She is pictured here as she is working to organize the current collection by categories.
Cara was recently hired by the Rippey Library Board of Trustees and began fulfilling her duties May 9th. The library hours remain the same Monday-Friday from 2-5:00 P.M.
Cara and Ryan, her husband, and their 10-month-old son, Logan choose to live in Rippey as they like smaller towns and the housing was affordable. She was originally from Waukon, Iowa and he grew up in Atlantic. Cara attended Iowa State University as a history major and has previously worked for 2 years in a library in Tennessee, and 2 years at the Waukee Library.
She will be attending Library Science School online at University of Alabama beginning in the fall of 2022. She will be simultaneously studying to receive her Library Director certification, as required by the State of Iowa, while attending graduate school.
She speaks enthusiastically of “Beyond the Beaten Path” which will be the theme for the summer reading programs that will be held in June and July. This year there will be weekly programs for children, teens, and something new—An adult reading program.
The children’s activities are being finalized by Cara and the Board. For families so far, the Blank Park Zoo will be back and Dennis Porter Children’s entertainer will be here July 29th at 10am. Plans for the adults include coffee and donuts once a month, book discussion once a month, and an adult craft one time per month. The craft items thus far suggested will include Scrapbooking and pressed flowers that will be made into bookmarks.
A jigsaw puzzle is already out on the table, as it will become a community project to complete!!!
Cara is working to load the software on three unused computers, to accompany the three currently available in the library. She requested that this writer should remind persons living in the Rippey Community that two children’s tablets are available, as well as Wii games that will interest children 8 years of age and up.
Funds were made available from the Greene County Community Foundation for an automatic door opener to aid persons with disabilities, and to upgrade the children’s library area by ordering additional age-appropriate books. Also making the kids area an experience with more items/toys out.
Persons with deep community roots will find the section regarding history, rich with Rippey High School Annuals, as well as other Rippey History books.
The two traditional fundraisers for the library will continue, with the chili cook off that occurs in the winter, and selling of goodies during the upcoming Rippey Daze, July 30th.
Cara is open to suggestions for titles for book discussion as well as other searching for additional ideas that can be incorporated into the activities for the library. Additionally, suggestions may be offered to Board members; Cindy Devilbiss, Brenda Roberts, DeAnn Thompson, Lyle Rychnovsky, Kyle Mower and recently recommended member, Chelsea Lawrence.
Stop by to greet Cara and check out some of the activities that are and will be occurring at your library.
-Mary Weaver