About Us

Our Mission

The mission of the LEANWI Public Library is to emulate the best services of a Wisconsin public library and bring the visibilty of those services to a library website.

Staff

Role	Name
Library Director	Anne-Marie Simpson

Transcript: Introduction to WVLS Video

Hi! My name is Jamie Matczak, Education Consultant with the Wisconsin Valley Library Service, or WVLS. WVLS is one of 16 public library systems in Wisconsin. You might be asking yourself, what is a public library system? Let's find out. Let's go back to 1971. At that time, the state of Wisconsin established public library systems: to promote development of strong local libraries, facilitate cooperative service development between libraries, provide those services that make the most economic sense, and advocate for library services. The goal of public library systems since their inception is to provide all Wisconsin residents with access to high-quality library services. Currently, every one of Wisconsin's 381 public libraries reside in a county that supports a public library system. Systems range in size from one to ten counties. Public Library Systems fall under the oversight of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and must fulfill specific service requirements to receive funds from the state. When the Wisconsin Legislature passed the law providing for the establishment of library systems, they built a partnership between state and local governments. In order to receive services from state-funded systems, libraries too must fulfill certain requirements. Examples include: The public library must have a properly appointed library board. The public library must employ a director with the appropriate education and certification. And the public library must be willing to share its resources with others who do not live in its community. Because of these agreements, Wisconsin residents may make use of any public library in the state. WVLS serves 34 public libraries in its seven-county service area which includes the counties of Clark, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida and Taylor. The Marathon County Public Library is the largest member library in WVLS and has an important legacy in Wisconsin library history. During the pre-public library system development phase in the '60s, the Wausau Public Library and Marathon County served as the regional hub for a reference cooperative in which a large library with an extensive reference collection provides reference services beyond to the smaller, more rural library communities that surrounded it. As what we might now call a beta site to test this service, the project was funded through what is now known as a Library Services and Technology Act federal grant. In this regard, the Wausau Library served as the very first resource library in Wisconsin and has been the resource library for WVLS for almost 60 years! WVLS operates under a 15-member board of trustees, which includes representation from each county based on population. Members are chosen for a three-year term by county Boards of Supervisors. The WVLS Board of Trustees relies on advisory groups and committees, such as the Library Advisory Committee (LAC) and V-Cat Consortium, to guide their decisions on system's priorities for service. WVLS provides consulting services and support in the areas of library administration, youth and adult services, technology, marketing, advocacy and more. The WVLS Mentoring Program supports the success of new library administrators for two years by matching them with experienced library specialists. WVLS offers a full range of continuing education workshops and webinars. Is there a topic you are hoping to learn more about? We can find it for you. WVLS and its partner systems in Eau Claire and Ashland administer regional-wide area networks which connect high speed Internet lines between the systems and their member libraries. This network offers support services such as centralized email and anti-virus software, PC and software support, discounted purchasing of hardware and equipment, and technology planning and consultation. WVLS manages its own Integrated Library System, otherwise known as the online card catalog or V-Cat. The V-Cat catalog contains the collections of 25-member public libraries and allows library patrons access to over 1.1 million library materials! Are your library patrons looking to take courses in photography? What about gathering genealogical data? WVLS funds access to databases such as Gale Courses, Ancestry, and more. WVLS funds two delivery operations. One transports materials between WVLS libraries and other libraries in Wisconsin. The other service, through a private courier, provides delivery three days a week to all WVLS member libraries. These two operations ensure that library patrons receive items in a timely manner. Over 30 makerspace kits are available for your library. Reservations can be made on the WVLS website. In the last two years, WVLS has awarded over 20 full scholarships for its members to attend statewide and national conferences. If there is ever something we can assist you with, please contact any member of the WVLS Team. Our office is staffed Monday through Friday, from 8 - 4:30, during the summer, and from 8 until 5 during the rest of the year. No matter what, WVLS is always here for you!

Board of Trustees

President

Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer

School Representative

Municipal Representative

Represenatative at large

Action Teams: (Accessible Accordion)

AWARE & ACTIVE CITIZENS (AAC)

Citizens have chosen to form Action Teams to develop and implement action plans for addressing issues of interest. Each Citizen Action Team reports back to the Aware and Active Citizens group at the Quarterly Meetings.

YOUNG PEOPLE ACTION COMMITTEE (YPAC)

YPAC is dedicated to growing and advancing an active and engaging culture and lifestyle in Merrill, powered by youthful energy and ideas, for the benefit of our entire community. The group aims to promote local cultural events, recreational opportunities, inter-generational relationships, youth issues and concerns, and other topics.

COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

This action team is exploring the development of a Community Communication Plan that would involve collaborative partnerships with city government, the Chamber of Commerce, MAPS, the business community, T. B. Scott Library and the Lincoln County Board.

TRANSITION LINCOLN: LEAF

LEAF is Local Environmental Activists & Friends. Transition Lincoln is a new and evolving coalition of Aware and Active Citizens in Lincoln County that is exploring ways we can work together to enhance community relationships and build mutual support concerning long-term Sustainability and Resilience.

COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC GROWTH COMMITTEE

The Vision of the Community and Economic Growth Committee is to promote Merrill as a vibrant and collaborative community in which to live, play and work.

The Mission of the Community and Economic Growth Committee is to develop strategies and relationships and engage in action projects to support Merrill’s cultural heritage, regeneration of the natural landscape, and economic vitality.

Annual Reports (accessible slider)

Donate

For More information on making a Donation please contact the Library Director.

Donate Money for New Materials

Many other community members and part-time residents continue to support the library with donations, memorial donations and gifts. These tax-deductible donations are used to purchase materials and equipment for our growing collections. If you would like to make a donation to the library, stop in.

Donate Used Books, CDs and DVDs

A large part of our collection was obtained through donations from area residents. The library gratefully accepts used books, CDs and DVDs.

Internet Guidelines

Free WiFi

We offer WiFi 24/7. Feel free to bring your devices.
Make yourself comfortable.
When the library is closed, feel free to park in our parking lot to use this service.

High-Speed Internet Access

The library has high-speed internet computers available to the public. This service is available at no charge, and is available first-come, first-serve to all library visitors. We also offer free wireless access to the public.

A printer is available for printouts. Printouts are 25 cents a page for black & white, and 50 cents a page for color. Computer use is limited to 1 hour when other patrons are waiting.

Internet User Guidelines

There are many resources available on the Internet and library staff may not be familiar with all of them. THE PATRON IS RESPONSIBLE FOR LEARNING HOW TO USE A COMPUTER and THE INTERNET. Library staff cannot provide training and technical assistance.
Users may have ONE time slot per day. Reserves are not taken. One time slot is 1 hour. During the quiet months of December through March, sessions may continue if no one is waiting, but must conclude within five minutes when a new customer arrives.
Additional time will NOT be allotted due to conditions such as problems with the Internet connection or power outages if others are waiting a turn.
A printer is available for printouts. Printouts are 25 cents a page for black & white, and 50 cents a page for color.
Users may save files to a flash drive. Due to the possible spread of a virus, personal disks will NOT be allowed.
The Hurley Public Library DOES NOT provide e-mail accounts. Users may use the Internet for the receipt and transmission of electronic mail as long as they use a web-based e-mail service.
Users may use the Internet for research and the acquisition of information to address their educational, vocational, cultural, and recreational needs.
Users agree not to incur any costs for the library through their use of the Internet service.
Users shall not create and/or distribute computer viruses over the Internet.
User may not make any changes or alterations to the library computer setup. User may not install his/her own software or other files on the library computer. NO information can be saved on the library computer hard drive.
User will not use the computer for bulk E-mails (“spamming”), or to insult or offend other internet users (“flaming”).