New director at Gibson Memorial Library

Sounds like Gabriel Chrisman and Creston’s Gibson Memorial Library found each other.

Chrisman started this week as director of the facility on West Howard. He replaced Aric Bishop who resigned earlier this summer. Library work is not new to Chrisman. His previous work was with the Des Moines libraries. His career has included work in libraries, academics and archiving.

Originally from Boston, Chrisman, 44, has lived across the country throughout his life. He received his degrees in history and library operation from the University of Washington. His wife Sarah is the director of the library in Garden Grove in Decatur County.

Chrisman desires to have Gibson Memorial a place where people can find answers, and not all from a book or whatever material is in the building.

“Libraries have been trying to reinvent themselves,” he said. “They want to provide more technology and help with technology.”

Chrisman’s objective is to have Gibson be a part of that. He speculates people may be willing to acquire and use more technology, “but it is harder to get support.” He is planning on having various programs on technology and include support for those who use the programs and learn from each other.

“Libraries are a community meeting place,” he said. “Where we can all use a shared space.”

He is willing to meet with other organizations who could use the library as a meeting place or to have some kind of demonstration and for the rest of area to see.

He wants the library to be versatile.

“There are so many options with entertainment and news,” he said. “I want the library to be a first option.”

Chrisman also said the library is a good place to ask questions, “even weird ones.”

He explained an unusual moment earlier in his library work of how an answer was found to a unique question. He said he was approached by an artist who used pictures and graphics cut of magazines in a collage. The artist’s collage collection was rather extensive as he wanted to find a magazine one cut out was from. He didn’t keep the entire magazine and could not tell what magazine was used.

“That is something you don’t Google,” Chrisman said about the popular internet search engine.

Chrisman said the man showed him the cut out in question. He looked on the opposite side of cut out and found a picture that included the name of the photographer. An internet search of the photographer resulted in how to get in touch with him. The photographer was contacted and knew which picture was in question and what magazine was used.

Of course it wouldn’t be a complete story about a library director if it didn’t include the favorite readings. Chrisman likes science fiction.