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Rock County librarian Calla Jarvie is looking for local youth authors.
She is collecting original writings from youth ages 18 and younger. The collection will be available for checkout by library patrons.
“If my library put my book in the library, I would have died of happiness,” Jarvie said.
Pages of the submissions will be laminated and placed in a three-ring binder.
“Hopefully we fill many binders,” she said.
The inspiration for collecting young authors’ works comes from 9-year-old Noel Henrichs of Luverne.
Henrichs returned a library book recently. Tucked inside was a story she wrote, “Yoko, The Family Dog,”stapled together in a three-page book.
“She likes to be crazy,” Henrichs said of the main character, who is based off the family’s adopted dog. “She’s black and white with an ear that stands straight up.”
Jarvie found Henrichs’ book, and the idea for sharing local youth authors’ works was developed.
Henrichs already has an original book available at her school, Luverne Elementary School.
“I wrote a book in second grade and gave it to Mrs. (Tina) Petronek, and she put it in the library,” Henrichs said.
For the local library, youth authors can make multiple submissions. Henrichs is working on a second story involving Max, a dog the family took care of for another family.
Henrichs is the daughter of Cody and Nicole Henrichs, Luverne.
Submissions can be dropped off to the Rock County Library or emailed to Jarvie at calla.jarvie@co.rock.mn.us