Sculpture to remain in front of Mason City library

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Mason City woman has bought and donated a sculpture with the provision that it remain in front of the city library.

The Mason City Globe Gazette says the sculpture titled “Circle of Friends” was bought for $36,000 by Kay Sloan. The artwork depicts a little girl sitting inside a circle, reading a book.

Sloan says the sculpture “spoke to me in so many different ways.” She’s a former reading teacher and a 30-year member of the library board.

The sculpture was part of an exhibit of sculptures that will be moved out as new sculptures are brought in. Sloan says she didn’t want that to happen, so she bought the piece and donated with the understanding that it stay where it is.