Reflections on a Defining Year for Libraries

As I sit to write this letter, the first thing that comes to mind is that 2025 was certainly an eventful year for libraries.  

Together, we faced unprecedented uncertainty around library work at almost every level. Funding concerns, debates over collections and services, and struggles with staffing dominated meetings and conversations about libraries in 2025. At the same time, the year demonstrated the strength of our library community and the impact we continue to make. As we move toward 2026, this moment offers a perfect time to reflect on experiences of this past year and to set the stage for the year ahead. 

Here are some highlights from our year at the Bureau of Libraries: 

• Provided information about how libraries and Wisconsin residents benefit from federal library funding through the LSTA Grants-to-States program. This information was shared on the DPI website as well as in materials created by the Public Library System Marketing Cohort. 
• Dug deeper into understanding how librarians and residents use BadgerLink through data and active solicitation of feedback to help make improvements through the program. (And, of course, we loved hearing how BadgerLink developed stronger critical thinking skills for students and how BadgerLink was used to combat the rising cost of living.)  
• The Teen Internship Program continued to introduce the next generation of leaders to librarianship. These interns brought new ideas and a fresh perspective to our libraries and learned just how rewarding this profession can be. If you missed it this year, find out how your library can apply to be part of the 2026 Teen Internship Program at the informational webinar in January.  
• In partnership with our colleagues at UW-Madison, curated materials were strategically distributed to provide access to an African fiction collection and a Hmong Medical Lexicon available to everyone in our state. 
• Speaking of distribution, our statewide Interlibrary Loan platform, WISCAT, continued to prove that Wisconsin residents love sharing with the highest per capita number of materials (almost 2 and a half per resident) shared in the country. 
• Near the end of the year, a Public Library Standards steering committee was convened to research and update the Public Library Standards to empower libraries throughout the state to provide innovative and aspirational services to Wisconsin residents. 
• Games-based library services emerged to show how relevant libraries are to a population increasingly self-identifying as gamers. Once again, Play Make Learn united multi-type librarians and non-librarians together to innovate and have fun. Look for lots more gaming related activities from the Bureau of Libraries in the future! 
• The Wisconsin Digital Archives made almost 36,000 state documents available to the public, making the work of our state agencies more accessible to everyone. 
• Brought public and school librarians serving youth together in the Foundations of Wisconsin Librarianship training. This increased collaboration between librarians who serve our kids is incredibly important to increasing literacy rates, strengthening our Wisconsin communities, and forging leaders of the future.  

Through it all, we learned how to be resilient, work collaboratively, and find ways to authentically serve all Wisconsin residents. Our Bureau for Libraries blog is called Wisconsin Libraries for Everyone, because libraries truly serve everyone in our state. 2026 will be about libraries delivering more joy to Wisconsin residents. Joy in finding a new favorite author, joy in updating a resume and getting a better job, and joy in feeling a sense of belonging in the community. Wisconsin libraries truly benefit everyone in our state, even those who don’t actively use them.  

I’m always blown away by the work of our state’s libraries and humbled our Bureau has the critical job of empowering those libraries to best serve their communities. From our team to yours, thank you for your amazing work and commitment to meeting the needs of your communities. Libraries make us all better and are a critical resource for Wisconsin’s continued success. We look forward to building on that success with you in 2026! 

Ben Miller 
State Librarian 
(On behalf of all of us at the Bureau for Libraries!)