It appears social distancing included a boost from the Iola Public Library. On a typical day, roughly 250 books, DVDs, board games or other materials are checked out from the library, director Roger Carswell explained.…

The author of the current Iola Reads book selection, Michael Graves, will be in Iola on March 12. Graves will speak at 7 p.m. in the Creitz Recital Hall in the Bowlus Fine Arts Center.…

A 12-year old boy struggles with a terrible kind of fame in “Dear Edward” by Ann Napolitano. Edward is the only survivor of a plane crash. Now living with his aunt and uncle, Edward is…

Paging Nancy Frock. The Iola Public Library is looking for Nancy Frock dresses for a local history program on H. L. Miller and Son at 7 p.m. Feb. 11.  For more than 60 years the…

​Iola Public Library will host a book signing and author program for author Heidi Crane, a native of Iola, on Monday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m.  She is the author of a book for children, “Amazing…

As is my wont, my January book column is a look back at my favorites among books I read in 2019. My tastes tend to run to history or — for fiction — thrillers, and…

The Iola Public Library starts off the new year with a handful of programs for adults. Those who play bridge usually consider it the greatest card game of all. This winter, anyone interested has the…

Mary Joseph hosted 15 Unity Club members Dec. 9 at the Iola Public Library. Judy Arbeiter gave the program on the history of seven Christmas carols, ranging from the 15th through 19th centuries, such as…

Many readers will be glad to see “Olive Again” by Elizabeth Strout, a sequel to her Pulitzer Prize-winning “Olive Kitteridge” which also became an HBO series.  The earlier novel explored the relationships of people in…