Appleton's library is back to pre-COVID levels in terms of visitors. Menasha is up by 60%, compared to its pre-renovation levels. Nov. 5, 2025. PC: Fox 11 Online
FOX VALLEY (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Appleton and Menasha public libraries reopened nearly nine months ago after $40.4 million and $9 million investments, respectively.
Here’s an update on their numbers.
In Appleton, the visitor count is back to pre-COVID levels and the use of study rooms is up significantly.
Appleton data (from Feb. 15 opening to Sept. 30):
- Door count: 253,078 visitors
- New library card registrations: 8,254 cards (total of ~65,000 cards in circulation right now)
- Replacement library cards: 3,288 cards (generally visitors coming back after a long hiatus)
- Meeting, study and conference rooms: 7,688 uses
- Total programs: 754 programs
- Total program attendance: 26,850 people
“Instead of being like a grocery store, where you would just kind of come in and check something out, buy something and take it home, it’s like a test kitchen,” said Appleton Public Library Director Colleen Rortvedt. “It’s a place where activities are happening on site and where your community is engaging with each other.”
Community spaces are a much bigger part of these renovated libraries. Book clubs or game nights might be held in more casual spaces, while the libraries maintained individual study rooms. Both Appleton and Menasha invested in learning beyond just books.
“We wanted the library to be a little more sticky. We wanted people to hang around the library,” said Menasha Public Library Director Brian Kopetsky. “We wanted it to be a little bit louder than the stereotypes fall into. We wanted more technology. We wanted to have more hands-on live programming in the building.”
The Menasha Library also re-opened in February after its $9 million renovation. More books are being checked out, the visitor count is up 60% and the library has drawn more visitors to its programs than any year. For Menasha, these programs are a big part of being proactive as learning changes.
Menasha data (from Feb. 7 opening to Oct. 30):
- Door count: 93,477 visitors (up 60% on a month-by-month basis)
- New library card registrations: Up 46%
- SMITHworks (Maker/Creator space): 6,647 visits (up more than 100%)
- Total program attendance: 26,633 people (all-time record, 55% increase)
“The way we picture the library, it’s primarily a learning institution,” said Kopetsky. “So all the things we do are just different tools in the tool chest.”
The library renovations were paid for with a mix of public and private funds.
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