Tomah Public Library
🏢 Tomah Public Library · Tomah, Wisconsin
Tomah Public Library
Tomah's Carnegie-era library opened in 1915 in a 'Sullivanesque' red brick building designed by the Claude and Starck firm, funded by a $10,000 Carnegie grant and a $7,000 bequest from geologist Ernest Buckley — and has anchored Superior Avenue in this Monroe County crossroads city for over a century.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–5pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 716 Superior Avenue, Tomah, WI 54660
Phone: (608) 374-7470
Website: tomahpubliclibrary.org
Plus Code: 86MFXFHW+W4 (Tomah, WI)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Tomah Public Library
The Tomah Public Library serves the city of Tomah, the Monroe County seat, at the intersection of Interstates 90 and 94 in west-central Wisconsin's coulee country. The library's story begins in 1871, when local donations assembled a hundred-volume collection that the Ladies Library Association managed until the city assumed oversight. A pivotal 1911 bequest changed its future: geologist Ernest Buckley left $12,000 to the city, with $7,000 designated for library purposes. Combined with a $10,000 Carnegie Foundation grant, the city commissioned the Madison architectural firm Claude and Starck to design the building. Their 1915 structure — the last of four Wisconsin buildings in their distinctive 'Sullivanesque' style — features red brick construction, a green-tiled hipped roof, a decorative leaded-glass frieze, and a layout designed to maximize natural light. A 1980 addition by Potter, Lawson, and Pawlowsky expanded the facility while preserving the original building's prominence on Superior Avenue. Today the library offers full digital access including Libby, BadgerLink, and Creativebug, alongside summer reading programs for all ages.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Opened in 1915, designed by Claude and Starck in their 'Sullivanesque' style — the last of four Wisconsin buildings in this distinctive red-brick and green-tile design
- Built with a $10,000 Carnegie grant and a $7,000 bequest from geologist Ernest Buckley, whose 1911 gift transformed the library's future
- The original 1871 collection was assembled through community donations and managed by the Ladies Library Association before the city took over
- 1980 addition by Potter, Lawson, and Pawlowsky preserved the Carnegie-era facade while expanding modern services
- Open six days a week with evening hours Monday through Wednesday, serving Monroe County at the I-90/I-94 crossroads
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
A free Tomah library card unlocks Wisconsin's statewide digital resources from any device:
📚 Services
- Public computers, printing, and free Wi-Fi
- Online catalog and interlibrary loan
- Children's and youth programming space
- Friends of the Library community support group
- Summer reading programs for children, teens, and adults
- BadgerLink, Libby, and Creativebug digital access
🎸 Programs
- Summer reading program for children (June 1–August 31)
- Teen summer reading program
- Adult summer reading program
- Year-round children's and family programming
- Friends of the Library fundraising and advocacy events
📍 Nearby Libraries in West-Central Wisconsin
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Tomah Public Library building architecturally significant?
The 1915 Carnegie building was designed by the Madison firm Claude and Starck in their 'Sullivanesque' style — a design vocabulary influenced by Louis Sullivan characterized by red brick construction, a green-tiled hipped roof, a decorative frieze with leaded-glass windows, and spaces arranged to maximize natural light. The Tomah building is historically noted as the last of the four Wisconsin libraries Claude and Starck designed in this style. A 1980 addition expanded the building while keeping the original facade prominent on Superior Avenue.
Who was Ernest Buckley, and what role did he play in the library's history?
Ernest Buckley was a geologist who bequeathed $12,000 to the City of Tomah at his death in 1911, designating $7,000 for library purposes. That gift, combined with a $10,000 Carnegie Foundation grant the city secured around the same time, provided the funding needed to commission and build the current library building, which opened in 1915. Without Buckley's bequest, the Carnegie grant alone would not have been sufficient to construct the building.
How do I access Libby and BadgerLink with a Tomah library card?
Once you have a free Tomah Public Library card, you can download the Libby app on any smartphone or tablet and sign in with your card number to access the Wisconsin Digital Library's eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines. BadgerLink — Wisconsin's statewide database portal — is accessible at badgerlink.dpi.wi.gov using your library card number, giving you free access to thousands of magazines, journals, and newspapers.
When does the summer reading program run, and who can participate?
The Tomah Public Library runs separate summer reading programs for children, teens, and adults, each beginning June 1 and running through August 31. All three programs are free and open to library cardholders of the appropriate age group. Contact the library at (608) 374-7470 or visit tomahpubliclibrary.org for current themes and sign-up 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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