The Library will close at 4:00 PM on November 21.

Waukesha Public Library will close at 4:00 PM on November 21 in honor of the dedication ceremony for the Waukesha Parade Memorial at Grede Park. The ceremony begins at 4:39 PM.

More information about the ceremony is available HERE.

The Library will resume regular hours on Friday, November 22.

The Library is seeking to expand our Public Art Collection.

Waukesha Public Library is seeking to expand our Public Art Collection as part of our vision to inspire and engage the community. The Library currently owns 40 pieces of local artwork and hopes to find the next exceptional piece to enhance the cultural and visual aesthetics of our building. Read this document for details about submitting a proposal.

Hoopla Update

Beginning May 1, all libraries in the Bridges Library System will be reducing the number of Hoopla checkouts to two items per month. We know that Hoopla is popular, but the costs for offering it surpass our budget limitations. Reducing the number of checkouts was the best way to control the cost while still offering the service. Here are some other options for getting popular ebooks, audiobooks, and movies:

  1. Libby – Libby is the reading app by OverDrive and is loved by millions of readers worldwide. Borrow ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and more with your library card. Use it on your personal computer or on a mobile device. Libby works much like your local library, so some titles will have a holds list.
  2. Hoopla’s Bonus Borrows – Hoopla now offers “Bonus Borrows” the last seven days of each month. They’re a way for you to access additional content when you may have already met your borrowing limit. Use them in addition to your two monthly items.

For more information, please see the Bridges Library System website.

Waukesha Public Library receives the “Partnering for a Purpose” award.

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.

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!

Tax Payment Box

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.

 

Share your story with StoryCorps

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.

 

Horwitz-DeRemer Planetarium Explore Pass

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.

Our Audio & Video Recording Studios are open!

Looking for a space where you can film a video, record a podcast, or use editing software? Our Audio & Video Recording Studios are now open for training!

For more information, contact our Makerspace Coordinator at 262-524-3746.