July 1, 2022
Of the factors that define a successful public library, free, equal, and open access to information is one of the most essential. But what about the members of our communities who cannot easily travel to their local library due to age, illness, accident, disability, or other factors? That’s where library homebound (or "outreach") programs come in — providing home delivery options to patrons who couldn’t access library materials in any other way. As of 2022, the homebound program at the Marathon County Public Library (MCPL) has been going strong for 50 years under the guidance of three successive coordinators — Beth Scott (1972–1976), Barb Ritchie (1976–2007) and Paula Langenhahn (2007–present). The...