Altoona Public Library
🏢 MORE / IFLS Library System · Altoona, Wisconsin
Altoona Public Library
Altoona Public Library has served the Chippewa Valley community since 1941, growing from a Women's Club-sponsored reading room to a full-service city library that joined the MORE Consortium in 1978 — giving every cardholder access to more than 1.5 million items across 55 western Wisconsin libraries.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–6pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 1303 Lynn Ave., Altoona, WI 54720
Phone: (715) 839-5029
Website: altoonapubliclibrary.org
Plus Code: 86PCRH48+HQ (Altoona, WI)
📱 Scan for directions
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Altoona Public Library
The Altoona Public Library traces its roots to 1897, when the Ladies Auxiliary of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers first organized library service for the city. After a long gap, the Eau Claire County Federation of Woman's Clubs revived public library service, and the library officially opened on December 2, 1941. The city took over operations on January 1, 1960, and in 1978 Altoona joined the Indianhead Federated Library System (IFLS), which hosts the MORE shared catalog — linking 55 public libraries across Eau Claire, Barron, Chippewa, Dunn, and six other west-central Wisconsin counties. Today the library at 1303 Lynn Avenue promotes literacy, builds community, and enriches lives through collections, digital resources, and programming for all ages.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded December 2, 1941 by the Eau Claire County Federation of Woman's Clubs; city-operated since 1960
- Member of the MORE Consortium (IFLS), sharing 1.5+ million items with 55 west-central Wisconsin libraries
- Open until 8 pm Monday through Thursday for after-work and after-school visits
- BadgerLink statewide databases available free to all Wisconsin residents
- Free Wi-Fi, public computers, and interlibrary loan to any MORE member library
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Altoona cardholders access Wisconsin's statewide and consortium digital collections for free:
📚 Services
- Public computers with internet access and free Wi-Fi
- Interlibrary loan through the MORE Consortium (55 member libraries)
- Reference and reader's advisory assistance
- Printing, copying, and scanning
- Youth services and programming
- MORE Explorer library passport program
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes and youth programming
- Summer reading program for kids, teens, and adults
- Adult programs and community events
- MORE Explorer passport program
- Book discussions and reader's advisory
📍 Nearby Libraries in the Chippewa Valley
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Altoona Public Library first open, and how is it organized today?
The library officially opened on December 2, 1941, sponsored by the Eau Claire County Federation of Woman's Clubs. The city of Altoona took over operations on January 1, 1960. Today the library is a member of the MORE Consortium through the Indianhead Federated Library System (IFLS), which links 55 public libraries across ten west-central Wisconsin counties.
Can I use my Altoona library card at other Wisconsin libraries?
Yes. As a member of the MORE Consortium, your Altoona card lets you borrow physical materials from any of the 55 MORE libraries in western Wisconsin, request items online through the shared MORE catalog for delivery to Altoona, and access digital materials and BadgerLink databases statewide.
What are the latest hours the library is open during the week?
The library stays open until 8 pm Monday through Thursday, which makes it easy to visit after work or school. Friday hours are 9 am–6 pm, Saturday is 9 am–5 pm, and the library is closed on Sundays.
Does the library offer free digital books and streaming media?
Yes. Cardholders can access Libby (eBooks and audiobooks through the MORE shared OverDrive collection), hoopla (movies, music, comics, and audiobooks with instant checkout), and Transparent Language for online language learning — all free with a library card.
🖨 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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