On March 31, 2025, all Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) employees were placed on administrative leave, with access to their work systems blocked. The President replaced the agency’s leadership with the Deputy Secretary of Labor. Without leadership and staff, it’s expected that library funding will be halted.
This action puts crucial services at risk across the country—and especially here in Wisconsin. Federal law requires IMLS to provide support to public libraries, but that support is currently only guaranteed through September 2025.
Why IMLS Funding Matters to the Amery Area Public Library:
IMLS funds support BadgerLink, the state of Wisconsin's online library, currently available for free to all library users.
IMLS funds help support digital literacy efforts and access to free wifi and public computers to the Amery community, a real lifeline in rural communities where internet access is spotty.
IMLS funds help pay for staff to have required continuing education trainings. This allows us to spend more of our budget on materials and services.
IMLS funds support the ILL loan program, allowing patrons to access materials unavailable in the MORE catalog.
What can library users and supporters do to help?
Advocate for the services that matter to you! Please visit https://mywisconsinlibrary.org/ to learn more!
Adult Summer Library Program
Welcome to the 2023 Summer Reading Program!
Read as much as you can and do as many activities as you can. Each time you read a book, listen to an audiobook, or complete an activity, you earn a raffle ticket to be entered into a weekly prize drawing. Winners will be drawn weekly and notified.
Complete the challenge by reading at least 2 books and completing 3 activities, and earn a free book!
All participants will be entered to win the Grand Prize of a 80 min Daily Excursion or a 80 min Sundown Cruise on the St. Croix River from Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours.
Adult Programming
| Thursday, June 15 5 – 7 p.m. |
3rd Thursday Crafting: No-sew blankets |
| Saturday, June 17 2 p.m. |
Author Talk: Ryan Bernsten – 50 States of Mind: A Journey to Rediscover American Democracy |
| Thursday, June 22 6 p.m. |
Poetry Reading by LaMoine MacLaughlin, Amery’s Poet Laureate and Spatial Poetry Workshop |
| Thursday, June 29 6 p.m. |
Puzzle Pandemonium! Team puzzle competition and free pizza dinner |
| Thursday, July 13 6 p.m. |
Author Talk: Sara Deluca – Heavy Marching: The Civil War Letters of Lute Moseley, 22nd Wisconsin
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| Thursday, July 20 5 – 7 p.m. |
3rd Thursday Crafting: Self-care – Bath Bombs and Sugar Scrubs |
| Tuesday, July 25 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. |
Community Care Kit Building |
Adult Book Challenges
Disability Culture Book Challenge
25% of adults in the United States have one or more functional disabilities. But what does that mean, exactly? Disability is often misunderstood as applying only to people in wheelchairs. In fact, many disabilities are invisible or do not relate primarily to mobility, such as people who are neurodivergent or have a chronic illness.
To learn more about disabilities, read a book from this list, or read one that is similar.
When you have done so, login into Beanstack and claim your badge or drop off a paper raffle ticket at the library.
Reads and Deeds
Books can inspire us to action! Read a book from this list, or find one that’s similar, and then complete one of these related activities:
- Volunteer at a local hospice or Seniors Community
- Volunteer at a local animal shelter
- Arnell Memorial Humane Society – Amery, Wisconsin
- Humane Society of Polk County
- Join an Alzheimer’s Walk
- Sign up to be an organ donor
When you read a book and completed an activity, login into Beanstack and claim your badge or drop off a paper raffle ticket at the library.
Land of Immigrants Book Challenge
The United States is a land of immigrants. Read a book about the immigrant experience or about immigration issues. Then login into Beanstack and claim your badge or drop off a paper raffle ticket at the library.
Homelessness Book Challenge
Homelessness is on the rise in the United States. As of January 2020, there were an estimated 580,466 homeless Americans Men are far more likely to be homeless than women, and rates of homelessness tend to be higher among historically marginalized racial groups. To learn more about this important topic, read a book on homelessness. Then login into Beanstack and claim your badge or drop off a paper raffle ticket at the library.
Then come to one or both of our related events:
- No-Sew Blankets – Thursday, June 15 – 5 – 7 p.m.
Work with the other people there to make no-sew blankets, which will be donated to Northwoods Homeless Shelter and other local organizations. - Community Care Kit Building – Tuesday, July 25th 9 – 6
Part of being in a community means helping care for others. Join us on Tuesday, July 25th for an entire day of building Care Kits for our neighbors in need. This is a drop-in style event, so come to the library anytime between 9 AM and 6 PM to help out!