Carnegie-Schadde Memorial Public Library
🏢 South Central Library System · Baraboo, Wisconsin
Carnegie-Schadde Memorial Public Library
A 1903 Carnegie building on the National Register of Historic Places, the Carnegie-Schadde Memorial Public Library serves Baraboo — gateway to Devil's Lake — with extended evening hours four nights a week and a freshly renovated interior that blends original red-oak woodwork with modern library services.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–6pm |
| Saturday | 9am–12pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 230 Fourth Ave., Baraboo, WI 53913
Phone: (608) 356-6166
Website: csmpl.org
Plus Code: 86MGF7C3+9Q (Baraboo, WI)
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📖 About Carnegie-Schadde Memorial Public Library
The Carnegie-Schadde Memorial Public Library was chartered by Wisconsin in 1895, and in 1902 Andrew Carnegie granted the city $15,000 to construct a permanent home at 230 Fourth Avenue. The neoclassical brick-and-limestone building, designed by Madison architects Claude and Starck, opened in 1903 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 14, 1981. Inside, red-oak woodwork and a Donatello Cantoria frieze in the east reading room survive from the original construction. In 2021 a $2.5 million gift from Juanita Schadde and her family launched a major renovation and expansion, prompting the library's renaming in their honor. The library belongs to the South Central Library System (SCLS), giving every cardholder access to shared resources across south-central Wisconsin and statewide digital content through BadgerLink.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1981 — original 1903 neoclassical brick-and-limestone building by Claude & Starck of Madison
- Red-oak woodwork and a Donatello Cantoria frieze in the east reading room survive from the Carnegie-era interior
- Renamed in 2021 following a $2.5 million Schadde family gift that funded a full renovation and expansion
- Evening hours Monday–Thursday until 8 pm, making it accessible after school and work
- Member of the South Central Library System — one card opens shared collections across south-central Wisconsin
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Every Carnegie-Schadde cardholder can stream, download and research free through Wisconsin's statewide and SCLS digital collections:
📚 Services
- Free public computers, printing and Wi-Fi
- Exam proctoring service
- Mobile printing from personal devices
- Interlibrary loan through the South Central Library System
- Homebound delivery program
- Reference and reader's advisory assistance
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes and youth programming
- Teen events and book clubs
- Adult programs and author events
- Summer reading challenge for all ages
- Community meeting room available for reservation
📍 Nearby Libraries in Sauk County & South-Central Wisconsin
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called the Carnegie-Schadde Memorial Public Library?
The library has two name sources: steel magnate Andrew Carnegie donated $15,000 in 1902 to build the original structure, and the Schadde family name was added in 2021 to honor a $2.5 million donation from Juanita Schadde and her family that funded the library's full renovation and expansion.
Is the building truly historic, and what is the Donatello frieze?
Yes — the 1903 neoclassical building at 230 Fourth Avenue has been on the National Register of Historic Places since September 1981. The Donatello Cantoria frieze is a plaster reproduction of Donatello's famous 15th-century marble singing gallery that decorates the east reading room, which served as the original children's room.
How late is the library open during the week?
The library stays open until 8 pm Monday through Thursday, making it easy to visit after school or work. Friday hours run 9 am to 6 pm, Saturday 9 am to noon, and the library is closed on Sundays.
Can I get a library card if I live outside Baraboo city limits?
Yes. Sauk County residents outside Baraboo city limits can obtain a card at no cost. Non-residents from outside Sauk County may be eligible under reciprocal borrowing agreements through the South Central Library System — contact the library at (608) 356-6166 for details.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
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