Start the new year right at Jay Library

The JayCPL Book Club of Jay County Public Library held a Best Book of the Year Celebration and chose their favorite books read during 2016.

The list included “Because I’m Watching” by Christina Dodd; “Forgotten Garden” by Kate Morton; “Invention of Wings” by Sue Monk Kidd; “Louisiana Saves the Library” by Emily Beck Cogburn; “Master Butchers Singing Club” by Louise Erdrich; “Me Before You” by Jojo Moyes; “Thirteen Moons” by Charles Frazier; “To Say Nothing of the Dog” by Connie Willis; “In Such Good Company: eleven years of laughter, mayhem and fun in the sandbox” by Carol Burnett; “Titles & Tears: a true story about girls basketball in the heartland” by Jeff Hewitt and Hillary Benager; and “White Dresses: a memoir of love and secrets, mothers and daughters” by Mary Pflum Peterson.

The JayCPL Book Club will meet at 7 p.m. on Jan. 16 to discuss “The Boys in the Boat” by Daniel James Brown. New members are always welcome.

Books were recently given to the library in honor or remembrance of friends and family.

Given by Alan and Rebecca Peterson to share with the community were “Order to Kill” by Vince Flynn; “The Old Man” by Thomas Perry; and “Dry” by Jane Harper.

Given in memory of Robert Spahr by Jay County Public Library staff were children’s books “Mossy” and “Fritz and the Beautiful Horse” both by Jan Brett.

Clubs meeting in January will be JayCPL Coupon Club at 6 p.m. Jan. 3.

Cookbook Club will meet at 6:15 p.m. Jan. 9. Bring a casserole dish and the recipe to share.

The Tech Table topic for 10 a.m. Jan. 14 will be “Free Library Stuff.” Anyone with suggestions for other Tech Table Topics may call Cheryl at (260) 726-7890.

The Annual Friends Membership Meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 17. There will be election of officers and approval of the budget. Folding of the Friends newsletter will begin at 6 p.m. Anyone interested in joining is welcome.

Hook & Needles Club will meet from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 24. Bring a project or learn how to crochet from other crafters.

Writers Guild will meet at 6 p.m. Jan. 30. The group will discuss publishing a short story collection as an ebook.

The Evergreen catalog and My Account online through JCPL will be unavailable from 6 p.m. on Dec. 31 until 8 a.m. Jan. 2 because a system upgrade will be installed.

Children’s programs in January will include Mother Goose & Me at 10 a.m. Jan. 6, 13, 20 and 27; Lego Challenge from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31; Preschool Fun Time at 10 a.m. Jan. 9, 16, 23 and 30

Jay County Public Library is located at 315 N. Ship St. in Portland. Hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. The library will be closed Jan. 2.