By NANCY WILSTACH / Community Columnist

One of your New Year’s resolutions was to spend more time expanding your mind . . . and less time expanding your tummy, right?

Your ever-helpful library can assist with both aspirations.

Montevallo’s Parnell Memorial Library, with neither snack bar nor handy soft drinks, offers all sorts of intriguing books year ‘round. And in the month of February—when research shows 86.3 percent of New Year’s resolutions bite the dust—Director Lauren Bartell can help to keep you on the right path.

(In the interest of full disclosure, I admit that I just made up that statistic, but feel free to quote it. I won’t tell.)

Roam the fiction aisles—depending on your taste in romance, look under “A” and grab a Jane Austen or try “S” for Jacqueline Susann.

To put you in the mood, Bartell and her staff have decorated the library for Valentine’s Day.

Now, find an unoccupied comfy chair and read a bit of each book that you selected to see which you would like to borrow. Don’t go home yet—sit for a bit in the rotunda and read. Before you leave, stroll through the gallery and peruse the art on exhibit.

Besides books and art and an escape from routine, your library has plenty on the February schedule for all ages.

Bartell said that a popular offering is the bi-lingual story hour, 11 a.m. Feb. 16. Trent Jones, known to his audience as “El Gallo,” reads children’s stories in Spanish and English.

“A lot of the non-Hispanic children are also interested,” Bartell said, learning some Spanish while the Hispanic children expand their English skills.

“We got a grant last year for bi-lingual books for children and adults,” she said. Working in Montevallo’s favor in obtaining the grant, she said, is that 9.2 percent of the city’s population is Hispanic, the highest percentage of any municipality in Shelby County. (I did NOT make up that statistic.)

Other events include:

—Magic Tree House Club at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1. Jennifer Key leads this learning adventure through the Magic Treehouse series, exploring the setting for the next book: “Eve of the Emperor Penguin.”

—Teen Theater Club at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 7. Open to all middle and high school students, the club explores aspects of theater with instructor Jenny Wheeler.

—Kids Craft at 3:15 Feb. 11, Children will make Valentine’s Day crafts.

—Wednesdays are for the toddlers. Following Story Time with Mr. Mac each Wednesday at 9:15 a.m., there is something extra on Feb. 13, a toddlers’ craft session.

—Evening Book Club at 6 p.m. Feb. 13 features “Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover.”

—Lego Club at 3:15 p.m. Feb. 22. Jennifer Key conducts a building session for future architects and engineers.

—A Black History presentation Feb. 23 at 10:15 a.m. by Lelia Mitchell of the Encouragement Foundation in Calera.

—After School Movies each Tuesday at 3:15 p.m. Call for titles each week, 205-665-9207, ext. 2.