As residents at Upsala Senior Living can’t always make it to the local library, the Friends of the Upsala Public Library decided to bring the world of books to them. A library was set up at the assisted living facility, March 21. It is something the reading residents have enjoyed tremendously ever since.
“Now it’s easy to go find a book,” said Shirley Ploof, a resident at Upsala Senior Living.
Before the Friends of the Upsala Public Library setting up the in-house library, Ploof said it sometimes took a while before she or other readers could get to the public library in downtown Upsala. It all depended on how busy the personnel at the Senior Living were. However, with the new setup, they can just get a book whenever they want to without having to wait.
“It’s very handy,” she said.
Ploof said she really enjoys reading. It’s a hobby she picked up once she retired from working at Munsingwear in Little Falls many years ago. Before that, she simply didn’t have the time to read and enjoy a good book as raising her five children kept her plenty busy.
Her friend, Debbie Terwey, who is also a resident at Upsala Senior Living, share Ploof’s love for reading and enthusiasm for the new library.
“I love to read,” she said.
While Ploof prefers reading books about the Amish, whether fiction or non-fiction, Terwey said her go-to genre is non-fiction, specifically books that are based on real events and people.
Terwey said while she cannot recall when she first started reading, she estimated it was around age 12 she became passionate about it.
Another aspect Ploof and Terwey like about the library at Upsala Senior Living is that there is no time limit on how long they can borrow a book. They also don’t have to worry about renewing the loan. In turn, it also allows them to read at their own pace.
Ploof and Terwey said sometimes it takes them longer to read a book because even though they’re both retired, they don’t always have time. The reason, they said, is because of the many fun activities the Activities Director Amanda McGovern brings to the Senior Living.
“It’s so much fun, so you don’t really want to miss anything,” Terwey said. “This a great place to stay.”
President Wanda Erickson said the Friends of the Upsala Public Library recognized the need for a library shelf at the Senior Living last year. After discussing the concept in September 2023, a Committee from the Friends of the Upsala Public Library met with McGovern to determine the need.
In February, the Friends of the Upsala Public Library purchased two shelving units, newspaper subscriptions to local newspapers, including the Morrison County Record, and a variety of magazine subscriptions. Books were also supplied from the organization’s book collection and from donations that were given for the specific project.
“The community, as always, has been very supportive of this project,” Erickson said. “Local authors have donated copies of their books and area residents have given both funds and books.”
New books are also frequently brought to the library setup at the Senior Living to give residents a greater choice to choose a book from. It is something both Terwey and Ploof like and when they find a book they really want to read as soon as they are done with their current book, they hold onto it.
“Sometimes I have two books in my room,” Ploof said.
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