In the very, very small town of Nerstrand, Minnesota (population 279 in 2021) there is a quality meat market called Nerstrand Meats & Catering. It has been a mainstay of the community since 1890. Attached to the market is a recently opened café called Boot’s & Lu’s.
The owners of the meat market opened this cute café serving one lunch option daily (a different option each day, of course), and has limited hours. Nerstrand also has a convenience store and gas station, a couple of churches, a woodworking business, grain elevator, elementary school, a post office. The wonderful Nerstrand Big Woods State Park is two miles down the road.
The building next door to Boot’s & Lu’s is city hall, and within city hall there is a newly created library that recently opened, also with limited hours. As I was going to Boot’s & Lu’s one day, I noticed the library sign hanging in the window of city hall was turned to “open”. I have always liked libraries, so I was excited to step inside to take a peek.
Immediately a woman came out of her office to welcome us. She was pleasant, but I didn’t get her name or job title. She welcomes all who walk through the doors, and turned on the library lights for us.
We browsed around. There was a nice-sized children’s section, and traditional books were shelved in different areas on the main floor. There seemed to be a very good selection of books.
No library cards are needed. The honor system is used. You fill out the library card that is tucked in the back of the book and leave it in the check-out basket. There is no due date, you return the book when you are finished reading it. There are no late fees.
Our new friend continued to talk a bit about the history of the building. It was built in 1908 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The city hall housed city offices, some fire equipment, and a jail.
She unlocked a door in the back room to show us the original jail cell with bars still on the window. The old fire station was housed in the building next door (Boot’s & Lu’s).
We were impressed with this little library in this little town…a big step above “Little Free Libraries”. Plus, we had our own delightful guide, willing to share a lot of information about a place she cares about.
I love this so much because a library in a small town is typically greatly appreciated by those who want in-town access to books. That comment comes from someone who grew up in a small town without a library, worked to bring a LFL to town and then the towns folks took it from there. My hometown of Vesta now has a library in my former elementary school, now owned by the city as a multi-purpose building. I hope Nerstrand’s library is open sometime I’m in town.
I do hope the library is open sometime when you can tour it.
I’m sure it makes a difference to people in small towns to have easy access to books.
I’m glad Vesta now has a library in the elementary school.
Do I remember right…there was a LFL was put in place there not long ago?
You are remembering correctly about the LFL, although it was placed there quite a number of years ago. LFL Todd Bol, founder of the LFL, drove with his wife from Hudson to install a LFL outside the community cafe. The cafe later put bookshelves inside for a mini library therein in addition to the outdoor one. And now, just recently, a library opened in the former school. Win. Win. Win.
Thanks. A win, win, win sounds right!
That is a fun story! We ended up in that town one time on a hike in Nerstrand Woods!
How wonderful that such a small town is providing books for their residents. Books are such a vital part of any community. And–this seemed like a wonderful, welcoming experience!
It was fun to tour this newly created library for the town. Books are important!