Riceville Public Library

posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2017

More than 22,000 people annually walk through the door of the Riceville Public Library so a safe and welcoming entrance to the facility is crucial to its success.

“With the library being such a popular place for so many people in the Riceville area, it’s very important to keep the entrance safe and visually appealing,” says Library Director Betsy Morse. That’s why Morse applied for – and was granted – a $1,250 community care grant from Iowa Select Farms and the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation to help with the library’s entrance enhancement project.

“It’s all about safety and access to the library,” Betsy says. “This project will allow students to keep their bikes locked up on the bike rack and for a smooth and even sidewalk for visitors to safely enter and exit the library.”

The library offers many different programs and resources such as story hour, early out programs, bookshelves upon bookshelves of books, Legos, magazines and newspapers, and multiple computers with access to a printer. “Because of all these great programs and resources, the library is a welcoming and comfortable space for everyone,” Morse says.

The library also has a multi-purpose room that attracts community members. “We house the restored Brown Opera House Curtains in our multi-purpose room,” Betsy says, “and people come from all over to see these historic curtains.” From cooking for after school programs to setting out fruit trays for guests, Morse is noted for always making sure the library offers great hospitality. #billionplus #communitycare