A great public library! 2 floors full of books, computers and activities. They have an amazing…read morechildren's area with books, videos for checkout, games, and play area. Upstairs they have non-fiction and quiet adult spaces perfect for reading or studying. They have ample library staff who are also very friendly and helpful. The library is clean and well kept.

Lovely library. I have absolutely no complaints…read more Online system makes it really easy to find the books you're looking for. Just go to their website, use their Catalog, and look up to see if they have the book/movie you want - and where it is and whether it's checked out. Makes it really easy to plan ahead and grab and go when I get there. Books are all on an electric system. Scan your library card, put the books on the scanner, and it'll check them out to you. Really simple and much faster than waiting in line. Books are usually in great condition. Definitely readable and very rarely torn up. DVDs have been hit or miss. We've always reported bad ones to librarians, though, so I hope they take that seriously and replace or remove unworking ones from circulation. There's also an interior Used bookstore in the library (the only one in town, I think?), but I've never been in there. The staff are super fun and welcoming, and while patrons aren't always super-quiet, most are respectful, and I've never seen any librarian need to quiet someone down. The children's area is pretty close to the front of the library, though, so if you require complete silence, I'd recommend one of the upper floor areas away from the kid's section. Parking is a private lot right outside the building. There are usually spots here as most Main Street customers seem to respect the library as patron-only. It's possible to drive up and drop someone off right by the door if you'd like. There's also an afterhours/outdoor item drop as well. Plus, there's the fact that the Library is right next to downtown. Return a book you checked out and then go walk a couple blocks to enjoy lunch at a small business. Win-win! The library also has a family/gender-neutral bathroom as well.

This was a fantastic museum to stumble upon in Mason City. We could have spent longer here looking…read moreat everything (but we were pressed for time). Bil Baird's puppets were my absolute favorite permanent collection. Such a variety of puppets - you'll even get to see some of the puppets featured in The Sound of Music from 1965. (If you've seen the movie, you'll recognize them immediately.) MacNider has the most extensive Bil Baird puppet collection anywhere in the world; I suspect it's because Bil grew up in Mason City. The museum resides in a Tudor-style home, previously a private residence and a convent. The house has gone through several renovations over the years. The original staircase is beautiful. The art outside the museum between it and the library is neat, too. If you're going to Mason City, take advantage of MacNider! Free admission.

Such a great museum. A must see when visiting Mason City…read more It's FREE, so no worries if you've just spent all your money at the local ice-cream shop. Donations only. Full of rich history and great exhibits. They even have a small gift shop with items made from local artist. Upstairs the Bill Baird puppets are on display. If you don't know who Bill Baird is, he's the guy who created the puppets for the movie.... The Sound Of Music. They have an Imagination playground for younger children and even a few local exhibits from artists all over the Mid-West. Some of the local exhibits change monthly. They also offer art classes like painting and pottery. Fun place to visit.

Austin Public Library is a great library in the heart of Austin. You can read some of the books you…read morechecked out outside on the benches while watching the scenery or take a walk after checking out your books. If you want a quick read, you can find a table to get cozy and read inside the library. For history lovers, be sure to check out the display of St John's Bible that was donated to the library. If you want to learn more about the Bible or view additional pages that are not displayed, visit the library's website to learn about upcoming events.

From the owner: Loans all types of library materials, free access to many digital materials and resources from the…read morewebsite, comfortable environment, free public computer access and wifi, broad array of free programming for all ages.

This is a great library. A good collection, 18 public computers, free wifi and excellent staffread more

Very friendly staff who help find any kind of information or books that I'm looking for. They…read morealways have the newest and best books, and the Young Adult section has grown so much in the last couple of years! Very good with kids and programs, my kids love it there. Always a very comfortable place. Libraries are changing and I for one, am glad that these children have a place to gather. We can't expect one person to be in charge of 20+ hyper kids after school and have the kids acting perfectly. They do the best they can while also doing their daily job duties. The new director impressively learned her job quickly after just jumping into it. She has two years under her belt now and is a certified library director and takes continuous education classes to learn even more. She is doing a GREAT job! Shell Rock is lucky to have such a library in their community, as a lot of city businesses and groups rely on the library for copies, ticket sales, meeting room, etc. We need to be supportive of our community and volunteer at the library to make it an even better place. A library is only as good as it's patrons! If you don't agree with the way things are run, please just talk to the librarians and it can get solved. Help each other.

Managers are rude and entitled. I volunteered once to run a program feee of charge, I was treated…read morebadly, made me feel like they were doing me a favor when it was the other way around. Many employees are not friendly. Toxic place.

Excellent selection of books! They always have all the latest releases in right away. Some of the…read moreemployees are rude when you ask them for help, hence the reason for the 4 stars.

Hidden gem in downtown Fort Dodge! Great space, great resources, and not very crowded. Be sure to…read morekeep tabs on the calendar events like book club and story hour.