247. Kimball Library, Great River Regional

As is often the case in small towns, this library shares space with the City Hall. Here,both city hall and library share a historic building, with a long, narrow space for the library and an adjacent somewhat wider space for civic functions--and overflow library programs. It appears that it was originally one large space, and since there are traces of a stage at one end, I'll hazard a guess that it started life as a music hall or theater.

Despite the length of the room, the first thing that caught my eye when I entered was a mural on the far wall, a nicely painted scene of parkland with trees. (See below.) The front of the stage, where it is visible, is painted to look like a white fence. There are several other places where the wall is painted, including a shallow column that juts out from the wall. The "column" is made to look like a tree, and the clock hanging on it made me think of the entrance to a large bird's home.

Picture books here are labeled "Everybody Books," which I always like to see. There is an old wooden school desk/chair unit.

I spotted one, perhaps two, public computers.

I enjoyed talking to the librarian about my upcoming trip to Glacier Park, by way of libraries in North Dakota, Canada, and Montana. I went out to the car and got my "travel notebook" so I could tell her about specific stops, because she once lived in Montana. She strongly recommended visiting a library that is on my "maybe" list, and so I shall try.

OK, what was most special about this visit is that I believe I have now visited ALL 32 of the library branches in the Great River Regional Library. All different, all interesting, all providing information and literacy for their communities. I hope your patrons know what a wonderful resource they have.

For more about this library, go to http://www.griver.org/locations-and-hours/great-river-regional-library-kimball. You should go there especially to see the long shot of the building; the details are great, especially the upstairs windows.

6/18/2014

I quickly learned that the library door is
the one over to the right of the picture.

This mural really opens up the back wall.

A display of science items--perhaps prizes for the SRP? I forgot to ask.