A new PBS Wisconsin social media series shines a light on the people behind Wisconsin's libraries and the vital role they play in their communities.
A new PBS Wisconsin social media series shines a light on the people behind Wisconsin’s libraries and the vital role they play in their communities.
This series, made possible with a grant from ITVS, led up to a National Library Week screening of the Independent Lens documentary The Librarians at Madison Public Library’s Pinney Library on April 21. The film, which has received several festival awards and was selected as a New York Times Critic’s Pick, explores how growing restrictions on library content are shaping communities across the country.
While The Librarians examines modern-day librarianship through a national lens, PBS Wisconsin’s social series aims to give viewers a closer look at what it’s like to be a librarian in Wisconsin today, and the difference librarians are making in their respective communities. To do so, the series tells the stories of three Wisconsin-based librarians: Abby Ryan, Tori Tiso and Rosemary Medrano.
“PBS Wisconsin shares stories from all across Wisconsin and its wonderful communities. At the center of almost every community is a library,” said Dulce Vlisides, Associate Director of Community Engagement & Impact at PBS Wisconsin. “We hope this series shines a bit of light on the incredible work librarians do for their communities.”
Across the six videos in the series, viewers learn why each of the featured librarians chose their career path, what a typical workday looks like for them and the role their workplaces play in enriching their communities, from providing accessible programming to connecting individuals with valuable resources.
“I would love for people to know that the library is there for them. It’s there for everybody,” said featured librarian Abby Ryan, Youth Services Librarian for Madison Public Library’s Central Library. “If you’re not using it, you’re missing out.”
Ryan, who started her career at the Madison Public Library in 2010, has worked as a librarian in the Madison community for 16 years. She shared that participating in PBS Wisconsin’s social series provided her with an opportunity to reflect on the role that libraries play in communities today – something she encourages all Wisconsinites to do.
“Pausing to reflect on librarianship in general, and on my work through this series, was a wonderful way to honor what libraries can do for communities,” she said. “There are a lot of creative and compassionate staff that keep our libraries going, and it is important to celebrate them!”
Click the images below to watch the videos!
When Texas lawmakers seek to review a list of books, librarians find themselves on the frontlines of a national battle. Across the U.S., librarians face the impact of uniting against library collection standards that include restrictions on race-related and LGBTQIA+ content. Drawing on historical context, The Librarians explores the broader implications for education and public life.
The Librarians is now available to stream on PBS Wisconsin Passport!
PBS Wisconsin is a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.
Passport
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Melissa Perry