March 2026 News and Information
 
March's Beanstack challenge is for readers of all ages and is based on
the Iditarod sled dog race held each year in Alaska. Readers are
encouraged to read 1 minute for every mile of the actual Iditarod race.
The challenge will run from March 1 to March 31, 2026. 
 
What is Lucky Day? It's a program that gives library users immediate
access to some of the newest and most popular titles … without waiting.
These books cannot be reserved online; to check them out,
you just need to visit your local library.  
 
 
Get ready for a thrilling hour with bestselling mystery mavens Shannon Baker, Erica Ruth Neubauer, Jess Lourey, and Kristi Belcamino! Perfect for mystery lovers, aspiring authors, and anyone who can’t resist a good cliffhanger!
This program wasmade possible with Arts & Cultural Heritage Funds
from Minnesota's Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment.
 
 
Learn about animals, biographies, the United States, and Indigenous Peoples' History with PebbleGo. All Minnesotans have access to PebbleGo, a valuable resource for educators and students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
 
 
Not sure what to read next? Find your next great read with the help of a GRRL Librarian! Fill out the form, and you will receive an email with a customized list of
5-7 book titles chosen just for you by an expert Librarian. 
 

Get to Know Your Library Staff
Judy Wolak: Eagle Bend/Staples Library Aide
Celebrating 15 Years with Great River Regional Library! 
 
How did you start your career with GRRL?
Following my retirement from teaching in elementary school (primary grades) for
30 years (I started as Miss Beeman and happily changed to Mrs. Wolak in 1971),
I was looking for a new adventure where I could still work with children and be involved in my community. Working on staff at the Staples Public Library was a perfect fit. As a lifetime reader, I am surrounded by books, new ideas, and not only children, but readers of all ages, and a wonderful team of co-workers. 
What book or movie are you currently recommending?
A book I highly recommend is Appalachian Song, by Michelle Shocklee. The book is a dual-timeline Christian historical fiction novel set in the Great Smoky Mountains.
What's a fun fact about you?
One of my hobbies that has really been fun for me is collecting seasonal snow bears. 
 
Staff Pick
Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee
Appalachian Song
by Michelle Shocklee

Bertie Jenkins has spent forty years serving as a midwife for her community in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. Out of all the mothers she's tended, none affects her more than the young teenager who shows up on her doorstep, injured, afraid, and expecting, one warm June day in 1943. As Bertie and her four sisters tenderly nurture Songbird back to health, the bond between the childless midwife and the motherless teen grows strong. But soon Songbird is forced to make a heartbreaking decision that will tear this little family apart. 
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