Milwaukee County Federated Library System
🏢 MCFLS — 15 Public Libraries Across Milwaukee County
Milwaukee County Federated Library System
Founded January 1, 1973, the Milwaukee County Federated Library System connects 15 independent public libraries across all of Milwaukee County under a single CountyCat catalog — one card unlocks every branch, shared digital resources, and county-wide item delivery.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 8am–5pm |
| Tuesday | 8am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 8am–5pm |
| Thursday | 8am–5pm |
| Friday | 8am–5pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 709 N 8th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233
Phone: (414) 286-3210
Website: mcfls.org
Plus Code: 86MJ23QH+J7 (Milwaukee, WI)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Milwaukee County Federated Library System
The Milwaukee County Federated Library System (MCFLS) is not a single library building but an administrative federation established January 1, 1973 — one of the first county library systems created under Wisconsin state enabling law — coordinating shared services among 15 autonomously governed, municipally funded public libraries spanning all of Milwaukee County. Its administrative office is at 709 N 8th Street in downtown Milwaukee. MCFLS operates CountyCat (Aspen Discovery software), a unified catalog that pools the holdings of all 15 member libraries across 28+ locations into one searchable platform; in a recent year the network circulated over 6.4 million items and completed 860,000 inter-library transfers. The system brokers county-wide licenses for digital platforms (Libby, hoopla, Comics Plus, Gale Courses), manages a physical delivery network that shuttles requested items between branches daily, and provides technology support and professional development for all member libraries. A card from any MCFLS member library is valid at every other member location, dramatically expanding borrowing access for every Milwaukee County resident.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded January 1, 1973 — among Wisconsin's first county-level federated library systems under state enabling law
- 15 member libraries at 28+ locations county-wide: Milwaukee Public Library (13 city branches) plus 14 suburban systems from Brown Deer to St. Francis
- CountyCat shared catalog (Aspen Discovery) — search all members' holdings, place holds, and have items delivered to your nearest branch
- System-wide digital access: Libby (ebooks/audiobooks/eMagazines), hoopla (streaming + comics), Comics Plus (unlimited simultaneous comics), and BadgerLink (60+ free research databases)
- Annual circulation exceeds 6.4 million items with 860,000+ inter-library transfers — one of Wisconsin's most active county library networks
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Every MCFLS library card includes access to a shared suite of digital resources at no extra cost:
📚 Services
- CountyCat shared catalog: search, place holds, and renew items across all 15 member libraries online or via mobile app
- County-wide inter-library delivery: request any item from any member library and pick it up at your home branch
- Reciprocal borrowing: a card from any MCFLS member library is valid at all other member libraries
- System-wide digital resource licensing: Libby, hoopla, Comics Plus, Gale Courses, research databases
- Interlibrary loan (ILL) via WISCAT and OCLC for statewide and international materials
- Technology support and wide-area network management for all 15 member libraries
- Continuing education and professional development for library staff across the system
🎸 Programs
- Free tax assistance at MCFLS member libraries each filing season (VITA volunteers)
- Online learning via Gale Courses and Level Up Learning platforms
- Comics Plus unlimited digital comics access — family, teen, and adult collections
- Community programming and events at member libraries (see individual library calendars via mcfls.libcal.com)
📍 Libraries in the MCFLS Service Area
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Milwaukee · Browse all Wisconsin libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Milwaukee County Federated Library System — is it a single library?
No. MCFLS is an administrative federation of 15 independent public libraries operating across all of Milwaukee County. Each member library is funded by its own municipality and governed by its own board. MCFLS coordinates shared services — a unified catalog (CountyCat), county-wide delivery, and system-wide digital licenses — so that a card from any one member library works at all the others. The MCFLS administrative office at 709 N 8th Street in Milwaukee does not serve patrons directly.
Which cities and communities are served by MCFLS member libraries?
MCFLS encompasses all of Milwaukee County. The 15 member systems serve: the City of Milwaukee (Milwaukee Public Library, 13 branches), Brown Deer, Cudahy, Franklin, Greendale, Greenfield, Hales Corners, North Shore (Bayside, Fox Point, Glendale, and River Hills jointly), Oak Creek, St. Francis, Shorewood, South Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, West Allis, and Whitefish Bay.
Does one library card work at all MCFLS member libraries?
Yes. A card issued by any MCFLS member library gives you full borrowing privileges at all other member libraries and lets you place holds through CountyCat to have items from any branch delivered to your most convenient location. Milwaukee County residents qualify for a free card; Wisconsin residents outside the county may be eligible through reciprocal borrowing agreements or a paid non-resident card (fee varies by library).
What free digital resources come with an MCFLS library card?
Your MCFLS card unlocks: Libby (thousands of ebooks, audiobooks, and eMagazines), hoopla (instant streaming of movies, TV, music, ebooks, audiobooks, and comics — 2 checkouts/month, no waiting), Comics Plus (unlimited simultaneous digital comics and graphic novels), and Gale Courses (hundreds of free online classes). Wisconsin's statewide BadgerLink service (60+ databases) is additionally free to all Wisconsin residents with or without an MCFLS card.
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