From 3D Printers to Crisis Care: Wyoming Libraries Are Way More Than Books Now

The original story by Dale Killingbeck for Cowboy State Daily.

The image of a librarian quietly stamping due dates is long gone — especially in Wyoming.

Today’s librarians are tech guides, community connectors and, at times, de-facto social workers. That reality plays out every day at the Natrona County Library, where staff do far more than check out books or recommend a good read.

Need help filming a commercial with a green screen? Want to 3D-print a project? Have a tele-health appointment but nowhere private to do it? The library has you covered. Staff can even help people navigate passports, borrow state park passes or check out unusual items like radon detectors from the library’s growing “library of things.”

And that’s just the technical side.

Library workers also spend a lot of time working with people who are homeless or struggling with mental illness — helping connect them with local resources, offering guidance, or sometimes just providing a calm, respectful interaction.

“It’s a lot of hats,” said library Executive Director Lisa Scroggins. “Libraries really exist to help empower people to be the best they can be. That’s a wonderfully diverse role.”

In fiscal year 2025, the Natrona County Public Library recorded more than 236,000 in-person visits, plus another 14,600 residents reached through outreach stops and programs.

“We get a lot of people walking through this building,” Scroggins said. “Our annual traffic competes with the Ford Wyoming Center. They get people in bursts. We get consistent visitors all the time.”

The four-level building includes spaces for children, teens and adults, along with DVDs, video games and creative workspaces. Outside, library vans — including a bookmobile — take services directly into Casper neighborhoods and facilities each week.

Because the library sits just steps from a major bus transfer point, staff frequently interact with people experiencing homelessness. All 34 employees receive trauma-informed communication training, focusing on respectful tone, clear expectations and patience.

“A person living in trauma may not process social rules the same way,” Scroggins said. “Sometimes it’s just very clear communication about what’s expected.”

To increase safety, the library added indoor and outdoor security in recent years, upgraded lighting and monitors the parking lot and nearby bus stop. While some community members worry the library functions as a shelter, Scroggins pushes back.

“If people are following the rules, their right to use library services is no different than anyone else’s,” she said.

Casper resident Christian Fritzler, arriving from the bus stop, said the library fills an important role.

“It’s a place to warm up, to socialize, to learn,” he said. “It’s just a place to relax.”

That expanded mission isn’t unique to Casper. Libraries across Wyoming are leaning hard into their role as community hubs.

At the Teton County Library, kids recently dropped off stuffed animals for an overnight “sleepover.” In Cheyenne, the Laramie County Library has hosted guitar workshops, concerts, writing clubs and lunchtime talks tied to local theater productions.

Back in Casper, the Natrona County Library is investing heavily in teens, thanks to a $35,000 grant aimed at reshaping teen spaces — potentially adding study areas, gaming zones or other ideas teens themselves request.

The library’s Creation Station is another draw, offering 3D printers, sewing machines, Cricut vinyl cutters and laser engravers. Classes help patrons learn new skills — and connect with each other.

“When people come here, they’re not just learning how to make something,” Scroggins said. “They’re building relationships.”

Even health care has found a home at the library. A private telemedicine booth allows patrons to meet virtually with providers anywhere in the state, complete with medical equipment and strong privacy protections.

Despite lingering post-pandemic changes, the library still counts more than 28,000 active cardholders — about 36% of Natrona County’s population — and continues to expand programming and partnerships.

“Communities don’t thrive if people don’t connect,” Scroggins said. “Helping people come together — that’s a big part of what we do now.”

In Wyoming, the modern library isn’t just about books. It’s about people — and meeting them where they are.