Serving as a hub for learning and connection, the Milwaukee Public Library offers community members access to a vast collection of materials and services.
The system, which consists of a central library and 13 branch locations, opened its new Martin Luther King Jr. Drive branch location on Sept. 6. Located in the Harambee neighborhood, the new branch is the third-largest in the system at 18,000 square feet, according to the Milwaukee Public Library.
Looking for a branch near you or to get your first library card? Here’s what you should know about Milwaukee Public Library system locations, services, programming and more.
Where are the public library branch locations in Milwaukee?
The Milwaukee Public Library has 14 branch locations, one of which is a drive up location where contactless materials pickup and returns are available.
Looking to find a library close to you? Here are the different branch locations in Milwaukee:
Central: 814 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Central Drive-Up (contactless curbside service): located on Eighth Street between Wells Street and Wisconsin Avenue
Atkinson: 1960 W. Atkinson Ave.
Bay View: 2566 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
Capitol: 3969 N. 74th St.
Center Street: 2727 W. Fond du Lac Ave.
Good Hope: 7715 W. Good Hope Road
Martin Luther King: 2901 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
Mitchell Street: 906 W. Historic Mitchell St.
Tippecanoe: 3912 S. Howell Ave.
Villard Square: 5190 N. 35th St.
Washington Park: 2121 N. Sherman Blvd.
Zablocki: 3501 W. Oklahoma Ave.
The Central Library, which opened its doors in 1898, is the main location for the Milwaukee Public Library system and serves as a both a resource library for the state and the administrative headquarters for the system. It holds the single largest public library collection of materials and media in Wisconsin.
How do you get a Milwaukee Public Library card?
To receive a free library card, Milwaukee County adults must show two forms of ID: one with proof of legal name and the other with proof of name and proof of Milwaukee County residence.
Teens, classified as patrons 15-17 years old, may get a library card of their own if they can provide two forms of ID, same as adults. If teens do not have proper ID, they can be accompanied by a parent or guardian who meet the ID requirements to obtain one.
Children under 15 may get their own library card as soon as they are able to print their first and last name, however, they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who can provide a signature indicating responsibility.
Residents from communities outside of Milwaukee County may apply for a fee card, which costs $100 annually and can be used to check out materials owned by the Milwaukee Public Library. Fee cards cannot be used for remote access of Milwaukee Public Library subscription databases.
You can register and renew your library card online. Once every two years you will be require to stop in and show proof of address to renew your card.
If you lose your library card, there is a $1 replacement fee and you will be required to show two forms of ID — one with name and one with name and current address. Worn or damaged cards can be replaced free of charge.
Your library card is valid at all public libraries in Milwaukee County.
What materials can you check out with your Milwaukee Public Library card?
With your library card, you can access more than two million books, magazines, government documents, e-books, audiobooks and DVDs in the Milwaukee Public Library collection.
Patrons 18 or older can check out circulating electronic devices which currently include mobile hotspots, portable internet devices and Chromebooks.
Additionally, library databases can be accessed 24/7 on any device with your library card and password (PIN).
What other services does the Milwaukee Public Library offer?
In addition to physical and digital materials, Milwaukee Public Library offers events, programs and classes for community members.
Some services include job search assistance, copy services and refugee and immigrant services for English language learners — which includes tutoring, digital literacy, citizenship classes and English conversation and reading hours.
A full programming calendar can be found here.
Anna Kleiber can be reached at akleiber@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about Milwaukee Public Library materials, services