Central Library — Madison Public Library
🏢 Madison Public Library · South Central Library System · Madison, Wisconsin
Central Library — Madison Public Library
The flagship of Madison Public Library and the South Central Library System, Central Library fills a light-filled 2013 remodel at 201 W Mifflin Street downtown — home to The Bubbler maker program, a full Media Lab, gallery spaces and a rooftop green roof, open until 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–9pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–9pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–9pm |
| Thursday | 9am–9pm |
| Friday | 9am–6pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | 1pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 201 W Mifflin Street, Madison, WI 53703
Phone: (608) 266-6300
Website: madisonpubliclibrary.org
Plus Code: 86MG3JF6+CX (Madison, WI)
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Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Central Library — Madison Public Library
Central Library is the downtown flagship of Madison Public Library, which the City of Madison established by ordinance in 1874 and opened in 1875 as the Madison Free Library inside City Hall. The library moved into a 1906 Carnegie building and then, in 1965, into its present home at 201 West Mifflin Street. In September 2013 the building reopened after a landmark renovation led by MSR Design (architect Traci Lesneski) that reoriented the library around light wells, environmentally conscious design, gallery spaces and a rooftop terrace with a solar green roof. Central anchors Madison Public Library's nine-location system and belongs to the South Central Library System, Wisconsin's second-largest, so a Madison card also borrows across the LINKcat shared catalog throughout the region.
⭐ What makes this library special
- The Bubbler — Madison Public Library's acclaimed maker and artist-in-residence program, with a maker room at Central open during all library hours
- Media Lab on the first floor for stop-motion animation, 3D world design, green-screen video, audio and graphic design
- Gallery spaces on the first, second and third floors plus a video art screen and rotating site-specific installations
- 2013 MSR Design renovation with light wells, a media-rich commons and a rooftop terrace with a solar green roof
- Open until 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, the latest weeknight hours in the Madison system
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Madison cardholders can stream, download and research free through Wisconsin's shared collections:
📚 Services
- The Bubbler maker room open during all library hours
- Media Lab (animation, video, audio & graphic design)
- Rotating art galleries and a video art screen
- Meeting and study rooms for community groups
- Public computers, printing & free Wi-Fi
- Passport-photo and reference help at the downtown flagship
🎸 Programs
- Bubbler artist-in-residence workshops and open studios
- Making Justice community learning for court-involved teens
- Children's storytimes in the Children's Room
- Author talks, films and gallery events
- Summer library program for all ages
📍 Nearby Libraries in the Madison Area
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What are Central Library's hours in Madison?
Central Library at 201 W Mifflin Street is open 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m.–5 p.m. Sunday. Sunday afternoon hours run from Labor Day through Memorial Day. Note that the Children's Room, ground floor and Bubbler areas may close earlier than the building; there is no phone service on Sundays.
What is The Bubbler at Central Library?
The Bubbler is Madison Public Library's maker and creative-arts program. At Central there's a Bubbler maker room open during all library hours plus a first-floor Media Lab for stop-motion animation, 3D design, green-screen video, audio and graphic design. The program also runs artist-in-residence workshops and gallery installations, and its portable maker kits travel across all nine Madison locations.
When was the Central Library building renovated?
The library has stood at 201 West Mifflin Street since 1965, but the building you see today reopened in September 2013 after a major renovation by MSR Design, with lead architect Traci Lesneski. The remodel added light wells, gallery spaces, a media commons and a rooftop terrace with a solar-equipped green roof.
Does a Madison library card work at other libraries?
Yes. Central is the flagship of Madison Public Library's nine locations and part of the South Central Library System, so your card borrows through the shared LINKcat catalog across Dane and neighboring counties. You can also request items from other member libraries for pickup at Central.
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