LEFT- Jennifer Bledsoe (seated, center) who is leaving her position as Toledo Public Library director after 12 years of service was joined on Nov. 21 at the library by Library Trustees and Foundation members to wish her well. Also seated in front, Trustee Erin Gumm (left) and Foundation member Margaret Lyon. Standing, left to right) Trustee Elizabeth Reece, Foundation members Trudy Koch, Jim Roan, Mary Doyle and Ray Murray and Trustee Becca Chyma. Other Trustees are Steve Bearden, Kathy Holtz and Kevin Nelson. Holtz also serves on the Foundation. Chronicle/John Speer

Jennifer (Jenny) Bledsoe is leaving her post as the Toledo Public Library Director on Nov. 27 after 12 years in the position. She has accepted the librarian position at the Gilman Public Library which is part-time.

She says this will afford her the chance to spend more time with her five grandchildren and to assist with the great deal of paperwork involved with her husband Andy’s trucking business.

Jenny had been the Gladbrook librarian for nine year when she took over from Sonja Hayek at the Toledo Library.”I had learned all of the basics at Gladbrook,” she says.

Jenny expresses appreciation for the ongoing support of the library trustees and library foundation members.

Members of the Foundation and Board Trustees recently gathered together to express their gratitude to Bledsoe. She was “praised for the positive impact her professionalism, innovation, and leadership have had in the evolution of the library to a top tier accreditation.”

Foundation members include Mary Doyle, Kathy Holtz, Elizabeth Reese, Margaret Lyon, Barb Jordan, Jim Roan, Ray Murray and Trudy Koch.

The Board of Trustees members are Steve Bearden, Erin Gumm, Kathy Holtz Kevin Nelson and Becca Chyma.

As the Toledo director one of Jenny’s ongoing accomplishments was securing grants. Over the 12 years she served, she said a total of some $54,000 in assistance was secured. Among the benefits of the grants were paying for for improved lighting lighting, new computers, software and equipment and expansion of the audio book selection.

While she says actual hard copy circulation is down slightly, the more than 4,000 registered library users benefit from the bank of public computers as well as the recently upgraded WiFi system in library.

The children’s Literacy Stations features four computers which are not connected to the internet rather providing learning tools and games which are suitable for the age groups.

Movies, audio books, the offering of 57 magazine and five newspaper subscriptions and among other offerings cited by Jenny which the library provides.

Asked who the library’s most popular authors are, Jenny identifies James Patterson, Danielle Steele, Nora Roberts, John Grisham and Heather graham as most-requested.

Also popular are the many educational programs and activities offered throughout the year. Jenny says the library strives to use local resource people some of whom are from the Tama County Nature Center, Tama County Extension and Outreach, Toledo Fire Department and Emergency Service and Police Department. Humanities Iowa also wrks with the library to provide programs.