It was library time in Riverside teacher Tania Schroeder's class.

They picked out books, and she read to them a Bernstein's Bears book. Nearby, librarian assistant Laurie Cullen kept busy putting books in order.

Normal tasks for an unusual day. Preparation began for the visit by first lady Laura Bush on Thursday. Just last week, Principal Wilda Lu "Willie" Nelson received a call that the school would receive a visit.

So, Cullen is organizing books and making the library presentable for the first lady, who is a former librarian. In the office, someone from the technology department was working on a computer and men in dress shirts and slacks asked questions of staff and the district's media relations director.

Amidst all the tasks, it's classes as usual for the students, who have not been told by the school about her visit.

"If they've watched the news or read the paper, they know," Nelson said. She'd rather the students keep on task.

And, she's getting a little direction from the White House on what to say, or rather not say. She can't say what is being done to get ready, or what the students will be doing that day. But, she can talk about the National Endowment for the Humanities Picturing America program and how she feels about Bush visiting her school.

"We were selected from 75 schools to visit," Nelson said. "It was a big surprise." The school received the artwork from Picturing America as part of a districtwide grant written by Darlene Schwarz, the district's library media coordinator. The artwork will be incorporated into the curriculum by the classroom teachers, Nelson said.

Tuesday afternoon, the district's media relations department said tickets will not be available for the visit and it is a school-only event. Bush will visit a classroom, then give remarks, according to a schedule released Tuesday afternoon by her press office.

She'll arrive in Bismarck late morning, then go to Sims Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Prairie Church and then to Riverside Elementary School at about 2 p.m.

Preparations for the visit involve more than the school and church.

Local law enforcement agencies have been called on to assist. The Secret Service will call on local law enforcement agencies for security during the visit. The Secret Service coordinates security during such visits and enlists local law enforcement agencies to provide assistance and knowledge.

A couple of deputies will be on hand at Sims Lutheran Church, and other deputies will be in civilian clothes during Bush's visit, said Morton County Sheriff Dave Shipman. The department will serve as "an assisting agency to the Secret Service," Shipman said.

North Dakota Highway Patrol troopers also will be involved in security, said Highway Patrol Capt. Eric Peterson. The main task is "giving her protective detail that local knowledge," he said. "We're providing some manpower."

The Bismarck Police Department also will be involved in security measures.

At the school, she will visit a class, then talk about the National Endowment for the Humanities Picturing America program. Riverside is one of 15 schools in Bismarck to participate in the program. It uses artwork to teach social studies. Each school receives 40 laminated copies.

Every Bismarck public elementary school has the program, as well as Century High School, Simle Middle School, Saint Mary's Central High School and Dakota Adventist Academy.

Riverside was chosen from 75 schools in North Dakota participating in the program. The NEH deputy director Thomas Lindsay will be at the event at the school when the first lady is there.

(Reporter Jenny Michael contributed to this story. Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@bismarcktribune.com.)