A three-dimensional wood collage by local humorist, writer, musician, and artist Richard Pinney hangs above the Children’s Services area in the Library. It was dedicated on October 5, 1992. Titled "Once Upon a Time," the piece features storybook characters such as Cat in the Hat, Babar, Winnie the Pooh, Paddington Bear, Curious George and Pippi Longstocking.

"When the original plans for the library building were finalized, an art committee suggested that a colorful wood sculpture by Richard Pinney should be hung above children's services. Because of other building priorities, the project didn't come to fruition by the 1985 opening," said former library director Tom Armitage. In 1990, Friends of the Cedar Rapids Public Library voted to undertake the project with funding assistance from the Metropolitan Cedar Rapids Library Foundation and from the Lucille Dunn estate.

"I think [Pinney] just saw life through humorous eyes, and his artwork reflected that joyful quality," said Cedar Rapids artist Stan Wiederspan. "He helped remind us that art can be purely entertaining."

Pinney was probably best known for his wood sculptures. He was a free-lance writer and a guest columnist for The Gazette. He had drawn an editorial cartoon called "Pinpoints" that appeared in The Gazette. He also was an accomplished musician and songwriter. Some of his work is in a permanent collection at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art.

Artist Pinney died on February 3, 1996.

Adapted from Gazette articles on 10/2/92 pg 3 sec w and 2/5/96 pg 2B.