Mason City is for Library Lovers!
The Mason City Public Library is a must see..
February is Library Lovers’ Month and it seemed appropriate to share one of the favorite places in Mason City. Even in the dead of winter the Mason City Public Library is a busy and active place that visitors and locals alike flock to in an effort to stay updated and current on what is going on in the world around them.
Whenever I go to visit a new area one of the places that is a must see is the local library. Maybe everyone is not like me but I love seeing what each library has to offer both locals and visitors. There is always something new to encounter and a trip to anyplace new necessitates a library trip.
Mason City Public Library is a fabulous example of how a community is able to support and promote a wonderful facility. The library was renovated and new spaces were added with the renovations completed in 2010. All of the new space is bright and cheery with plenty of room to meet, read, study and enjoy the joys of everything that a library has to offer.
The Commons Area is a wonderful area where patrons can spend time relaxing, reading the daily newspapers, using the many computers and even getting a cup of coffee or a light breakfast or lunch at Java Works which is a coffee shop operated by NIVC employees who live locally and work within the community at various jobs. They always greet patrons with a smile and who doesn’t love having a cup of coffee as they browse the latest news?
The library is located at 225 2nd St. SE and is open Monday through Thursday from 9 am until 8 pm and Fridays-Saturday from 9 am until 5 pm. The library is closed on Sunday but with the hours during the week and on Saturday even visitors will be able to fit in a quick visit.
One of the fun things that can be seen at the library is a lot of creative book art. Book art or recycling books and fashioning them into art is a recent trend that is sweeping the country. There are several books that are available to be checked out that offer detailed instructions on how to change a book into a work of art. One of the librarians has created quite a few of these pieces which can be found in various places on display through out the library. It is a fun way to explore the library and have a bit of a treasure hunt at the same time.
Other things that the library offers include wonderful Children’s and Youth Services as well as a thriving Adult Program which includes summer reading programs and musical concerts offered in the Commons Area during the summer months. The Library is also home to an extensive collection of genealogical materials including local family histories, cemetery records and other items of interest. There is no shortage of things to see, read and do at the Mason City Public Library and I would encourage all visitors to stop in and take a look around, have a cup of coffee, talk to a librarian and get a bit of the history of this wonderful facility.
It is a place that locals flock to so it has to be a winner, right? Make the Mason City Public Library a stop on your Mason City itinerary. I guarantee you will be glad that you did.
Beth Ann is a 50 something wife and mother of two handsome adult sons who shares her home with her feline friends, Buddy and Holly. As an avid reader and lover of travel, she has found herself living in many different places over the years and loves to connect with all kinds of people who share her zest for life. Her blog, It’s Just Life–Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary, highlights her passions: writing, travel, food and her ever growing teapot collection. She looks at life through a full glass and tries to pay it forward every chance that she gets. She invites you to follow along with her adventures on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
