Deb Bowman, Tuff Village Activities Coordinator (and volunteer librarian), checks out a book to resident Vivienne Tatge Tuesday at the new library facility located in the Community Room at Tuff Village.By Jolene FarleyAfter the demise of the Rock County Bookmobile, readers in the Hills area wondered if they would have to drive to Luverne to check out a book. The Bookmobile, one of the items cut from the Rock County budget last fall because of funding constraints, no longer operated after the first of the year. Rock County Commissioner Richard Bakken began looking for alternatives to keep library services available in Hills, according to Tuff Village Administrator Bonnie Hengeveld.Bakken approached Hengeveld about using Tuff Village as the location for a satellite branch to the Rock County Library. Bakken, Hengeveld and Rock County librarian Glenda Bremer worked out the details and the branch opened Thursday, Jan. 8. More than 100 children or adult books are on hand at the location, including some large-print books. Books on tape are also available.Readers will also be able to request books from the Rock County Library and the in-stock selection will continually rotate."They are just kind of in the process of setting up the whole system," said Hengeveld. February hours for the branch are 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, and Saturday, Feb. 21, and 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10.The hours may change in March, depending on the amount of people who use the service. Organizers tried to stay as close to the Bookmobile schedule as possible.The whole project costs taxpayers very little, according to Hengeveld. Tuff Village employees transport residents to Luverne for appointments or other purposes daily so books can be picked up or dropped off while the employees are in town. No rent is charged for the space and Tuff Village Activities Director Deb Bowman will work at the library on Tuesday evenings."In a sense, we are volunteering some of our staff time," Hengeveld said.On Saturdays, Hills-Beaver Creek High School Librarian Marilyn Nelson will work in the library.Hills Christian School Principal Wendell Buys said the new facility can’t offer the selection of the Bookmobile where his students had hundreds of books to choose from. Hills Christian School students and staff are disappointed that the Bookmobile no longer stops at their school. "Our kids really enjoyed going in there," said Buys. "The ladies were very cooperative, we could ask for all sorts of things."Buys said Bakken and the other volunteers are "doing a great service," but there is no way the Tuff Village branch library can compare to the Bookmobile."We appreciate that they are willing to work with us and try to lessen the blow of losing the Bookmobile," he said.
