Waukesha Public Library
🏢 Bridges Library System · Waukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha Public Library
Waukesha Public Library, open seven days a week in a 71,566-square-foot campus at the center of "The Spring City," traces its roots to an 1896 home library and its landmark 1904 Carnegie building — Wisconsin's 16th Andrew Carnegie–funded library — and today houses Studio 321, a public makerspace with 3D printers, a Glowforge laser cutter and audio/video studios.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8:30pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8:30pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8:30pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8:30pm |
| Friday | 9am–6pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | 1pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 321 Wisconsin Avenue, Waukesha, WI 53186
Phone: (262) 524-3680
Website: waukeshapubliclibrary.org
Plus Code: 86MH2Q58+VV (Waukesha, WI)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Waukesha Public Library
Waukesha Public Library has been a cornerstone of Waukesha County's largest city since it was "established in a local home in 1896" and moved into its Carnegie-funded building in 1904 — Wisconsin's 16th library built with Andrew Carnegie's philanthropy. Situated in Cutler Park at the geographic center of Waukesha, the library spans 71,566 square feet across six additions and renovations completed in 1988, 2005, 2010 and most recently 2022. The library serves Waukesha, the county seat of Waukesha County and the seventh-most populous city in Wisconsin with about 71,000 residents — a city that earned the Victorian-era nicknames "Spring City" and "Saratoga of the West" for its celebrated natural mineral springs. In 2026 the Carnegie Corporation of New York recognized this heritage with a $10,000 gift. Part of the Bridges Library System, the library offers full seven-day service, a community makerspace called Studio 321, a Library of Things, an extensive digital collection and the Waukesha Reads community-wide reading program.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Open 7 days a week with evening hours until 8:30 p.m. Monday–Thursday — one of Wisconsin's most accessible public libraries
- 1904 Carnegie building — Wisconsin's 16th Carnegie library — recently received a $10,000 Carnegie Corporation gift
- Studio 321 makerspace: 3D printers, Glowforge laser cutter, Cricut Maker vinyl cutter and audio/video studios
- 71,566-square-foot campus in Cutler Park at the geographic center of Waukesha, with a 360-degree virtual tour online
- Part of the Bridges Library System — cardholders access digital resources including Libby, hoopla, NewsBank and Consumer Reports
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Waukesha Public Library cardholders stream, download and research free through Bridges Library System digital resources:
📚 Services
- Studio 321 makerspace: 3D printers, Glowforge laser cutter, Cricut Maker, audio & video studios
- Library of Things — borrow board games, tools, crafts, electronics and outdoor equipment
- Public computers, free Wi-Fi and wireless printing
- Meeting and study room reservations
- Interlibrary loan through the Bridges Library System
- Test proctoring service
- Outreach services for homebound residents
- 360-degree virtual library tour online
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytime and early literacy programming
- Teen programs and events
- Waukesha Reads — citywide community reading program
- Reading is Lit adult reading challenge
- Book discussion groups (Thursday Night Thrills and others)
- Craft Supply Swap and community craft events
📍 Nearby Libraries in Waukesha County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Waukesha · Browse all Wisconsin libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is Studio 321 at Waukesha Public Library?
Studio 321 is the library's public makerspace, named for the library's address at 321 Wisconsin Avenue. It offers access to 3D printers, a Glowforge laser cutter, a Cricut Maker vinyl cutter and audio and video recording studios. Individual and small-group training is available upon request through the Studio 321 Supervisor. The space is open weekday afternoons and evenings and generally the second weekend of the month from September through May.
Why is the 1904 Waukesha Public Library building historically significant?
The 1904 building was funded by industrialist Andrew Carnegie, making Waukesha the site of Wisconsin's 16th Carnegie library. Carnegie-funded libraries were transformational for American public access to books in the early 20th century, and Waukesha's Carnegie building — now expanded to 71,566 square feet — remains at the heart of the library campus. In 2026, the Carnegie Corporation of New York awarded the library a $10,000 gift recognizing this heritage.
Is the library open on Sundays?
Yes. Waukesha Public Library is open Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Full Monday–Thursday hours run 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What is Waukesha Reads?
Waukesha Reads is a citywide community reading program organized by the Waukesha Public Library. It brings residents together around a shared reading experience, supplemented by author events, discussions and related programming. Visit waukeshareads.org for current titles and events.
🧰 This library lends a “Library of Things.” See what you can borrow besides books and find other libraries with a Library of Things Library of Things by state.
🔨 This library has a makerspace / 3D printing. See how library makerspaces and 3D printing work and find other libraries with a makerspace makerspaces by state.
📚 This library has study rooms. See how library study rooms work — booking, time limits and quiet vs group rooms — and find other libraries with study rooms libraries with study rooms by state.
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