For busy grandmother Sandy Ovitt, the opening of the new Rapid City Public Library North at General Beadle Elementary School has been a blessing.

"It's a central place for us," she said. "My family loves to read, we're very busy, and this is certainly an awesome place."

Ovitt holds a full-time job, has cared for her elderly father since 2000, and also helps shuttle her three grandchildren around town after school. Although she lives in Rapid Valley, her granddaughter Mariah Ruiz, 10, attends General Beadle Elementary, and Mariah's 12-year-old sister, Monica Ruiz, goes to North Middle School. Both girls are involved in Rapid City Children's Choir, orchestra, basketball and softball, and Ovitt is their main form of transportation to and from their activities.

"Their mom is due to have a baby any day, so I'm the taxi right now, but I love to do it," she said.

Mariah is able to go to the library right after school without even stepping outside, and Monica can walk there from North. The library is a convenient after-school destination for the girls, especially on Mondays and Thursdays, when they have children's choir practice at 4:15 p.m.

"That just isn't enough time to go home and come all the way back into town," Ovitt said. "With the way gas prices are now, this library saves me a lot of money."

She said one of the main drawings for her grandchildren to the library are the computers. "If the kids were at my house, there would be three of them all wanting my one computer," she said. "Here, they can each have their own, so they can get their homework done and then play games, time permitting."

Monica looks forward to Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, when she can walk to the library from North right after school and spend more time there. "I usually read for at least an hour," she said. "Before, I could only spend an hour at the most at the main library, but now because it's near my school, I can go a lot more." She said her favorite types of books are fantasy, and she is currently reading the fourth book in the Harry Potter series.

Ovitt said she also loves the videos that are available at the library. "I can check out some old ones I haven't seen in a while, see some new ones, and I've even discovered some from other countries that are probably not available in the video stores," she said.

She recently checked out a movie called "Dancing at Lughnasa," a historical drama which featured an Irish family and starred Meryl Streep. "Everyone loved it," she said. "We had 10 people glued to the TV past midnight watching it. I'm always looking for something different. I love how when you come here, there's always a surprise, and you never know what you're going to find."

Monica and Mariah plan to go to the grand opening scheduled Saturday, March 8, at the library.

There will be entertainment and a chili feed. A dedication ceremony and ribbon-cutting is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. The presentation will include library director Greta Chapman, library chairman Jim Olson, Mayor Alan Hanks, Alderman Ron Kroeger, and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Peter Wharton, as well as other city, county, school and library officials.

Ovitt said she will be unable to attend because she is scheduled to work. "Otherwise, I'd be there, that's for sure," she said. "I live to read, and I don't like to miss a chili feed, either. Going there is the most restful part of my day."

If you go

What: Grand Opening of the Rapid City Public Library satellite library

When: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 8

Where: 10 Van Buren Street, General Beadle School commons room, just outside the library area

More: The Standing Horse Drum Group will provide entertainment at the event, which will also feature a free chili feed. A dedication ceremony and ribbon-cutting event is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.