About the Library

History

The Gladbrook Public Library was founded in 1927 by the Gladbrook Woman’s Club under the leadership of Mrs. Lelia King. The library opened with a collection of books donated by the public and was located first in a corner of the Light Company offices and subsequently in a small room attached to the City Hall/fire station building.  In 1964 the fire department moved to new premises, permitting the library to convert the building for its own use. Our library remains in this location today.  Our facilities are enhanced by two holding cells in the basement, a relic of the former city jail. Remember to return your books on time!

Current Collection

At present the library holds approximately 14,000 volumes. In addition to our regular fiction and non-fiction/biography sections, we have a sizeable collection of large print books for readers who prefer larger text.  We have also created a separate ‘Romance for All Audiences’ shelf to highlight books that are suitable for many different readers.  Additionally, we have a wide selection of DVDs for both children and adults, including movies and TV box sets.  The shelves at the front of the library display all our latest acquisitions, so it’s the first place to look for new books.

There is a dedicated section for Iowa history, and we hold a locally maintained history of Union Grove Lake as well as numerous yearbooks from Gladbrook Community School. These items are for reference only and may not be removed from the library.

Book renewals can be managed either online or by phone if you are unable to visit us personally.

Additional Activities

During the summer, the librarians maintain a small community vegetable garden at the west end of the building. If all goes well, we may have vegetables available at the front desk for a small donation.

Our library mascot Bucket the Cat helps to promote new books and upcoming events. ‘Bucket’s List’ videos are posted to Facebook a couple of times each month (whenever Bucket decides to sit still) and feature book reviews and library news.