Demmer Memorial Library

A recent state report released by the Wisconsin State Legislative Audit Bureau, which took into account four major service standards established by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction in 2005, reported that out of 388 state libraries only three libraries met excellent levels of service for all four standards—Edward U. Demmer Memorial Library in Three Lakes, Hutchinson Memorial Library in Randolph, and Prairie du Sac Public Library. The four standards of service include the number of hours open per week, the number of full-time staff per 1,000 population, the annual materials expenditures per capita and the collection size per capita.

Michelle Gobert, Director of the Demmer Memorial Library in Three Lakes, was thrilled with this announcement “The whole Town of Three Lakes should be proud of its community library.  The number one reason our library thrives is that the library is in fact the community’s library.”   Gobert recognized that financial support, not only from the taxpayers of Three Lakes, but also from Oneida county citizens living in communities surrounding the township, made a difference.  “The Oneida County Library Board should also be recognized for its support of this library.  It ensures all residents within Oneida County receive equitable library service whether they live 2 blocks away from a library or 27 miles away.”

The Demmer Library in Three Lakes was originally established as a small corner in the Three Lakes community building.  In 1971, the family of Edward U. Demmer built the library for the community of Three Lakes.  Since then, the Demmer Library has been supported in part by the Town Board of Three Lakes and the Oneida County Library Board.  The Demmer Library also receives financial support from the highly successful Friends of the Demmer Library support organization and the Three Lakes Public Library Foundation.   Gobert also wished to acknowledge the everyday support received from the library patrons, “our library is successful due to its use.  In plain and simple terms, our library success is due to the fact that our library is used by our public.  Whether it’s the programming or the collections that draw people to our library, people young and old find something that interests them and that in a nutshell is what a public library is about.”

Annually the Demmer Library circulates approximately 50,000 items and is open 51 hours per week.  The Demmer Library Board of Trustees is managed by a staff of two full-time and four part-time employees.  It is administered by a library board of seven:  Ken Klein, Catherine Marshall, John Roberts, Kathleen Olkowski, Vicki Reuling, Dianna Blicharz and an appointed Town Board member.

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