News : Shellsburg Public Library Recap of 2025

Thanks to generous grants and funding, 2025 was a wonderful year of growth and updates for Shellsburg Public Library.

Kicking off 2025, Shellsburg Public Library received a grant from the Benton County Community Foundation that made interior painting updates possible, giving our space a fresh, welcoming look.

Funding from USA Communications and the Aureon Charity Grant Award allowed us to install an automated ADA door and a keyless entry keypad for our event room. This space is available to rent for birthday parties, graduations, holiday gatherings, and more, and can accommodate up to 66 people. We were also grateful to receive support from the Theisen’s More for Your Community Grant, which helped us purchase additional tables and chairs for the event room.

Personal donations made it possible to purchase new patron computer pods and upgrade the library with LED lighting, improving both accessibility and energy efficiency.

The Benton County Public Health Department, through an initiative supported by a Public Health Emergency Preparedness grant, provided a Stop the Bleed kit for our library and was instrumental in helping SPL obtain an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). The AED is housed in a climate-controlled, easily accessible location within the library, available year-round to the public, visitors, and staff.

Last month, our local Girl Scout Troop #2638 learned about what an AED is and why it is important during emergencies. In spring 2025, troop leader Tracey W. planned to show the girls where the AED was located and discuss their role in finding it during an emergency. At the time, the library did not have an AED, which prompted our connection with the Benton County Public Health Department and ultimately led to securing grant funding.

During the Girl Scouts’ first aid meeting, they learned about tourniquets, calling 911, what is and is not an emergency, cleaning minor injuries, and when to get an adult.

Shellsburg Public Library sincerely thanks all of our donors and volunteers for their continued support throughout the year. We also experienced tremendous success with our Summer Reading Program thanks to the generosity of community supporters.

We look forward to another successful year at SPL and continuing to serve our community together.

Shellsburg Public Library Director

Marge McDonald