Beyond the Bookshelf: How McKenzie County Library has become a local destination
M.K. French
Farmer Staff Writer
The days of the “grab and go” library visit are fading in McKenzie County, replaced by a new era of community engagement and extended stays.
During the March 3 Board of Commissioners meeting, Library Director Irene Sealy presented a comprehensive 2025 year-in-review, highlighting an exciting new shift in how residents interact with the library. The data suggests that the facility is no longer merely a warehouse for books; it’s a thriving social hub.
The most striking metric shared by Sealy involved the average duration of patron visits. By introducing more “passive activities,” engagements that allow users to interact with the space at their own pace, the library has successfully encouraged people to linger. “When people come in, they’re now averaging a visit time of 45 minutes to an hour,” Sealy told the board. “Before, they would just come in, grab books and leave.” This increase in dwell time marks a significant victory for the library’s strategic plan to foster a more welcoming environment. Sealy emphasized that the shift was intentional, aiming to move away from the transactional nature of library services. “We’re creating a space where the library is not a quick stop, but now a destination,” she noted.
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