The public library in Webster, Wisconsin, has been located at some unique settings over it’s tenure: a former discount food store, a community bank, and a car dealership. When the library first took root in 1991, it was a purely volunteer effort, from donated books to donated staff time. It has since grown and expanded into what is now a 6,050-square-foot facility on Main Street where it successfully serves the communities of Webster, Siren, and greater Burnett County.

In the early 2000s, library leaders and staff recognized an imminent need to expand or renovate the existing facility. Available, usable space was in short supply and much of the existing building was not ADA accessible due the floor being located several feet above street level. The library board hired MSA architects to study a variety of alternatives for the project including building additions, remodeling of the existing facility, renovating a different public structure or building new.

MSA funding experts pursued a State of Wisconsin Community Development Block Grant and developed a facility design for the library that resulted in the Village of Webster being awarded over $500,000 for the project.

Former Larsen car dealership building

With a generous donation from the Larsen family, who donated their former car dealership building, MSA architects designed the renovation of the dealership building into a new, 6,000-square-foot facility that would aptly be named the Larsen Family Public Library. During the initial examination of the property, site contamination was discovered, for which MSA helped the Village obtain a Wisconsin DNR grant to remediate.

The resulting new facility is a clean, contemporary design with welcoming entrance vestibule, lobby and book drop, roomy staff work zones, expanded computer and technology areas, and cozy reading nook by a fireplace. The library has ample space to house children’s, young adult and adult book collections and has a new multipurpose program/community room that allows for after-hours use by community organizations.

The new Larsen Family Public Library held a grand re-opening ceremony in September 2011, and in 2021, celebrated 30 years of continued growth, success, and service to the community.