Chippewa Falls Public Library
🏢 MORE Consortium · Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Chippewa Falls Public Library
Chippewa Falls Public Library traces its roots to a 'book social' held in November 1893 — it opened its doors on February 5, 1894, eventually earning a $20,000 Carnegie grant for a dedicated building in 1903, and has occupied its current home at 105 W Central Street since 1969.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–7pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–7pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–7pm |
| Thursday | 9am–7pm |
| Friday | 9am–5:30pm |
| Saturday | 9am–1pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 105 W. Central St., Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
Phone: (715) 723-1146
Website: chippewafallslibrary.org
Plus Code: 86PCWJP4+5C (Chippewa Falls, WI)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Chippewa Falls Public Library
Chippewa Falls Public Library has been at the heart of this Chippewa County city for well over 130 years. Its origins lie in a 'book social' organized by the People Literary Society in November 1893; the City Council formally established the library the following month, and it opened on February 5, 1894, in the old McBean Building at 19 East Central Street. In 1902, civic leader Leslie Willson secured a $20,000 Carnegie Foundation grant to build a dedicated library, which opened on December 5, 1903, and served the city for 66 years. The current building at 105 W Central Street opened on August 9, 1969, with a formal dedication ceremony on September 28, 1969. In 2004 the library joined the MORE Consortium, giving patrons shared catalog access to materials from over 50 libraries across western Wisconsin. A major interior upgrade in 2018 brought new computers, comfortable seating, and refreshed carpeting and paint. The library is also a member of the Inspiring Facilitating Library Success (IFLS) system since 1978.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded February 5, 1894 — one of Chippewa County's oldest continuously operating public libraries, now over 130 years of service
- Built with a $20,000 Andrew Carnegie Foundation grant; Carnegie building opened December 5, 1903
- Current building at 105 W Central Street dedicated September 28, 1969, upgraded with new furnishings in 2018
- Member of the MORE Consortium since 2004 — shared borrowing from 50+ western Wisconsin libraries
- Weekly Tech Tuesdays (one-on-one device help) and Digital Literacy for Seniors (10-week course with a take-home laptop)
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Chippewa Falls cardholders get free digital access through the MORE Consortium and Wisconsin's BadgerLink:
📚 Services
- MORE Consortium shared catalog — borrow from 50+ western Wisconsin libraries
- Tech Tuesdays: free one-on-one help with your smartphone, laptop, or tablet every Tuesday 9–11 a.m.
- Digital Literacy for Seniors: free 10-week Tuesday course (space limited; call to register)
- Public computers, printing, and free Wi-Fi
- Two meeting rooms available for reservation (online, in person, or by phone)
- Library card registration (free to city and county residents)
- Housing Assistance Program for Youth (HAPY) resource site on-site
- Friends of the Library — book sales and volunteer opportunities
🎸 Programs
- Baby & Toddler Storytime (Wednesdays 9:30 a.m.) for caregivers and children birth–3
- Storytime at the Park (Tuesdays outdoor, Sept–Oct) for families with children birth–5
- Dedicated Readers Society Book Club — second Monday of the month, 6–7 p.m.
- Summer reading program for all ages
- A to Z World Food database (7,000+ traditional recipes from 174 countries)
- Children's programs and youth programming year-round
📍 Nearby Libraries in the Chippewa Valley
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Chippewa Falls · Browse all Wisconsin libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How old is the Chippewa Falls Public Library, and how did it get its Carnegie building?
The library was founded on February 5, 1894, and is more than 130 years old. In 1902, civic leader Leslie Willson successfully appealed to the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, which agreed to give $20,000 for a dedicated building on the condition that the city pledge at least $2,000 per year in annual support and provide a suitable site. The Carnegie building opened December 5, 1903, and served the city until the current building at 105 W Central Street opened in 1969.
What is the MORE Consortium, and how does it benefit my library card?
MORE is a shared library consortium of over 50 public libraries across western Wisconsin. Chippewa Falls Public Library joined MORE in 2004, meaning your library card gives you borrowing access to all materials across the entire consortium — not just what's on the shelves in Chippewa Falls. Search the shared catalog at more.lib.wi.us.
Does the library offer tech help for seniors or beginners?
Yes — two ongoing programs address digital literacy. Tech Tuesdays runs every Tuesday from 9 to 11 a.m. and provides free one-on-one help with smartphones, laptops, and tablets (call 715-723-1146 x2 to reserve a spot). Digital Literacy for Seniors is a 10-week course on Tuesdays from 2–3:30 p.m. that covers basic computing, email, cybersecurity, and telehealth; participants who complete the course take home the laptop they learned on.
Can I reserve a meeting room at the library?
Yes. The Chippewa Falls Public Library has two meeting rooms available for community use. Reservations can be made online through the library's website, in person at the library, or by calling (715) 723-1146.
🖨 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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