Nebraska Library Tour: Prairie Deco on the Road

A sunset near Oshkosh, Nebraska.

To follow up on my recent trip to Nebraska libraries, here are the results of the trip.

Chimney Rock above the Nebraska prairie — Chimney Rock.

On August 25, I drove up to Nebraska to promote my book, Lee Lawrie’s Prairie Deco: History in Stone at the Nebraska State Capitol, with plans to visit as many libraries and bookstores as I could.

Lee Lawrie Archive automobile near Chimney Rock — The automobile on the Nebraska library tour.

Bringing the book to Nebraska

When I wrote Lee Lawrie’s Prairie Deco: History in Stone at the Nebraska State Capitol, I dedicated it to the schoolchildren of Nebraska. In checking WorldCat.org, however, I learned that very few Nebraska libraries carried it.

I decided that the best way to acquaint Nebraskans with my book was to bring “the mountain to Moses,” as they say, and personally visit libraries across the width of the state. I gave them copies of the 2011 edition of my book and copies of the Kirkus Review, which recommended it.

Nearly 800 miles in two days

In two days, I drove nearly 800 miles crisscrossing the state, from South Sioux City in the northeast corner all the way to Scottsbluff in the Panhandle, then back to Lincoln. Much of the trip paralleled the Platte River, a major stretch of the Oregon Trail in the 19th century.

I was pleasantly surprised by the libraries in Nebraska’s small towns. Many were in brand-new, modern buildings that were incredibly welcoming. It was also a pleasure meeting so many of the state’s friendly and personable librarians.

Public libraries visited

In all, I visited 15 Nebraska public libraries, leaving most of them a copy of the 2011 edition of my book and its favorable Kirkus Review:

The Freeman/Lozier Library at Bellevue University
Columbus Public Library
Wilson Public Library in Cozad
Geneva Public Library
Hebron Secrest Public Library
La Vista Public Library
Papillion’s Sump Memorial Library
Lexington Public Library
Lied Library in Scottsbluff
Madison Public Library
Norfolk Public Library
North Platte Public Library
South Sioux City Public Library
Wayne Public Library
Kilgore Library in York, Nebraska

Bookstores and galleries visited

I also visited around 11 bookstores and galleries to promote the book:

Lee Lawrie’s Prairie Deco displayed for sale on a bookshelf at the Nebraska State Capitol — Prairie Deco for sale at the Capitol.

The Landmark Store at Chimney Rock, where I was told that visitors only bought books about the Oregon Trail
Barnes & Noble in Lincoln, which already offered it online
Francie & Finch, which bought additional copies
The Sower Bookstore in Lincoln
The Lux Center for the Arts in Lincoln
The Landmark Stores at the Nebraska State Capitol and Nebraska History Museum, both of which have carried my book for years
Jackson Street Booksellers in Omaha
The Reading Room, a coffee shop with a wonderful reading room
The Bard’s Den Bookstore in Scottsbluff
Chapters Books & Gifts in Seward

Other places to find the book

Other libraries and vendors that already carry my book include the Seward Public Library, Kearney Public Library, Grand Island Public Library and the Crane Trust Nature and Visitors’ Center gift shop in Gibbon, Nebraska.

Lee Lawrie’s Prairie Deco displayed for sale at the Natural History Museum — Prairie Deco for sale at the Natural History Museum.

You can find my book at each of these libraries and vendors. If your local library does not carry it, please ask them to order it for you.

A few stops for next time

I had hoped to also visit additional libraries in Chadron, Broken Bow, Bellevue, Hastings and Fremont, but I simply ran out of energy before the trip ended. Driving 800 miles or so in two days is a bit challenging for me.

Gregory Paul Harm with Chimney Rock in the background — The Author near Chimney Rock.

Frequently asked questions

Which Nebraska public libraries received Prairie Deco?

Gregory Paul Harm visited 15 public libraries, including libraries in Bellevue, Cozad, Geneva, Hebron, La Vista, Lexington, North Platte, Scottsbluff, South Sioux City, Wayne and York, where he left copies of the 2011 edition of Lee Lawrie’s Prairie Deco and its favorable Kirkus Review.

Where can I find Lee Lawrie’s Prairie Deco in Nebraska?

The book is available through the libraries and vendors listed in this report, including several bookstores, galleries and visitor-center shops. If a local library does not have a copy, readers are encouraged to ask the library to order one.

How far did the Nebraska library tour travel?

The two-day trip covered nearly 800 miles, from South Sioux City in the northeast to Scottsbluff in the Panhandle and back to Lincoln, much of it alongside the Platte River and the historic Oregon Trail corridor.