Library Director
Cheryl Talbert
Hello, I am Cheryl Talbert, and have been your Blakesburg Public Library Director since April of 2014. A graduate of Blakesburg High School, I hold an Associate of Arts degree from Indian Hills Community College, a Bachelor of Arts degree from Buena Vista University (Major - English; Minor - Psychology), and a Masters of Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, an ALA-accredited institution. I have been certified as a Public Librarian by the State Library of Iowa since 1997. I completed 45 continuing education credits over the past three years, and renewed my certification in December of 2025. Continuing Education ensures that library staff stays up-to-date on trends, software, and programs available to our patrons, resulting in excellent customer service.
In addition to twelve years at the helm of the Blakesburg Public Library, I worked more than 29 years managing the day-to-day operations in an academic library, retiring in August of 2022. I have been a strong advocate for libraries throughout my career. I am a member of the Iowa Library Association, have served on the Blakesburg Public Library Board of Trustees, the Southeast Iowa Regional Library Service Area Board of Trustees, and the Combined Southeastern/East Central Regional Library Service Area Board of Trustees. I was also instrumental in helping establish a Friends of the Blakesburg Public Library organization and will remain active with that group as it provides financial support for programming, resources, and projects for the library.
In addition to managing an academic library, I have taught an online information literacy class, an online college orientation class, and Children's Literature at IHCC. In my spare time, I enjoy traveling, reading, watching home improvement shows and news programs, and spending time with family and friends. I am looking forward to helping the library meet the information needs of everyone in our community.
Assistant Librarians
Stacey McSparen
Stacey McSparen has been Assistant Librarian at Blakesburg Public Library for several years. She is a Blakesburg resident, and a graduate of the Health Unit Coordinator Program at Indian Hills Community College. Stacy is married and mom to four very active children. She is also active with a full-time job, and working with a family business.
Marcy Taylor
Marcy Taylor is retired from Ottumwa Regional Health Center after 33 years as an administrative assistant. She has accepted a position as assistant librarian. She has an associate of applied science degree from Ottumwa Heights College. She loves to quilt and read. She has been married for more than four decades and has one son. She is an avid volunteer for the Air Power Museum and assists her husband in his business.