Libraries

Library board considers starting gaming collection (03/13/10)
Spencer Public Library representatives have a plan to encourage more people to enter the doorway of the local library. Thursday night during the monthly board meeting, Director Kay Larson recommended they approve discontinuing the library's CD collection, or at least to stop adding to it, and instead implement an assortment of games...

Library board approves new logo (03/11/10)
After receiving a lot of feedback from the public, Spencer Public Library board members approved a new logo for the city building Thursday night. It does not include a portrait of the library's famous late library cat, Dewey Readmore Books. ...

Fish stories: Public can view art in action at studio today (03/06/10)
"It's a performance." Those are the words that artist Simeon Lisk used to describe what's going to happen at Bogenrief Studios Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. And Lisk should know, it's his concept and design that the crew will be focused on when they invite the public to join them in the work area as they create another glass piece for the aquarium project that beginning in April will become a centerpiece at the Spencer Public Library...

Board closes in on new Dewey-less logo (02/13/10)
Spencer Public Library board members seem to have "checked out" on publishing the late Dewey Readmore Books on the library's new logo. Instead, the board has tentatively chosen to pursue a new logo developed by Standard Printing & Design of Spencer...

Study: Library needs more space in the future (01/21/10)
A consultant has told Spencer Public Library representatives that an additional 9,214 square feet will be needed to effectively serve patrons over the next two decades. The space needs analysis completed by George Lawson, and adopted by library board members last week, takes into account the library's collections, meeting areas, staff room, seating, computers and other factors. The study recommends the library's current 14,835 gross square feet be expanded to a minimum of 24,049 square feet...

Canine improving lives through service (12/31/09)
More often than not, Katie is a welcome addition whenever she visits. In fact, the 3-year-old Golden Retriever owned by Jim and Judy Taylor, of Spencer, generally elicits welcoming cheers, smiles and extended hands wherever she goes. Over the last couple months, the therapy dog and her certified handlers have become regular visitors to the hospital, a local elementary school, the library and care centers throughout Spencer. ...

Lawson hired for library space-needs study (10/10/09)
A report detailing future community needs which can be met by the Spencer Public Library are now in the hands of George Lawson. The former 34-year librarian is now an Ames-based space-needs consultant who focuses on building, strategic and operational planning for libraries. To date, Lawson has done projects for over 300 library buildings in 13 states...

'Patriots' return to protest health care reform (07/30/09)
A visit by Nathan Vander Plaats, staff member for Sen. Tom Harkin, to conduct a listening post on the issue of health care reform at the Spencer Public Library Wednesday morning, served as a call to arms for a small group of area Tea Party Patriots...

Briefs 7/21/09 (07/21/09)
The annual Clay County 4-H Achievement Day will be held on Tuesday, July 21 in the 4-H Auditorium on the Clay County Fairgrounds. The event will begin at 8 a.m. and end about 5 p.m. Achievement Day is a mini-fair for Clay County 4-Hers. Due to the fact that our county youth are in school during the Clay County Fair, this event provides an opportunity for 4-H members to bring their project exhibit work to be judged. ...

Library considers sex offender law impact (06/16/09)
City Attorney Don Hemphill assured Spencer Public Library board members recently that only four sentences in a new state law apply to city and county libraries. He also deemed the potential impact of the 32-page act signed by the Gov. Chet Culver -- which lists prohibitions that apply only to individuals who've been convicted of a sex offense against a minor -- on the library as being "very minimal."...

Worth traveling for (06/13/09)
They're traveling to Spencer from places such as Lacey, Wash., Oakland, Maine, Crowley, La., Arlington, Texas, Raleigh, N.C., Rochester, N.Y., Jacksonville, Fla., and Dunsford, Ontario, Canada. The guest book located on the front desk is capturing sentiments they're leaving, such as "Loved the book," "Dewey brought me," "Routed through here special," "Had to see the legend" and "We had a library cat too." ...

Briefs 5-23-09 (05/23/09)
Farmers Market is returning with an opening date of May 23. Early season vegetables available. Located in the parking lot of the Southpark Mall. --- Come learn about Global Positioning System (GPS) and the sport of geocaching. GPS units will be used to find hidden treasure at Huston Park. Located at the nature center at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 23. The event is sponsored by the Palo Alto Soil & Water Conservation District and the Palo Alto County Conservation Board...

Elementary artists sought for AOG Dewey project (03/24/09)
Dewey Readmore Books, the library cat, has been a part of childhood trips to the Spencer Public Library for many years. Coordinators at Arts on Grand are hoping to have the children of Spencer and elsewhere create their own artwork to honor the memorable cat...

Beaver named new children's librarian (03/04/09)
Sarah Beth (Fuchsen) Beaver has been named the new youth services librarian at Spencer Public Library. Monday, March 23 will mark her first official day on job. The 27-year-old daughter of Tom and Marianne Fuchsen, Spencer, is a 2000 Spencer High School alumna who also graduated from the University of South Dakota at Vermillion. Beaver is currently working to complete her master's degree in library science online from the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee this December...

Board makes final budget decision (02/27/09)
With a few tears shed, a handful of harsh words exchanged and plenty of emotional public input, Spencer school board members voted to keep nine items above the cut line for 2009-10 Thursday night. At a cost of $348,176, these included an elementary classroom teacher, a vocational agriculture instructor and FFA sponsor position, the debate program, the mock trial and boys swimming programs, a high school social studies instructor, two middle school basketball coaches' salaries, a $103,593 package tied to full-time benefits for 15 teacher and library associates, and Activities Director Roger Johnson's position.. ...

Join 'Friends of Spencer Public Library' (02/26/09)
Are you looking to contribute some time and/or money to a worthwhile cause? Joining the Friends of Spencer Public Library group may fill the bill for you. "The Friends group is very important to the library because it helps to spread the message about the library and helps with marketing for us," Spencer Public Library Director Kay Larson said of the group. ...

Book club members being sought (02/26/09)
Spencer Public Library representatives have heard the request. In response, they're hoping to establish a new book club at the library. "We've had some people call us and say that they would like to join a book club," Kay Larson, the library's director, said. ...

Uptick in local library usage tied to economic times (02/14/09)
Many libraries are reporting usage spikes for the last half of 2008. Call it a sign of the economic times. While Spencer Public Library Director Kay Larson reported to board members this week that the local statistics were neutral, maybe even a bit down over the last six months, she noted Spencer is starting to see what other libraries are...

Spencer native donates Dewey sculpture to library (02/13/09)

Library seeking replacement for Walk (01/14/09)
Spencer Public Library Director Kay Larson, who was authorized to purchase a laptop computer for patron use recently, is currently fielding a "pretty good list of candidates" for the position formerly held by Mary Walk. Walk, who officially shelved her last children's book as the Spencer library's children's librarian on Dec. 31, 2008, was recognized for her 33 years of service at the library with a come-and-go coffee held the afternoon of Jan. 6...

No more pets at Spencer Public Library (01/09/09)
Even though Spencer Public Library representatives have received numerous "offers, requests and inquiries" about hosting another potential resident library cat -- all of which have been turned down -- board members voted unanimously Thursday night to establish a "permanent prohibition against having pets in residence at the library."...

Longtime children's librarian says goodbye (01/07/09)
After 33 years of reading to Spencer area children and serving families at the Spencer Public Library, Mary Walk was treated to an afternoon with well wishers, happy remebrances and a final opportunity to share some of her favorite moments with the many lives she's been a part of for over three decades. A special coffee was held in her honor Tuesday afternoon at the library...

Walk steps away (01/06/09)

Spencer Library receives accreditation (09/13/08)
The State Library of Iowa has announced that the Spencer Public Library has met the conditions for state accreditation as outlined in "In Service to Iowa: Public Library Measures of Quality, 4th ed." Achieving accreditation requires a significant, ongoing local commitment to high quality library services. ...

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