MITCHELL — Walking through the various sections of the Mitchell Public Library, patrons can see firsthand the handiwork of Zack North.
A litany of colorful signage directs young readers to their desired topics of interest, be it nature or science. Cards on the ends of rows show readers that the aisle contains nonfiction works on ancient world history or cooking. Even the library cards themselves have changed during his time there, moving from generic cards to one sporting city of Mitchell imagery like the Corn Palace.
The changes are a reflection of the impact North has had on the library since he was hired there in 2019, and it recently earned him the recognition of being named New Librarian of the Year for 2023 by the South Dakota Library Association.
“I really love it,” North said. “My philosophy is that, excluding the voting booth, I think the library is one of…
