The Lester Public Library of Arpin was created with the donation of books, an office chair and desk, and twenty-five dollars by the John B. Arpin family in 1951. It's beginning years were composed of a community effort to create a home for the expanding library. Over the years, the library has moved locations and changed staff numerous times while continuing to successfully serve the Arpin community.
Today, the Lester Public Library of Arpin provides educational resources and programming for Arpin and surrounding communities. We welcome you to enjoy our collection of over 14,000 items that includes books, audiobooks, video recordings, and more. Our collection is supplemented by an additional three million library holdings of other members of the South Central Library System, which may be reserved through the library's online catalog. A variety of different online resources are also available, including ebooks through Overdrive, genealogy resources and newspaper archives, reference materials, and more.
We offer a wide variety of special events for all ages throughout the year in addition to our children's story hour, two different book clubs, and our summer library program. Free wifi is available throughout the library. Our reference room doubles as a meeting space, as well as the location of reference materials and documents and artifacts included in our Arpin Archives Project. The large, open programming space in the center of the library has been used for a broad array of events and reasons, including a meeting space, a makeshift theater for movie showings, and an art gallery.
Our expanding Makerspace and activity area includes a Makey Makey kit, snap circuits, a code-a-pillar, puzzles, games, and other fun kits and activities. Launchpads and a Nintendo Switch are also available for patron use and checkout. For more information about the materials and collections the Arpin Library provides, visit Materials & Collections.
A little free library is also located outside the library by the flagpole. Stop by and take a book or two. You can also add books you would like to pass on for other readers to enjoy.
Visit Library Services for more information on services the Arpin Library provides.
Vision statment
- Our community will discover library resources and programs that anticipate and satisfy their needs for everyday information, enjoyment, enlightenment and interactive learning.
- Our community will look to the library for accurate, thorough information, guided by friendly, knowledgeable staff.
- Our community will have library resources to support academic and independent learning at every age, helping to build skills and interests needed for life-long success.
- Our children will grow up in a library environment that is rich in stories and literature, where reading is valued and encouraged.
- Our community will be drawn to a welcoming, safe environment that reflects the community's changing needs.
Library staff
Stacy Kundinger, Library Director
Joyce Soppe
Jacob Lockhart
Helen Wisniewski
Arpin Library fast facts
View data and statistics that are included in our annual report. For more data & statistics visit SCLS's Data & Statistics
