>> A cascading current
defines this small city.
River Falls,
"The City on the Kinni,"
The Kinnickinnic River.
>> If I can brag about that,
it's a Class I trout stream
that runs right through
our town.
>> In this land of sky blue
waters, something else
proudly binds the community.
>> Can I help you?
Oh, absolutely...
>> Its single public library
with its generations of readers.
This is not
a "shushing" library.
Still, it's obviously contained
within four walls with
some expectation of decorum.
>> You can stop back and your
card will be ready in about
five minutes, okay?
>> That's where
one-woman dynamo--
>> Oh, yeah, yep...
>> Heather Johnson--
breaks the mold.
>> Are you having fun there?
>> Oh, absolutely!
>> Heather knows most the faces
here, as she works toward
her master's degree,
behind the circulation desk.
>> Thank you...
You're constantly teaching
people new things.
You find everything you needed?
>> This very library
was her home away from home
growing up.
>> As a kid, we were always
in the library.
First place I drove to
when I got my license
was the library!
>> These days, the local
farm wife and mother,
graduate student and librarian
gets out from behind the desk.
>> I'm Heather Johnson.
I work at the River Falls
Public Library.
This summer, I'm doing
my internship at the library.
>> As part of her internship,
Heather takes the adult
reading program to the people,
to a familiar place
for adults in Wisconsin.
The local watering hole.
>> Yeah, it works.
>> Books and beer.
>> Books and beer, it works.
It works good for me anyways.
>> River Falls boasts
19 taverns in town.
But just the one library.
So Heather combined the two,
launching "Book Club in a Bar."
>> I think it was...
[laughter]
It was all this stuff,
but I'm like, and a Wisconsin
crafter, too...
>> I just thought it was
a fun idea, and a fun way
to get to know some other people
in the community here.
>> Three bars in town
became venues for drinks
and discussions,
including the Lazy River.
Its patio along, you guessed it,
the Kinnickinnic.
>> My first question
usually always starts out,
did you like the book?
>> It made me cry!
>> I really liked
the characters.
>> The first paragraph
of the book is just beautiful.
>> The plot didn't seem
consistent.
>> I like social interactions,
and creating opportunities
for people to talk.
>> And the deeper Heather
takes the discussion...
>> Add good food,
add some booze.
[laughs]
>> Accompanied by a burger
and another beer,
the more animated it becomes.
And what Heather hopes
the book club can do, is further
cement the library's place
in the current
of this community.
>> We need to embrace
cool things like that.
That is a great...
>> I am all about
promoting libraries.
>> While at the same time,
Heather Johnson is turning
the book-ish stereotype
of a straight-laced librarian
on its head.
>> The ultimate nerd job
is becoming so fun and so cool!
We have book clubs in bars!