Granger Public Library

Our Mission

The Granger Public Library's mission is to provide cultural enrichment and leisure activities for all ages.

The library provides wonderful programs for community participation including an adult book club, a story time for children ages five and younger, and an after-school program for children in grades kindergarten through 5th.

Hours

COVID hours:

Monday - Thursday: 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Saturday: 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.

We are closed on Friday & Sunday

Bridges

Borrow audiobooks, e-books, and e-magazines from the Granger Public Library and download them instantly to your device!

Click here, select Granger Public Library as your library, use your library card number to log-in (be sure to add a zero to the beginning; all card numbers must be five digits long), then choose the materials you'd like to check out.

Catalog

Browse the library's materials by keyword, title, author, subject, or series, check availability, and find materials' call numbers through our online catalog.

To place holds or renew items on your account, please call (515) 999-2088.

What's New at the Library

Online Library Resources

Here are some online resources patrons may access at any time: Storyline Online: The SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s award-winning children’s literacy website, Storyline Online, streams free videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations. Bridges: Borrow audiobooks, e-books, and e-magazines from the Granger Public Library and download them instantly to your device! Click the…

Resources

Reader Resources

Research Links

Meeting Agendas
& Minutes

Library Operations

Circulation Services

All patrons must obtain a library card to borrow library materials. Children up to 14 years of age must obtain the signature of a parent or guardian before obtaining a library card. Each borrower may draw no more than ten (10) items at a time, unless he/she had the approval of library staff. Any book may be kept two (2) weeks from the date of issue and may be renewed for the same period at the discretion of library staff. Audio-visual materials may be kept two (2) weeks from the date of issue and a limit of two (2) per person or the discretion of library staff. Time-sensitive materials such as magazines and new DVDs may be checked out for a time period at the discretion of library staff.
A free-will donation will be asked of the borrower with overdue library materials. A borrower who has overdue library materials shall not be permitted to check out additional books until overdue materials are returned. The Director shall levy fines for materials damaged beyond reasonable wear or lost, based on material replacement value.
Library information in any form about library users and their use of the library is private in nature and is protected to preserve their intellectual freedom. The library shall not disclose such information to anyone except in one or more of the following cases: when necessary for the operation of the library, with written consent of the patron, or if required by law.
Public computers are available for patron use. Printing is available from any of the public computers at the cost posted by the library. Wireless Internet access is available to patrons who have their own mobile devices. Wireless printing is not available at this time.

Library Policies

Services and Programs

The Granger Public Library offers programs, including but not limited to: children’s library programs and adult book discussion groups. Other services available: adult audio and/or large print books through the Dallas County Libraries rotating collection program.
Library hours cover mornings, afternoons, evening, and weekend hours to provide patrons with services.
The library will be closed on the following holidays: New Years Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
The library may be closed or delayed in opening because of severe weather. When the Director judges the weather conditions to threaten the safety of the staff or public, the library will not open. The decision to close the library early will be made by the Director.

Library Services

Get a Library Card

Adventure Pass

Library Programming

Story Time is every Wednesday from 9:45 am to 10:15 am for kids 0 to 5 years of age. We have puppets, flannel board stories, songs, a parachute, musical instruments, snacks, and crafts. Come join the fun!

After-School Program is held every Wednesday from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm for kids in grades K through 5. A one-time registration is required. The program varies each week. Previous programs have included STEM activities, Snap Circuits, LEGOs, bingo, and crafts as well as visits from the ISU Insect Zoo and Blank Park Zoo to name just a few! Kids may come to all the programs or just to ones that interest them.

Crochet & Knit is every Tuesday from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. Hooks, needles, and lessons are provided for first-timers. Just bring your own yarn and join the group!

Book Club meets every third Monday at 6:30 p.m. It is facilitated by the members. If you are interested in joining or would like to start another book club, please contact Harriet Peterson at 515-999-2088.

Patron Computers, Copying & Printing

Computers

The library provides two computers for the use of the public during normal library hours. We also provide free Wi-Fi. We ask that all public who use the library computers carry a library card. One may be obtained at any time for people in or out of the area.

Copying & Printing Services

The library provides both printing and copying services. A required fee is to be given for every copy or print: $0.10 for black and white copies and prints, and $0.50 for color copies and prints. We do not provide special paper. If you would like your prints to come out on anything other than the provided white 8.5 x 11 paper, you must supply it.

Interlibrary Loans

Want to borrow an item from another library? Just let us know by stopping in or calling!

There is no fee for this service.
The material can be kept only as long as the loaning library indicates. If there is a request for a renewal, a request must be made to and approved by the lending library.
If the material is not picked up within 5 business days of notification, the item will be returned to the lending library.
A total of three interlibrary loans may be checked out at one time.

About the Library

About the Library History of the Library

About the Library

Our friendly staff is here to assist you in finding the right book, CD, DVD, or online resource.

Harriet Peterson Library Director: Children & Adult Programming

Georgina Valle-Razo Library Assistant: Cataloging

Savannah Waycaster Library Assistant: Interlibrary Loan Coordinator & Website Manager

Jeri Wendzel Library Assistant

Granger Public Library
2216 Broadway, Box 399
Granger, IA 50109
Phone: 515-999-2088
Fax: 515-999-9156

History of the Library

The Granger Public Library was started in the 1920s by the Kozy Club which is now known as the Granger Women’s Club. The library was originally housed in the town hall, stocked through book donations, operated by Kozy Club members, and supported through bake sales!

In 1942, at the request of the Club, the town council voted to take over the library. The mayor appointed a library board of four members.

The library was originally located in an unused room in the Granger Public School. It was open three afternoons each week, and was available for the use of the school and the public. The first appointed Librarian, Catherine Knox, was paid a salary of twenty-five cents an hour! On July 24, 1967, the library was moved to the Masonic Building because the school was in need of the space. When the city built the new city hall in 1982, room was provided for the Granger Public Library. On July 10, 1982, the library moved from the Masonic Building into city hall.

In 2007, the library was moved to its current location of 2216 Broadway. Throughout the library’s history, the Kozy Club, now the Granger Women’s Club, has continued to make donations to help the library. The library is also supported through the Friends of the Granger Public Library, donations from the public, and appropriations from the city council.

Interested in more history? Check out the Iowa Historical Society.

Collection Development and Governance

Selection Curation Citizen Concern Friends of the Library Granger Public Library Board

Selection

Materials

The purpose of the Granger Public Library is to provide all individuals in the community with carefully selected books and other materials to aid the individual in the pursuit of education, information, research, pleasure, and the creative use of leisure time. Because of the volume of publishing, as well as the limitation of budget and space, the library must have a selection policy with which to meet community interests and needs.

It is the right and responsibility of the parent or legal guardian to monitor their child’s reading activity. Selection of materials for the library collection is not restricted by the possibility that minors may obtain materials their parents consider inappropriate. Library staff and Board upholds the confidentiality of all patrons’ circulation records. The library endorses the Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read Statement adopted by the American Library Association.

Responsibility

The responsibility for material selection and the development of the library collection rests with the Director, with input from library staff. Suggestions from patrons are welcomed and given consideration within the general criteria for selection. The final decision for purchase rests with the library.

Criteria

The main points considered in the selection of materials are: individual merit of each item, popular appeal/demand, suitability of material for the patrons, existing library holdings, budget, and space limitations.

Curation

Loan

The library cannot provide all materials that are requested because of budget and space. The interlibrary loan program is used to obtain from other libraries those materials that are beyond the scope of this library’s collection. In return for utilizing interlibrary loan to satisfy the needs of our patrons, the Granger Public Library agrees to lend its materials to other libraries through the same interlibrary loan network.

Gifts

The library may accept donations, but the Director will decide by means of criteria whether to add the gift to the collection.

Weeding

An up-to-date and attractive collection is maintained through a continual withdrawal and replacement process. Replacement is dependent upon current demand usefulness, more recent acquisitions, and availability of newer editions. Ongoing weeding is the responsibility of the Director and is authorized by the Board. Withdrawn materials will be handled in a similar manner as donated materials.

Citizen Concern

Citizen Concern

Materials are carefully selected but there can arise differences of opinion regarding suitable materials. Patrons requesting that materials be withdrawn from or restricted within the collection may complete a “Statement of Concern About Library Resources” form, which is available in the library. The inquiry will be placed on the agenda of the next regular meeting of the Board.

(Revised/Approved by the Granger Public Library Board 04/15)

Friends of the Library

Granger Public Library Board

Our Trustees

Pam Claussen

Jessica Juhl

Melissa Mann

Kelli Anliker

Carina Degase

Roles of Public Library Boards in Iowa

1. Advocate for the library in the community and advocate for the community as a member of the library board. To be a library advocate is to work for the betterment of library services for the community. Advocacy includes working to obtain adequate funding for the library; pursuing opportunities to meet and speak with community groups; getting to know the mayor and city council; making sure the community’s needs and interests are paramount when making board decisions.

2. Plan for the future of the library. Planning is one of the most important trusts that the community gives to the library board. Planning is deciding what is going to happen with library services over the next few years. It is taking charge of the library’s future and creating it to be responsive to what the community needs.

3. Monitor and evaluate the overall effectiveness of the library. The community puts its trust in the library board to make sure the library is operating the way it should. For example, the library boards is familiar with the library’s budget – where the money is coming from and how it will be spent. The board monitors monthly financial reports and approves the bills so they can be paid. The board also helps determine whether the community is satisfied with the service received from the library.

4. Set library policies. The library boards spends much of its time on policy issues – developing policies and monitoring the effectiveness of those policies. (Policy is a carefully designed, broadly stated, written guideline for actions and decision of the library.) Once adopted by the board, library staff carries out the policies on a day to day basis.

5. Hire and evaluate the library director. The board hires a qualified director to manage the day-to-day operations of the library and works with the director, carefully respecting each other’s roles. The board also regularly evaluates the director to make sure the library operates well and in the best interest of those the library serves.

Granger Public Library

Our Mission

Hours

Bridges

Catalog

What's New at the Library

Online Library Resources

Library Calendar

Resources

Library Operations

Library Services

About the Library

Collection Development and Governance

Our Trustees

Roles of Public Library Boards in Iowa

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