HOWARD, Wis. — Amy Greatens never knows who she’ll be helping, or what she’ll be helping them with.

That’s what the library service associate at the Weyers-Hilliard library branch near Green Bay loves about her job.

“It’s always something, and that’s part of the fun,” she said. “I never know what I’m going to get when I’m up here, which sometimes is a little scary because you never know what questions people are going to ask, but it’s also great because I can help so many different people.”

Greatens may help someone find a book or offering patrons the tools needed to fill out an online job application.

Or cake pans.

“Our location houses our cake pan collection. You can actually check out cake pans,” she said. “We have board games you can check out, which is something we started less than a year ago.”

The county’s library system is working with $20 million of sales tax revenue set aside by the county board to update five facilities.

Library Executive Director Sarah Sugden said that includes everything from renovating, expanding and moving four locations — Ashwaubenon, Denmark, East Green Bay and Pulaski — to things like updating the heating and cooling system at the central downtown library.

“We know libraries all over the country are investing in their libraries through lessons learned during COVID, but really understating the need to invest in these public spaces that really build community and to eliminate barriers for people to connect with opportunity and their community,” she said.

The system is also pursing an $8 million naming rights initiative for technology, meeting areas and art.

“We know the library providing those services, in terms of internet connectivity and access to computers and printing, have been really essential,” Sugden said about the past two years. “Two, we know folks need places to be together as a community.”

Greatens said investment in the libraries will allow her and other staff to bring more services and products to the community.

“Technology. It’s a big part of everyone’s life, so a lot more of those digital resources might become available,” she said. “It’s something we’re always looking to add to.”