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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLibrary Committee - Agenda - 8/14/2024 D August 14, 2024 Dear Library Committee Members, This letter is written to inform you of the Bayfield County Library Committee Meeting is scheduled for 4:00pm Wednesday, August 14, 2024. This will be a REMOTE meeting only. Committee members and the public will be able to participate in the Meeting via video (click on JOIN MICROSOFT TEAMS MEETING link) and or voice either by using the internet link or phone number below. ________________________________________________________________________________ Microsoft Teams Need help? Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 213 152 326 724 Passcode: qZFmfd Dial in by phone +1 715-318-2087,,234476800# United States, Eau Claire Find a local number Phone conference ID: 234 476 800# For organizers: Meeting options | Reset dial-in PIN Contact Bayfield County at 715-373-6181 if you have access questions. Any person wishing to attend who, because of a disability, requires special accommodation, should contact the County Clerk’s office at 715-373-6100, at least 24 hours before the scheduled meeting time, so appropriate arrangements can be made. Bayfield County Library Committee Bayfield County Courthouse 117 East 5th Street, Washburn, WI 54891 County Board Representatives: Charly Ray Jan Lee Sue Rosa Bayfield County Library Representatives: Vicki Redenbaugh, Bayfield; Jennifer McBain, Drummond; Diane Posner, Washburn; Mary Jean Fenske, Cable/Namakagon; Cassie Fleming, Iron River; Connie Cogger, Northern Waters Library Service Bayfield County Library Directors: Darrell Pendergrass, Teresa Weber, Jacqueline Pooler, Addie Arens, Amanda Westlund, Jared Blanche, Sherry Anderson AGENDA 1. Call to Order 2. Introductions 3. Public Comment 4. Motion regarding the Minutes of January 24, 2024 5. Discussion regarding four-year Bayfield County Library Plan 6. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Bayfield County Library Funding Plan for 2025, Total and BSL 7. Discussion Regarding 2024 BSL Program Project Review 8. Discussion and Possible Action Regarding 2025 BSL Program Submittals 9. Next Meeting Date: January 15, 2025, 4pm. (Discussion regarding virtual or in person) 10. Library Reports 11. Adjournment Respectfully, Mark Abeles-Allison, Bayfield County Administrator On behalf of Bayfield County Library Committee MAA/pat cc: Ashland Daily Press, via e-mail LIBRARY COMMITTEE MEETING, NARRATIVE, AUGUST 14, 2024 Item 5: Every four years the county updates the County Library Plan. The most recent version is attached. Item 6: Attached is the 2025 year funding plan. The recommendation is to: LIBRARY FUNDING LEVELS RECOMMENDATION 1. Keep Bayfield, Forest Lodge and Washburn at the 2024 levels (over and above the 70% levels.) 2. Increase Drummond to 70% or $18,913 3. Increase Iron River to 70% or $40,675. This equates to 79%. Detailed chart below: BUILDING STRONG LIBRARY (BSL) FUNDING LEVEL IN 2025 RECOMMENDATION Assuming the above, the total distribution to libraries is: $219,575 ($195,221 + $24,354). This would leave $59,311 for BSL Item 7: 2024 BSL Status: Iron River and Bayfield had projects this year. Please plan to report on the status of these. Thank you. Item 8. Recommendations for 2025 BSL. Attached in the packet please find the BSL Rules sheet. Attached in the packet please find details on these projects. The Cable Library will report on the status of their project. It was anticipated to start in 2024. Bayfield and Iron River will describe their proposed projects. Minutes of the: Bayfield County Library Committee Meeting January 24th, 2024 - 3:00 p.m. Meeting Held Remotely Via Teams Members Present: Connie Cogger, Charly Ray, Mary Jean Fenske, Amanda Westlund, Jennifer McBain, Addie Arens, Jim Crandall, John Rautio, Sherry Anderson, Diane Posner, Jared Blanche (arrived late) Members Excused: Mary Lynch, Cassie Fleming, Darrell Pendergrass, Teresa Weber, Jacqueline Pooler Other Members Present: Mark Abeles-Allison-County Administrator, Laurie St. Aubin-Whelihan-Forest Lodge Library Board Member, Fred Strand-County Board Supervisor, Kristine Lendved-Former Forest Lodge Library Director Items 1 & 2: Call to Order and Introductions: The meeting of the Bayfield County Library Committee was called to order at 3:00 p.m. by Committee Chair Connie Cogger. Introductions of members were made. Item 3: Public Comment: None. Item 4: Motion Regarding the Minutes of the August 24, 2023 Bayfield County Library Committee Meeting: Motion by Ray, seconded by Rautio to approve the minutes of the August 24,2023 Library Committee Meeting. Motion carried. 3:09 p.m. – Jared Blanche joined the meeting. Item 5: Review 2024 Building Strong (BSL) Library Projects: St. Aubin-Whelihan and Lendved reported that the Forest Lodge Library had asked for BSL funds for the library expansion project. A letter was recently from Abeles-Allison which stated that Bayfield County library support was currently at approximately $100,000. The library was given three years for the project and the deadline is near, so the library is asking for a year extension as the COVID-19 pandemic slowed down progress for the project. St. Aubin-Whelihan stated that the library sent out an end-of-year mailing to the library’s service population and received approximately $83,000 in donations as a result. Cogger asked if the project would be an addition to the existing structure or an entirely new building. Fenske explained that it would be an addition to the existing structure that would be connected by a corridor. Lendved stated that the only way to expand the library and remain in the log cabin library was to purchase the adjacent property when it became available to use as the site for the expansion. Information regarding the other 2024 BSL projects was included in the packet. Item 6: Discussion and Possible Action Regarding 2025 BSL Program: Abeles-Allison reviewed updates made to the program. 2025 BSL applications are due Friday, July 26, 2024. Motion by Crandall, seconded by Fenske to approve the 2025 Building Strong Libraries (BSL) Program. Motion carried. Item 7: Discussion and Possible Action on Forest Lodge Library BSL Extension Request: Fenske informed the committee that the library has experienced a large amount of success with its fundraising efforts over the past year. In total the library has raised over approximately $900,000 in funds for the project. The library has reached out to several construction companies that operate in the nearby area to seek bids on the project. A couple of bids have been received, the lowest bid received is $1.3 million and the contractor feels confident that they could break ground in April 2025 with the project being completed by October 2025. Fenske reviewed the other fundraising efforts that the library plans to undertake over the next year and stated that the library is asking for a one-year extension on the original project deadline to allow the library to finish its fundraising efforts. Motion by Posner, seconded by Ray to approve the one-year extension to the Forest Lodge Library Expansion Project. Motion carried. Item 8: Review 2024 Library Budget Approved by County Board: Abeles-Allison reviewed the 2024 library budget approved by the Bayfield County Board. Expenses total $383,000 with the following allocations to each of the Bayfield County libraries: • Bayfield Library - $89,528.47 • Forest Lodge Library (Cable/Namakagon) - $7,932.15 • Drummond Library - $15,692.25 • Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Library (Iron River) - $32,919.66 • Washburn Library - $62,525.08 Abeles-Allison explained the formula for determining fund allocation to the committee. Ray asked if the funds that have been designated to the Forest Lodge Library expansion project have been named as allocated savings. Abeles-Allison replied yes and stated that projects are normally one-year projects with the library expansion project being the only multi-year project. Ray asked if the county has ever gone above the 100% funding structure to fund a library project. Abeles-Allison answered no and informed the committee that there was a lack of projects for several years that led the county to be below the 100% funding structure. Item 9: Next Meeting Date: August 15, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. The committee agreed to hold an in-person meeting with a virtual option as well. No location for the meeting was set. Item 10: Library Reports: Arens reported that it has been quiet at the Drummond Library; however, the library has implemented a story time program. The crafternoons program will continue through March and adult crafting sessions are held once a month. Arens informed the committee that the BSL project from the previous year was on a bit of a hiatus as they were waiting for materials to come in, but library staff is hoping to hold either a Spring or Summer introduction event for the patio. Lendved welcomed Amanda Westlund as the new Forest Lodge Library Director. Anderson reported that it is annual report season for the Northern Waters Library Service (NWLS) and the first library report was received earlier in the day. The NWLS is nearing the end of the second year in a two- year merger project that will merge the NWLS ILS circulation system with a neighboring circulation system, Wisconsin Valley, which is headquartered in Wausau. Once the second year is complete, a final report will be issued in May and the libraries, and their respective boards, will vote whether to continue with the merger. Anderson finished her report stating that everyone in the NWLS is currently in compliance. Blanche reported that the Red Cliff Library is currently fully staffed again and reviewed several programs the library has available, which includes game nights, movie nights, resume help, arts and crafts, and indigenous arts and crafts. Abeles-Allison asked if Anderson would keep the committee informed should the Red Cliff Library receive its certification as a public library. Anderson replied yes and reported that they are waiting for the Red Cliff Library to get some paperwork in order, but she would inform the other libraries as well as Bayfield County when the library receives its certification. Abeles-Allison informed the committee that the Forest Lodge Library will be hosting a party at The Lakewoods Resort on Saturday, January 27, 2024, from 1:00-4:00 p.m. to celebrate Kristine Lendved on her retirement and to introduce Amanda Westlund as the new director. A short program will begin at 2:30 p.m. Item 11: Adjournment: There being no further business to discuss, a motion was made by Ray, seconded by McBain to adjourn the meeting at 3:38 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Paige a. terry, Clerk III, Bayfield County Administrator’s & Clerk’s Offices On behalf of Bayfield County Library Committee PAT cc: Ashland Daily Press, via e-mail 1 Bayfield County Plan of Library Service January, 2022-2026 Bayfield County Plan of Library Service Mission (The Bayfield County Library Committee’s primary purpose) To review, consider and make recommendations with respect to the County’s role in maintaining and improving public library services within Bayfield County. Vision (The Bayfield County Library Committee aspirations for the future) To promote fairly and adequately funded libraries, which provide equitable access to library services for all residents of Bayfield County through the cooperative efforts of involved units of government. Background and Funding Bayfield County is supportive of its libraries. In order to help the libraries fulfill their mission of providing quality library service to all county residents and visitors, long-range planning for library services was begun in the fall of 1990. The result of this planning process was a sequence of long-range plans for library services in Bayfield County. The first of these was adopted in 1991. Since 1992, Bayfield County has provided funding support to the Bayfield Carnegie Library, the Forest Lodge Library (Cable/Namakagon), the Drummond Public Library, and the Washburn Public Library. Since 2001, the County has provided funding support to the Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Memorial Library (Iron River). The county also provides annual funding to Northern Waters Library Service (NWLS). County support has contributed to the growth and success of Bayfield County libraries. Core library infrastructure has improved and circulation figures have generally increased. In 1997, Wisconsin Act 150 established the county's statutory responsibility to provide funding for library services for its residents living in municipalities without libraries. Beginning on January 1, 2001, counties were required to annually reimburse public libraries at least 70 percent of their cost of serving county residents who live outside the library’s municipality and have no municipal library of their own. In 2006, Wisconsin Act 420 extended the county’s statutory responsibility to provide funding to libraries in adjacent counties. The following tables show the growth in Bayfield County funding provided to libraries between 1999 and 2020. The tables include figures from 2019 and 2020; when the COVID- 19 pandemic started to have an impact on the libraries in March of that year. 3 Table 1 Bayfield County Funding to Libraries in 1999 and 2020 1999 2020 Bayfield Carnegie Library $ 19,566 $ 87,666 Drummond Public Library 3,046 17,322 Forest Lodge Library (Cable/Nama) 10,483 8,019 Evelyn Goldberg Briggs (Iron River) Established in 2000 25,268 Washburn Public Library 18,767 49,315 Ginanda Gikendaasomin (Red Cliff)* 3,000 Subtotal $ 187,590 Building Strong Libraries 43,194 Totals $ 87,287 $ 230,784 Northern Waters Library Service $ 32,425 $ 37,581 * Ginanda Gikendaasomin (Red Cliff) Ceased its Operation in 2010. Table 2a Bayfield County Libraries, 2001-2019 and 2001-2020 Library Circulation Circulation during Pandemic 2001 2019 % Change 2019 2020 % Change Bayfield 22,591 30,527 35% 30,527 22,866 -25% Cable 6,705 14,648 118% 14,648 9,023 -38% Drummond 8,388 5,153 -39% 5,153 3,093 -40% Iron River* 1,131 37,312 3199% 37,312 23,276 -38% Ginanda Gikendaasomin (Red Cliff) 3,817 95 -98% 95 95 0% Washburn 32,786 37,038 13% 37,038 15,701 -58% Totals 78,418 124,773 +59% 124,773 74,054 -41% Note: The Iron River Library opened its doors December 1, 2001. Ginanda Gikendaasomin (Red Cliff) Ceased its Operation in 2010. 4 Table 2b Library Circulation Hours per Week Operational Expenditures 2020 2001 2020 % Change 2001 2020 % Change Bayfield 22,866 36 44 22% $ 72,569 164,113 126% Cable 9,023 29 44 53% 28,669 151,333 423% Drummond 3,093 25 32 28% 38,706 56,323 46% Iron River 23,276 20.5 44 115% 33,456 98,229 194% Ginanda Gikendaasomin (Red Cliff) 33.75 12 3,000 Washburn 15,701 45 52 16% $ 118,742 178,756 51% Totals 73,959 189.25 228 21% $ 295,142 $ 648,754 120% Table 3 Bayfield County Libraries, 2001-2020 2001 2019 % Change 2001-2019 2020 % Change 2001-2020 Registered Borrowers 6,678 7,528 13% 7,221 8% Circulation 75,418 124,154 65% 73,959 -2% Collection 70,196 87,475 25% 92,663 32% Reference Questions 7,748 1,953* -75% 1,768* -77% Items Loaned to Other Libraries 1,890 17,638 833% 11,263 496% Items Received from Other Libraries 2,750 22,775 728% 17.340 531% Number of Visits 107,276 80,059* -25% 3,288* -97% Number of Programs 304 524 72% 210 -31% Attendance at Programs 9,747 7,935 -19% 5,814 -40% Number of Public Use Computers 25 30 20% 30 20% Items Available through NWLN 575,522 670,997 17% 709,640 23% *Note: Most libraries did not collect Reference Question amounts nor Library Visits. 5 Current Library Services to Bayfield County Residents The libraries in Bayfield County include the Bayfield Carnegie Library, the Drummond Public Library, Forest Lodge Library (Cable/Namakagon), the Washburn Public Library, and the Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Memorial Library (Iron River). All of the libraries in the County are members of the Northern Waters Library Service (NWLS). Along with the public libraries, NWLS provides library services to individuals throughout Bayfield County by way of their Mail-A-Book program. Some of the basic services provided by libraries in Bayfield County include the circulation of books, magazines, audiobooks and DVDs including films, documentaries and television series in various formats. Libraries also provide: digital content via the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium, public computer access, reference assistance, public programs for patrons of all ages, home-schooling resources, school visits, summer reading programs and public meeting spaces. All Bayfield County libraries provide no-cost wireless Internet access, a service that is appreciated and utilized by area visitors and residents. Access to the following databases is offered through the Northern Waters Library Service website at: www.northernwaters.org/library-databases/ • Ancestry Library Edition is a library genealogy research tool. Access since 2020 has expanded from in-library use only to remote use. It includes: records from the United States Census, military records, court, land and probate records, vital and church records, directories, passenger lists and more! Remote access is guaranteed until June of 2021 and may be a permanent feature for the company moving forward. • BadgerLink: Users can access over 20,000 periodical titles and over 1,500 newspapers (including Wisconsin newspapers), business, medical, education sources, and many other specialized resources not available through regular Internet search engines. • Learning Express Library is a Learning Center for all ages. Educational skill-building courses are available for elementary students, high school students, college preparation, college students, and adults. Career development resources cover occupation practice tests, U.S. Citizenship preparation, computer skills courses, job searching, resumes, and interviewing. A library card is not required for setting up a “My Center” account at the library for your selected learning courses. When setting up an account from home, a library card number is required. Go to “New Users” and use your barcode as the username and a password of your choice. Select Northern Waters Library Service as your library. • Northern Waters Library Network (NWLN) Online Catalog is the shared catalog of NWLS member libraries. With a library card, patrons can directly request, renew, and check the status of their requests for books and other materials. • Libby offers e-audiobooks, e-books, videos, and magazines that can be downloaded directly to a computer or a device such as a phone or tablet. Titles can be searched in the NWLN Catalog, by visiting the Wisconsin Digital Library or downloading the Libby app. A valid NWLN Library Card is required to check out titles or place holds and access is limited to Wisconsin residents or property holders. • WISCAT is the catalog of Wisconsin library collections that can be browsed. Patrons from the NWLS area can search WISCAT when items are not found in the NWLN catalog. Contact a librarian to request items from WISCAT. 6 • Gale Courses offers a wide range of highly interactive, instructor led courses that you can take entirely online. As a library card holder in good standing, you are entitled to these courses at no cost. Courses run for six weeks and new sessions begin every month. https://education.gale.com/l-nwater/ All Bayfield County libraries are members of the NWLN, a group of 27 libraries sharing an online library catalog. Member libraries can reserve materials directly from a shared database. NWLS automation staff operates the shared system and provides support service to the member libraries. With a library card patrons can directly request, renew, and check the status of items either checked out or on hold. Bayfield County’s libraries provide residents and visitors the opportunity to access the internet via their own device or the library’s public access computers, check out library materials, peruse newspapers and magazines and get reference assistance. Bayfield County libraries very much function as adjuncts to local Chambers of Commerce and Visitor’s Centers and provide essential support to the area’s business and tourism industry Governance structure differs among the five libraries in Bayfield County. The mayors of Bayfield and Washburn make appointments to the Bayfield and Washburn library boards. Forest Lodge Library in Cable is a joint library between by the town of Cable and Namakagon and appointments to the library board are made by the respective towns. The town chair of Drummond and Iron River make appointments to their respective library boards. Two Bayfield County residents hold positions on the NWLS Board of Trustees. The county administrator and county board chair appoints members to the NWLS Board of Trustees as terms expire. The Bayfield County Library Committee is made up of eight members. Three County Board Supervisors and a board representative from each of the libraries. Librarians serve as advisory members to the Committee. Table 4 Library Board Size Type Appointed By Bayfield Carnegie Library 7 Municipal Mayor Drummond Public Library 5 Municipal Town Chair Forest Lodge Library (Cable/Namakagon) 7 Joint Town Chair Evelyn Goldberg Briggs (Iron River) 8 Municipal Town Chair Washburn Public Library 7 Municipal Mayor Northern Waters Library Service 18 Federated Library System County Board of Supervisors of 8 participating counties Note: The Iron River Library opened its doors December 1, 2001. Ginanda Gikendaasomin (Red Cliff) Ceased its Operation in 2010. Statistical Reporting Requirements for Libraries In accordance with Wisconsin Statutes, all Bayfield County libraries collect data for establishing Act 150 and Act 420 use statistics for the required county reimbursements. 7 Circulation of materials constitutes use. "Materials" are defined as books, magazines, dvds or other physical items circulated by a library. When a patron checks out materials, the number of items and the municipality of that person are recorded. Program attendance, Internet use, reference assistance and general library use are not included in determining library usage statistics. Any library eligible for reimbursement from Bayfield County under Wisconsin Act 150 and Act 420 shall provide to the county clerk, by July 1, the following statistics for the previous year: (1) the total number of items circulated to all patrons (total circulation); (2) the number of items circulated to county residents who do not reside in the library’s municipality and are not served by their own municipal library (non-resident circulation); and (3) the total annual operating budget of the library, exclusive of federal funds and capital expenditures. Collected prior-year statistics are used to calculate the following year’s appropriation and reimbursement requests must be filed by July 1 of any year for the subsequent year. For example, 2018 statistics provided by July 1, 2019 are used to calculate the county tax levy to be paid to libraries in 2020. Tables 5a, 5b, 6 and 7 show circulation and budget statistics, reimbursable circulation, and cost per circulation. Both the years 2019 and 2020 are included in the tables to reflect the impact COVID-19 had on circulations in 2020. Table 5a Total Circulation 2019 Circulation and Budget Statistics Total Circ Non- resident Circ Operating Budget Cost per Circ Bayfield Carnegie Library 30,456 19,576 $ 181,540 $ 5.96 Drummond Public Library 5,150 1,586 65,351 12.69 Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Library 37,180 13,056 97,941 2.63 Forest Lodge Library 14,534 1,118 134,399 9.25 Washburn Public Library 36,834 13,199 176,583 4.79 Totals 124,154 48,535 655,814 Average Totals 24,830 9,707 $ 131,163 $ 7.06 8 Table 5b Total Circulation 2020 Circulation and Budget Statistics (Pandemic Year) Total Circ Non-resident Circ Operating Budget Cost per Circ Bayfield Carnegie Library 22,866 14,412 $ 164,113 $ 7.18 Drummond Public Library 3,093 1,020 56,323 18.21 Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Library 23,276 8,049 93,427 4.01 Forest Lodge Library 9,023 533 151,333 16.77 Washburn Public Library 15,701 6,275 178,756 11.39 Totals 73,959 30,289 $ 643,952 Average Totals 14,792 6,057 $ 128,790 $ 11.51 The Iron River Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Library opened its doors December 1, 2001. Summarizing: Comparison of circulation for 2020 versus 2019 shows a decline of 41%, with a county usage decrease of less than 38%. Table 6 County, Out of District Circulations Reimbursable Circulation to Bayfield County Patrons 2005 – 2020 2005 2019 2020* Bayfield Carnegie Library 18,241 19,576 14,412 Drummond Public Library 4,175 1,586 1,020 Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Library 10,797 13,056 8,049 Forest Lodge Library 1,113 1,118 533 Ginanda Gikendaasomin (Red Cliff) 432 Washburn Public Library 18,537 13,199 6,278 Total 53,295 48,535 30,292 *Pandemic Year The Iron River Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Library opened its doors December 1, 2001. Ginanda Gikendaasomin (Red Cliff) Ceased its Operation in 2010. The declining totals in out of district circulation over the decades may be attributed to increased library, home and business internet access and usage. Library circulations do not include computer usage or facility usage for library patrons. 9 Table 7 Cost per Circulation 2005 – 2020 2005 2019 2020* Bayfield Carnegie Library $2.84 $5.96 $7.18 Drummond Public Library $4.68 $12.69 $18.21 Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Library (Iron River) $2.80 $2.63 $4.01 Forest Lodge Library $5.64 $9.25 $16.77 Ginanda Gikendaasomin (Red Cliff) $14.53 Washburn Public Library $2.74 $4.79 $11.39 Average** $3.26 $7.06 $11.51 Cost escalation in 2020 due to reduced circulations. *Pandemic Year **Average cost per circ is calculated by dividing total for all libraries operational costs by the total circulations. NOTE: The Iron River Library opened its doors December 1, 2001. Ginanda Gikendaasomin (Red Cliff) Ceased its Operation in 2010. BAYFIELD COUNTY LIBRARIES: https://www.bayfieldcounty.wi.gov/806/Libraries Bayfield Carnegie Library In 1857, one room was set-aside in the newly established City of Bayfield as a Free Reading Room: a library, a commitment to knowledge and the free exchange of information. Bayfield has maintained that commitment for the past 164 years through various changes of fortune affecting the city and the library. The one room library expanded to two rooms in the prosperous lumbering days of the late 1800s and remained there until 1903 when on February 5th the Bayfield Library Board received a letter from Mr. Andrew Carnegie offering $10,000 to build a new library. The Board purchased the current site from the Dalrymaple estate for $650. Henry Wildhazen, architect, designed the building and Dan Egan, contractor supervised the construction. The community of Bayfield and the library were thriving during the early 1900s; however, by the 1930s fortunes had turned. The library had to close its doors in 1943. According to the Wisconsin Historical Society, the library had “deteriorated further than any library in the state.” In the spring of 1943 the Junior Civic League voted to make the reopening of the library its number one priority. They organized the annual Library Benefit Carnival at the Lakeside Pavilion and through hard work and many bake sales, the library reopened. By the 1970s, economic growth was again apparent, as tourism became a vital industry for Bayfield. The city reinstated the library budget, a librarian was hired and a new interest was 10 brought to the library. The library became a member of the Northern Waters Library Service and is now one of 27 libraries in northwestern Wisconsin served by the system. During 1994, the library board working closely with staff developed a long-range plan for the library. Its focus was the next five to six years. An ambitious program of physical development and service improvements was undertaken with amazing results. Lower Level Expansion: This expansion was done to meet the needs of patrons for a larger collection and more services. Needs for handicapped accessibility and parking would also be addressed. Jill Lorenz was hired as the architect and Wayne Nasi Construction received the building contract. The renovation included a kitchen, elevator, new restrooms, new heating system, added entryway on Washington Avenue and large meeting room, and expanded children’s section. The project was completed at a total cost of $225,000 in the fall of 1998. In 1997, the Bayfield public school received an innovative grant to construct and implement a community-wide Internet network called “the Lighthouse Project.” This was the library’s official entry into the worldwide web. During the summer of 1997 the library added four computer workstations for patron access to the Internet. Currently, the library maintains six public computer workstations. In 1998, in cooperation with the Bayfield School the library began a successful after school program. Homework help, book discussions, art activities and daily snacks are now important aspects of expanded use of the library. In 2015 a new five-year strategic plan was created. Copies are available at the Bayfield Carnegie Library as well as through the library’s web site. One of the main components of the plan is an endowment fund for the library. The goal of the fund is to reach $100,000. Five other sub-goals for the library going forward are listed in the 2015-2020 Strategic Plan. The Bayfield Carnegie Library has over 16,000 items in print form along with an impressive movie and audiobook collection. The conference room is outfitted to show films using a digital projector. The projector is capable of playing Blu-ray quality as well as 3D films, complete with surround sound—and popcorn. Movie nights are throughout the year. The library sponsors book clubs, a writer’s group, “Carnegie Kids!” story time and special programs. The Winter Lecture Series is quite popular providing lifelong learning to the community. Information about the library happenings can be found on the Bayfield Library website, Facebook, and Instagram. Traditionally, the library has two fundraisers each year: the book sale over Apple Fest and a Thrift Sale in the spring. The library is primarily funded by the City of Bayfield and Bayfield County. The library has significantly broadened its services for the new millennium, complimenting the more traditional aspects of library use with continued availability of the latest best sellers, “Carnegie Kids!” story time, and internet access. With the addition of the meeting room and kitchen space, wi-fi access and expanded staff time, the library is more than ever a community center for Bayfield and the surrounding townships. https://www.bayfieldlibrary.org/ https://www.facebook.com/BayfieldCarnegieLibrary https://www.instagram.com/bayfieldcarnegielibrary/ 11 Drummond Public Library The Drummond Public Library is nestled at the top of the hill overlooking Drummond Lake. We are hidden in the back of the town and surrounded by forest. The library was founded in 1923 by the ladies of the Thursday Club, with donated books, many from the Owen Family of the Rust Owen Lumber Company. The library was housed in the bank building, then later in the Civic Center. In the early 1970s a prefabricated two room building was built for the library. In 1975 an addition was built on the back of the library to house the historical museum. The museum documented the founding of the Town of Drummond as a company town, built by the Rust Owen Lumber Company. In 2001 the Town of Drummond opened its new library on the site of the old company store and it was designed to replicate the store’s exterior appearance. The modern library offers more space, more books, and a much-expanded collection in all areas. It also provides a public conference room for groups needing space for meetings, projects, activities and a newly renovated kitchen area for cooking instructions. The library has an adult and student seating area that boasts a beautiful view of the lake from a set of large bay windows. It is an especially lovely scene during the autumn months. Besides the view, the library offers a public WI-FI connection 24/7, six public computers with web cameras that help aid in employment searches, genealogy, email, browsing the internet and printing needs. We have a large children’s seating area that offers picture books, toys and a TV with a DVD player. The Drummond Public Library has a wide variety of popular fiction and non-fiction for all ages and has recently started to bolster the young adult and junior graphic novel selections. The DVD and audio books on CD for adults and children is always growing. It also has a vast array of conservation, outdoor and wildlife material for both children and adults that educate us about the environment that we live in. Many field guides are included in this collection. The historical museum is also still housed in the building along with the library. The displays and artifacts tell a story of how Drummond came to be with its long ago roots deep-seated in the logging industry that served as the foundation of many of the local towns. You can find us at drummondwilibrary.org and on facebook Forest Lodge Library, Cable Where the Future resides in the Past… The Forest Lodge Library, a joint library of the communities of Cable and Namakagon, was built and gifted to the community of Cable by Mary Livingston Griggs in 1925. Then called the Cable Community House, it was Mrs. Griggs’ intention that this facility would combine the functions of ladies reading room and community meeting space. The little log cabin was assembled from logs cut and milled off the Livingston Griggs’ family property, Forest Lodge, on Lake Namakagon. The interior was furnished with a stone fireplace and handmade light fixtures. Half-log bookshelves built into the cabin’s walls, as well as other original furniture and fixtures, are still in use today. Mrs. Griggs dedicated the Cable Community House in memory of her mother, Mary Steele Livingston. Mrs. Griggs’ daughter, Mary Griggs Burke, continued the family tradition of support of the library; personally and through the Foundation established in both their names. Later named the Forest Lodge Library, the building is now the oldest log cabin library in the state of Wisconsin. The building was placed on the State Register of Historic Places in the year 2000. 12 When the Cable Natural History Museum was established in 1968, the library and the Museum merged and operated under a single board, funded by the Mary Livingston Griggs and Mary Griggs Burke Foundation. In 1992, the library established its own Board of Trustees and became a fully functioning public library. In January of 2007 the Forest Lodge Library became a joint library of Cable and Namakagon. The staff at the Forest Lodge Library work hard to fulfill the library’s Mission Statement. “The mission of the Forest Lodge Library is to enhance the quality of life for our community by providing open access to cultural, intellectual and informational resources and services that are delivered in a welcoming, convenient and responsive manner.” In addition to a carefully selected print, audio and film collection, the library offers public access computers, 24-hour wireless internet service, monthly film screenings and Community Conversations as well as other programming that is both educational and entertaining. In December of 2016 the Forest Lodge Library purchased the property adjacent to the existing log cabin with the hope and intention of building a Library Expansion Facility that could be connected to the log cabin. The library and the communities it serves would benefit from an expanded facility offering more services, a larger collection, daytime programming, space where individuals could conduct business in private and community meeting space. Since purchase, the Forest Lodge Library Board of Trustees has consulted with community members about services they’d like to see and their vision for an expanded facility. The Board, after interviewing a number of firms, contracted with Keller Builds, a Wisconsin construction management firm, to assist in development of plans for the facility. The Board and its fundraising arm, the Katie Flowers Endowment, are currently working with Baker Street Consultants on developing and implementing a Capital Campaign Plan. As a joint library, ownership of the property is held by the Towns of Cable and Namakagon on behalf of the Forest Lodge Library. The Forest Lodge Library is proud to maintain a tradition of friendliness and efficient and helpful service to its patrons and to the many out-of-town visitors who pass through its doors. You find us on facebook or at forestlodgelibrary.org Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Memorial Library, Iron River The Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Memorial Library opened its doors on December 1, 2001, two years after the Friends of the Library was formed to build and stock the library to replace the Northern Waters Library System bookmobile, which had been discontinued. The library was able to open debt-free due to much fundraising, a donated building from David Goldberg’s Easy Housing, and a USDA Rural Development grant. Initially, the library was staffed entirely by volunteers and a .5 FTE Library Director for 20 open hours per week. At the time, the Municipal and Bayfield County funding ensured that the library would meet its basic operating expenses. The next five years showed tremendous growth in use and number of circulating materials. Items checked out nearly doubled from 13,820 in 2002 to over 27,000 in 2006. Issuance of library cards more than doubled from 596 in 2002 to 1,315 in 2006. Approximately 40% of those library cards issued and 40% of total circulation now came from Bayfield County residents that did not have a library in their municipality. As growth continued to outpace 13 revenue streams, the library’s dedicated volunteers, active Friends of the Library organization, and forward-looking Board of Trustees, kept the library thriving. The forward-thinking mindset has continued with the current board of trustees. An idea for an addition of increased library space was started in 2013 and had seen its culmination in the fall of 2017. The library moved into its newly enlarged and renovated building in January 2018. The project doubled the square footage of the building and included a conference room that is available for use by community groups or as a quiet study room for an individual. This addition has allowed the library’s collection to expand to over 20,000 books, movies, and audiobooks to be placed on shelves ready to be browsed and borrowed. The use of library materials increased to over 37,000 and the number of borrowers has kept pace to over 1800 individuals as of January 2020. Washburn Public Library Patrons of the Washburn Public Library have immediate on-site access to nearly 17,000 books – fiction, non-fiction, children’s, and adult titles. The library also has well over a thousand music CDs ranging from popular sounds to classical, instrumental, local, world, and alternative music. The library also owns more than two thousand DVDs, featuring popular and new releases, documentaries, and foreign films. Patrons have access to nearly 12,000 e- books. The library also has a spacious seating area that offers patrons an opportunity to peruse nearly 50 current popular magazines purchased with budget monies and donations. The Washburn Public Library offers the free use of three meeting rooms. The meeting rooms are used by the City of Washburn, Bayfield County government, Chequamegon Humane Association, Chequamegon Birders Association, Washburn Area Historical Society, quilting groups, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and more. The library also purchases materials to support our nursing home and assisted living delivery program. We deliver large-print books and audio books to shut-ins and the home-bound at no cost. Individuals can make requests, but typically staff choose items and stock the shelves at the nursing home and senior housing facilities within the community. The Washburn Public Library was commissioned in 1904 through monies donated by Andrew Carnegie. Built in 1905 the library has been a brown-stone fixture in the city for well over 100 years. On the National Register of the Historic Places, the library still uses the original front desk, and many of the tables from that time period. Former librarian, May Greenwood was at one time the oldest working librarian in the county. Northern Waters Library Service Northern Waters Library Service (NWLS) is a joint library agency of Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Sawyer, Vilas, and Washburn Counties. It is a federated public library system, which includes as members all 27 public libraries in the eight participating counties. Collectively NWLS and its member libraries provide public library service to the 150,000 residents of the eight-county area. NWLS is established under the provisions of Chapter 43 of the Wisconsin Statutes, and receives state funding through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. State statutes define the parameters and requirements under which the system must operate. Within these 14 requirements, however, the system has considerable flexibility in determining how they will be implemented and in establishing priorities for services and funding. NWLS began in 1959, with an agreement between Ashland, Bayfield, Iron, and Price Counties to provide bookmobile service to communities without a public library and rotating book collections to public libraries. At that time, the organization was known as Multi-County Library System. In 1962, Price County withdrew from the system and Douglas County joined. In 1965, Vilas County became a member, followed by Burnett County in 1966, Washburn County in 1967 and Sawyer County in 1969. In 1972, the Wisconsin passed legislation that enabled counties to form public library systems. The goal of the new law was to give every Wisconsin resident access to public library service and to improve the quality of public libraries in the state. The Multi-County Library System became Northwest Wisconsin Library System; in 1989, the name again changed, this time to Northern Waters Library Service. NWLS has changed dramatically since 1959. Bookmobile service and rotating book collections (later supplemented with rotating collections of non-print media) ended in 1999. In 2000, the Merlin Consortium shared automation system began and NWLS began to support Internet service to its member libraries. This change from direct service to patrons to service through member libraries and a related change in focus to technology-related services reflects changing expectations of society, one that is similar to other library systems in Wisconsin. In the fall of 2020, Merlin Consortium members voted to change the consortium name from Merlin to the Northern Water Library Network. This change in branding is intended to increase patron recognition of cooperative library services. Services of Northern Waters include: • Interlibrary loan and reference/referral service; • Delivery service, which provides a quick, efficient and cost-effective method to move shared resources among libraries; • Developing strategies to manage an information technology infrastructure that meets the demands on libraries in their role as providers of a range of public access computing services; • Technology training, support and consultation; • Workshops on topics relevant to the practice of sound librarianship; • Federal grants, written by NWLS staff, for program and service enhancements - totaling more than a million dollars in the past 20 years; • Cash grants for developing local collections; • Consulting services on a variety of topics including planning, policies, budgeting, grant writing, bookkeeping, collection development, services to special populations, children's services, legal issues affecting libraries, hiring library staff, certification issues, web page design, cataloging and technology; • A weekly electronic newsletter of library news and events; • Completion of TEACH forms for telecommunications discounts; 15 • Assistance with annual reports; • NWLN database maintenance; • Cooperative cataloging; • Mail-A-Book Service. Mail-A-Book is a county-funded service for obtaining library materials for residents who live in areas without a local public library, or who cannot use a public library because of disability or travel limitation. Stakeholders (Who are the Library Committee’s customers?) 1. Libraries within Bayfield County; 2. Libraries in adjacent counties; 3. County property owners; 4. Northern Waters Library Service; 5. Municipal governments within Bayfield County and adjacent counties; 6. Area Visitors; 7. Patrons 8. Bayfield County Board of Supervisors; 9. Bayfield County departments. Top Priorities (What important issues does the Library Committee need to address?) 1. Encourage 100% target funding for Bayfield County libraries between the Building Strong Libraries (BSL) and County Appropriations. 2. Provide effective library service throughout the County despite the challenge of large county size. 3. Provide and attract professional library staff; 4. Maintain and improve library infrastructure; 5. Enhance partnership with Bayfield County by helping to communicate and support county’s top priorities, i.e.: job creation, business development, etc. 6. Encourage partnerships between local units of tribal and municipal governments and libraries. Goals and Objectives (What does the Library Committee want to accomplish to address its top priorities, and how is it going to achieve its goals?) Goal 1: Bayfield County will provide equitable and adequate funding for libraries. 16 Objective 1: Offer 100% target funding for Bayfield County Libraries with through a combination of direct funding and access to grant opportunities, like BSL. New technology is an opportunity libraries can help provide to meet community demands and needs. Objective 2: Encourage Bayfield County to maintain a matching capital improvement fund (BSL) for library capital expenditures. Objective 3: Encourage Bayfield County Library Committee to support Wisconsin library service standards. (https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/pld/pdf/wisconsin_public_library_standar ds_6th_edition_2018_final.pdf) Goal 2: Educate public officials on the importance and worth of providing quality libraries in the County. Objective 1: Publicize library services and programs via periodic social media, websites and email / letter contacts. Objective 2: Encourage library users to contact public officials about the importance of libraries. Objective 3: Develop a plan to assess the needs of County and municipal government departments for library services. Objective 4: Encourage local library boards/staff to meet with or communicate with local municipal officials annually. Objective 5: Give an annual report to the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors or Executive Committee and Bayfield County Department Heads. Goal 3: Provide equitable access to library services for all residents of Bayfield County. Objective 1: Support access to library materials through the continuance of an interlibrary loan program. Objective 2: Maintain a good relationship with other libraries in the Northern Waters Library Service. Objective 3: Support the continuance of a library materials delivery service. Objective 4: Encourage all libraries in Bayfield County to be known as a location for high speed internet access. Objective 5: Encourage all libraries in the County to maintain Internet access for use by patrons, hardwire and wireless. Objective 6: Encourage the continued provision of mail-a-book service. Goal 4: Support the retention and attraction of professional library staff to serve library users in Bayfield County. 17 Objective 1: Encourage local library boards to provide adequate compensation and benefits to attract and retain qualified library staff. Objective 2: Encourage local library boards to support continuing education and professional development opportunities for their library staff. Goal 5: Public Library System Redesign (PLSR). Monitor, engage and react with the PLSR as changes develop (see page 18 for more information). Internal Strengths and Weaknesses (What internal Library Committee resources or capabilities help it accomplish its mission, and what internal Library Committee deficiencies in resources or capabilities hinder its ability to accomplish its mission?) A) Library Committee Strengths 1. County Library Committee meets twice a year. 2. Experienced County Library Committee members 3. Continuity of County Library Committee members 4. County provides funding for BSL projects meeting the plan criteria, up to 100% of library reimbursement allowance. 5. County Administration understands value and impact of strong libraries 6. Bayfield County Board is supportive of libraries in the County 7. Northern Waters Library Service representation on the Library Committee B) Library Committee Weaknesses 1. Long distances resulting in difficulties getting quorum. 2. Infrequent meetings External Opportunities and Threats (What external factors can affect the Library Committee in a favorable way to help it accomplish its mission, and what external factors can affect the Library Committee in a negative way to hinder its ability to accomplish its mission?) A) External Opportunities 1. Increased County tax base 2. Changing demographics 3. Changes in technology 4. Libraries provide an excellent space for youth and other community members. 5. Stronger economy 6. Fiber connectivity in communities B) External Threats 1. Unfunded mandates 18 2. Act 420 3. Technology – challenge to keep up with it 4. Retaining library staff – ability to pay decent salaries and provide benefits 5. Library building maintenance 6. State levy caps 7. Economic downturn 8. Dependence on a few sources of revenue 9. Future stability of regional library systems 10. Facility deterioration damages and the costs to repair. Mandates (What is the Library Committee mandated to do by state or federal governments?) 1. Wisconsin Statute 43.11 spells out the planning requirements for county library systems. 2. Wisconsin Statute 43.12 sets the county payment requirements for library services to each public library in the county and to each public library in an adjacent county at “an amount equal to at least 70% of the amount computed by multiplying the number of loans reported under sub. (2) by the amount that results from dividing the total operational expenditures of the library during the calendar year for which the number of loans are reported, not including capital expenditures or expenditures of federal funds, by the total number of loans of material made by the public library during the calendar year for which the loans are reported.” Review of the Plan It is the responsibility of the Bayfield County Library Committee to annually review the County Plan for Library Service to determine whether the actions necessary to meet the goals have been taken. Input and review from the Northern Waters Library System and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. The Committee will revise the plan before the current plan’s expiration date and submit it to the County Board. Public Library System Redesign A statewide Public Library System Redesign (PLSR) Project is currently underway and is studying ways library systems in Wisconsin can increase effectiveness and efficiencies. While the outcome of that study is unknown, it is safe to say that resource sharing and collaboration will certainly continue to be key elements of regional library systems now and in the future. If statewide change in library system structure creates larger regionalized service areas, there is a potential that this scenario would result in a reduced ability of the library system to provide services to and for Bayfield County libraries. A change of this nature and magnitude could drive the need to create and fund a county library service to provide services that are 19 currently being provided by the existing regional library system. To avoid the need for an additional investment in county library services, it will be important to be engaged in the PLSR process. Goal 1: Encourage the PLSR project to focus its efforts on making recommendations that result in improvements in library system effectiveness so that Bayfield County libraries benefit from increased services and a higher level of support. Objective 1: The regional library system staff will monitor the statewide PLSR project and provide feedback to PLSR expressing the need to provide a high level of county library services to avoid creating a need for an additional organization to handle county library responsibilities in the future. Objective 2: The regional library system staff will engage in the PLSR process to ensure that ideas for improvements are offered throughout the project. Objective 3: The regional library system staff will engage in the PSLR process to ensure that ideas that surface that are anticipated to be detrimental to Bayfield County libraries are communicated to stakeholders in a timeframe that offers the possibility for the county, the municipalities, and the libraries to take action to influence the outcome for the benefit of Bayfield County citizens. Objective 4: The regional library system will communicate, or request that member libraries communicate, the viability of NWLN during the PLSR process. Objective 5: Should the PLSR process change the regional library system’s ability to provide effective services for the county and libraries, as determined by the library system board or the member libraries, a county library planning committee will be convened to study and plan for county-level services to benefit the county and the libraries. 2025 Bayfield County Library Reimbursement Plan Bayfield County Librarians: Darrell Pendergrass, Teresa Weber, Jacqueline Pooler, Addie Arens, Amanda Westlund 1 Statutory Basis for Reimbursement As provided in Wisconsin Statutes 43.11(3) and 43.12(1), established by Act 150 in 1997, the libraries in Bayfield County are submitting this plan for reimbursement in 2025 to the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors. The reimbursement is for costs incurred by Bayfield County’s five municipal libraries in 2023, which is the statistical year that is the basis for 2025 reimbursement. Act 150 established a county’s statutory responsibility to provide funding for library services for its residents living in municipalities without libraries. As of January 1, 2001, Bayfield County is required to annually reimburse its public libraries at least 70% of their cost of serving patrons who are residents of Bayfield County but live outside the library’s municipality and have no municipal library of their own (hereafter referred to as “Bayfield County patrons”). The basis for reimbursement to each library is the cost to that library of circulating an item such as a book or video or music CD (hereafter referred to as “cost per circulation”), and the number of such items it circulated to Bayfield County patrons (hereafter referred to as “reimbursable circulation”). Table 1 (Forest Lodge Library is a joint library operation between Cable and Namakagon) Recommended Reimbursement in 2025 (with 2024 actual) 2024 2025 100% 70% Bayfield Carnegie Library $89,528.47 $105,295.98 $73,707.19 $15,821.28 Forest Lodge Library (Cable/Namakagon) $7,932.15 $6,143.74 $4,300.62 $3,631.53 Drummond Public Library $15,692.25 $27,019.87 $18,913.91 $3,221.66 Iron River Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Library $32,919.66 $58,107.45 $40,675.21 $7,755.55 Washburn Public Library $62,526 $82,320.11 $57,624.08 $4,901.92 Total $208,598.53 $278,887.15 $195,221.01 1 2 3 Bayfield County has traditionally tried to hold the libraries to a flat reimbursement of $187,590 – which is not possible in 2025 because, by statute, counties in Wisconsin are required to fund at no less than 70-% Looking at Table 1, column 3 – right side of the column – this would be the reimbursement for each library at 70-percent. This would leave Bayfield significantly below 2024 funding, and Cable and Washburn somewhat below. Bayfield County has traditionally used the difference between what it has funded and 100-% for Building Strong Library Grants, in 2025 this would be $83,666. If Bayfield County were to fund Bayfield, Cable and Washburn at the same level in 2025 as 2024, it would require an additional $24,354.73. This would still leave $59,311.41 for granting purposes. 2 Table 2 Reimbursable Circulation to Bayfield County Patrons 2022– 2023 2022 2023 Bayfield Carnegie Library 14,431 13,030 Forest Lodge Library (Cable/Namakagon) 386 492 Drummond Public Library 1,306 1,525 Iron River Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Library 10,293 12,118 Washburn Public Library 11,338 9,950 Total 37,754 37,115 Table 3 Cost per Circulation 2022 – 2023 2022 2023 Bayfield Carnegie Library $6.76 $8.08 Forest Lodge Library (Cable/Namakagon) $13.58 $12.49 Drummond Public Library $16.15 $17.72 Iron River Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Library $4.30 $4.80 Washburn Public Library $7.41 $8.27 Average $9.64 $10.27 Explanation of Reimbursement Formula The reimbursement formula is calculated using circulation and financial statistics collected from each library annually. Every library eligible for reimbursement from Bayfield County under Wisconsin Act 150 must provide to the county clerk, by July 1, the following statistics for the previous year: (1) the total number of items circulated to all patrons; (2) the net annual operating expenditures of the library (total operating expenditures less capital expenditures and any federal funds expended); and (3) the number of items circulated to Bayfield County patrons (reimbursable circulation). These statistics provided to the county by July 1 are used to calculate the following year’s reimbursement. Circulation of materials is the primary measure of library service. “Materials” are defined as books, magazines, videotapes, music CDs, audio books and other items physically circulated by a library. When a patron checks out materials, the number of items and the municipality of that patron are noted. Each item constitutes one circulation for statistical purposes. Each renewal of an item counts as an additional circulation. Net Operating Expenditures  Total Circulation = Cost per Circulation Cost per Circulation X Reimbursable Circulation = Reimbursement 3 Table 4 (The Cost Per Circulation extends beyond the number provided) 2023 Statistics and Recommended 2024 Reimbursement Total Circulation Net Operating Expenditures Cost per Circulation Reimbursable Circulation Recommended Reimbursement Bayfield PL 21,532 $174,001 $8.08 13,030 $105,295.98 Cable/Namakagon PL 9,114 $113,809 $12.49 492 $6,143.74 Drummond PL 4,602 $81,538 $17.72 1,525 $27,019.87 Iron River PL 31,943 $153,171 $4.80 12,118 $58,107.45 Washburn PL 23,601 $195,260 $8.27 9,950 $82,320.11 90,792 $717,779 $10.27 avg 37,115 $278,887.15 Table 5 (percentage of ‘county’ library use) 2023 total circulation vs reimbursable circulation Total Circulation Reimbursable Circulation Reimbursable percentage of checkouts 2023 county funding County funding percentage 2023 Bayfield PL 21,532 13,030 60.5% $89,528.47 51.45% Cable/Namakagon PL 9,114 492 5.4% $7,932.15 6.97% Drummond PL 4,602 1,525 33.14% $15,441.37 18.94% Iron River PL 31,943 12,118 37.94% $27,158.72 17.73% Washburn PL 23,601 9,950 42.16% $56,081.05 28.72% Total 90,792 37,115 40.88% $196,141.76 27.33% Table 5 shows that of the total circulation for libraries in Bayfield County 40% of the checkouts are by Bayfield County residents (reimbursables). Yet, of the total money spent by the libraries less than 28% percent is reimbursed by Bayfield County. It should be noted that county funding is a reimbursement for monies already spent – money ‘earned’ by the libraries, so to speak. Unlike other departments in local government, library funding from the county isn’t for work we expect to do, it’s for work done. The numbers and percentages outlined here are specific to ‘physical’ checkouts – books, DVDs and CDs. What isn’t counted here are the thousands of e-books, e-audio and e- videos that are accessed by all residents in Bayfield County. There are thousands of hours spent on public computers at your libraries. There are hundreds of programs, from story- time to movies to crafts to speakers that hundreds of patrons choose to take part in. Space at your libraries is used for city, county and state meetings. For workshops and job interviews. For a variety of reasons. Your libraries offer 24-hour Wi-Fi service, allowing tourists, police, residents – everyone – to go online at any hour of any day. There are newspapers. There are magazines. There is value to all these things. One option available to Bayfield County is to fund each at the following in 2025. Bayfield Public Library - $89,528.47 Forest Lodge (Cable/Namakagon) - $7,932.15 Drummond - $18,913.91 Evelyn Goldberg Briggs (Iron River) - $40,675.21 Washburn Public Library - $62,526 4 In doing so Bayfield County would meet the letter of the law for everyone, including Drummond and Iron River. And it would keep Bayfield, Cable and Washburn at the same amount of funding as last year. The total would be $219,575.74. This would allow for $59,311.41 to be available for the Building Strong Libraries Grant. Recommendation for 100% Reimbursement While s.43.12(1) allows a county to reimburse libraries at 70 % of their cost of serving county patrons, the Bayfield County Library Committee believes strongly that it is desirable to provide 100 % reimbursement to Bayfield County’s public libraries when it is fiscally possible and responsible to do so. This belief is founded on several considerations: • Wisconsin Act 150 requires Bayfield County to reimburse only library service provided to Bayfield County patrons — not to municipal patrons or vacationers — and its funding to the public libraries is a reimbursement for costs already incurred by the libraries providing service to those Bayfield County patrons. Reimbursement paid in 2025 is for costs incurred in 2023. • Bayfield County reimburses libraries only for the materials circulated to Bayfield County patrons. But libraries do much more than lend books and videos, including providing free high-speed Internet access, reference help, story times, children’s reading programs, adult educational and cultural programs, proctoring for distance and continuing education, home-schooling resources, and free community meeting facilities for non-commercial purposes. Bayfield County patrons make use of all of these services. • The libraries of Bayfield County do wish to express their appreciation to Bayfield County for the development of the Building Strong Libraries Grant program. This program has enabled libraries to acquire needed fixtures, effect important building repairs and implement new programming efforts without having to budget them from general operating expenses. This effort demonstrates strong and essential support for the libraries of Bayfield County, especially in budgetary times when 100% reimbursement is not feasible. July 24, 2024 FROM: The Forest Lodge Library TO: The Bayfield County Library Committee RE: Application for grant funding via the Building Strong Libraries program Proposed project: Library Expansion One of the stated intentions of the Building Strong Libraries Grant Program is to make funds available for new buildings or additions to or renovations of existing buildings. In December of 2016 the Forest Lodge Library Board of Trustees completed the purchase of property adjacent to our current site with the intention of building a library expansion facility that would attach to the existing log cabin and greatly increase our ability to offer important library services to the members of our communities and those who visit us. The Forest Lodge Library, built in 1925, is only 1004 square feet. While expectations for library services have changed a great deal, the size of our facility has not and does not meet standards considered to be essential to service expectations for a contemporary public library. The current proposal is for an expansion of 3600 square feet with a fundraising goal of $1.6 million. Between existing pledges and actual donations, The Katie Flowers Endowment, the fundraising arm of the Forest Lodge Library, holds approximately $1 million of our fundraising goal of $1.7 million. This amount includes grant funds approved by Bayfield County for Building Strong Libraries for 2022 and 2023. The current proposal has established a fundraising end date for the end of 2024. If successful we have every reason to believe we can commence building the expansion project in 2025. It is understood that BSL is a reimbursement program and that funds will be held by Bayfield County until we can demonstrate that we have expended our required portion of our request. The funding that Bayfield County Libraries have requested in fulfillment of Act 150 leaves $59,311.41 to be granted via the Building Strong Libraries Grant Program. (with the understanding that $59,311 of actual difference between 100% and requested fulfillment be directed in support of individual County libraries.) After consulting with other Bayfield County libraries, it is our understanding that their BSL requests will total approximately $39,750.00. The Forest Lodge Library is thus requesting that $19,550 (or actual difference) be granted to the Forest Lodge Library expansion project for 2025. The estimated cost of the project is already in excess of the 25% local contribution required by BSL. We are amenable to reimbursement of multi-year granted funds at the completion of the construction project. Everyone involved with the project feels very strongly that this will be an important addition to the Town of Cable. Not only will library collection space be increased but the expansion facility will offer public meeting space, private workspace, and a media center, community needs identified in a 2017 Town of Cable visioning effort. Complete information on the library expansion project is available on our website: https://forestlodgelibrary.org/library- expansion-project/ The mission statement of the Forest Lodge Library is to enhance the quality of life for our community by providing open access to cultural, intellectual and informational resources and services that are delivered in a welcoming, convenient and responsive manner. The proposed library expansion facility will support our efforts to fulfill our mission. As a joint library, our communities of Cable and Namakagon have provided sufficient support in 2024 to meet the eligibility requirement of having provided no less than the prior year’s operating expenses. A letter from the Board of Trustees supporting this request is attached. We sincerely hope that the Bayfield Library Committee will look favorably upon this funding request. We offer our thanks to the Bayfield County Library Committee and the Bayfield County Board of Supervisors for the significant support offered to Bayfield County libraries with the Building Strong Libraries program. Most sincerely, Amanda Westlund Director, Forest Lodge Library