Library Director Sara Pearson has Retired
About Sara Pearson...
Sara has been the Urbandale Library Director for
the past 35 years. "[Sara's] vision for services to meet the public's needs
has been exemplary, making the library an inviting and helpful facility for
our community," says Library Foundation President Kay Readinger. Some of the
key changes she helped organize during her time with the library
include moving the library 2 different times (with one library remodel in
between the 2 moves), adjusting to the evolution of computers and the move
to computerizing the card catalog, and
the emergence of online services such as reference databases and
downloadable audio books.
Other major events she took part in earlier in her career include handling the display of the community bicentennial quilt in 1976, helping with crowd control during Pope John Paul’s visit to Urbandale in 1979, and making sure the library remained open during the flood of 1993 with the help of portable toilets. She also created a branch library in Johnston in 1988 and directed it until 1992 when it became the Johnston Public Library. In addition to her many accomplishments, Sara has seen the library collection change dramatically over the years. Everyone is familiar with the current collection but did you know the library used to offer dress patterns, coupon swaps, jigsaw puzzles, art prints, phonograph records and board games?
As you can see, Sara has been an integral part in creating and maintaining the library that we all know and love. "The quality of Urbandale's library facility and staff are both direct reflections of Sara Pearson's many years of dedication and hard work as our community's library director. Sara has consistently displayed a sincere concern for her staff, patrons, and the overall quality of services at the library. Sara's expertise and thorough knowledge of the library's operations will be sorely missed," says Urbandale Library Board President, Matt Carver.