Worth traveling for

(Photo by Kris Todd) The resting place of Dewey Readmore Books, Spencer library's resident cat for 19 years, is the site where many photographs have been taken since Vicki Myron and Bret Witter's book "Dewey: The Small-Town Cat Who Touched the World" was released last fall. The Spencer Public Library Board of Trustees is expected to revisit, and possibly take action on, the potential replacement of the area's rock garden with pavers and benches during its July meeting. [Order this photo]

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."

The phenomenon surrounding Dewey Readmore Books, the inspiration behind the book with several more on their way and a pending movie, is just beginning for the town the Spencer. The library has hosted 6,972 visitors this month. Hits on the library's Web site are also "off the charts" because of Dewey. Library Director Kay Larson reported www.spencerlibrary.com has had 213,330 hits this month and is still trending up.

"Now that summer has come, we are seeing more people coming to the library. Sometimes we have as many as four different groups in one day stop by just to see where Dewey had lived, to maybe get their book signed by some of the staff members, to look around and to see where Dewey is buried. We, of course, let them come back to the work room and see the book drop where Dewey was found in the wintertime," Larson said.

One woman flew from California to Omaha, rented a car there and then drove to Spencer for the weekend. Her goal was to arrive on Saturday, to talk to staff and to see the library where Dewey had lived before flying back home.

Beverly Speed of Mesa, Ariz. came with her toy poodle Koko.

A woman from Milwaukee was among those who drove to Spencer last week. She brought her three cats along for a tour of Dewey's home.

Many visitors this summer have been families with children who've read the book about the library's late resident cat and specifically targeted the building as a vacation stop.

Vicki Myron, the library's former director and co-author of "Dewey: The Small-Town Cat Who Touched the World," predicted, "It's only going to get worse because everybody's writing that they're coming this summer. Everybody. And, there's more coming. There are people coming from across the pond to visit the library. We even have a lady from England who wanted our real estate agents to write her back because she wants to move here."

Some of the town's visitors are searching for souvenirs, prompting library staff and other city representatives to contemplate snapping photographs of the library and making more postcards.

Some guests are depositing memorabilia of their own. Spurred by their appreciation for Dewey, the library has received countless letters, artwork, plants, pictures and other keepsakes to date. Anticipating even more will be received, the Spencer Public Library Board of Trustees has begun contemplating where to display them all.

"My thoughts are we're operating under the premise that we want to create a Dewey corner. But as I walked around the library, I struggled to really find a great place," Todd Korbitz said. "So, I'm starting to question is that what we really want to do. It seems like there may be some works of art that may be more conducive to a child and belong over there, and some that are more conducive toward an adult reader which belong over here."

As board members approved spreading the mementos received throughout the library, Karen Carey offered a possible answer to the large number of items expected to be received. "I thought what we could do was display it for a while in some place and then hold some kind of an auction or raffle and have it go to People for Pets or something like that, a pet shelter for animals," she said. As discussion continued, the board decided to revisit the issue if necessary.

The library's director also reported that several individuals have donated money to the library in honor of Dewey's memory. A woman from Florida sent $500 last fall and requested it be used for children's books. Another gentleman also donated $500.

"He just sent us a check with no strings attached as far as what he wanted it to be used for," Larson said. "We've had numerous people donate $5, $10 or $20 amounts. And, of course, we have had a fantastic business in the postcard sales for our Friends of the Spencer Public Library group."

The group, organized in 1983, supports the library's goal of service to the community through its members volunteering of their time, purchasing items to enhance the library, and promoting library usage. Its four postcards featuring photographs of Dewey Readmore Books have been sold worldwide to date.

Another financial contribution made to the library in honor of the late feline -- a $150,000 check presented to board members Thursday night by Myron -- had the stipulation attached that it be used for library building, programs or services.

"I have gotten some of the money," Myron said of the proceeds she'll garner from book sales, "and I want to give a gift to the library. I'm hoping that I come back with another gift later on down the line."

"This is just amazing and so generous of her to give that much money to the library in memory of Dewey and for the library's use," Larson said of the donation. "It's going to help people in the community here with all kinds of things in the library, all kinds of programming and services that we can use that money for. Maybe a future building addition. Maybe a future building. It's great. I'm just thrilled to see that kind of money go into the library."