The Wolseley Public Library is thriving compared to the quiet decline of rural libraries in recent years.

As one of 46 branches under Southeast Regional Library, Wolseley sticks out, “We’re fortunate to have a physical branch,” said April Dahnke, the head librarian. 

“Not all communities have an actual branch that you can go to, so we’re lucky for that,” she added.

Dahnke brings decades of experience to her role, having worked in literacy since 1998. She began at the Al Ritchie Community Association in Regina before she became the first coordinator for the Regina Family Literacy Project in 2000. 

Family literacy is a big focus for the Wolseley branch, especially since Southeast Regional Library recently became a family literacy hub. 

“Their focus is the [age] zero to five kids before they get to school… and having the library, which is hopefully the first community place that our new little ones enter…” said Dahnke. 

Community engagement through programming is creating a thriving environment for the library. 

“I think the big connection is pairing programming with books. If we don’t do things and we don’t invite people, then they can forget that it’s here,” said Dahnke. 

One of those programs is the Page To Screen initiative with the Twilite Drive-In. 

Connecting entertainment with literature, the drive-in donates carload passes for the library to hand out through a giveaway. Someone can enter the giveaway once a day, no matter how many books they check out, which fosters a habit for people to be using their library cards. 

After the contest is over, people still return and check out books. 

“I never would have imagined five years ago that I would have kids coming up to me and asking me if I remember if their books came in. Those habits, that in my mind are a success,” said Dahnke. 

The library partners with people and businesses all over the town– residents from Lakeside Nursing Home come once a month to see the local newspaper or archives, and twice a week there is a Spanish conversation class for all ages.

Dahnke said, “The library is the only free accessible service for every age in our community. So I believe that we have a responsibility to find out what the changing needs of our communities are.”

Even for darker subjects, the library is finding a way to support their town. This year they are adding information sessions on funeral planning with help from Conley Funeral Home.

“That’s one of the wonderful aspects of the library is that we can basically offer any topic because we have books about all of those different topics,” said Dahnke.

For long-time patrons, like resident Joan Moss, who has been coming to the library in Wolseley for 50 years, it is “the best thing going. It’s free. Where else could you get entertainment like that?” 

The library is planning to place a story walk (single pages of books placed in high-traffic areas) on the boards at the rink. Dahnke said, “We have all those little people running along the boards during a game, maybe they’ll walk a little bit slower and they’ll take time to read that book.

“We just kind of find where the people are and just insert ourselves, and then the people find their way here,” added Dahnke. 

By meeting patrons outside the traditional library walls, the branch turns casual visitors into regular participants.

These efforts show how the library continues to adapt to the needs of residents while keeping the community connected through accessible programs and shared experiences.

Wolseley Public Library is proving exactly what Dahnke said– “Libraries thrive when you connect them with programming.”