Viking Library System Celebrates 50 Years and Presents 2024 Annual Report

The Stevens County Board of Commissioners meeting on August 5, 2025, featured a presentation by Emma Smith, Director of the Viking Library System, highlighting the library's achievements and future plans. Smith celebrated the library's 50th anniversary and presented the 2024 annual report along with a funding request for 2026.

Smith detailed the Viking Library System's service to six counties, including Stevens, Douglas, and Grant, and emphasized the importance of equal access to library services for all residents. She noted that Stevens County was one of the original signatories of the library's charter, marking a long-standing partnership.

In 2024, the library system reported significant outreach efforts, including five bookmobile stops in Stevens County, where over 1,600 items were circulated. The interlibrary loan and delivery service also saw success, with nearly 26,500 items circulated across local libraries.

Smith outlined strategic initiatives for 2024, including the hiring of a finance and HR coordinator, a position created through strategic planning. Additionally, the library is updating its outreach collections for adult group homes and childcare facilities, a project that has been in the works for several years. A wage study conducted in 2023 led to the implementation of a new wage scale and updated job classifications in 2025.

The meeting underscored the library's commitment to enhancing services and adapting to community needs, ensuring continued support for residents in the region.