The Carnegie Library in Sheridan was a beautiful three-story building just three blocks from our home.
At 6 years old, I started visiting weekly, first with my older sister and then on my own.
By fifth grade, I had read every single book in the children's section; all the biographies, fantasy, mysteries, and animal stories. One section at a time until none were left unread. The librarian made an exception and issued me an adult library card years before the usual requirement.
That library became my second home. It introduced me to worlds beyond our small town, laid the foundation for understanding how critical research is, and encouraged a lifetime of learning.
As addictions go, being a bookworm has served me well.
What I experienced in Sheridan happens across Wyoming every day. Our libraries have always been more than repositories of books. They're vibrant centers for learning, connection, community support, and growth that uniquely respond to their communities' needs.
Take the Edgerton Branch Library, where librarian Michele Butler has served for 29 years. Every Wednesday, a group of women gathers to talk and sometimes work on projects. Seven or eight regulars catch up and reminisce.
On non-project weeks, one gentleman who retired from his state position joins the group.
Butler goes beyond typical services in surprising ways. Every week she makes a trip to Casper with a “shopping list” of books; one patron reads True Crime while another is a speed reader going through six books each week. She selects books, carefully, for a patron who dislikes female authors, gently encouraging him to try new writers.
The library's internet stays on 24 hours a day—people park outside to access it because many lack home internet.
This personal touch isn't unusual for rural libraries serving Wyoming's smaller communities.
These institutions often serve multiple essential functions that would be distributed across various organizations in larger towns.
Research shows that rural libraries serve approximately 30 million Americans through 4,000 library systems. And in Wyoming, they're often the community's primary internet connection point, meeting space, and social hub rolled into one.
The Natrona County Library in Casper demonstrates how larger libraries expand horizons and opportunities. Their Creation Station maker space brings together three generations, from kindergarteners to grandparents, creating shared experiences where people learn from each other. Grandmas without sewing machines use the library's equipment to tailor rescued clothes for grandchildren. The 3D printers produce everything from cool gadgets to out-of-production Schwinn bicycle parts.
The library’s impact goes beyond creativity. It became a passport application acceptance location because the post office required frustrating appointments. It hosts Living Room Conversations where small groups discuss topics like homelessness with trained facilitators, teaching community members to listen respectfully to each other. It even has one of only three telehealth booths in Wyoming, providing soundproof, private access to medical consultations for people who might otherwise go without care.
Behind these services stand professionally trained librarians with master’s degrees in library and information science. They're educated in collection development, community needs assessment, digital literacy, and child development. Their expertise in community engagement and information science underpins services that adapt creatively to local needs.
Libraries serve as democratic spaces; inclusive community centers welcoming everyone regardless of background. They're where curious 10-year-olds can exhaust children's sections, retirees can gather for conversation, families get passport help, and people access telehealth services privately.
Studies consistently show that for every dollar invested in public libraries, communities see returns between three and six dollars in economic benefit. But the real value goes deeper than economics. Libraries combat the isolation of modern life, provide critical digital access, support workforce development, and create the educated citizenry that democracy requires.
R. David Lankes captured it perfectly: "Bad libraries build collections, good libraries build services, great libraries build communities." Wyoming's libraries, all 92 of them across our 23 counties, build strong communities every day. They connect us, enrich us, and remind us of our shared values.
These institutions deserve our support and advocacy.
Visit your local library. Discover what services they offer beyond books. Use their meeting spaces, their internet, their programs. When funding discussions arise, remember that libraries aren't just nice-to-have amenities; they're essential infrastructure for thriving communities.
In Wyoming, where distances are vast and resources can be scarce, libraries aren't just lifelines. They're proof that even in our digital age, the most powerful technology is still human connection facilitated by dedicated professionals in welcoming spaces open to all.
Readers can reach columnist Gail Symons at Gailsymons@mac.com
