After careful consideration and thoughtful deliberation, and upon approval by the Brown County Education and Recreation Committee, the Brown County Library Board of Trustees announces an accepted offer of $975,000 for property that will become the future home of the East Branch Library. 

On Wednesday, July 7, the Ed & Rec Committee approved a resolution to authorize the purchase of the property at 2253 Main Street in east Green Bay for an East Branch Library location. A top priority for the Library Board, the search for a new East Branch Library location is complete after a series of facility studies, assessment, and public comment. 

“We are excited to have taken this critical step toward a new, modern, and innovative library for residents of Brown County,” said Brian Anderson, Library Board President.

The Door County Libraries will not require masks starting May 24, 2021, per the County lifting its masking advisory due to CDC guidance. The Library Board met Monday, May 17, and agreed with the change in masking practice.

Library Director Tina Kakuske said the safety of library users continues to be a priority so the cleaning protocol will remain, social distancing is encouraged, masks are available for those who wish one, and hand sanitizer is still available.

The masking change comes before the expansion of the library’s hours. As of June 1, libraries will be open with regular summer hours, with the exception of Sturgeon Bay, which will continue to close at 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, at 5 p.m. on Friday, and will be open until 5 p.m. on Saturday.

The library will hold most summer events virtually with library book clubs having the option to meet in person or as a hybrid event utilizing Zoom. Popular craft bags will continue to be available at all branches as a take home activity. Also, pickup service will continue to be offered, even beyond the end of the pandemic.

Keep updated with the latest developments at DoorCountyLibrary.org or on the library’s social media.

Kewaunee Public Library has been selected as one of 300 libraries to participate in Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries, an American Library Association (ALA) initiative that helps library workers better serve their small and rural communities.

The competitive award comes with a $3,000 grant that will help the library to meet with the Hispanic community, gain their input, highlight library services available, and then purchase materials to meet their needs.

“We are so proud to be chosen for this amazing opportunity,” said Library Director Carol Petrina. “This grant will allow our library to get to know our Hispanic residents better and help us build a more complete collection to serve their needs and the needs of our community overall.”

As part of the grant, Kewaunee Public Library staff will take an online course in how to lead conversations, a skill vital to library work today. Staff will then host a community conversation with residents about library services offered and the desired materials needed by the Hispanic community, and use the grant funds to acquire desired materials to meet the needs expressed.

“More literature in Spanish would attract more Spanish speakers to the library, bringing with them their children," said bilingual educator and Kewaunee resident, Aaron Sisneros. “Spending time in a library surrounded by books fosters a love for reading. EL (English Learner) students often struggle in reading, and anything we can do to encourage them to read more is imperative. If we give parents a reason to come to the library, a culture and an appreciation of literature naturally develops. Appreciation of multiculturalism makes for a more inclusive society. Adding more Spanish resources to the Kewaunee Public Library would benefit not only Spanish speakers, but the entire Kewaunee community.”

If you are interested in getting involved or taking part in the conversation, please contact the library at (920) 388-5015 or visit www.kewauneepubliclibrary.org for more information.

Since 2014, ALA’s Libraries Transforming Communities initiative has re-imagined the role libraries play in supporting communities. Libraries of all types have utilized free dialogue and deliberation training and resources to lead community and campus forums; take part in anti-violence activities; provide a space for residents to come together and discuss challenging topics; and have productive conversations with civic leaders, library trustees and staff.

Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries is an initiative of the American Library Association in collaboration with the Association for Rural and Small Libraries.

​The Brown County Library Board of Trustees recently voted to allocate $275,000 of its savings towards the purchase of a new Bookmobile.  This new vehicle will replace the library’s current Blue Bird bus bookmobile that has been in service since 1993 and is well beyond its life expectancy of 20 years.

Known and endeared by many, this "library on wheels" brings library services, information, materials, and programs to members of the community. Traveling to different parts of the county, the Bookmobile achieves its goals of raising awareness about the library and reaching those not served or underserved by the library by reducing barriers related to physical, economic, social or geographic reasons. The Library Board recognizes and supports the value and mission of the Bookmobile and its importance as a county service.

Brown County Library has provided bookmobile service since 1948.  To ensure the continued excellence in meeting the needs of library users, the Board will contract with a consultant, specializing in bookmobile development and design.  “It may take 18-24 months before the new Bookmobile hits the road, but it will be worth the wait,” said Library Board President, Brian Anderson.  “With improved technology, additional route options, and increased availability for special events, the Bookmobile will be more impactful than ever!” An opportunity for naming rights of this long-standing tradition of library service will be available.

April 7 is “National Outreach Day” (formally National Bookmobile Day) – a time to celebrate library outreach, the library professionals that make it happen, and to advocate for continued support.
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Library staff is grateful for the Board’s commitment to a new Bookmobile and is excited to continue offering current popular materials and reference information, promoting early learning and literacy, issuing library cards, introducing library services, presenting engaging programs and providing personalized library service to residents of Brown County – young and old - for many more years to come.  

Contact: Sue Lagerman
Community Engagement Manager
(920) 448-5806
​susan.lagerman@browncountywi.gov

Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Library is among 141 Wisconsin libraries and school districts who will receive nearly $3 million in 2021 TEchnology for Educational ACHievement (TEACH) Information Technology Infrastructure grants. 

“It is critically important that Wisconsinites across the state have access to high-quality educational resources,” said Department of Administration (DOA) Secretary Joel Brennan. “Many rural libraries and schools often do not have the funds available to invest in their technology infrastructures to ensure that accessibility and the opportunities that come with it.”

Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Library will receive $210 in TEACH funds. “The Sister Bay/Liberty Grove branch has a beautiful outdoor garden space where many activities take place during good weather,” said branch manager Christina Johnson. “The new access point provided with TEACH grant will make it possible to have good quality internet which is so important to daily life. We’ve seen a big demand increase over the past few years, and this will expand the WiFi coverage into the garden, bringing more connectivity to our community which is greatly needed.”
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Stay connected on a variety of topics including business, tech, news, science, design, sports, travel and others - all at your fingertips. Brown County Library cardholders can access over 7,000 digital magazines and newspapers in multiple languages, from around the world through PressReader, available online and through apps for iOS and Android.  

Cardholders have instant access to issues as soon as they are published.  There are no due dates and no limits on downloads. For instructions on getting started, using, and exploring PressReader, go to browncountylibrary.org/digital. To apply for a library card, visit browncountylibrary.org/apply-for-a-library-card 

Popular publications include newspapers like the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Washington Times, and The Guardian (US edition).  Popular magazines include Car and Driver, Field and Stream, Newsweek, Popular Mechanics, PC World, Reader’s Digest, HGTV Magazine, Smithsonian, and more! 

For further assistance, call the library 920-448-4400. 
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Contact:  Sue Lagerman
Community Engagement Manager  
(920) 448-5806              
susan.lagerman@browncountywi.gov

Online Collection Offers eBooks for Kids 

Brown County Library is pleased to announce the addition of TumbleBookLibrary to its digital resources.  
 
TumbleBookLibrary is an online collection of animated storybooks and eBooks for children. They are a great way to encourage kids to enjoy reading in a fun format. Families can access the TumbleBookLibrary from home. Use is unlimited and free! Visit browncountylibrary.org/kids to get started.   
 
Select from over 1400 titles for a variety of ages and reading levels. The site also features Spanish and French books, read-along chapter books, non-fiction books, graphic novels, National Geographic videos, and exciting games and puzzles. 
 
Access the collection using a computer, tablet, or mobile phone with an internet connection. There are no downloads - books are streamed right to the device at the click of a button. 
 
For other library information, visit browncountylibrary.org, or call 920-448-4400 to speak to a staff person. ​

The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) has today awarded Brown County Library a grant of $1,000 as part of the new East Asia in Wisconsin Library Program.

​CEAS, a federally-funded National Resource Center for the study of East Asia, created the program to encourage Wisconsin libraries to augment their collections with East Asia-related materials, and to design new book clubs and other programing with an East Asian theme. This program is part of the center’s focus on promoting understanding of East Asian histories and cultures, and also aligns with the Wisconsin Idea mission of service to Wisconsin citizens beyond the boundaries of the classroom. CEAS partnered with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, the Wisconsin Library Association, and the Cooperative Children’s Book Center to plan and promote the new program, which was launched in August.

​Brown County Library’s grant was one of 38 awarded to libraries across Wisconsin, totaling $32,765 is awards. The grants will be used to purchase books and films about China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, and also to host book clubs, speakers and other related library programs. 

Green Bay, WI – The Friends of the Brown County Library and honorary chair, Green Bay Packers wife Molly (Mason) Crosby, announce the launch of the 32nd annual Give-A-Kid-A-Book with a virtual twist.  
 
The annual book collection invites individuals, families, businesses, churches, schools, clubs and organizations to donate new, unwrapped books that will be given as gifts to local children, babies through age 18, in low-income families.  Books are distributed through the Salvation Army Christmas Assistance program in Green Bay just in time for the holidays. 
 
Give-A-Kid-A-Book kicks-off virtually the week of November 2 and runs through December 10 with social media posts on the Friends’ Give-A-Kid-A-Book (@GiveAKidABookBrownCounty) and Friends of the Brown County Library (@FoBCL) Facebook pages and www.browncountylibraryfriends.org/gakab. Posts feature many of the same elements of the in-person kick-off including a message from Meg, Deem, coordinator of Give-A-Kid-A-Book, Molly Crosby’s public service announcement, essays from elementary students at Fort Howard School, and recognition of major financial supporters - Nicolet National Bank, Brown County Community Women’s Club and Green Bay Packers Give Back.  
 
The Friends are making it easy to shop from where you are and in-person! Purchase books from the Friends’ Amazon Wish List; Lion’s Mouth Bookstore, 401 N. Washington Street in downtown Green Bay; and during the Book Fair at Barnes & Noble November 21-27 using code 12590972. Shoppers can ship books purchased online directly to the library or donated books can be dropped in collection boxes located at Nicolet National Banks in the greater Green Bay area and all Brown County Libraries through December 10.  
 
Financial donations are also accepted and will be used to purchase additional books. Checks should be made payable to “Friends of the Brown County Library: GAKAB,” and mailed to 515 Pine Street, Green Bay, WI 54301-5194.   

“This campaign has always been vital, but the urgency felt during pandemic times cannot be ignored. Let’s all make room this year to give more to the campaign than we ever have before. Pick the best books you possibly can ...because “kids who read, succeed!”  --Molly Crosby, 2020 

Contacts:  
Meg Deem, Give- A-Kid-A-Book Coordinator, mmdeem0135@gmail.com  
Sue Lagerman, Communications & Program Manager, Brown County Library, susan.lagerman@browncountywi.gov, 920-448-5806  

Beginning Thursday, October 15, 2020, Brown County Library card holders can access hoopla, a free digital media service that offers thousands of movies from major Hollywood studios, music albums, audiobooks, eBooks, comics, and TV shows.
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Download the hoopla app (available in the Apple and Google Play app stores) or visit hoopladigital.com to get started.  Access is with a Brown County Library card. To apply for a library card online, go to browncountylibrary.org/apply or visit any library location in person. ​

Libraries Across the County Open for Pickup Service
 
Starting Monday, June 1st libraries across the county will open for pickup service, as part of Phase 1 of the gradual expansion of library service. Each branch will have different hours for calling in orders, picking up items, and returning materials that were previously checked out.
 
“We are excited to get back to work inside the branches and sharing our collections again,” stated Morgan Mann, Community Relations Library Assistant. “We’ve been working hard at getting processes down to best serve our communities and opening access safely.” 
 
There are no interlibrary loans at this time, but patrons must call individual branches to request items from an individual library’s collection, which then will be scheduled for pickup. Ordering hours and return times vary across branches. Buildings remain closed to the public, and social distancing is stressed when coming to the libraries to pickup or return items.
 
Door County Libraries are located in Forestville, Sturgeon Bay, Egg Harbor, Baileys Harbor, Fish Creek, Ephraim, Sister Bay/Liberty Grove, and Washington Island.
 
Visit www.DoorCountyLibrary.org to see individual branch hours and follow the library on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for the latest updates.​

U.S. Census Bureau Press Release May 22, 2020 — The U.S. Census Bureau, in coordination with federal, state and local health officials, will begin to drop off 2020 Census questionnaire packets at front doors of households in Wisconsin in the week of May 25. This is done in areas where the majority of households do not receive mail at their physical address. The Census Bureau began hand-delivering census materials on March 15, but suspended all fieldwork for this operation on March 18 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Click here for more details about this release.

“InfoSoup digital services are open to you even while (libraries) are closed,” said Evan Bend, Library Services Manager with the Outagamie Waupaca Library System (OWLS). Individuals that don’t have a library card with InfoSoup can sign up for one online and library staff will contact them with a temporary card number and pin that will allow access to all the InfoSoup digital resources.

An InfoSoup library card grants patrons access to digital resources for all ages such as ebooks, audiobooks, digitized magazines, newspaper archives and genealogy research. All resources are absolutely free with a library card. Learn more at www.infosoup.info/digital.
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To register for a card, simply complete an online application at www.InfoSoup.org/selfreg. Library staff will follow up with each applicant with a library card number and PIN to access the library’s online resources.

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For Immediate Release
 
Thursday, March 19, 2020
 
NICOLET FEDERATED LIBRARY SYSTEM TO OFFER INCREASED SUPPORT TO SYSTEM LIBRARIES AS MORE MOVE TO ONLINE DELIVERY SYSTEMS IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 CONCERNS
 
GREEN BAY –  With the majority of its system member libraries turning to online services and closing their physical locations in accordance with federal, state and local orders to reduce the spread of the pandemic coronavirus, Nicolet Federated Library System (NFLS), Bellevue, WI, will temporarily suspend its delivery services to member libraries.
 
In addition, in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, NFLS offices in Bellevue, WI will close Friday, March 20, 2020, until further notice. Employees will work from home, monitoring the situation closely while providing the highest level of service to its member libraries.
 
These decisions were made in consideration of, and in accordance with, Emergency Order #5 issued by Governor Tony Evers that, among other things, prohibits mass gatherings of 10 or more people. The Division for Libraries and Technology (DLT) has determined that libraries fall within this Emergency Order.
 
NFLS is the facilitator of inter-library loan and delivery services for borrowed books and library materials to and between its 42 member libraries in Northeast Wisconsin.  At present, most of these libraries have closed their physical locations.  According to Tracy Vreeke, Director of NFLS, "It is important at this time of uncertainty for NFLS to offer increased support to our member libraries as they make the decision to provide online versions of these materials and resources available through a variety of different mediums.”
 
“In a time when all must do their part to reduce the spread of a global pandemic, NFLS staff is ready and willing to help librarians with continuing education, and provide member libraries with the resources they need to help them meet the increased demand for online materials in a timely and effective manner,” Vreeke said.
 
As more information becomes available, NFLS will work with member libraries to determine the best course of action for implementation of a proper time frame for restoration of inter-library delivery services.
 
NFLS libraries will remain open online: Please contact your local library for current library services. A list of NFLS libraries can be found online at https://www.nfls.lib.wi.us/libraries.html. Future announcements will be posted on the libraries’ web and social media sites.
 
About the Nicolet Federated Library System:
The Nicolet Federated Library System (NFLS) is a state-funded organization assisting 42 member public libraries in providing better services to the people of northeastern Wisconsin since 1976. NFLS' public libraries span eight counties: Brown, Door, Florence, Kewaunee, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto and Shawano.
 
NFLS is third largest of the 16 public library systems in the state and is organized under the WI Dept. of Public Instruction. Each system is governed by an independent board of trustees and funded by state aids to carry out the service requirements set forth in Chapter 43 of the Wisconsin Statutes.  For more information, go to:  https://www.nfls.lib.wi.us/
 
Media and other inquiries, please contact: Tracy Vreeke, Nicolet Federated Library System Director at tvreeke@nflsoffice.org

The following is a news release from Door County Library.

​NFLS is very proud to announce that one of our own has been awarded the Wisconsin Library Association Trustee of the Year Award! Following is an excerpt from the WLA press release:

WLA Trustee of the Year: Kathy Pletcher 
 
Kathy Pletcher has consistently been a strong advocate for all types of libraries and serves on the Brown County Library Board and Nicolet Federated Library System Board. She also recently completed her term on the Council on Library and Network Development (COLAND). Building upon her years as a professional librarian, she has become a model trustee and now provides training for new trustees around the state. Through her mentoring work, she has contributed to a new generation of advocates dedicated to supporting libraries. Kathy’s visionary work has statewide impact and she is deserving of the 2019 Trustee of the Year Award.
 
There will be a reception for Kathy, and other award winners, at the upcoming WLA annual conference in October.  Please join us in celebrating Kathy at the reception if you are able.