OSAGE -- The Osage Public Library Board has added several cultural and art pieces to the library, thanks to a gift by the late Maurine Hudson of Osage.

Hudson, who died in 2005, left $13,000 in her trust for the library. She also left $210,000 for the new auditorium in the Cedar River Recreation and Fine Arts Complex.

"She was a wonderful lady and a life-long learner. She used the library virtually every day and was fond of books," said Osage Library Director Cindi Youngblut. "While she has passed away, she will indeed live on through these incredible gifts."

A set of display cases that matched the interior of the library was purchased. One of the cases holds the Sister City Collection that contains items given to Osage from Lermontov, Stavropol Krai, in Russia. Art from local artists and former residents are on display in the cases also.

Youngblut and four library board members traveled to Rochester, Minn., to purchase several small sculptures and a large bronze statue that will soon sit outside the library. The statue depicts two children reading and will be placed on a limestone base to the east of the main doors.

Other items are a carved giraffe, located behind the main checkout desk, and a bronze fish near the library director's office.

"We are still in the process of spending the money from Maurine -- we were very frugal with the gift and have plenty left" said Youngblut. "We hope to reflect Maurine's appreciation of our library and of learning."

Hudson, who graduated from Osage High School in 1926, wrote an eight-page letter of her remembrances of going to the library as a little girl.

"I cannot pinpoint when I first appreciated what a library is, but I do remember in the primary grades at May School that a farm family outside the city limits had to pay for a library card in order to check out books. This gave me an odd feeling -- deprived, would we say in the 'Great Society.'"

She graduated from Grinnell College in 1932 and attended the University of Iowa, Marycrest College and the University of Chicago. She taught in various schools for 43 years, ending her career in Osage.

"She would still use the library to the very end, even when she wasn't able to get out of the house," said Youngblut. "She would have books delivered to her."

David Namanny is the news editor of the Mitchell County Press-News, a Lee Enterprises newspaper.