Cokato Public Library
As a result of the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment, the Cokato Public Library is able to offer a wide variety of free programming for patrons of all ages.
“We have had a cornucopia of programs for every level of interest, whether you’re a book person or not,” said Sheila Rieke, Cokato branch manger for the Great River Regional Library (GRRL) system.
The library has been able to offer educational programs, such as the Minnesota Zoomobile and Bruce the Bug Guy; presentations by Minnesota award-winning authors Nancy Carlson, William Kent Krueger, and Lorna Landvik; and workshops teaching patrons the intricacies of creating map boxes, book art, mosaics, and songs.
There were numerous workshops featuring GREAT Theatre of St. Cloud, with acting classes and performances of “Rumplestiltskin,” “The Brothers Grimm,” and “The Berenstain Bears.”
Some programming benefitted Cokato Elementary students, such as Pages of Music with Rolf and Carrie’s “Mozart, the Boy Genius,” and taking third grade students to the ballet, “Peter and the Wolf,” at Paramount Theatre in St. Cloud.
The Cokato Public Library was also able to provide a bus trip and admission for a group of patrons to receive a special tour of the “Greatest Generation Exhibit” at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul.
“Because of the Legacy funds provided by the State of Minnesota we were able to bring programming to our patrons that we would never have been able to afford to do,” Rieke said. “It’s been a real treat.”
Aside from the free programming, the Cokato Library offers its patrons a variety of resource tools that include access to more than 32 libraries in the GRRL system.
There are 850,000 items in the GRRL collection to share among its branches, including fiction and non-fiction books, eBooks, DVDs, VHS tapes, music CDs, audio books, magazines, and newspapers. Patrons also have access to a number of databases to use for research and entertainment.
The Cokato branch has two computers for the public to use, and also offers free wireless connection.
There is also a number of programs offered throughout the year, including book clubs, children’s summer reading programs, and a preschool storytime, which takes place the first and third Wednesday of the month during the school year. Check the library for summer storytime schedules.
The Cokato Public Library’s web site provides a schedule of events and the ability to order items online. Visit www.griver.org (click “Location and Hours” to find Cokato).
Help the library by joining FOCAL
Friends of the Cokato Area Library (FOCAL) was founded in 2004, as a way to volunteer for the different library events throughout the year and promote the library. Anyone can be part of FOCAL and be as active as they would like.
During the Cokato Corn Carnival each year, FOCAL hosts a book sale, with the proceeds going toward programs for children and other needs of the library. There is another book sale in April.
The library’s main fundraiser each year is its annual tea party, which takes place in March and includes a silent auction, light lunch, and, of course, tea.
The Cokato library is located on Broadway Avenue and Fourth Street. Hours are: Monday, 2 to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, 2 to 8 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Thursday, 2 to 8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 6 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon. For more information, visit the Cokato Public Library’s web site at www.griver.org or call (320) 286-5760.
