When Emily Dumas stepped into her role as Director of the Troy Public Library in February 2021, she found herself in charge of a beloved and bustling suburban library — one that had, like many others, endured the disruptions of a pandemic and was now facing the steep costs of much-needed renovations. In a city of 88,000 residents just outside Detroit, known for its diversity and academic excellence, the library wasn’t just a nice-to-have. It was the place.

If you’ve ever worked in a rural public library, you know that being small doesn’t mean doing less—it means doing it all, often across multiple branches and with a fraction of the budget. Andrea Roe, Director of the Fulton County Library in Indiana, knows this balancing act well.

Waverly Public Library recognized the need for a transformation to better serve the growing and evolving community of Waverly, Iowa. With visits increasing by 167% over the past 25 years, the library had outgrown its original design. To address this, the "Make Room for Renewal" campaign was launched, aiming to expand and renovate the library to meet contemporary needs.