By Dave Fidlin
CORRESPONDENT
The Irvin L. Young Memorial Library will link arms with public libraries in Jefferson and Waukesha counties in 2016 in the aftermath of a series of recent decisions.
The Whitewater Common Council on May 5 voted to move forward with a plan to leave the Mid-Wisconsin Federated Library System and instead join the Waukesha County Federated Library System.
The council’s vote came on the heels of a recommendation in favor of the switch last month from the Irvin L. Young Library Board.
Whitewater is one of eight communities in the Jefferson County library system served through Mid-Wisconsin. According to Jefferson County officials, the governing bodies of all eight communities have voted in favor of the change.
The Jefferson County Board, which has ultimate authority in the planned library system transition, voted in favor of the change May 12, officially setting the stage for next year’s membership swap.
While the change in library systems might not have a noticeable impact on the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library, membership into a specific library system does have an impact on operations.
In discussing the proposed system change, Irvin L. Young Library Director Stacey Lunsford said the change would open the facility up to a number of new possibilities — including a far wider range of books and resources than those currently available through Mid-Wisconsin.
Jefferson County officials reviewed several prospective library system suitors as the Dec. 31 deadline with Mid-Wisconsin expired. Others that were under consideration included South Central, Arrowhead and Lakeshores.
The cost of being part of Waukesha County is expected to decrease, and the level of service is expected to increase, Lunsford said.
At the moment, Mid-Wisconsin still serves as the de facto federated library system for public libraries in Dodge and Washington counties.
