NFLS Blog

The community is invited to attend a ceremonial groundbreaking at the site of the new Brown County East Branch Library. “This modern, reimagined space will serve residents on Green Bay’s east side and surrounding communities - equipped with the latest in technology and gathering spaces,” says Brown County Executive, Troy Streckenbach.

Located next door to the current branch, this conveniently located and familiar site features 16,500 square feet - nearly triple the current library's footprint! “We can’t wait for the new East Branch Library to be open to welcome visitors and serve our community for generations to come!” says Library Director, Sarah Sugden. The new library is expected to open in October 2023.

Designed by Somerville Architects & Engineers, the new library will offer inviting and comfortable areas for all ages, a fireplace, meeting and study rooms, and a calming room.  Planned exterior amenities include a drive-up window, an outdoor garden/green space, and ample parking for library patrons.  The outdoor commons area will feature native plantings, a play space designed for children, a pathway, and a variety of seating.

• Who: Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach, Brown County Library Executive Director, Sarah Sugden, Brown County Board of Supervisors Patrick Buckley and John Van Dyck, and others involved with the project, as well as an East side resident and library user.
• What: Ceremonial groundbreaking to celebrate Brown County’s new East Branch Library
• Where: East Branch Library | 2255 Main Street | Green Bay, WI 54302
• When: Thursday, April 6, 2023 | 11:00 am 

​Refreshments will be served. 

Visit browncountylibrary.org/east-branch-project to view renderings including exterior views and floor plans, the project budget, and ways to support this and other library projects.

Stay current with library news and information by connecting with the library on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, visiting www.browncountylibrary.org or by calling 920.448.4400. ​

Here are the headlines from the March 24, 2023 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:  

• Submit program proposals for ARSL 2023 
• ALSC Continuing Education proposals 
• Unemployment Insurance Update: New Payment Portal 
• Library Employment Opportunities 
  • ​Youth Services Librarian - Brown County Library, Ashwaubenon Branch 
  • ​​Library Director, Marinette County Consolidated Library Service 
  • Library Assistant, Niagara & Goodman Branches of the Marinette County Consolidated Library Service 
  • Administrative Assistant/ILL Assistant, Nicolet Federated Library System 
• WiLS Ideas to Action Fund 2023 application period opens April 3 
• Learning Opportunities for Library Staff 
  • ​NFLS Staff Training Day is April 20 
  • Make the case to attend WAPL 2023 
  • Wisconsin Libraries Talk About Race webinars and workshops 
  • ​ALA Annual Conference group discount 

 
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Here are the headlines from the March 17, 2023 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:  

• March 2023 NFLS News  
• Share your library's unique National Library Week programs, events, or celebrations with DPI 

• Library and system employment opportunities 
• Youth Outdoor Skills library program by Joshua Stuck 
• NFLS libraries invited to annual Children's Book Fest in Rhinelander 
• Present at PLA 2024: submit proposals by May 1, 2023 
• Get ready to UNITE & IGNITE at ARSL 2023 

 
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The NFLS News is a bi-monthly newsletter highlighting all the great things the member libraries of the Nicolet Federated Library System are doing throughout our communities. 
 
Read the March 2023 NFLS News for the latest news from a few of our member libraries and others. Topics include: 

• Oneida Community Library welcomes Eliza Skenandore as its new Library Manager  
• Meet Lena Public Library’s new director, April de la Ruelle 

• Lakes Country Public Library partners with Catholic Charities 
• Friends of the Kewaunee Library Book Shoppe opens new location 
• NFLS announces success of two ARPA grants 
• Door County Library hosts a successful Door County Reads 2023 
• Librarians and staff attend Hoot-Con 

  
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Here are the headlines from the March 10, 2023 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:  

• WLA SSCS survey due March 20th 
• Hiring: Administrative Assistant/ILL Assistant @ NFLS 
• Graphic Novels & Comics Librarian Conference Travel Grants 
• WLA Leader Development Institute application deadline extended to Monday, March 13th
• WAPL Conference registration is open 
• Book Challenge Hindsight: What You Wish You’d Known 

 
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Here are the headlines from the March 3, 2023 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:  

• NFLS reports on use of two ARPA grants
• Hiring: Central Library Circulation Services Manager, Brown County Library​
• Grow Budget-Wise, Beautiful Gardens Anywhere 
• WHRAB Professional Development Scholarship 
• Webinars, workshops, and more from NEWI 

 
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As announced on January 11, 2022, Nicolet Federated Library System (NFLS) was granted two American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grants: the Library Space and Safety Improvement Grant and the Tribal Library Outreach Program for Community Partnerships.

​NFLS is proud to announce the success of the two grants.

NFLS, in coordination with Winnefox, Manitowoc-Calumet, and Outagamie Waupaca Library Systems, was awarded $200,000 in grant funding through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (LS250245OLS21) through the Wisconsin Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant program.
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​NFLS administered the grant, including making all of the purchases and managing the administrative requirements of the grant. This allowed the libraries to take advantage of the funding without having to expend valuable staff time to do so.

​Specifically, the funding provided for improvements to existing library spaces by providing modular furniture, mobile shelving units and meeting room enhancements. The pandemic highlighted the fact that libraries have inflexible furniture and shelving, which prevented restructuring the library space so it could be used in a safe way (e.g. socially distanced).

Learn more about how the Library Space and Safety Improvement Grant was used, including short summaries highlighting the different ways some of the 68 participating libraries used the grant funding.

NFLS, in coordination with Northern Waters Library Service, was awarded $190,569 in grant funding through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (LS250245OLS21) through the Wisconsin Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant program.

The negative economic and social impacts of the pandemic on tribal communities throughout Wisconsin were often greater than other communities experienced. Due to reduced revenues and increased safety concerns, libraries, along with other social services, were drastically cut or eliminated. This left tribal members with nowhere to turn when seeking services or resources. This grant project addressed the need of linking tribal members to a wide variety of services through collaborative efforts between the four tribal public libraries in Wisconsin and their local community partners.

Learn how the Tribal Outreach Program for Community Partnerships Grant was used to establish Outreach Programs at the four libraries, create meeting rooms for remote consultations, and add items like device charging stations and outdoor book drops.