Elisha D. Smith Public Library
🏢 Winnefox Library System · Menasha, Wisconsin
Elisha D. Smith Public Library
Named for Menasha Woodenware founder Elisha D. Smith — who donated $25,000 to build the original 1898 library — this Winnebago County institution was named Wisconsin's Library of the Year in both 1988 and 2008 and completed an $8 million renovation in 2025 that added the SMITHworks Makerspace, new teen spaces and expanded meeting rooms.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–6pm |
| Saturday | 10am–4pm |
| Sunday | 12pm–4pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 440 First St., Menasha, WI 54952
Phone: (920) 967-3690
Website: menashalibrary.org
Plus Code: 86PH6H33+59 (Menasha, WI)
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📖 About Elisha D. Smith Public Library
The Elisha D. Smith Public Library in Menasha, Wisconsin, traces its founding to 1884, when a Library Association formed under the leadership of industrialist Elisha D. Smith, who built his fortune at Menasha Woodenware Company. In 1897 Smith donated $25,000 for a dedicated building plus a $10,000 operating endowment; the library opened October 21, 1898, and has carried his name ever since. A 1930 children's wing, a major 1969 expansion to 28,000 square feet, and a $4.5 million renovation in 2004 kept pace with Fox Valley growth. In 2021 the library celebrated its 125th anniversary, and in 2025 completed an $8 million renovation that introduced the SMITHworks Makerspace, updated teen and children's spaces, and new community meeting rooms. It is a member of the Winnefox Library System, sharing a catalog and services with other libraries in Winnebago and Waushara counties.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded 1884 and named for Elisha D. Smith (Menasha Woodenware), whose $25,000 gift opened the original building in 1898
- Named Wisconsin's Library of the Year in both 1988 and 2008 — the only library in the state to win the honor twice
- SMITHworks Makerspace added in the 2025 $8 million renovation — open weekdays 2:30–5:30 p.m.
- Member of the Winnefox Library System for shared catalog and reciprocal borrowing in Winnebago & Waushara Counties
- Open all seven days, including Sunday afternoons and late Thursday evenings
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Elisha D. Smith cardholders borrow, stream and learn free through Wisconsin's statewide and Winnefox digital collections:
📚 Services
- SMITHworks Makerspace: 3D printing, crafting tools and creative equipment (weekdays 2:30–5:30 p.m.)
- Public computers, printing and free Wi-Fi
- Local history and genealogy collection
- Meeting and community rooms (available for reservation)
- Winnefox Library System reciprocal borrowing across Winnebago & Waushara Counties
- Reference and reader's advisory at (920) 967-3690
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes, STEM programs and early-literacy activities
- Teen programming and volunteer opportunities
- Adult book discussions and author events
- Summer reading program for all ages
- Makerspace workshops and creative classes
📍 Nearby Libraries in the Fox Valley
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Elisha D. Smith and why is the library named for him?
Elisha D. Smith was a 19th-century Menasha industrialist who founded the Menasha Woodenware Company. In 1884 he served as the founding president of the Library Association of Menasha. In 1897 he donated $25,000 for a dedicated library building plus a $10,000 endowment for operations. The library opened October 21, 1898, and the community honored his generosity by bearing his name ever since.
What is the SMITHworks Makerspace and when is it open?
SMITHworks is the library's makerspace, added during the $8 million 2025 renovation. It offers 3D printers, crafting tools and creative equipment for patrons to use. The makerspace is open weekdays from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Check the library's website for any schedule changes or special workshop sessions.
Has the Elisha D. Smith Public Library won any state recognition?
Yes — twice. The library was named Wisconsin's Library of the Year in 1988 and again in 2008, making it the only library in Wisconsin to have won the distinction on two separate occasions.
Is the library open on Sundays, and what are the full weekly hours?
Yes, it is open Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Full weekly hours: Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday noon to 4 p.m.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
🔨 This library has a makerspace / 3D printing. See how library makerspaces and 3D printing work and find other libraries with a makerspace makerspaces by state.
🖨 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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