Many rural libraries find it difficult to have full time staff. Walthill Library struggles with that as well. We are excited to welcome Lucille Big Fire as our new Library Assistant. Lucille is a long time resident of Walthill and works her days for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. Lucille is doing a fine job opening the library on Monday and Wednesday evening from 5:30 to 8:30, and several Saturdays each month. The Walthill patrons have been taking this opportunity to use the library for reading, games, and computers. Of course, Ms. Lucille uses the 20/20 rule that our library has used for years.

Excitement is building in our community for the new skate park that is being built in the Walthill park. It is close to completion and I hope to post when we have the Grand Opening. We also have a new shelter in the park across from the library. I have been posting progress for the community to see on our Facebook page. The teepee shelter has been painted white, waiting for the new design to be painted on. It has a cement pad underneath and hopefully next we will see a big table for the community to use.

This year I worked on both the inside and the outside enhancement at the library with the ARPFA funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Several items that were purchased outside that are being used are the new “Take One and Leave One” book station and the new Walthill Library bench. Every year we fill the large pots on 3 sides of the library with flowers. This year the pots are filled with zinnias that were planted as seeds. Very hardy in the heat, and kept flowering all summer. It has enhanced the outside of the library and made it one of the bright spots of our community.

Now that summer is over, and kids are back in school, we need to get to work on our accreditation process. Is a little daunting, but I have been assured it is not as difficult as it sounds.

Happy Fall to you all–and hope to post more often from now on. We will see. . . . .

Nola Briggs, Library Director