Sawyer County library directors ask for stable funding as staffing and capital needs mount

Directors of two Sawyer County libraries told county supervisors at the October meeting that rising usage, deferred building repairs and lagging staff pay have left their operations vulnerable and that they need more stable county funding to avoid further service cuts.

Anne Larson, director of the Sherman & Ruth Weitz Community Library in Hayward, said the library welcomed about 58,000 visitors in the last year — a 10% increase over 2023 — and hosted nearly 4,700 attendees across roughly 245 programs. “The library is the heart of our community,” Larson said, adding that demand for quiet study rooms and strong Wi‑Fi is increasing as patrons use the facility for telehealth, online classes and remote work.

Larson said Sawyer County covers just over half of the library’s operating budget and described a staffing shortfall and capital needs that have forced past reductions in hours. She told supervisors the library has seen its full‑time equivalent staff fall from 6.63 in 2011 to five in 2024, and said she is requesting additional county support this budget cycle; supervisors in the meeting characterized the library’s current supplemental ask as roughly $45,000.

Donna McNucky, director of the Winter Public Library, said her board is not asking for an operating increase this year but is planning capital projects and a strategic plan. “We’re very thankful for the funding we do get,” McNucky said, and added that program attendance has held steady after the library consolidated offerings to avoid overtaxing a two‑person part‑time staff.

Supervisors pressed librarians on options. One supervisor noted that county contributions for the Hayward library have exceeded the usual formula in prior years and asked whether municipal partners could be organized into a multijurisdictional agreement to share costs; Larson said such an arrangement would require negotiation among the city and towns and could trigger other requirements, including certification expectations for future directors.

Larson detailed capital and maintenance costs: recent plumbing and automatic‑door repairs, air‑conditioner failures and needed work on the library pier and bridge. She said the Hayward Library Foundation has built an endowment of about $1 million toward a $2 million goal and granted $32,000 to the library in 2025; the foundation expects to be able to contribute more only after it reaches its endowment target.

The county administrator and supervisors signaled sympathy for library needs but also said county departments are being asked to tighten budgets. One supervisor said that while the county’s contribution does not come from the levy limit and would be paid by all county taxpayers, he had concerns about increasing one external ask while county departments absorb constraints.

The libraries said they will present at the public hearing next week and continue municipal outreach to seek more stable, multi‑municipal funding arrangements.

Ending

Directors left the committee with a clearer picture of their capital backlog, staffing pressures and the libraries’ role in public services; supervisors asked for additional documentation on capital needs and return‑on‑investment comparisons before finalizing any extra appropriation.