A program that was started two years ago to bring positivity to children for an otherwise serious situation will be coming to Greene County. 

Ryne George is the founder and executive director of Leslyee’s Library and he is bringing his mother’s legacy to the Greene County Clerk of Court’s Office with a bookcase of books for children to use while they are with their parents are doing business that is typically not something that is a positive reason for being there.

Ryne tells Raccoon Valley Radio that his mother, Leslyee George, worked in the Marshall County Courthouse and he learned after her passing two years ago that she had a shoebox of books for kids to look at and read while they were in the courthouse with their parents. Ryne was so moved by what his mother did and he heard about all the good that this small gesture made to children, he decided to carry her memory onward.

“Boy wouldn’t it be great if this could expand to Lynn County where I live, I live in Cedar Rapids. This program is helping kids, this program could continue to help kids and also keep my mom’s legacy alive. The silver lining of the tragedy (of my mom’s passing) was this was a really bright spot and a program that we could continue and get free access to books to kids.”

With his background in fundraising and helping to start up organizations and businesses, he proposed the same idea to the Lynn County officials and they embraced the message and allowed Leslyee’s Library to be placed in the courthouse in June of 2025. 

Ryne points out that in late June or early July, Leslyee’s Library will be installed in the Greene County Clerk of Court. He explains how this idea was brought to Greene County from help with the local court reporter.

“Jessica Savits in Greene County is a longtime friend of my mom. Actually, they met in Marshall County, where my mom worked. And once I launched this idea in 2025, I think Jessica immediately messaged me on Facebook and said, ‘If you want to expand, Greene County is the place, because I will be happy to lead those efforts for you.”   

Ryne notes that once he navigated the logistics of how to make sure books are available, the ways to approach governmental entities and make it successful, he was happy to contact Savits about pulling Greene County into the mix. He appreciates Savits’ willingness to help coordinate Leslyee’s Library in Greene County, which he believes is key to making this program expand to other counties.

Ryne adds that after Greene County, there are four other counties that will have a bookcase of books in their respective courthouses in Butler, Floyd, Franklin and Bremer in August. He says people can check out the website, by clicking here, to learn more about how to make financial donations to keep up inventory of the books moving forward.