. Ceresco, Nebraska USA  Library

The initiative for a library in Ceresco came in the summer of 1976 from Mary Belle Beach of rural Ceresco, who worked with a group of volunteers to establish Reading, Inc.  The goal of this privately financed organization was to get the library started and then disband.  The first "library" was a van, a mobile unit rented from the Nebraska Library Commission.  It was parked in town and open several days a week for a year.  The van was filled with books given to Reading Inc., or purchased with donated funds.  Grants of $900 and $1,000 were given to the group, which spent most of their acquired funds on new materials.  On April 10, 1978, the Ceresco Village Board adopted an ordinance authorizing the creation of a Library Board and thus began its assumption of responsibility for the library. 

The Village put $2,000 into its 1977-78 budget for the library and appointed the following supervisory board:  Lola Baird, Chairman, Bonnie Nelson, Joan Spjut, Sylvia Hellerich, and Beverly Swanson.   The library was moved into Ceresco's new Community Building and officially opened for business on April 18, 1978.  Ethyle Jo Isaacson, a former school librarian, was an early and able volunteer with Reading Inc.  She catalogued all of the books and supervised the preparation of the books for shelving and made cards for the catalog file.   When the library became a tax-supported entity, Mrs. Isaacson was hired as its first librarian and only paid employee.  Her time at the library was supplemented by volunteers at the checkout desk and as helpers with special programs and services.   The second librarian for the Ceresco library was Jo Hedlund.  She started her job in May of 1979.  Jo was assisted by five regular volunteers. 

The library's membership in the Metropolitan Library Network, partially funded by the Saunders County Supervisors, entitles it to periodic visits by the Nebraska Library Commission Metro-Van.   This library-on wheels brings current books to Ceresco for a month to be loaned out locally.  In 1982, the library had a circulation of over 4,000 items.  It borrowed about 500 books from the Metro-Van and acquired about 180 films and filmstrips for lending.  Friends of the Library, a support group for the library, was organized in 1981.  The volunteer group for the library, was organized to help expand and promote library programs, raise funds for books and equipment, and receive and disburse gifts and grants to the library.  Friends also sponsor programs for the library, including the Summer Reading Program for children and Preschool Story Hour. 

The recent librarian  is Carol Mintzmyer.  The library has done some renovating by laying brand new carpet, purchasing curtains, and painting the entire interior of the facility.  The library has now been opened up again for business after a three week renovation period throughout the end of November and the beginning of December, 1998.  The library has been very fortunate to receive several helpful grants.   In 1997 the library received a $6,800 grant called Libraries On-Line, which granted Internet access and a Gateway Computer, mouse, and printer.  A $1,000 Reference grant was also donated to the library by Eastern Library System.  The third grant that was generously given to the library was a $3,000 children's grant from the Nebraska Library Commission. A $1,200 donation to the Ceresco library through a grant called First Search now provides patrons free access to fifteen databases.

The library's operating hours are:

The phone number to the library is 665-2212 and it is located at 4255 2nd Street.

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