Siouxland Libraries Celebrates 30 Years of its Mission, Community

Published on April 30, 2025

Library 30th Anniversary

This year, Siouxland Libraries is celebrating its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of providing access to information, fostering literacy, and serving Minnehaha County and Sioux Falls.

The Siouxland Libraries system was created in 1995 by merging the Minnehaha County and City of Sioux Falls library operations. This merger established a strong foundation for regional library services, currently serving more than 255,000 people in nine communities.

“For 30 years, Siouxland Libraries has been dedicated to connecting people in Sioux Falls and Minnehaha County with the stories and information they need,” said Jodi Fick, Director of Siouxland Libraries. “As we celebrate this milestone, we look back with pride on how the library has grown and evolved to meet the changing needs of our community.”

Siouxland Libraries has experienced growth and innovation to adapt to the community’s needs since 1995. Here’s a snapshot of that expansion from 1995 to 2024:

  • The library system has grown from 11 branch locations in 1995 to 13 today.
  • The population Siouxland Libraries serves increased from 124,915 in 1995 to 250,551 in 2024.
  • The collection size was 359,635 in 1995, compared to 316,484 in 2024, reflecting a shift towards digital resources.
  • Annual circulation has risen from 1.1 million in 1995 to 2.1 million in 2024.
  • Bookmobile services have evolved from three bookmobiles and one outreach van in 1995 to a single, modern bookmobile today.

To celebrate this milestone, Siouxland Libraries will host a variety of events and activities throughout the summer, kicking off with Pack the Library Day on May 31. Siouxland Libraries will also have a collectible 30th anniversary aluminum bookmark for sale at all branches starting May 31.

“We invite everyone to join us as we celebrate this special occasion and aim to reach a total of 2,025 visitors across library branches on May 31,” said Amy Larsen, Oak View Branch Librarian. “We have a variety of activities planned at each branch for Pack the Library Day. If the library has played a role in your life, we encourage you to visit your local branch and participate in Pack the Library Day.”

Find more information about Siouxland Libraries’ history, events, and merchandise at siouxlandlib.org/30th-anniversary.

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