Rhinelander District Library Director Virginia Roberts, left, RDL Foundation President Ransey Osness and RDL Board of Trustees President Diana Harris cut a tiny ribbon to unveil a scale model of the library’s expansion and upgrades. A capital campaign was launched to raise money for the $7 million project. Dave Melancon photo

Ribbon cutting shows off project model, kicks off fundraising

By Eileen Persike

Editor

RHINELANDER – The Rhinelander District Library Foundation is pursuing something that has happened only twice before in the library’s 127-year existence. It has announced a capital campaign to fund a library expansion. The $7 million project adds 7,650 square feet to the building and renovates outdated aspects of the original building.

A ribbon cutting took place last week to unveil the scale model and architectural drawings of the new library.

“Over the last decade, we have seen more people coming in the building, more people requiring meeting spaces, places to sit, updated technology, just about everything you could possibly image more space for,” Virginia Roberts, RDL director, said.

“This is for the community. One of the things that has been a consistent theme is we do not have a community room that is open to the public after hours or available for that. And that is one of the big pieces here,” Roberts added, noting the last addition was made prior to passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This project, she said, will add updates that make it more available to everyone.

The library’s story began in 1897 as a subscription library maintained by Rev. Joseph H. Chandler. His books and others from a private reading room formed Rhinelander’s first free public library collection. In 1898, the library opened its doors in one room of the original Merchants State Bank building with some 600 books available to the public.  The Rhinelander Woman’s Club was formed around that time, and began raising money for library books. 

By 1902 the library had outgrown its small quarters and an application to philanthropist Andrew Carnegie was made for funding to build a new library. Carnegie agreed and set conditions to be met by the city. Formal dedication of the Carnegie Library took place in November 1904.

Through the years and decades, the library’s services and circulation grew; the Rhinelander Area Joint Library District was formed by the city and townships of Crescent, Newbold, Pelican and Pine Lake to create a more equitable funding model throughout the area.  In 1982 the Friends of the Rhinelander District Library began the library’s second fundraising campaign, and following an advisory referendum, a $1 million project of renovations and construction began in 1984, completed in 1985.

Which is where things stand today. Roberts said the library is a vital part of the community and an expansion is long overdue.

“We do everything from helping the youngest among us learn to read and provide parents with access to books. We teach kids it’s fun to learn – and this continues through adulthood,” Roberts said. “We help people get jobs, we teach people technology, we have notaries, we have games, we have all kinds of things for people to learn. It’s an entertainment facility but also a learning facility.”

Library statistics from 2023 back up the library’s importance, Roberts said. Last year there were 64,158 visits to the library, an increase of 11% over 2022. Digital e-books and e-audio books, which became popular during the pandemic, continue to be with 32,569 circulations cited last year. In all, just over 123,000 items were checked out to 10,522 cardholders, from a collection of nearly 81,000 items.

Roberts said she, the board and foundation are confident the funding goal will be realized because the work was put in to get it “right-sized” for the community. The foundation and the library are pursuing grant funds for the project, but also looking for community support.

“We have already gotten a few donations and we’re looking forward to seeing more,” Roberts said. “If the grant sees that the community is very supportive they are more likely to give us the rest of the money. It’s hugely helpful to have the community behind us and we have already seen that support in many locations and we’re grateful. This is a very exciting time.”

Roberts said she hopes to break ground in 2025. Donations can be mailed to the RDL Foundation, PO Box 1225, Rhinelander, WI 54501, or visit rdlfoundation.org for other ways to donate and for more information.

The RDL construction project

• Cost $7 million

• Adding 7,650 square feet

• Replacing existing elevator and reconfiguring the stairwell to the lower level

• Enhancing and adding study, work and community meeting spaces

• Improving and expanding the children’s area

• Updating staff work areas

• Enhancing outdoor spaces and adding a perennial garden

• Reconfiguring parking

• Making walk-up and drive-up book drops more accessible