What is new for Northwoods Drifter in 2026
Walk into the Tomahawk Public Library on any given day and you’ll see something remarkable: a steady stream of neighbors stopping by for far more than just books. Over 28,000 visits in the last two years for a town of 3,500 people tells you something powerful about what libraries mean up here.
February is National Library Lover’s Month, but in Lincoln County, the love affair with local libraries runs year-round.
“When you think about Tomahawk, it is under the population of 3,500, so it’s quite a few people that come and visit us,” says Heidi O’Hare, Director at Tomahawk Public Library.
Libraries in the Northwoods aren’t just warehouses for dusty volumes. They’re community centers, digital lifelines, and gathering places rolled into one.
The Tomahawk library operates on a half-million-dollar budget — every penny going toward staffing, maintaining the building, and keeping programs running. With nearly 50,000 volumes and over 82,000 items circulating annually, it’s a workhorse serving a region where the nearest big-box bookstore might be an hour away.
What sets these Northwoods libraries apart is their commitment to reach everyone. O’Hare’s team delivers books directly to homes for those who can’t make the trip downtown. They visit nursing homes with large-print editions and audiobooks, making sure nobody gets left behind.
Outreach programs include:
Down the road in Merrill, Laurie Ollhoff makes an annual pilgrimage to the state capitol. As Director of T.B. Scott Free Library, she sits down with legislators to explain what rural libraries really do.
This year wasn’t a budget year, so Ollhoff focused on stories. She told them about Wiggle, Giggle & Shake, a program that gets little ones moving and learning. She described the digital help sessions for seniors trying to navigate smartphones and tablets.
“We appreciate the funding we get from the state and the taxpayers. It’s not cheap.”
Next year, when budget discussions roll around again, Ollhoff will return with harder numbers. Costs keep climbing while funding often stays flat. Every dollar has to work overtime.
“We do that because the community is important,” Ollhoff explains. Her advocacy isn’t about empire-building. It’s about maintaining services people depend on when the alternative might be driving 30 miles to the nearest alternative.
Libraries here do something else crucial: they’re guardians of local memory.
Tomahawk Public Library recently pulled off something impressive. They digitized the entire Tomahawk Leader newspaper archive from the 1890s through 2016. The cost? Just $600 through a partnership with Newspapers.com, instead of the typical $20,000 to $40,000 price tag.
Now anyone can search those archives for free — finding great-grandpa’s obituary, reading about the 1918 flu epidemic, or discovering what Main Street looked like when logging ruled the economy. The library partnered with the Tomahawk Area Historical Society to make it happen, part of their ongoing work documenting Lincoln County’s transformation from lumber town to tourism destination.
These aren’t just dusty archives for history buffs. They’re living resources families use to trace their roots in a region where multi-generational ties run deep.
Location matters in the Northwoods, and Tomahawk Public Library sits right on Lake Mohawksin along the Wisconsin River. That geography isn’t wasted.
Summer brings “Stories by the River” on Tuesday mornings, where kids gather for storytimes with the water as backdrop. Downtown shop windows host the Main Street StoryWalk®, turning the whole business district into a read-along adventure.
It’s the kind of creative programming that makes libraries relevant even as digital content explodes. Ya can’t get this experience staring at a screen at home.
When you crunch the numbers, Northwoods libraries deliver remarkable value. Tomahawk’s 28,000 visits over two years from a town of 3,500 means many folks return multiple times. They’re not just borrowing books — they’re attending programs, using computers for job searches, accessing veteran services, or simply finding a quiet place to work.
As part of the Wisconsin Valley Library Service network spanning 35-plus libraries, local branches provide access to digital tools like Libby for ebooks, BadgerLink for research, and Ancestry for genealogy. Resources that would cost hundreds of dollars individually become free with a library card.
For families watching every dollar, that matters. For seniors on fixed incomes trying to stay connected, it’s essential. For students without home internet, it’s often the difference between keeping up with homework and falling behind.
This February, as National Library Lover’s Month reminds us what libraries mean, the Northwoods already knows. They’re not just buildings full of books. They’re proof that small communities can punch above their weight when they invest in spaces that bring people together.
Next time you drive past your local library, maybe stop in. Grab that free state park pass, browse the new releases, or just say thanks to the folks keeping these vital spaces running. They’re working hard to make sure the next chapter of Northwoods life includes everyone.
Written by
Mike has been coming up or living in the Northwoods since his childhood. He is also an avid outdoorsman, writer and supper club aficionado.
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