Show your WPL love by sporting some of our logo merchandise, now available to purchase through our online store. From comfy apparel to fashionable accessories, there’s something for every Library fan. A portion of each purchase goes to the Friends of Waukesha Public Library. So, shop online, support the Library, and wear your WPL love with pride!
The Carnegie Corporation awards a $10,000 gift to WPL.
We’re excited to announce that Waukesha Public Library is receiving at $10,000 gift from the Carnegie Corporation of New York! Carnegie Libraries hold a special place in American history and in the hearts of generations of Americans. Between 1886 and 1917, Andrew Carnegie funded the construction of 1,681 libraries nationwide. Today about 1,280 are still serving their communities. Opened in 1904, Waukesha Public Library is one 63 Carnegie Libraries in Wisconsin built through this historic program. Many thanks to the Carnegie Corporation for their generous gift and support of our Library.
You can explore Carnegie Libraries across America on this interactive map: carnegie-libraries.carnegie.org.
Tax Forms & Tax Help
TAX HELP
AARP will be offering free tax preparation assistance at Waukesha Public Library on Thursdays from February 5 – April 9, 2026. Appointments are required.
You may begin scheduling appointments on January 17.
Appointments should be scheduled using this online form.
Once your appointment is scheduled, please stop at the Library’s Public Services Desk to pick up a pre-appointment packet. This packet must be picked up and completed prior to your appointment. If you have questions, call 262-290-3021 and leave a message.
TAX FORMS
Waukesha Public Library will be a distribution point for basic state and federal tax forms. Tax forms usually arrive near the end of January. Library staff members are not able to help you fill out or file your taxes, but they are happy to help you print any forms you may need. Printing charges of $0.15/page may apply.
Tax forms that will be available at Waukesha Public Library:
- 1040 and 1040 SR form and instructions (in English and in Spanish)
- H and H-EZ, including the Homestead Tax Credit form and instruction booklet
- Rent Certificate
- Wisconsin 1 form and instruction booklet
- Schedule AD form and instruction booklet
- Schedule M form and instruction booklet
- Schedule SB form and instruction booklet
- Schedule WD form and instruction booklet
- 1 NPR form and instruction booklet
To print or order Wisconsin or federal tax forms, visit the links or call the numbers listed below:
Wisconsin Tax Forms:
revenue.wi.gov
414-227-4000
Federal Tax Forms:
irs.gov
800-829-3676
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.
Take our virtual Library tour.
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.
WPL has added a Lucky Day collection!
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.
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!
