Patrons of the Clearwater Library will be greeted by a new children’s mural when they step inside the building, one that leads to the mural already in the juvenile section.

In 2019, the children’s section was redesigned so all of their items were in the same area instead of scattered around the library. The original reading and play area was opened up and led to a larger area that holds the rest of the library’s juvenile collection.

Wanting to make the new area fun and welcoming, Librarian Cyrene Bastien contracted local artist Megan Larson to paint a mural along two walls in the new section. The colorful mural depicts Minnesota animals in the outdoors reading books that pertain to them, such as a fish in the pond reading One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Suess. 

With the popularity of the mural, this winter Larson was again brought in, this time to expand her mural onto a large blank wall in the original children’s area, which is now aimed mainly at toddlers. The new mural continues the same theme, Minnesota animals outdoors reading books. 

The mural was paid for by the Clearwater Library’s gift fund, which is where monies donated by patrons goes into.

The Clearwater Library, as are the Becker and Big Lake Libraries, is part of Great River Regional Library system (GRRL). For more information on each of them along with upcoming events for the public, patrons are encouraged to visit griver.org.