How Wisconsin Libraries are Supporting Your Community: An Interview with Chad Dally

When you think about your local library, do books instantly come to mind? It may be an amazing thing for some people to know, but the libraries of today offer everything from tax information to e-bike rentals, and so much more. We captured a great discussion about what you should expect – or ask for – from your local library.  

Chad Dally with the Marathon County Public Library talks to Chad Holmes, host of The Chad Holmes Show, locally on Bull Falls Radio WXCO 1230 AM, 98.9 FM, and wherever you are via the Civic Media app. 

“You work at a library,” Chad Holmes says. “But you offer so much more, like music, movies, tax information, and a daily warming place for residents during the chilly winter weather.”

“Anyone is welcome to stop into the library and warm up,” Chad Dally says. 

“But, along with supporting residents in these important, life-saving ways, we are also offering new educational programs. We want to know, who do you want to hear from, and ask questions of, in our various city and county departments.”

These 2024 programs will focus on featuring police, sheriff and fire officials – to talk about safety issues across the county. Library leaders also plan to bring in various city and county leaders to share what’s happening, and more importantly right now, to allow residents to ask questions in a face-to-face setting. 

“You’re giving people an opportunity to meet with all of these public officials. And to learn personally, the latest activity and updates from these departments,” Holmes says. “This will help everyone understand what goes on in our government, and help them choose their candidates when they vote.”

We share public information equally, while still helping everyone learn about the elections in their own communities. This is an important feature of every area library.

Chad Dally, Marathon County Public Library

“We want every opportunity for our residents to be civic and respectful,” Dally says. “And we share public information equally, while still helping everyone learn about the elections in their own communities. This is an important feature of every area library.”

A few very interesting questions remain for the end of this interview. 

“Do you think the library and other similar places; I’m going to include radio,” Holmes says. “Can we all help officials and the public to understand and ask questions about what goes into each and every job, and why it’s so important to vote?”

“Radio based in the community is no longer as common as it used to be,” Dally replies. “We are so grateful for any opportunity to share how residents can be a part of this.”

Listen to the whole conversation: