Eckels Memorial Library

08/30/2026

🎉📚 WE’RE BACK…well, almost! 📚🎉

After a LONG week of cleaning, organizing, building, moving, rearranging…and then probably rearranging again 😂 we are DONE!

Okay… almost done. 😉 But we’re excited to say that WE WILL REOPEN TOMORROW with our normal business hours! ❤️

There have been lots of exciting changes happening around the library, and we can’t wait for you to stop in and check them out!

✨ New items & activities made possible through the Dollar General Family Literacy Grant

📦 New storage in our back room so we can easily switch out and change our kids’ centers throughout the year, made possible by the Pottawattamie County Community Foundation

♿ Our new handicap-accessible front doorway, made possible through the ALA Small and Rural Library Association

You may still see PowerTech around the library over the next few weeks as they finish up the doorway, install the push-button feature, and take care of a few final details. So if you see their vehicle in the parking lot, don’t worry—we’re OPEN! 😊

🎨 We also have one more project to wrap up! We’ll be finishing our Paint Iowa Grant work and completing the exterior painting over the next few weeks. My goal is to have it all finished up by Homecoming weekend! 🤞

And because September somehow snuck right up on us 😳, I’ll be working on our September calendar this week and will have it posted Friday! 🗓️

It has been a BUSY week, but seeing everything come together has made it worth it. ❤️ We are so excited to open the doors tomorrow and welcome everyone back!

Come see what’s new at the library! 📚✨

08/28/2026

Hey friends! 📚❤️

One of my ALL-TIME favorite Dr. Seuss books is On Beyond Zebra! — IYKYK! 😍

Anyways… we don’t have a copy at the library, and since it was discontinued, copies have gotten a little 😬😳💰.

I would LOVE to find a reasonably priced copy because I have the BEST lesson I want to do with the kids! The book goes beyond our regular alphabet and uses imagination to create brand-new letters and the things they could represent.

I want to challenge our kids to do the same — create their very own letter, give it a name, and imagine what it could stand for! ✏️🌈📖

If anyone has a copy tucked away on a bookshelf, sees one at a garage sale or thrift store, or comes across one for a reasonable price, PLEASE let me know!

I would love to bring this activity back and see just how far our kids’ imaginations can go. ❤️

Because sometimes you just have to go BEYOND Z! 🦓✨

08/27/2026

☀️ Summer is almost over… and yes, we’re sad too! 😭📚

Before you toss those summer supplies, we’re looking for POOL NOODLES!

If you have any of the skinnier-style pool noodles that you were planning to throw away, toss them our way instead! 🙌

🌈 Any color works!
❤️💚 BONUS: We’d love to get our hands on a few red and green ones!

Drop them off at the library and help us turn your end-of-summer leftovers into something fun! 😉

08/26/2026

08/26/2026

We have a couple more spots open, please reach out if you have the desire to help our library grow! 😊

08/26/2026

Last day!! Get your shirt size and color commented - Venmo Lisa or get cash to me today!!

08/26/2026

We have been patiently waiting for Mrs. Comstock’s official first-day-of-school picture…but this one will just have to do! 😂❤️📚

Before she officially became Mrs. Comstock, 5th Grade Teacher, she was our Miss Rachel, and we were so lucky to have her spend another wonderful summer with us at the library!

Rachel, THANK YOU for everything you gave to our kids this summer. Your dedication goes far beyond helping at the library—you truly care about helping kids learn, grow, feel included, and have fun along the way. We appreciate you more than you know! ❤️

But now it’s our turn to give a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Mrs. Comstock on her very first year teaching 5th grade at Riverside!! 🍎✏️📚

Those 5th graders are getting a pretty special teacher, and we couldn’t be more excited for you as you start this new adventure!

Have the BEST first year, Mrs. Comstock! We’ll be cheering you on from the library! 💙💛

08/24/2026

📚 LIBRARY CLEAN-OUT! 📚

As we start our cleaning and organizing process, we’ll be removing a few items we no longer need.

Right now we have:
✨ 2 bookshelves
✨ 1 table
✨ Folding chairs
✨ Electric leaf blower
✨ Storage containers

These items are available for a free-will donation to the library. ❤️📚

If you’re interested, stop by or send us a message! First come, first served!

And keep watching—we may have more items available as the cleaning continues! 🧹✨