Beyond the Books: County Libraries Seek Funding, Showcase Impact

Without your donation, some stories vanish. Support Decorah News. DECORAH — Decorah Public Library Director Kristin Torresdal, representing the Winneshiek County Library Association, appeared before the Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors with directors from the Calmar, Fort Atkinson, Ossian and Spillville public libraries to request county funding and highlight recent accomplishments tied to library services and long-term planning. The association requested $15,000 in county funding, or $3,000 per library. Torresdal also presented the Decorah Public Library's 2025 annual report. Torresdal said 2025 marked the final year of the library's 2022–25 strategic plan, which focused on strengthening community engagement, expanding equitable access and advancing facilities planning. Work completed under the three-year plan is intended to inform a new 2025–28 strategic plan. Equitable access remained a central priority. In 2025, the library replaced aging automatic door openers and added two new ones using a $10,000 grant from the American Library Association. A separate $20,000 grant from the association supported expanded physical and digital collections for patrons with vision impairments, including large-print materials that are now delivered directly to residential care facilities. The library also expanded inclusive services through the introduction of sensory kits designed for neurodivergent patronage and increased bilingual outreach, including Spanish-language collections for children and young adults, bilingual registration forms and engagement with English Language Learner classes in Decorah schools. Technology access and digital literacy were also highlighted. The library launched twice-monthly free technology programs covering topics such as cybersecurity, smartphone use and accessing digital books. Expanded public computer access and mobile hotspot lending were cited as tools for reducing barriers for rural and underserved users. Programming remained a major focus during the reporting year. The Decorah Public Library offered 459 programs with more than 13,200 total attendances. Adult program participation increased by 30 percent, while youth and family programming continued to draw strong participation, including a two-month summer reading program that served more than 900 children and teens. Facilities planning advanced following voter approval of a $1.3 million library maintenance bond in November, which passed with 74 percent support. Library staff said the bond will fund critical building repairs identified through inspections and allow the library to move from planning into implementation. The report also emphasized staff development, cross-training and professional involvement, along with continued community services such as free meeting space for nonprofits, notary services, test proctoring and operation of the local public access television channel. According to state reporting data from July 2024 through June 2025, the library served 9,005 users, a 6.6 percent increase, circulated more than 134,000 items and hosted more than 28,000 internet sessions on public computers and wireless networks. Torresdal thanked the county for its ongoing support and said the funding request is intended to help sustain access, programming and services across Winneshiek County. Fresh stories, delivered! Sign up for the free DecorahNews.com newsletter and stay informed, inspired, and ahead of the curve.