Brown County Library Board Weighs Growth, Safety, and Budgets in Busy September Meeting
GREEN BAY — September 18, 2025. The Brown County Library Board packed its September agenda with updates on rural branch projects, safety policies, and fiscal planning, underscoring the system’s balancing act between expanding community services and managing financial strain.
Board President Jayme Sellen opened the meeting with approval of August minutes, before trustees turned to a range of discussions that touched nearly every corner of the system.
Pulaski and Denmark: New Spaces for Rural Communities
The board received updates on the Pulaski Branch, where architects are planning renovations to convert part of a former Dollar Tree into the new library space. With $330,000 allocated, leaders emphasized keeping plans simple and costs contained.
“We need to know the number for basic renovations,” one trustee said. “We have to know what we’re working with.” Another added urgency: “We need to stop paying rent at the old place and get into the new building the county owns. Waiting until 2027 is too long.”
In Denmark, preparations continue for an October 18 groundbreaking at the One Denmark Community Center. Library Board member Kathy Pletcher, who is also coordinating fundraising, reported progress in securing both one-time and multi-year donations alongside a $750,000 construction loan.
“We’re in a good place,” Pletcher said, “but this project will take all of us pulling together.”
Central Collaborations: Job Center and ADRC
The long-anticipated addition of the Job Center at Central Library is moving forward. Lease terms are still being finalized, with the Job Center proposing rent at 103 percent of current rates; the library had suggested 125 percent but agreed to accept the lower figure.
A project coordinator will soon be hired to manage the collaboration between the library, Job Center, and Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC). “We’re close to wrapping that up,” one trustee noted. “We have a really exciting candidate who can lead this work.”
An open house at Central is scheduled for September 23.
Safety and Behavior: Protecting Access While Setting Boundaries
Trustees approved $2,800 for a safety and security assessment of Central, to be conducted by consultants with law enforcement backgrounds. They also backed $1,000 in de-escalation training for 30 front-line staff, with the goal of making it an annual practice.
Starting October 1, new rules will take effect at Central: no food or drink, limits on personal items (one small backpack and one additional item), and bathrooms restricted to library users. Furniture has been rearranged to improve sightlines and create reservable study stations with charging outlets.
Board members stressed that these policies will be applied consistently. “Every person is greeted with eye contact and a hello when they come in,” one staff member said, adding that friendliness is part of safety, too.
The library’s ban list currently includes about 70 individuals, though it has exceeded 100 at times. To help staff, the system is planning a new safety committee and considering door chimes and expanded fob access for staff-only areas.
Finances: Library Proposes 10% Levy Reduction
Budget discussions reflected the tension between fiscal responsibility and community needs. The library is proposing a 10 percent reduction in levies — about $684,000 — in its request to the County Board.
The proposal comes as the county faces unexpected expenses, including a $1 million jail health cost.
“The county is in a tough spot, so are we,” one trustee said. Executive Director Sarah Sugden confirmed that options will be presented, though details are still being finalized.
Community Partnerships and Engagement
Beyond finances, trustees highlighted the library’s role in civic life. The system will march in the Holiday Parade, continue its early literacy work with Achieve Brown County, and partner with the Khrome Agency on a branding and messaging campaign.
On Thursday, September 25, Central will host the Nicolet Federated Library System in-service, which will close all libraries for the day.
The JobPod program, which places career resources in libraries across Wisconsin, continues to expand, with a “JobPod Lite” designed for smaller branches.
Closing: Optimism and Strain
After nearly two hours of updates and decisions, the board entered closed session to discuss litigation involving the Ashwaubenon Branch and conduct Executive Director Sugden’s annual performance review.
The evening underscored the dual nature of today’s public libraries: optimism in new facilities, partnerships, and safety improvements; strain in the face of tightening budgets and stricter behavior policies.
As one trustee remarked, the work ahead is about ensuring libraries remain what the mission statement promises: “your place for information, entertainment, community, and culture.”
Featured picture by Eric Kuzma