!! We’re excited to introduce Memory Kits, as a new Library resource! These kits are designed to support community members experiencing memory loss and cognitive changes by keeping individuals positively engaged for as long as possible. Each kit is filled with simple, enjoyable activities that encourage connection, conversation, and creativity. Marion Public Library is committed to developing a collection of kits that will help our patrons to continue to pursue their interests and to enjoy lifelong learning, regardless of cognitive impairments such as dementia. “With our aging population along with our continued commitment to offering lifelong learning opportunities -- no matter the phase of life -- these kits provide meaningful engagement and a renewed sense of purpose,” says Marion Public Library Director, Gary Branson. Following the guidelines and tools supplied by The Ohio Council for Cognitive Health, we currently have three kits ready to share. Our goal is to continue adding to the kit collection because the subjects that spark memories are endless. Library outreach staff are excited to demonstrate how best to use these new resources with interested community entities and individuals under their care. The Memory Kits will be stored as a special collection of Marion Public Library that can be checked out or used in the library. Each kit includes A Guide to Using Your Memory Kit booklet and activities designed for care partners and individuals under their care to complete together. Current kit subjects: • Sensory: Felt Flowers/Leaves Sorting, Tangrams, Movement with Scarves • Home Life: Sock Matching, Towel Folding • Office Life: Organizing Office Supplies, Brain Games, Correspondence These kits have been made possible through a generous grant from Marion Rotary Foundation and the hard work of MPL staff member Kristinne Seibel. She saw the need, and did the research and legwork to make the kits available to the community.
Jan 1 Closed - New Year’s - All day Jan 5 Lapsit Baby Time @ 11am Game Night @ 5pm Jan 6 Fiction Book Discussion @ 6pm Jan 7 Sweeten Your Skills: A Cupcake Decorating Class for Adults @ 5:30pm Jan 8 Story Time! @ 10 &11am Teen Tabletop Time @ 3:15pm Jan 10 Peace & Freedom Committee’s Martin Luther King Jr. Speech Finals and Judging @ 10am Jan 12 Lapsit Baby Time @ 11am What can Libby do for you? @ 2pm Jan 13 Books in Focus @ 3pm Palettes & Pages @ 5:30pm Jan 14 How to Have Healthy Political Discussions and Why You Should Try @ 5:30pm Jan 15 Story Time! @ 10 & 11am Teen Tabletop Time @ 3:15pm Jan 16 Poe Toast @ 3:30pm Jan 19 Closed - Martin Luther King Jr. Day Jan 20 Nonfiction Book Discussions @ 6pm Jan 21 Kids Book Show & Tell @ 10:30am January Junk Journaling @ 5:30pm Jan 22 Story Time! @ 10 & 11am Teen Tabletop Time @ 3:15pm Jan 26 Lapsit Baby Time @ 11am Jan 27 BookTalk @ 6pm Jan 28 The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 @ 5:30pm Jan 29 Story Time! @ 10 & 11am Teen Tabletop Time @ 3:15pm calendar of events https://www.MarionLibrary.org/calendar/month *ALL - Registration and a fee required Adult Child/Teen ALL Digital Lit Last month we celebrated the top reads from our staff, and we encourage you to continue to ask them for recommendations. But did you ever wonder what the most checked out books in the Library were in 2025? Here are the top three checkouts from the different collections of the Library: Juvenile Fiction (J FIC) 1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess by Jeff Kinney 2. Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not-So- Fabulous Life by Rachel Renee Russell Juvenile Graphic Novels (J GN) 1. Dog Man: Big Jim Begins by Dav Pilkey 2. A Tale of Two Kitties by Dav Pilkey Juvenile Picture Books (E FIC) 1. Pete the Kitty and the Groovy Playdate by Kim Dean 2. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin Juvenile Nonfiction 1. Minecraft: Guide to Combat by Craig Jelley 2. Minecraft: Guide to Exploration (tied for 2nd) 2. Minecraft Engineer: Must-Have Starter Farms by Megan Miller 2. Pokemon Super Duper Extra Deluxe Essential Handbook Biography 1. 107 Days by Kamala Harris 2. Spare by Prince Harry General Nonfiction 1. The Art and Science of Connection by Kasley Killam 2. The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt General Fiction 1. The Women by Kristin Hannah 2. The Jackal’s Mistress by Chris Bohjalia Nonfiction BCDs 1. Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia 2. Spanish: Proven Techniques to Learn and Speak Spanish Fiction BCDs 1. Now or Never by Janet Evanovich (tied 1st) 1. True Faith and Allegiance by Mark Greaney 1. The Lost Coast by Jonathan Kellerman 1. Triangle by Danielle Steel 1. Trial by Fire by Danielle Steel Mystery 1. Spirit Crossing by Willaim Kent Krueger 2. The Burning by Linda Castillo SF/Fantasy 1. Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros 2. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros 2025 TOP CHECK OUTS Will any make your TBR list? Collect America 250 PASSPORT stamps from programs to be eligible to win prizes. MarionLibrary.org/America250
MPL is excited to announce several authors are being lined up for the 2026 In the Author’s Voice series! On Thursday, March 12, we’ll welcome Áine Cain and Kevin Greenlee, authors of Shadow of the Bridge: The Delphi Murders and the Dark Side of the American Heartland and hosts of The Murder Sheet podcast. Cain, a journalist, and Greenlee, a lawyer, have made a joint career out of researching and reporting on true crime events. Their debut book details the investigation into the 2017 murders of 14-year-old Liberty German and 13-year-old Abigail Williams in Delphi, Indiana. Cain and Greenlee spent four years investigating the case, resulting in hundreds of podcast episodes and ultimately sharing first-hand accounts from family members, investigators, prosecutors, and the Delphi community. Publisher’s Weekly describes Shadow of the Bridge as: “have[ing] painted a robust, emotionally exhausting portrait of a tight-knit community ravaged by tragedy and the internet’s intersection with modern murder investigations. This will get under readers’ skin.” On Thursday, May 21, we’ll welcome Patrick Ryan, author of the note- worthy 2025 novel Buckeye. Patrick Ryan was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up on Merritt Island, Florida. He’s a graduate of Bowling Green State University’s Creative Writing Program. Ryan has written several collections of short stories and three novels for young adults. Buckeye was published in September 2025 and has been receiving rave reviews. This emotional historical fiction set in Ohio follows two families through four decades of life, loss, and love. “Filled with wit and emotion on every page, this is a stirring paean to the joys and sorrows of family” (Publisher’s Weekly). MPL has selected Buckeye as the fiction book discussion pick for February 3, 2026, so pick up a copy or get on the waiting list today! All of the In The Author’s Voice program series, including these two author events, will be free and open to the public, no ticket required. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m., and the program will begin at 6:30 p.m., with a book signing to follow. Copies of the author’s books will be available for purchase at the events. Check out our website to view more upcoming author visits: https://www.marionlibrary.org/authorseries Áine Cain & Kevin Greenlee MARCH 12 FICTION: January 6 @ 6pm The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick NONFICTION: January 20 @ 6pm Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green Find the 2026 Book Discussions List: www.MarionLibrary.org/bookdiscussions Full video on our Library YouTube channel at: https://youtu.be/spTxIMY0GbU book discussion Stop by, pick up a book, read and join the discussion. books in focus Check out the new titles hitting our shelves within the month of January. AUTHOR VISITS IN MARCH & MAY 2026 True Crime podcasters and Buckeye author Photo by Fred Blair Patrick Ryan MAY 21
Jenna: Western/ genre blend about two teenagers who seek to rescue horses from being butchered; set in a fictional town in 1882 Utah; thematically rich; stylistically complex; thought- provoking philosophical tone facebook.com/mplohio instagram: @MarionPublicLib twitter: @MarionPublicLib youtube: @MarionPublicLibraryOhio linkedin: @MarionPublicLibraryOhio Marion Public Library 445 East Church Street Marion, Ohio 43302 740-387-0992 MarionLibrary.org Board of Directors Malcolm Goodman, President Patrick Carey Jennifer Donelson Blake Gates Phyllis Butterworth Dana Booker Leslie Schneider Gary Branson Executive Director Patrick: Comic spy thriller about two ex-military guys who go on a high-stakes mission for an anonymous client; multiple locales; colorful cast of characters #staffRA Susan: Short story collection; contemporary; holiday romance; sweet, chaste, and heartwarming; mixture of styles, romantic scenarios, and themes; likable characters Monique: Leisurely-paced; character-driven; amusing and heartwarming; witty; themes of art and friendship; set in Sweden https://youtu.be/Sq51kOidzMg Watch more extensive reviews on our YouTube channel. Coming soon! Check out a full list of books at MarionLibrary.org. Please remember you can always place a hold if the book has not arrived yet or is currently checked out. new for young readers Miranda: Based on Polynesian mythology; young Pacific-islander female main character; nonlinear story; large cast of characters; heavy tone; dialect-filled; theme of resource depletion January marks the start of the 2026 BookMarks Donor Drive fundraiser. Since 2015, the BookMarks of Marion Public Library has raised $230,000 through their many fundraising efforts to help support library programs, author visits, fun events and needed services. The funds directly support nearly 400 programs each year, ensuring that everyone in Marion – from toddlers, teens to seniors – has access to the resources and opportunities the library provides. Stop by the BookMarket or the Library front desk to pick up a form, or download your donation form at https://www.marionohbookmarks.org/Donate. BECOME A 2026 BOOKMARKS DONOR Make a difference in your Library
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