I'm really looking forward to the heat breaking before Friday because I am involved with the Santa Fe Trail Days, in particular the Trail At Twilight section of the festival, which takes place on Friday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. There will be all sorts of children's activities around the square and local artists and musicians displaying their work as well. And you don't want to miss the Bag-For-A-Buck book sale put on by the Friends of the Marshall Libraries!

In addition, I am going t be in the parade on Saturday morning, as a one-woman library book-cart drill team. Never heard of a drill team made of one person? Well, it makes it easy to synchronize my book-cart maneuvers. Be sure to come down to the square on Friday evening and Saturday morning for the Santa Fe Trail Days.

Just a reminder -- there will be no Story Times in August. They will start again on Sept. 4.

New books

Fiction

"Hot Six" -- Janet Evanovich

"Judge & Jury" -- James Patterson

"Outsider" -- Diana Palmer

"Danse Macabre" -- Laurel K. Hamilton

Non-fiction

"Dispatches From the Edge" -- Anderson Cooper

Library events

Preschool Story Time each Tuesday, 10 a.m. Games, stories, crafts. Appropriate for children approximately 3 to 7 years.

Pajama Story Time each Monday, 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Wear your jammies or come as you are. Games, crafts, stories.

Wee Ones Lap Time Story Times for babies up to 24 months, each Wednesday 10 a.m. Interactive finger play and song time for mothers and babies.

Travel With Lewis and Clark Series every other Tuesday of the month, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Moderated by Marvin Wilhite.

How can I support the Marshall Public Library?

Bring your receipts from Patricia's into the library when you're returning or checking out books. Each month, Patricia's Foods will donate a portion of the collected receipts to the library.

When purchasing items from Amazon.com, use the link to Amazon that appears on the Marshall Public Library's Website: www.marshallpubliclibrary.com. A portion of your purchase will go to support the library.

Consider joining Friends of the Marshall Libraries. Membership forms are available at the library.

Honor a mentor. Celebrate a friend. Commemorate an event. A gift to the Marshall Public Library is a unique and enduring way to pay tribute to friends and family.

Your generosity will be a lasting source of joy and enrichment for the community.

For additional information, please call (660) 886-3391 with any questions.