Karen Funk, Washakie County Public Library Director
Karen Funk is the Library Director of the Washakie County Public Library System with branches in Worland and Ten Sleep, Wyoming. Recently, the Ten Sleep Library Branch, which serves a community of about 260 people, received the National Medal for Museum and Library Service award; recognizing the library’s commitment to serving and supporting its community.
The Ten Sleep library not only serves the local residents but also serves as the local school library for Washakie County School District #2. Over the summer months, the Ten Sleep library serves as a community hub for seasonal workers and recreators who tap into the library’s high-speed Wi-Fi to stay connected with their work, friends, and families.
The Washakie County Library in Worland is also a host site for the Public Access Tele-Health Space (PATHS) initiative, which provides community members with a private meeting space where users can host telehealth appointments, and access their health information such as flyers on medical-mental and physical-information. The library hosted an open house in January 2026 to introduce the booth and help community members learn more about how they can use it. On top of having this booth there is also a blood pressure cuff that is in the booths area that community members can check out.
Over the last few years, the Washakie County Public Library has undergone an exciting transformation in recent years. In 2021, it moved into a former hardware store, which the community remodeled into a welcoming and accessible library space. The move brought new energy to the library as evidenced by an increase in library card registrations. In 2025, the library expanded again, adding more space for its children’s section.
Bringing Telehealth to a Rural Community
Like many rural communities in Wyoming, Ten Sleep can become isolated during the winter months, making travel particularly difficult for residents. These challenges were one of the reasons the library was interested in bringing a PATHS booth mobile laptop desk unit to the community. This can be used in their small conference room for added privacy. The library system first learned about PATHS booths at the Wyoming Library Association conference and saw an opportunity to provide an important service close to home.
“We are very proud to have this addition in our library and hope we can inspire the community to think first about using it before traveling to out-of-town doctor appointments,” Karen said.
Reliable internet access can also be a challenge in rural communities, making local libraries an important resource for residents who may not have internet access at home. Because libraries provide free access to technology and other services, Karen believes that having a telehealth booth is a valuable addition to the community.
Building Strong Community Partnerships
Karen also emphasized the importance of building partnerships with other organizations and community groups to help connect residents with the resources available to them.
“Although it is easy to reach out to businesses and civic groups to share the opportunity of the PATHS booth at the library, don’t forget partnerships with public health, senior centers, victims of violence, food pantries, diaper banks and others who have direct hands-on contact with those less privileged,” Karen said.
These partnerships can help libraries reach people who may benefit most from services like telehealth. Karen also encourages libraries to look for grant opportunities and other resources that can help strengthen community connections.
Spreading the Word About Telehealth
Education and outreach are also important parts of introducing a new service to the community. Karen believes that people need to hear about the services available to them and understand how those services can make a difference.
“People need to hear about the services, share info with their friends, and then it just expands naturally,” Karen said. “Not everyone has Facebook, newspapers, computers, etc. Learn how one receives their information. All age levels are different in how they obtain local information.”
While the library cannot force people to use the services it offers, Karen believes it can continue to inform residents and remind them that these resources are available. The library regularly promotes the PATHS booth, but encouraging residents to try telehealth has still been a challenge.
Many people in the community continue to prefer seeing their doctors in person. However, Karen believes that increased availability of telehealth appointments from health care providers could encourage more people to give the libraries telehealth options a try.
A Resource for Everyone
For community members who may feel uncertain about using a telehealth booth, Karen wants them to know that they do not have to be tech-savvy to use the service. Library staff are available to help residents navigate the technology, even if they have never used a computer or mouse before. Residents can also feel confident knowing that their private information remains private while using the booth.
The Washakie County Public Library System is proud to bring the PATHS booth to its community and continue finding new ways to connect residents with valuable resources and services.
Congratulations to the Ten Sleep Library on winning the National Medal for Museum and Library Service award! If you are in the Washakie County area, stop by and explore all the wonderful things the library branches have to offer. For more information about the library and its PATHS booth, visit its website here.
