Lodi Public Library
🏢 South Central Library System · Lodi, Wisconsin
Lodi Public Library
The Lodi Public Library has served this Columbia County city on the banks of Spring Creek since 1899, when the Lodi Woman's Club launched the first library collection out of the missionary spirit to do something for Lodi and its people. Today it anchors the city known for Susie the Duck — the resident mallard who swims the trout stream running through downtown — and hosts everything from watercolor workshops to a community-produced podcast.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–7pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–6pm |
| Thursday | 9am–6pm |
| Friday | 9am–6pm |
| Saturday | 9am–1pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 130 Lodi Street, Lodi, WI 53555
Phone: (608) 592-4130
Website: lodipubliclibrary.org
Plus Code: 86MG8F7C+FX (Lodi, WI)
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📖 About Lodi Public Library
The Lodi Public Library (legally the Lodi Woman's Club Public Library) traces its founding to November 1899, when the Lodi Woman's Club — itself founded in 1894 — formed its first library committee and began purchasing books for the community. The collection moved through private homes, a music store, and a variety store before the Woman's Club petitioned successfully in 1904 to include library space in the new City Hall. After a 1960 fire damaged City Hall, the library operated from temporary quarters for nine months. A community planning process beginning in 1984 led to the 1990 purchase and renovation of the former State Bank of Lodi at 130 Lodi Street, where the library has operated ever since. The library belongs to the South Central Library System (SCLS) and the LINKcat shared catalog, connecting Lodi cardholders to millions of items across the Madison region. The Duck Town podcast — produced at the library — reflects Lodi's identity, named for the city's beloved tradition of naming its resident Spring Creek mallard "Susie."
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded 1899 by the Lodi Woman's Club — one of Columbia County's oldest public library traditions
- Housed since 1990 in the renovated former State Bank of Lodi building at 130 Lodi Street
- Member of the South Central Library System (SCLS) and LINKcat shared catalog covering the greater Madison region
- Produces the Duck Town podcast, celebrating Lodi's identity as home of the famous Spring Creek mallard
- Two reservable meeting/conference rooms, active Friends of the Library, and regular watercolor and arts programming
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Lodi cardholders enjoy free statewide and regional digital collections:
📚 Services
- Public computers, wireless internet, and laptop access
- Copy, print (B&W and color), scan-to-email & fax services
- Two meeting rooms (Conference Room seats up to 15; Program Room also available)
- Baby Bundles — curated book bundles for new families
- Outer-Library Loan (OLL) for items outside the LINKcat network
- Exam proctoring (case-by-case basis — inquire at the desk)
- Request-for-purchase suggestion service
🎸 Programs
- Song & Story Time with Miss Emily (children's storytime)
- Watercolor Workshops with Emily Marie Watercolors (seasonal series)
- Duck Town podcast — community oral history and local stories
- Friends of the Library events and volunteer programs
- Summer reading for all ages
- Monthly community newsletter — "Keep Me in the Loop"
📍 Nearby Libraries in Columbia & Dane Counties
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the official name of the Lodi library, and what is its history?
The library's full legal name is the Lodi Woman's Club Public Library, reflecting its founding by the Lodi Woman's Club in 1899. The club's missionary spirit led it to create a free public library for Lodi residents, moving the collection through homes, stores, and City Hall over the decades until the current building at 130 Lodi Street opened in 1990. The name was formalized in 1989 to comply with Wisconsin public library statutes.
What is the Duck Town podcast that the library hosts?
Duck Town is a community podcast produced at the Lodi Public Library, reflecting the city's identity as the home of "Susie the Duck" — the beloved mallard tradition on Spring Creek that has defined Lodi since 1948. The podcast captures local stories and community voices and can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major platforms, or streamed directly through the library's website.
Does the library offer meeting room reservations?
Yes. The library has a Conference Room (capacity 15) that doubles as a study room, and a Program Room for larger events. Both rooms can be reserved by calling (608) 592-4130 or emailing staff@lodipubliclibrary.org. Reservation policies and forms are available on the library's website.
What system does Lodi Public Library belong to, and what does that mean for borrowing?
The library belongs to the South Central Library System (SCLS) and the LINKcat shared catalog — the regional network covering Madison and surrounding counties. A Lodi library card gives you access to millions of items across all LINKcat member libraries, plus statewide BadgerLink databases and Wisconsin's Digital Library through Libby.
🖨 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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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.