Yes, there’s a bear at the Lake Wylie library. Why staff wants folks to check it out.

Don’t just stare at the perusing bear out front of Lake Wylie’s library. Stop on in and name it.

“The branch has a new patron,” said Nancy Monts-Rayfield, branch director at the public library.

A seated, reading bear now takes up the stump where a large tree once stood. The library’s way of making the best of having to bring down a tree. The bear was installed Tuesday.

“The (library) branch had to cut down a tree and the library’s building superintendent, Mike Hyde, had the great idea of using the stump as the base for our new friend,” Monts-Rayfield said.

Rusty Rayfield, no relation to the library manager, of Wild Wood Chainsaw Carvings in Rock Hill, sculpted the bear. He didn’t give it a name.

“Lake Wylie staff will be accepting entries for a name,” Monts-Rayfield said. “It will be an informal contest with staff choosing the best name and announcing it on March 2.”

This story was originally published February 7, 2018 at 3:47 PM with the headline "Yes, there’s a bear at the Lake Wylie library. Why staff wants folks to check it out.."