Olmsted County Library Funding Update
October 2026
In August 2026, Library staff provided Olmsted County leadership with a proposal for Payment for Services totaling $129,797 in an effort to maintain library services.
On Sept. 15, Olmsted County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved funding of $61,430, ensuring bookmobile service to Byron, Dover-Eyota, and Oronoco through 2027. However, the Board declined funding of $68,367, meaning access to digital collections for rural Olmsted County residents will be reduced.
Impacts to rural Olmsted County residents
Costs for libraries continue to rise. Due to funding changes, rural Olmsted County residents can expect the following adjustments to services in 2027
Bookmobile service to Byron, Dover-Eyota, and Oronoco will continue through 2027
- In the last year, 66% of the visitors to these stops came from rural Olmsted County
- In general, 24% of Bookmobile circulation comes from rural Olmsted County residents
Access to digital content will be reduced
Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, access to digital collections will be reduced for rural Olmsted County residents. The following adjustments to services will happen in 2027
|
Digital service |
Current digital access |
Digital access starting Jan. 1, 2027 |
| Overdrive/Libby | Ability to place holds on RPL digital eBooks and eAudiobooks | No longer able to place new holds on RPL items |
| Ability to checkout digital magazines through RPL Overdrive/Libby | No access to digital magazines | |
| Able to access the full RPL digital collection (including specific lease types) | Reduced access to RPL digital collection | |
| Kanopy | Access to streaming video | No access to streaming video |
| ComicsPlus | Access to digital comics for all ages | Continued access to digital comics through 2027 |
| Additional Rochester online resources | Identical access as City of Rochester residents | Contracts and access will be reviewed over the coming years based on available budget — impact unknown at this time |
Rural Olmsted County residents will continue to have full access to RPL’s physical collection.
- 9.8% of Overdrive/digital circulation comes from rural Olmsted County residents, which increases to 12% when adding circulation from residents of Pine Island, Stewartville, Chatfield, and St. Charles
-
In 2025, rural county residents borrowed 64,090 titles from Overdrive/Libby. If those were individually purchased, it would cost an estimated $833,170*.
- Since the start of 2026, RPL has offered Kanopy streaming video. Through July 31, 487 titles have been borrowed by rural county residents. If those were individually purchased, they would cost an estimated $1,948*.
Provide Feedback
Reach out to your county commissioner to provide feedback.
* Average cost of e-book for individuals is $13, according to a recent article from
the American Library Association: Leading Public Library Groups Call for E-book Action | ALA
* Estimated cost of streaming video is $4 per title, according to the
Library Value Calculator created by the Massachusetts Library Association