Thanks to two generous library champions — Tony & Andrea Bryant and the Donald J. and Betty Lou Tikalsky Community Fund — your gift to the Library can go twice as far! They’ve offered a $20,000 matching gift, but we need your help to unlock it. Every dollar you give will be doubled to support Waukesha Public Library. Click HERE to make your matched donation through the Waukesha Public Library fund.

The Journey of Dragons Challenge runs through August 29! This summer, Bridges Library System is sponsoring a system-wide activity for patrons called Journey of Dragons: A Library Challenge. Similar to last year’s challenge, it invites participants to visit multiple libraries, collect stamps, and earn entries to win exciting prizes. Rewards include $50 gift cards to local businesses across Waukesha and Jefferson counties—such as bookstores, restaurants, and family-friendly attractions. Prize drawings will take place in June, July, and August. You can pick up your map at either of WPL’s service desks.

Step inside Waukesha Public Library from the comfort of home! Curious where storytime happens? Want to get a glimpse inside Studio 321? You can see it all on our 360-degree virtual tour. It’s the perfect way to get to know us better–whether you’re planning your first visit or just want to explore. Click HERE and start your virtual stroll through our state-of-the-art facility today.

Is it your lucky day? It might be! Waukesha Public Library has retired our Rental Collection and replaced it with a Lucky Day Collection. The Lucky Day Collection contains a variety of very popular Library materials with long waiting lists. If you find something you’d like, it’s your lucky day!

Here are the guidelines:

• Lucky Day items are FREE! ☘️
• Two Lucky Day items may be checked out per card.
• Lucky Day items check out for 7 days at a time.
• You cannot place holds on Lucky Day items, and we won’t hold them at the desk. You can only get them from the Lucky Day shelf.
• Because these items are very popular, you cannot renew Lucky Day items.
• Overdue fines are $1.00/day.
• Each item from the Lucky Day collection is labeled with a green clover sticker on the spine and a green sticker with the guidelines on the cover.

We hope it will be your lucky day sometime soon!

The Lucky Day Collection replaced the Rental Collection in the Library lobby.

The Library was recently awarded the “Partnering for a Purpose” award from Literacy Services of Wisconsin. This award goes to an organization that “enhances the opportunities afforded to our students by combining and maximizing resources.”

From the award ceremony program:

“The Waukesha Public Library has been connected to our mission for decades through the Greater Waukesha Literacy Council. As a library, they are a champion of community and learning. We have always appreciated their willingness to share their space and serve as a location for students and tutors to gather. In the last couple of years, we have enhanced our partnership to better align with our respective goals and integrate programming in a way that creates the best outcomes for adult students in Waukesha County.”

Thank you to Literacy Services of Wisconsin for this great honor.

The Library has added LOTE4Kids to our digital resource collection. LOTE4Kids was developed for libraries and schools to grow their World Language picture book collections and support kids learning a new language. Together, let’s give ALL children the opportunity to enjoy books and learn language through the magic of storytelling. Explore LOTE4Kids today!

The City of Waukesha has placed a tax payment box outside the Library near our outdoor return. If you choose to make your tax payment at the Library, please place it into that box. We are not able to accept payment at our Public Services Desk or through our outdoor return. If payments aren’t placed in the tax payment box, we cannot guarantee that they will get to the City. Click HERE to see the full list of options for paying your property taxes.

Work with Waukesha Public Library and the Bridges Library System to record a story for your family and for generations to come. WPL has partnered with StoryCorps, a national oral history non-profit, to record and preserve community stories. With your permission, your story will also be shared with the Library of Congress! Learn more here: https://bridgeslibrarysystem.org/library-resources/storycorps/ or contact Kelly Davis at 262-524-3694 or kdavis@waukesha-wi.gov.

We have a new Explore Pass! Visit the stars in comfort with a pass to the Horwitz-DeRemer Planetarium. The pass checks out for three days and is good for up to 6 immediate family members. It is good for all public shows (not special events), which are typically on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Contact the Public Services Department for more information. 262-524-3684.