Little Chute Public Library
🏢 OWLSnet / Gerard H. Van Hoof Civic Center · Little Chute, Wisconsin
Little Chute Public Library
Named for the Gerard H. Van Hoof Civic Center in which it is housed, the Little Chute Public Library serves one of the oldest Dutch Catholic settlements in the American Midwest — a village founded in 1848 when Father Theodore J. Van den Broek brought three ships of immigrants from the Netherlands to Wisconsin's Fox River valley. Today the library sits at 625 Grand Avenue and is part of OWLSnet, the northeast Wisconsin library consortium whose shared InfoSoup catalog represents 50 public libraries in the region.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–7pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–7pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–7pm |
| Thursday | 9am–7pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–1pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 625 Grand Ave., Little Chute, WI 54140
Phone: (920) 788-7825
Website: littlechutelibrary.org
Plus Code: 86PH7MJM+8Q (Little Chute, WI)
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📖 About Little Chute Public Library
Little Chute is a village immediately east of Appleton in Outagamie County, Wisconsin, whose name derives from the French 'petite chute' (little falls) referring to rapids in the Fox River — a feature that attracted French explorers and fur traders centuries before the village was settled. The modern European history of Little Chute begins in 1848 when Father Theodore J. Van den Broek led three ships of Dutch Roman Catholic immigrants from the Netherlands to the Fox River valley, establishing one of the most concentrated Dutch communities in the United States. The Little Chute Public Library, housed in the Gerard H. Van Hoof Civic Center at 625 Grand Avenue, serves this close-knit community with a fine-free lending policy and a strong Library of Things collection. The library belongs to OWLSnet, the northeast Wisconsin consortium of public libraries whose InfoSoup catalog covers 50 member libraries, giving every Little Chute cardholder access to the full Fox Valley regional collection as well as Wisconsin's statewide BadgerLink databases and Libby digital library.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Located in Little Chute, founded in 1848 as one of the oldest Dutch Catholic settlements in the Midwest — a heritage still celebrated with a working windmill landmark
- Housed in the Gerard H. Van Hoof Civic Center at 625 Grand Ave; meeting rooms in the civic center hall are available to the community
- Fine-free library — no overdue fines on most materials
- Library of Things: board games, video games, and other unique lending items beyond books
- OWLSnet member: one card searches 50 public libraries across northeast Wisconsin via InfoSoup
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Your Little Chute library card connects you to free digital learning and entertainment through OWLSnet and Wisconsin's statewide resources:
📚 Services
- Free library card — valid at all 50 OWLSnet member libraries in northeast Wisconsin
- InfoSoup shared catalog (infosoup.info) — search and request across the full Fox Valley network
- Fine-free lending policy (no overdue fines on most materials)
- Library of Things: board games, video games and more for checkout
- Public internet access and free Wi-Fi
- Printing, copying and faxing
- Meeting rooms in the Gerard H. Van Hoof Civic Center
- Interlibrary loan for items outside OWLSnet
- Home delivery for homebound patrons
- Fox Valley Literacy tutoring partnerships (tutors meet on site)
🎸 Programs
- Tiny Tulips: infant storytime
- Mini Cloggers: toddler storytime with movement
- Little Windmills: preschool storytime for ages 4–6
- Craft Circle for adults
- Comic Club
- Teen Advisory Board
- Yoga classes
- Summer reading program for all ages
- Seasonal community events organized with the Friends of the Library
📍 Nearby Libraries in Northeast Wisconsin
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Little Chute · Browse all Wisconsin libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Little Chute called the 'Little Falls' village, and what is its Dutch heritage?
The name comes from the French 'petite chute,' referring to small rapids in the Fox River. French explorers used the name before European settlement. In 1848, Father Theodore J. Van den Broek brought three ships of Dutch Roman Catholic immigrants from the Netherlands to the Fox River valley, and most settled in Little Chute. The village became one of the most distinctively Dutch communities in the United States, a heritage still visible in its windmill landmark and community festivals.
What is the Library of Things at Little Chute Public Library?
The Library of Things is a lending collection that goes beyond traditional books, DVDs and CDs. At Little Chute it includes board games, video games and other non-traditional items that patrons can borrow just like any library material. It reflects a nationwide trend in public libraries to lend objects useful for recreation, learning and daily life.
Does Little Chute Public Library charge overdue fines?
No. The Little Chute Public Library is fine-free, meaning patrons do not incur overdue charges on most materials. This policy removes a common barrier to library use, particularly for families and young people.
What is OWLSnet, and how does it connect me to other Fox Valley libraries?
OWLSnet is the cooperative of public libraries in northeast Wisconsin. The consortium's shared catalog is called InfoSoup (infosoup.info) and represents 50 public libraries. With your Little Chute card you can search all member collections in one place and request items from any participating library for pickup at your home branch.
🧰 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 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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