Nature mural donated to library

A new mural is about to be added to the children’s section at Gibson Memorial Library, designed and painted by a local artist.

Graphic designer Ashlee Aldrich frequents the library with her young children and wanted to help give back. She came to Director Danielle Dickinson Thaden this summer with the offer to donate a mural, which the library board immediately agreed to upon seeing the design.

The mural features nature often seen in Southwest Iowa, including farmland with wind turbines and a wooded area full of animals. Aldrich will work alongside Bailey and Blake Fry-Schnormeier, as well as various high school art students, to paint the mural on the west wall of the children’s section. The Creston Friends of the Library will cover any extra expenses.

“She’s looking and hoping to start sketching out in the next week, with high school kids helping the week after,” Dickinson Thaden said.

The mural will wrap around the sides of the wall, similar to the other mural featured in children’s section.

In other library news...

The board approved a new policy regarding notary services offered by the library. Assistant Director Jordan Foote was recently certified as a notary and will offer free notary services by appointment. Appointments are available Monday through Friday, with a maximum of two notarized documents per person per day.

Patrons seeking notary services will need a valid government-issued photo ID, the completed document that has not yet been signed (notaries must witness the signing of the document) and, if required, a witness with their own photo ID.

Updates have officially been made to the library’s public spaces policy, including the banning of sleeping in any library space. Patrons are also asked not to leave any belongings unattended for safety precautions.