Stoughton Public Library
🏢 South Central Library System · Stoughton, Wisconsin
Stoughton Public Library
Stoughton Public Library anchors the Norwegian-heritage capital of Wisconsin with a 31,000-square-foot facility steeped in history — from its 1874 founding to its Carnegie-era legacy and the Kvamme Local History Collection celebrating the city's Syttende Mai tradition.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 304 S. 4Th St., Stoughton, WI 53589
Phone: (608) 873-6281
Website: stoughtonpubliclibrary.org
Plus Code: 86JGWQ8J+HR (Stoughton, WI)
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📖 About Stoughton Public Library
Founded on March 17, 1874 — before Wisconsin statehood celebrations were commonplace — the Stoughton Public Library is one of the oldest public libraries in the state. The library applied to Andrew Carnegie for a grant in the 1880s and was denied; instead, local philanthropist Lucius B. Clapp anonymously donated $25,000 to erect a Georgian Revival brick building, designed by architect Walter Atherton (MIT/École des Beaux Arts trained) and dedicated on June 30, 1904. The current building at 304 S. Fourth Street, expanded to 31,058 square feet after a $14 million voter-approved renovation completed in 2013, serves a city whose Norwegian-immigrant roots run so deep that 75 percent of residents once spoke Norwegian. The library maintains the Kvamme Local History Collection — established in 1984 in memory of educator Torstein O. Kvamme — covering genealogy, Norwegian culture, World War II history, and the city's world-renowned Syttende Mai celebration. A member of the South Central Library System (SCLS), the library offers museum and Wisconsin State Park passes, BadgerLink databases, and borrowing privileges across the region.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded 1874 — one of Wisconsin's oldest continuously operating public libraries
- 1904 Georgian Revival building funded by local benefactor Lucius B. Clapp
- Kvamme Local History Collection: genealogy, Norwegian heritage, Syttende Mai archives
- 31,058-sq-ft facility after $14M expansion (2013), with café and accessibility upgrades
- Wisconsin State Park passes available free to SCLS cardholders each year
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Your free Stoughton library card unlocks BadgerLink databases, eBooks, and Wisconsin State Park passes.
📚 Services
- Free public computers & Wi-Fi
- Wisconsin State Park passes (free day-use)
- Museum and cultural attraction passes
- Interlibrary loan via SCLS & WisCat statewide
- Kvamme Local History Collection & genealogy research
- Meeting rooms available for community groups
- Café on premises
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytime and early literacy programs
- Summer Reading Program (all ages)
- Teen programs and book clubs
- Local history and Norwegian heritage programming
- Adult learning and speaker series
📍 Nearby Libraries in Dane County & South-Central Wisconsin
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Stoughton · Browse all Wisconsin libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Kvamme Local History Collection?
The Kvamme Local History Collection was established in May 1984 as a memorial to Torstein O. Kvamme, a beloved local educator. It contains Stoughton city directories, newspaper clipping volumes, genealogical materials, and resources on Norwegian culture — invaluable for anyone researching the city's deep Scandinavian roots or the Syttende Mai celebration.
How can I get a free Wisconsin State Park pass from the library?
Each year the library distributes a set number of free Wisconsin State Park day-use passes to SCLS cardholders. Visit the Circulation Desk, show your valid library card, and check out a pass for one-vehicle access to most State Park System properties. Passes are distributed while supplies last, beginning in January.
Is Stoughton Public Library part of a regional system?
Yes — the library is a member of the South Central Library System (SCLS), one of Wisconsin's 17 regional public library systems. Your Stoughton card lets you borrow from other SCLS libraries and access the shared OverDrive/Libby digital collection.
Does the library hold materials related to Stoughton's Norwegian heritage?
Absolutely. Stoughton once had the highest concentration of Norwegian speakers in the U.S., and the Kvamme Local History Collection reflects that heritage. The library holds archival volumes on the annual Syttende Mai festival — celebrated here since 1868 and recognized as one of the largest Norwegian Independence Day observances outside Norway.
🎨 This library lends museum passes. See how library museum passes work and find other libraries that lend passes museum passes by state.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
📅 This library has meeting & community rooms. See how library meeting rooms work — booking, policies and fees — and find other libraries with meeting or community rooms meeting rooms by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.