Budget Decision Listening Session

Library Board Faces Decisions Following Municipal Funding Reductions: Listening Session on November 4

La Crosse, WI –- Following significant reductions in municipal funding, the La Crosse Public Library Board of Directors will host a community listening session for La Crosse city residents on November 4th at 4 p.m. at La Crosse Public Library (Lower-Level Auditorium) to gather input on budget decisions that will affect library services across the community. 

The funding reduction requires the Board to make strategic choices about how to best serve the entire community with constrained resources. Two primary options are under consideration, each with significant trade-offs: 

Option 1: Maintain Both Library Locations  
Keeping both the Main Library and North Branch open would require eliminating 1.5 full time positions leading to reducing operating hours by 4 hours per week at Main Library and 16 hours per week at North and reducing programming and services at both locations.  Because the Main Library serves 90% of library users, its decrease in hours will have an oversized impact. 

Option 2: Consolidate Locations and Expand Services  
Closing the North Branch would be another loss of a building as the South Branch was closed in 2023 due to budget cuts. However, it would eliminate only one part time position and would allow the library to expand Main Library service hours by 8 hours per week, add weekly mobile outreach services to underserved neighborhoods at both ends of town, and potentially install new options for accessing materials, such as book lending machines with 24/7 access to books, laptops, hotspots, and DVDs in at least two additional locations.   

"Due to the municipal funding challenges facing all city departments, we are now considering choices no library director or board wants to make," said Dawn Wacek, Library Director. "We need to hear from our community about what matters most – maintaining a physical presence in every location or maximizing access to services and resources for the greatest number of residents. Both options involve real losses, and we want to understand how these decisions will affect all the people we serve.” 

The November 4th listening session will include small group discussions to ensure every voice is heard. Board members will be present to listen to community input before making their decision. 

Community Listening Session Details: 
Date: November 4th, 2025 
Time: 4pm 
Location: La Crosse Public Library, Auditorium 
Format: Small group discussions with Board members present 

Written comments may also be submitted to dwacek@lacrosselibrary.org through 11/4/25 at 3 p.m. 

For more information about library usage data and service impacts, visit lacrosselibrary.org/about. 

Contact: 
Dawn Wacek 
Library Director 
608-789-8190 
dwacek@lacrosselibrary.org