Facts About the Transition from a Library Branch to a Free Little Library with Bookmobile Service in White Lake

The Antigo Public Library no longer operates a branch in White Lake. The branch effectively closed December 31, 2025 and transitioned to a Free Little Library on January 1, 2026. This change was due to budgetary factors and circulation data. The Antigo Public Library closed the Elcho branch in October of 2024. Based on patron data, White Lake should have closed before Elcho as the number of patrons using the White Lake library was and continues to be lower than what Elcho was when open and the costs of running the White Lake branch are greater than the cost of operating the Elcho branch. White Lake circulation records equal less than 1% of the Antigo Public Library branch. Given the fact that the library has not received a budget increase in more than fifteen (15) years while all operating costs have increased I have worked very closely with the City of Antigo Common Council and the Langlade County Board of Supervisors to ensure that we are providing the best services at the Antigo Public Library with the budget we have to ensure fiscal responsibility. Langlade County and the City of Antigo Joint Library cannot fiscally support branch libraries with its current operating budget. With less than 100 patrons utilizing either library in a county with approximately 19,000 plus residents, it is not fiscally responsible to operate branches. The cost per patronage is substantially higher than that for the main branch which is used equally by county and city residents. All of the corresponding data was presented to the Board of Trustees over the last two years and drove decisions.

From January 1 – December 31, 2025 White Lake was open approximately 260 days with a total of 638 items checked out. Open five (5) days per weeks provides an average of 2.45 items checked out per day. Computer usage was lower than book checkout usage. For the main library, it was open approximately 312 days with a total of 54,817 items checked out. That is just circulated items which does not include the hundreds of un-cataloged puzzles check out regularly. That is an average of 175.70 items checked out per day. The public computers were used 3,900 times in 2025. Which equals an average of 12.5 times per day. In contrast, between January 1, 2025 – August 31, 2025 when the computer was removed from White Lake to be added to the main library’s collection of publicly available computers, White Lake had 70 instances of computer usage. In approximately 175 days, the White Lake computer was used an average of 0.4 times per day.

The White Lake Free Little Library is able to operate because the Village of White Lake supports half the salary of the Free Little Library Branch Manager, John Listle. Which is deeply appreciated as it allows the library to have a presence in the Village and prevents the complete closure of the location. The Free Little Library is in the process of having updated signage to clearly indicate it is not an actual library branch. It will be receiving a larger hot spot within the next thirty (30) days to allow for printing. A public computer will not be available at the Free Little Library as it is not a library branch and is a bookmobile stop and Free Little Library. We are looking into the possibility of having a laptop available for check-out in the Free Little Library during operating hours for in-person usage. Which would allow patrons to visit the branch and utilize the laptop there while allowing us to collect data on the frequency of usage and need.

In an ideal world, we would be able to make all of the libraries services accessible and available every day for every village and township in Langlade County. There are many with even less proximal access to technology services than White Lake within the county. As a joint library, the county pays equally to what the city approves for the Library budget. The City of Antigo does not have much room for levy increases to increase the library budget without cuts to major city departments like the street department. Both the City of Antigo and the County of Langlade support and promote the value of library services in a rural community. We are lucky to have the local governmental support we do and elected officials who understand the value of free library services in our county. We do our best to work with the City and County to provide equitable services and currently, Elcho and White Lake are the only locations in the county with Bookmoble service, which is not equitable for all of the other rural villages and townships. White Lake is the only location with a Free Little Library. Hopefully, in time the funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) at the Federal level will be resumed and I can apply for rural library grants to help fund more services and at this time that budget has been eliminated for the 2027 fiscal year. Funds from that department are provided to the state of Wisconsin, and distributed through DPI to the systems, like WVLS to fund the courier system that allows for inter-library loan services for patrons to request books and materials from our system partners that are often delivered to White Lake patrons via bookmobile and home delivery.

We understand the transition is frustrating for the small percentage of the Village that utilized the library. Unfortunately, the Antigo Public Library cannot support full service branches with rising operational costs. We will continue to try to improve services via the bookmobile and the White Lake Free Little Library as time allows. Given the fact that the majority of the items checkout from the White Lake Library historically were holds requested via courier, the collection change should nominally impact patron usage while a Free collection allows individuals who worry about the cost of replacement for lost items to access materials freely. Currently, John’s computer does not have a VPN which is needed to allow for him to log into the library information system. A request has been in for more than a month to have that installed on his computer. We cannot do that ourselves and must wait for LEAN Wisconsin to work through their prioritized list of technology issues for the libraries they support. When John’s computer has the VPN installed, it will be available for public use for printing and other brief services.

Effective May 28th the Bookmobile service hours for the White Lake Free Little Library will change. Tuesday delivery will remain the same. Thursday will be added with hours of 2-3PM in the hopes that having hours available before the White Lake Farmer’s Market will allow for more visitors to stop and and get items. Friday will be eliminated. In addition to the Bookmobile service, White Lake School has a story time with Ms. Amber and an after school program including an elementary book club. A service not provided to any other district in the county. Ms. Amber also attends the White Lake Farmer’s Market to provide another avenue of engagement and services to the community.

The Antigo Public Library appreciates the patience of both the White Lake Free Little Library branch manager and the patrons who visit the White Lake Free Little Library and/or utilize the Bookmobile. New things are often uncomfortable, frustrating, and take time to work out all of the bugs to improve service. With national reading rates dropping, library services in rural communities is essential. Currently the Institute of Museums and Libraries, a department of the federal government whose budget directly impacts residents of Langlade County – the courier service that allows from patrons to request books from other libraries with the Wisconsin Valley Library Services (WVLS) consortium is funded directly from the IMLS budget. WVLS receives the largest amount of federal funds from this department as distributed through the State of Wisconsin DPI. Cuts to or the elimination of this department and its budget will directly impact services to residents in Langlade County. To advocate for the rural library services that White Lake residents continue to state they way, please reach out to Wisconsin State Senator Ron Johnson regarding: LSTA and IAL funding including your library county and the importance of library services to your community by April 17th.