# Winding Rivers Library System

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Winding_Rivers_Library_System
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Winding_Rivers_Library_System.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winding_Rivers_Library_System
> Source revision: 1311528578
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

**Winding Rivers Library System** (**WRLS**) is a [federated library system](/source/Public_library_systems_of_Wisconsin) which provides services to 34 public libraries across seven [Wisconsin](/source/Wisconsin) counties ([Buffalo](/source/Buffalo_County,_Wisconsin), [Jackson](/source/Jackson_County,_Wisconsin), [Juneau](/source/Juneau_County,_Wisconsin), [La Crosse](/source/La_Crosse_County,_Wisconsin), [Monroe](/source/Monroe_County,_Wisconsin), [Trempealeau](/source/Trempealeau_County,_Wisconsin), and [Vernon](/source/Vernon_County,_Wisconsin)). The [La Crosse Public Library](/source/La_Crosse_Public_Library_(La_Crosse,_Wisconsin)) is the resource library for WRLS, and the administrative offices are in [West Salem, Wisconsin](/source/West_Salem,_Wisconsin).[1]

## History

In January 1965, the La Crosse Public Library began selling professional services to smaller libraries in the surrounding counties, as part of a plan to build a new central library building with federal grant money. This arrangement was formalized as the La Crosse Area Library Development in November 1965, with the LCPL ordering and cataloging books for 17 libraries across Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Monroe, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties, as well as providing training for their librarians.[2] A [bookmobile](/source/Bookmobile) serving the entire area was introduced in 1968.[3]

In 1971, Wisconsin began offering state funding for [public library systems](/source/Public_library_systems_of_Wisconsin) which would administer library services across a region of one or more counties. The La Crosse Area Library System was one of the first to qualify under this program, representing all public libraries in Juneau, La Crosse, and Monroe counties. The other three counties initially chose not to participate because of the requirement that system services not covered by the state grant would be locally funded.[3] The system began operations on January 1, 1973.[4] Trempealeau County joined the system on January 1, 1974.[5]

Vernon County was added at the beginning of 1978.[6] Later that year, the name of the La Crosse Area Library System was changed to Winding Rivers Library System, reflecting the addition of Vernon County (which was not considered part of the La Crosse area) and allowing for the addition of more counties in the future.[7] On January 1, 1979, Buffalo and Jackson counties joined the system, bringing it to its current membership of seven counties.[8]

## Member libraries

- **Buffalo County** - Alma Public Library, [Alma](/source/Alma,_Wisconsin) - Mondovi Public Library, [Mondovi](/source/Mondovi,_Wisconsin)
- **Jackson County** - Black River Falls Public Library, [Black River Falls](/source/Black_River_Falls,_Wisconsin) - Taylor Memorial Library, [Taylor](/source/Taylor,_Wisconsin)
- **Juneau County** - Elroy Public Library, [Elroy](/source/Elroy,_Wisconsin) - Hatch Public Library, [Mauston](/source/Mauston,_Wisconsin) - Necedah Community-Siegler Memorial Library, [Necedah](/source/Necedah,_Wisconsin) - New Lisbon Memorial Library, [New Lisbon](/source/New_Lisbon,_Wisconsin) - Wonewoc Public Library, [Wonewoc](/source/Wonewoc,_Wisconsin)
- **La Crosse County** - La Crosse County Library, [Holmen](/source/Holmen,_Wisconsin) - F.J. Robers Library (branch), [Campbell](/source/Campbell,_Wisconsin) - Hazel Brown Leicht Memorial Library (branch), [West Salem](/source/West_Salem,_Wisconsin) - Holmen Public Library (branch), [Holmen](/source/Holmen,_Wisconsin) - John Bosshard Memorial Library (branch), [Bangor](/source/Bangor,_Wisconsin) - Onalaska Public Library (branch), [Onalaska](/source/Onalaska,_Wisconsin) - [La Crosse Public Library](/source/La_Crosse_Public_Library_(La_Crosse,_Wisconsin)), [La Crosse](/source/La_Crosse,_Wisconsin) - North Community Branch, [La Crosse](/source/La_Crosse,_Wisconsin)
- **Monroe County** - Cashton Memorial Library, [Cashton](/source/Cashton,_Wisconsin) - Kendall Public Library, [Kendall](/source/Kendall,_Monroe_County,_Wisconsin) - Norwalk Public Library, [Norwalk](/source/Norwalk,_Wisconsin) - Sparta Free Library, [Sparta](/source/Sparta,_Wisconsin) - Tomah Public Library, [Tomah](/source/Tomah,_Wisconsin) - Wilton Public Library, [Wilton](/source/Wilton,_Wisconsin)
- **Trempealeau County** - Arcadia Free Public Library, [Arcadia](/source/Arcadia,_Wisconsin) - Blair-Preston Public Library, [Blair](/source/Blair,_Wisconsin) - Ettrick Public Library, [Ettrick](/source/Ettrick_(village),_Wisconsin) - Galesville Public Library, [Galesville](/source/Galesville,_Wisconsin) - Hauge Memorial Library, [Osseo](/source/Osseo,_Wisconsin) - Independence Public Library, [Independence](/source/Independence,_Wisconsin) - Shirley M. Wright Memorial Library, [Trempealeau](/source/Trempealeau,_Wisconsin) - Strum Public Library, [Strum](/source/Strum,_Wisconsin) - Whitehall Community Library, [Whitehall](/source/Whitehall,_Wisconsin)
- **Vernon County** - Bekkum Memorial Public Library, [Westby](/source/Westby,_Wisconsin) - De Soto Public Library, [De Soto](/source/De_Soto,_Wisconsin) - Hillsboro Public Library, [Hillsboro](/source/Hillsboro,_Wisconsin) - Knutson Memorial Library, [Coon Valley](/source/Coon_Valley,_Wisconsin) - Lawton Memorial Library, [La Farge](/source/La_Farge,_Wisconsin) - McIntosh Memorial Library, [Viroqua](/source/Viroqua,_Wisconsin) - Ontario Public Library, [Ontario](/source/Ontario,_Wisconsin) - Readstown Public Library, [Readstown](/source/Readstown,_Wisconsin)

## References

1. ["Public Library and Public Library System Directory"](https://dpi.wi.gov/libraries/public-libraries), [Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction](/source/Wisconsin_Department_of_Public_Instruction), August 1, 2025.

1. ["Six-County Area Library Program Centered In La Crosse Is Set Up"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune/180695829/), *[La Crosse Tribune](/source/La_Crosse_Tribune)*, November 19, 1965, page 11.

1. ["3 Counties Form Area Library System"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/84072439/?clipping_id=180874621), *[La Crosse Tribune](/source/La_Crosse_Tribune)*, July 18, 1972, pages KD10 and [KD14](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune/180875139/).

1. ["Public Library Systems"](https://archive.org/details/ERIC_ED095846/page/n51/mode/2up), *Wisconsin Library Service Record, 1973*, [Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction](/source/Wisconsin_Department_of_Public_Instruction) Division of Library Services, June 1974, pages 52–71.

1. ["Public Library Systems"](https://archive.org/details/ERIC_ED112851/page/n55/mode/2up), *Wisconsin Library Service Record, 1974*, [Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction](/source/Wisconsin_Department_of_Public_Instruction) Division of Library Services, August 1975, pages 57–77.

1. ["La Crosse library extends to Vernon"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune/180875430/), *[La Crosse Tribune](/source/La_Crosse_Tribune)*, July 31, 1977, page 37.

1. ["Area library system changes its name"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune/180875523/), *[La Crosse Tribune](/source/La_Crosse_Tribune)*, February 27, 1978, page 2.

1. Wilson, Bill. ["New counties count in library system"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune/180875870/), *[La Crosse Tribune](/source/La_Crosse_Tribune)*, December 16, 1978, page 7.

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.wrlsweb.org/)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Winding Rivers Library System](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winding_Rivers_Library_System) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winding_Rivers_Library_System?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.