Dragonfly Books Celebrates 15 Years, Starts New Chapter of Ownership

Every dollar helps Decorah News chase down the truth on Water Street, not just headlines. Give today. DECORAH — Dragonfly Books marked its 15th anniversary Tuesday, Feb. 3, celebrating both the store's opening in 2011 and founder Kate (Nelson) Rattenborg Scott's 65th birthday. The independent bookstore opened Feb. 3, 2011, at 112 W. Water St. in conjunction with Scott's 50th birthday. A fifth-generation Decorahian, Scott combined her strong community ties with a master's degree in library science from the University of Iowa to establish Dragonfly Books. Reflecting on her bookselling career, Scott said, "It has been an honor to carry on my family's legacy in Decorah through Dragonfly Books. I have felt grounded and anchored through the small business community throughout the past 15 years. I am excited and proud to be passing the torch to the next generation. A big thank you to our customers and community for making my dream a reality." Beginning with an initial order of fewer than 6,000 books, the store's inventory has grown to more than 15,000 titles in 2026. Guided by its core values, Dragonfly Books offers a carefully curated and diverse selection of books, gifts and educational items for customers of all ages, with a focus on Scandinavian fiction in translation and regional nonfiction. The store also highlights authors from Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin, many of whom have visited Decorah for readings and signings. In 2022, the Oneota Valley Literary Foundation was established in conjunction with Dragonfly Books to support community-centered, mission-driven programming. Through the foundation, Dragonfly Books' event series expanded to more than 80 author and community events in 2025 alone. By partnering with regional schools, museums, public libraries and nonprofits, the foundation has gifted more than 9,500 books to the community since its inception. Scott has extensive nonprofit leadership experience, including serving as president of the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association from 2019 to 2022 and as a board director for the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce, Oneota Valley Community Orchestra and Vesterheim Museum. She plans to remain active as board president of the Oneota Valley Literary Foundation in retirement and will retain ownership of The Silver Birch, a Christian book and gift shop she purchased in 2019. Scott said she looks forward to spending more time with her husband, Paul, traveling, attending community events, building LEGO sets, working on jigsaw puzzles and reading for pleasure. Ownership and operations of Dragonfly Books have transitioned to Scott's daughters, Sarah Krammen of Decorah and Rachel Rattenborg of Waukon. Krammen manages inventory, marketing and events, while Rattenborg oversees accounting, staffing and customer experience. Rattenborg previously lived in multiple states before returning to northeast Iowa. To mark the anniversary, Dragonfly Books hosted a community celebration Tuesday and is offering 15% off storewide through Saturday, Feb. 7. The discount is also available online at dragonflybooks.com, which recently launched a redesigned website featuring new logo art by local artist Oran Deen Lester. Be the first to know! Sign up for the free newsletter and unlock exclusive updates, breaking news, and tips from around the community.