We are very excited to share the awardees for this year’s Ideas to Action Fund!
The WiLS Board and staff had very hard decisions to make, sifting through intriguing and important ideas proposed by a record-breaking 64 public, academic, and K12 libraries as well as cultural and tribal organizations. We are honored to see the number of proposals grow year after year and that we can continue to invest in our members’ innovative and collaborative work.
And the nine 2025 Ideas to Action Fund awardees are….
Ashland High School Library and Makerspace, Anishinaabe Handcraft Literacy
Anishinaabe Handcraft Literacy will connect young makers with the tools, consumables, references, and guidance they need to fully engage in Anishinaabe handcrafts.
Burlington Public Library, Compassion Kits @ Your Library
Burlington Public Library will support individuals in their community experiencing homelessness by assembling and distributing Compassion Kits – backpacks containing hygiene items and essential supplies to address their immediate needs.
Chilton Elementary and Middle School Library, UNPLUG and CONNECT – Screen Free Week
Unplug and Connect/Screen Free Week will provide family fun, featuring hands-on makerspace activities, and other screen-free activities for fun and connection such as crafts with teachers and librarians, family dinner and game night, nature exploration, and a splash-filled swim night.
America’s Black Holocaust Museum, Expanding Access to Black History: Digitizing the Beckum-Stapleton Little League and ABHM Archival Collections
This project expands ABHM’s digitization efforts by preserving and sharing Black community history through the continued digitization of archival materials, in partnership with local organizations.
Edgerton Public Library, Monthly A1C and Blood Pressure Testing
Edgerton Public Library will provide free monthly A1C testing and blood pressure testing to members of the community, regardless of income or age.
Ho-Chunk Nation Museum and Cultural Center, Walls for Community Art Shows
Ho-Chunk Nation Museum and Cultural Center services 13 community areas of the tribe without a building, The purchase of portable art gallery walls will allow them to create exhibits by taking the walls to different communities.
Prairie Lakes Library System, Passport Packs: Check Out the World
Passport Packs are innovative, inclusive circulating kits that bring the world to young patrons through immersive, hands-on cultural experiences – featuring books, music, games, recipes and more – to foster awareness and appreciation of global traditions, languages, and lifestyles.
Racine Public Library, Racine Participatory Defense Hub
The Racine Participatory Defense Hub is an existing program which meets weekly at the library to help families and individuals in Racine County to empower participants to more effectively navigate the criminal justice system.
Ridgeland Area Library, Read, Paint, Quilt: A Celebration of Local Art
Ridgeland Public Library will host a colorful community art show and a fun barn quilt painting class where everyone can explore creativity and celebrate local art and history together.
We are so excited to see this work come to life! You, too, could be awarded up to $5000 for your next project through the WiLS Ideas to Action Fund – just look for the next application period to open in April 2026!
