Udemy will be discontinued on December 31, 2026.

Bridges Library System member libraries will discontinue access to the Udemy online learning platform on December 31, 2026. 

This decision was made after reviewing systemwide usage and costs over the last three years and determining that the cost of the service outweighs the number of active users across the library system. Member libraries regularly evaluate online resources to ensure library services remain sustainable and responsive to community needs. 

We hope this advance notice provides enough time to complete any courses already in progress. If you have questions or would like help exploring other library resources, please contact your local library.

Have you tried our new catalog?

On September 2, the Library transitioned to an exciting new catalog! This catalog offers several impressive new features, including a mobile-friendly design and search results that display multiple formats of a title together in one place. We expect that learning to use it will be a breeze, but we’ve created an instructional brochure and a video guide that can help you get started. If you have questions, give us a call or swing by the Library. We’re happy to help, and we hope you enjoy this new catalog experience.

Hoopla was discontinued on November 13.

Waukesha Public Library is committed to fiscal responsibility and ensuring sustainable services for all patrons. In response to the growing demand for digital materials both at our library and throughout the library system, we have conducted a comprehensive review of digital borrowing trends and performed a budget analysis. 

We are focusing our funding on the continued development of our robust digital collections within the Libby app, which includes access to digital books, audiobooks, and magazines. The hoopla service was discontinued on November 13, 2025. 

It was determined that hoopla’s pay-per-checkout model has become unsustainable, consuming a disproportionate share of resources while serving a limited percentage of patrons. By focusing on the Libby app, we aim to continue delivering high-quality digital content effectively to a wider audience without compromising the sustainability of our library’s resources. 

We appreciate your understanding and want to assure you that our commitment to providing excellent digital services remains a priority. We encourage patrons to explore ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines through the Libby app. Additionally, patrons are invited to explore other digital resources available with your CAFÉ library card. 

For any questions or assistance in accessing our digital resources, please do not hesitate to contact us. 

Explore our new digital resource – LOTE4Kids

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!

Explore Udemy courses and Libby magazines.

Bridges Library System member libraries will no longer have access to Flipster or Gale Courses after January 1–but never fear! You can still access digital classes and magazines with your library card using Udemy and Libby. 😊 Udemy offers on-demand video learning courses, in more than 75 categories, that can be accessed anytime, anywhere. Need to kick back with a magazine? Libby offers digital access to over 4,000 popular titles. Make exploring Udemy’s free courses and Libby’s digital magazine collection a priority in 2024!