Matilda J. Gibson Memorial Library

🏢 City of Creston · Creston, Iowa

Matilda J. Gibson Memorial Library

Named for a local benefactress, the Matilda J. Gibson Memorial Library has served the Union County seat of Creston since the city's railroading heyday — offering evening hours on Monday and Wednesday and free access to Iowa's statewide eLibrary for every cardholder.

📞 (641) 782-2277🌐 creston.lib.ia.us🧭 Get directions
🕑 Hours & visit📖 About⭐ Highlights📚 Services📍 Nearby❓ FAQ

🕑 Library Hours

Monday 10am–8pm
Tuesday 10am–6pm
Wednesday 10am–8pm
Thursday 10am–6pm
Friday 10am–6pm
Saturday 10am–3pm
Sunday Closed

Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.

📍 Location, Contact & Directions

Address: 200 W Howard Street, CRESTON, IA 50801

Phone: (641) 782-2277

Website: creston.lib.ia.us

Plus Code: 86H73J6P+9Q (CRESTON, IA)

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👋 Use the Library Online

&🌐Library website & card info →&📚Libby — borrow e-books free →&🎓Iowa Statewide eLibrary →

📖 About Matilda J. Gibson Memorial Library

The Matilda J. Gibson Memorial Library is the public library of Creston, the county seat of Union County in southwestern Iowa. Creston grew up as a major railroad division point on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe line — the railroad built its roundhouse here in the 1860s, drawing workers from Chicago and shaping the city's identity around industry and community. Today the library at 200 W Howard Street stands as a community anchor, offering books, audiovisuals, public computers, and free Wi-Fi to residents of Creston and the surrounding region. The library provides two evenings of extended hours each week — Monday and Wednesday until 8 pm — to serve families and workers after business hours. Iowa cardholders also benefit from the Iowa Statewide eLibrary (through the State Library of Iowa), which provides free access to databases, periodicals, and digital resources to every resident.

⭐ What makes this library special

  • Named in honor of a local benefactress whose gift established the library for Creston, the Union County seat
  • Located at 200 W Howard Street in a city shaped by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad heritage since the 1860s
  • Extended evening hours on Monday and Wednesday until 8 pm for after-work and after-school visits
  • Free access to the Iowa Statewide eLibrary — databases, periodicals, and research tools for every Iowa cardholder
  • Serves the broader Union County community with books, audiovisuals, computers, and free Wi-Fi

📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card

Gibson Memorial Library cardholders can read and research free through Iowa's statewide digital resources:

&🎓 Iowa Statewide eLibraryFree databases, newspapers, magazines, and reference resources for every Iowa resident — provided by the State Library of Iowa.
&📚 Libby / OverDriveBorrow e-books and audiobooks instantly on any device with your Iowa library card.
&🎧 hooplaStream movies, music, comics, and audiobooks with no holds or waitlists.
&📱 Iowa Talking Book ProgramFree audiobooks and Braille materials for Iowans with print disabilities, provided by the State Library.

📚 Services

  • Book, DVD, audiobook, and magazine lending
  • Public computers and free Wi-Fi
  • Printing, copying, and scanning
  • Iowa Statewide eLibrary database access
  • Interlibrary loan
  • Reference and reader's advisory assistance
  • Community meeting space

🎸 Programs

  • Summer reading program for children, teens, and adults
  • Children's storytimes and youth programming
  • Teen and young adult services
  • Adult programming and community events
  • Iowa Center for the Book programs

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Matilda J. Gibson, and why is the library named after her?

The library bears the name of Matilda J. Gibson, a local benefactress whose gift helped establish or endow the public library for the city of Creston. Memorial libraries named for community donors like Gibson are common in Iowa's small cities, honoring individuals whose generosity gave their towns a lasting public institution.

What are the library's hours, and does it have evening access?

The library is open Monday 10 am–8 pm, Tuesday 10 am–6 pm, Wednesday 10 am–8 pm, Thursday 10 am–6 pm, Friday 10 am–6 pm, and Saturday 10 am–3 pm. It is closed on Sunday. Monday and Wednesday both stay open until 8 pm, making evening visits convenient for workers and school families.

Does the library have free Wi-Fi and computers?

Yes. The Matilda J. Gibson Memorial Library provides free public Wi-Fi and public access computers during all open hours, along with printing, copying, and scanning services.

What statewide digital resources can Iowa cardholders access?

Iowa cardholders have free access to the Iowa Statewide eLibrary — a collection of databases, full-text periodicals, and reference tools funded by the State Library of Iowa. Cardholders can also borrow e-books and audiobooks through Libby/OverDrive and stream content through hoopla — all at no cost with a valid Iowa library card.

🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.

📅 This library has meeting & community rooms. See how library meeting rooms work — booking, policies and fees — and find other libraries with meeting or community rooms meeting rooms by state.

✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in October 2026.

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