Mural makes known library's importance

When it comes the importance of reading at the Carson City Library, the writing is on the wall - along with a new mural.

"I think it's going to benefit everyone in Carson City," said Kimberly Greenman. "As we improve the library, we're just encouraging children to read, which is a positive thing."

Greenman has always taken her three children to the library, but she noticed the walls in the children's area were a little drab.

"We saw that it just wasn't very exciting," she said. "So I talked to the director and he agreed it could use some sprucing up."

She then approached the women's organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she attends.

They agreed to help and soon enlisted the services of Carson City artist Dale Mauer.

Mauer worked in the purchasing department of Carson-Tahoe Hospital before retiring recently but always maintained his passion for drawing and painting.

"It was a good job but art has always been first for me," he explained.

Although he typically paints Nevada landscapes and wildlife, he agreed to design the mural.

He drew a picture of a little boy wearing a big straw hat and reading in a garden. The opposite wall reads: "Books plant the seeds of knowledge."

"I'm pretty pleased with it," Mauer said. "I hope it turns out."

He sketched the mural on the wall last week and the women filled in the lines with paint as their service project Wednesday night.

"The drawing has been up for a week and people have already been commenting on it," said Cory King, youth services librarian. "They're really excited about it."

As the organizer of the project, Greenman is hesitant to take the credit.

"It's definitely been pieces of everybody working together to make this happen," she said. "There are moms working on it, grandmothers and women who haven't had children yet. It represents quite a wide range of age and situations in life."

The women also donated games, toys and puzzles to the children's center of the library.

King said he hopes the mural will rejuvenate the area.

"We really try to foster a love of books across the generations," he said. "That's a place where people sit and read to kids. It's nice to have a good environment for them."

Carson City Library

Address: 900 N. Roop St.

Information: 887-2244

Reference-TDD Voice: 887-2247

Hours: Opens Monday-Saturday at 10 a.m.; closes Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays at 6 and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9 p.m.; closed on Sundays and holidays.

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Contact Teri Vance at tvance@nevadaappeal.com or at 881-1272.