More Than Books

A.H. Brown gave the residents of Mobridge and the surrounding area a remarkable gift in 1929 when the A.H. Brown Library was opened. Community members came together to expanded on this gift in 2013 with an addition to the library. The library has been providing its patrons entertainment, information and community for over 90 years!

The library is here to serve residents of Mobridge and the surrounding communities of all ages. It is a wonderful resource, providing events, access to Libby and other apps, and great fiction and non-fiction sections. The staff try hard to find what patrons need. They have children’s educational packs, public access computers, book club bags, and community building opportunities.

This summer, there was a man walking across the country who became stalled in Mobridge. He walked into the library and the librarians helped him find his sister and connected them. His sister sent money, and the librarians worked to get it on a bus that would take him home. The library isn’t just books—it functions as a community center, offering events ranging from costume exchanges to a 3-day summer camp to a game and puzzle repository.

New this year is their adult craft club and puzzle table. They also had their first job fair and started Penny Pincher Mondays with recipes for families to pick up that will feed a family of four for the week. In 2027, they would love to see the patron count go up and see more new (and old) faces in the library.

While the A. H. Brown Library Foundation raises funds for the library, the library itself would like to focus on ties and testimony. They are looking for organizations and individuals that are interested in collaborating on additional events at the library and anyone interested in sharing their library story. If you are interested in giving back to the library this year, please hop on social media and share a picture of you and your household using the library’s materials (tag A.H. Brown Public Library) or pick up a pen and write a letter to the editor about what the library means to you.