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.

In addition to eight years at the helm of the Blakesburg Public Library, I have more than 29 years of day-to-day experience 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, and the Association of Rural and Small Libraries, 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 and materials 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. I am also a certified Substitute Teacher for grades K-12. 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 about a year. She is a Blakesburg resident, and recent 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, family business, and serving as an officer in the Blakesburg Elementary Attendance Center Parent Teacher Organization. 

Marcy Taylor

Marcy Taylor is newly 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 45 years and has one son. She is an avid volunteer for the Air Power Museum and assists her husband in his business.