The renovated Appleton Public Library is seen Feb. 11, 2025, four days before its grand reopening. PC: Fox 11 Online
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — On the second floor of the Appleton Public Library, in a quiet section with few crowds, lives the new “No Questions Asked” section.
“It’s a collection of materials, primarily books, on topics of mental health, substance abuse, grief. Various topics that we know people are struggling with,” said Library Director Colleen Rortvedt.
The collection includes an overdose aid kit — or OAK box — as well as information on hotlines and local resources. Each book also comes with a bookmark with information on 211.
Rortvedt said the goal of the section is to reduce the stigma around asking for help.
“It creates the ability that support is out there, and your community is trying to help you,” she said. “And then doing it in a way where you can do it on your own terms. You’re in the library, you’re just doing your own thing.”
The new collection was funded by United Way Fox Cities. The books don’t need to be checked out or returned, letting community members seek resources while maintaining their privacy.
“People can take the items and keep them, and keep them as their own,” Rortvedt said. “Or pass them off to somebody else who they think is going to benefit from the materials as well.”
United Way Fox Cities President and CEO Lisa Kogan-Praska said this is the first collection of its kind in the area. For now, it’s just a trial run.
“First start and see how this goes, right? And understand, is this a valuable way for people to access information? Take some time, evaluate that, but certainly we’re open to saying, ‘If this is what the community needs, how can we support that?’” Kogan-Praska said.
The new collection is available during normal library hours.
The new section in the library is the latest addition to health resources in the Fox Valley. Outagamie County opened a public health vending machine last year inside the Outagamie County Courthouse.
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