2-20-2026

This is the end of my fourth year as ETLPL’s Director. Monday marks my official anniversary date (and my birthday). It’s fair to say, the staff and I have instituted quite a few changes in that time.

After surviving my first Summer Reading Program, coming from a career in teaching this was a feat, I turned my attention to adult programming and purging. We offered our first Veteran’s Day program about Richard Bong. That made the limitations of our Lower Level programming space very clear. A limitation we hope to overcome in the nearer future.

The purging removed more outdated computer equipment and donated furniture than two trucks could carry. The result was space for the Friends to reinstitute the used book sale and a cozy meeting space for adults. Storage for the Friends book sale has been an ongoing purging project. At this rate we won’t have any items that haven’t seen the light of day in 20 years left.

Our first partnership with Career Coaches of Wisconsin and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation resulted in the floors being stripped and waxed for the first time in decades. That was a project I longed for the during the 11 years I served as a Library Board Trustee. The change was so dramatic, one concerned patron asked Nancy what happened to make the floor so white. 

The sad loss of Nancy O’Connell provided the blessings of additional updates to the programming spaces in the forms of paint, memorials and new furniture. It is now a comfortable place to relax and discuss the board packet, the month’s book club choices, or a guest speaker. I think she would be pleased, if embarrassed, to know what we were able to do in her name.

The main floor has seen it’s share of rearranging. Spinning shelves were moved to the children’s area to hold juvenile audiobooks. New shelving has been added for teens or replaced to actually fit picture books. The staff has learned, “Field trip,” coming from me means changes are in the works.

More are to come as we make room for new collections such as the Library of Things and new books. Most of the changes are to meant to make items easier to find and minimize what will need to be moved when the greatest change happens.

Through it all, the staff goes along with a smile, even when they think I’m crazy. They make it all possible with their flexibility, muscle and sometimes with their own crazy. Here’s to the next four.

Listening to Now: Out of Oz by Gregory Maguire (The best of the four to be honest. Finally ties up the other three books.)