Library's No. 1 Reader Leaves Book Collection to Library

Anonymous Patron writes "News Out Of Iowa on Charles Loftsgard. When his family cleaned Charles Loftsgard's apartment after his death, the task proved monumental. The 70-year-old bachelor had accumulated thousands of volumes.

Loftsgard's family donated the collection --- an estimated 10,000 books --- to the Elgin Public Library.

"We don't know if he read all the books," said Karol Helgerson of West Union, his younger sister. "But as far back as I can remember, he was always reading, and I could never touch his books.""