Book Clubs
The library serves several Creston and Union County area book clubs by providing multiple copies of titles that have been selected in advance for their readers. If your book club needs help locating materials, please call the library at (641) 782-2277, or email us at crestonlibrary310@gmail.com.
The library also has its own book clubs. Please look at press releases and our events page or Facebook Page for more information!
Faxing Service
Fax charges are $1.00 for the first page and .50 per page thereafter to send, and .50 per page to receive. Library staff operate the fax machine but are not responsible for materials that may be damaged in the process.
Genealogy Collection
The library is proud to be the home of the Union County, Iowa, Genealogical Society (UCGS). UCGS officers meet in the library on the 4th Monday of every month at 6pm and often hold "First Saturday" events at noon on the first Saturday of the month.
For details about UCGS events and activities, or help with research, visit their website at
https://unioncgs.org/
For in-library access to Ancestry Library, click here: https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/
For a near-complete database of Creston and Cromwell school yearbooks, click here: http://densue.net/htdocs/face.html
The library's Genealogy Room holds thousands of volumes on family history, state and local history, area cemeteries, obituaries. There are archived local directories, a newspaper microfilm collection, high school yearbooks, archived scrapbooks, and other primary sources available to researchers. The library has a state-of-the-art Viewscan microfilm viewer paired with a computer, enabling patrons to scan, save, send, or print newspaper microfilm images.
If you are unable to visit the library, but would like assistance with genealogical research, please call (641) 782-2277. There is a $3.00 charge for obituaries, whether emailed or shipped by the postal service.
Please find our library's Genealogy Data Policy and genealogical research request form. This genealogical research request form can be e-mailed back to crestonlibrary310@gmail.com where a staff member can assist you with your genealogy research.
Interlibrary Loan
Our library is connected to other libraries throughout the state and nation. If you can't find an item in this library, please ask the library staff to help you borrow it from another library.
Members may request that the staff borrow items from other libraries that are not owned by the Gibson Memorial Library. When the item arrives, the library will make every effort to notify the borrowing member as soon as possible. Borrowed items are checked out for the usual period of time (3 weeks for regular members, 4 weeks for friends) and cannot be renewed. Lost or damaged interlibrary loan items are the responsibility of the member.
Curious about what items are available in other Iowa libraries? Click here: http://locator.silo.lib.ia.us/cgi-bin/search.cgi
If you have any questions about interlibrary loans, and/or the status of a loan request, please call the library at (641) 782-2277 or email us at crestonlibrary310@gmail.com.
Notary Service
A certified notary public is on staff. Their work hours may vary, so please call the library at (641) 782-2277 to determine their availability. The service is free of charge.
Proctoring Service
The staff of the Gibson Memorial Library is able to proctor exams for students of all ages. Public computers are available for students needing to complete online exams. Students and/or instructors may call (641) 782-2277 or email the library at crestonlibrary310@gmail.com to determine availability and establish dates, times, and necessary credentials.
Reading suggestions
Everyone on our library staff is an avid reader! What's more, each of us loves to share our passion for the fiction and non-fiction titles on our shelves. If you see a member of our staff, be sure to ask, "what are you reading?"
If you know of an upcoming title that we're likely to purchase, please let us know, and we'll notify you when it's available.
Next to our upstairs electronic catalog, you'll find lists of authors who write Christian, Amish, paranormal romance, and historical fiction.
Curious about what books you might like to read? Check out:
-Books & Authors
-Good Reads
Want to know if certain items are available at other Iowa libraries? Click here: http://locator.silo.lib.ia.us/cgi-bin/search.cgi
Scanning documents
Scanning documents is made easy at the library. Staff can scan documents to your email address or to a USB drive.
Use a computer
The Gibson Memorial Library has 5 computers for public use located throughout the library. They are equipped with a standard Microsoft Office package. Printing charges are $.15 for a black and white copy and $.50 for a color copy. Computer usage is restricted if a patron's fine exceeds $10.00. Users are responsible for any damages they cause to computer equipment.
The library staff do not monitor or control information accessed through the internet and are not responsible for its content. Parents or legal guardians, not the library or its staff, are responsible for the internet information selected and/or accessed by their children. Parents are strongly urged to supervise their children's internet sessions. Some information resources are inappropriate for a library setting.
The staff reserves the right to determine appropriate usage of the internet and reserves the right to terminate public internet use for any reason. The library is not responsible for any loss of data, damage, or liability that may occur from use of the library's computers.