The Heart of America Library is getting a new director at the end of this month. Kimberly Morgan will be taking the position from Sheila Craun, starting on June 30. Craun will be moving to Oregon to be with family.

“If this town has taught me anything, it’s to keep family first. At the library, I see grandparents and kids together all the time, and I want that now,” Craun said on why she has decided to leave Rugby.

Craun is moving on to the next chapter in her life, but she is leaving the library and its books in good hands. Morgan has worked at the library for three years and is eager and ready to step in as the director. “It was a natural transition,” Craun said about promoting Morgan. “She was doing so well with her position, and I thought why not learn my position too.”

Morgan has wanted to be a librarian ever since she was a little girl, so this truly is her dream job. “I love working for the library,” she said. “I love the people here, and it doesn’t hurt that I love to read!”

The transition will be a positive one, with Morgan having been trained by Craun all month.

The library will continue business as usual during this transitional phase, with the summer reading program happening as scheduled starting on June 29 with a focus on physical fitness. Each participant will receive a pedometer to keep track of their steps and there will be a map hanging in the library, which people can use to see what distance they have walked.

Morgan said she plans to keep the library the way it has been, not wanting to change anything that Craun has done. “It’s a great system, so I want to stick with that. Everything [Sheila] has done is fantastic. We have it running pretty smoothly,” she said.

Both Craun and Morgan appreciate the support they have received from the surrounding community. “I’m most looking forward to continuing the interactions I have with my patrons because I love them. We’re a family,” Morgan said. “They’re in my heart.”

Craun said one of the things she will miss most is the people of Rugby, to whom she says, “Thank you for accepting me! Thanks for going along with anything we have brought to the library and thanks for supporting the library. I am proud to be leaving on a good note, knowing that the support will continue.”

Emotions are high in the library, as Morgan and Craun will miss working with one another. “Some advice I would have for Kim is just to follow your heart, keep reading, and keep pushing books,” Craun said.