Library announces new director

Youth Services Librarian Danielle Dickinson Thaden has been announced by the Gibson Memorial Library Board of Driectors as the new director of the library, pending approval by the Creston City Council.

Dickinson Thaden, originally from Greenfield, started her professional career as an English teacher in Coon Rapids. However, after feeling like her job was at a standstill, she decided to pursue a career as a librarian.

“My husband has told me for years that I should have been a librarian years ago and I finally listened to his advice and applied to the services job, which has been the best job,” Dickinson Thaden said.

The jump wasn’t too difficult, due to her background in English.

“I’ve always loved books,” Dickinson Thaden said. “I was an English teacher, loved teaching writing, loved encouraging folks to develop as writers and all that comes from growing up steeped in books.”

She credits her love of reading to her parents, who are also teachers.

As the new director, Dickinson Thaden hopes to continue building youth programs while also connecting to teens and young adults.

“I’ve done a lot in the last year to increase the variety of youth programs and the frequency, so I’m looking forward personally to continuing that,” Dickinson Thaden said. “In the director role, I’m looking forward to finding ways to draw in the groups of people that we don’t see as much of, so kind of the young adults as well as the teens. I would love, especially with my background, to find ways to engage them and bring them in or meet them where they are.”

Dickinson Thaden said a major issue facing libraries right now is attempting to stay relevant.

“That’s why that piece of being a community center is the part of my job that I’m most excited about,” she said. “It’s not just about the books, it’s about the experiences that they get here and the interactions with peers their own age and everything else that can happen at the library.”

Overall, Dickinson Thaden said she’s excited about the new opportunity.

“I’m really excited to take over, I’m a little nervous too,” Dickinson Thaden said. “I just have seen how different directors have handled things over the last couple and that’s given me ideas. I’m excited to make the job my own and work with the staff some more.”

As for her favorite book, Dickinson Thaden couldn’t make a decision.

“I don’t have a favorite book. I don’t have a favorite genre, even,” she said. “In my background as a high school teacher, I loved reading lots of young adult, and I think there are so many diverse wide options for young adult now that I can’t even begin…“

Getting into specifics, she narrowed it down to two.

“I grew up on Harry Potter, so that one is very close to my heart,” Dickinson Thaden said. “Even though I know that it’s complicated and maybe a little cliche, I taught ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ for eight years, I love T’o Kill A Mockingbird’. I think it’s a very finely crafted story from start to finish and if you haven’t read it since high school, you should pick it up again.”