Oshkosh Public Library
🏢 Winnefox Library System · Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Oshkosh Public Library
The Oshkosh Public Library at 106 Washington Avenue is one of Wisconsin's most distinguished civic landmarks — a Neo-classical 1900 building designed by architect William Waters, who had just completed the Wisconsin pavilion for the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, and crowned by a dome rising 46 feet above the reading room floor. A sensitive 1993–94 expansion embraced the original structure and added a modern U-shaped wing, leaving the Waters building as the visible centerpiece.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–6pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | 1pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 106 Washington Ave., Oshkosh, WI 54901
Phone: (920) 236-5205
Website: oshkoshlibrary.org
Plus Code: 86PH2F97+3J (Oshkosh, 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 Oshkosh Public Library
Oshkosh voters approved a free public library by referendum on May 29, 1895, and the library first opened in a room at City Hall on April 1, 1896. Construction of a permanent home was made possible by a $75,000 bequest from the estate of Marshall Harris, a prominent Oshkosh lumberman, with an additional $25,000 from Senator Philetus Sawyer and a $50,000 city bond issue. Architect William Waters — fresh from designing the Wisconsin building at the 1893 Columbian Exposition — drew plans for a grand Neo-classical structure featuring a raised main floor, a portico with six Ionic columns facing Washington Avenue, and a central dome soaring 46 feet above the floor. The building opened on Labor Day, September 3, 1900. A 1967 contemporary addition by Irion and Reinke architects expanded capacity, and a major 1993–94 renovation — costing $10.9 million, with a $5 million anonymous gift later attributed to Alberta Kimball — wrapped the original building in a U-shaped expansion by Howard Needles Tammen & Bergendoff with Frye Gillan Molinaro Architects. A second-floor skylight frames the historic dome from the new wing. The library is a founding member of the Winnefox Library System (established 1977), which now serves five counties: Green Lake, Marquette, Waushara, Winnebago and Fond du Lac.
⭐ What makes this library special
- 1900 Neo-classical building by architect William Waters — same designer as the Wisconsin pavilion at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair
- Iconic 46-foot dome above the reading room; six Ionic columns on the Washington Avenue portico
- $10.9 million 1993–94 expansion: U-shaped modern wing embraces the original building, with a skylight framing the historic dome
- Founding member of the Winnefox Library System (est. 1977), now serving five Wisconsin counties
- Notary service available free by appointment — call (920) 236-5205 or reserve online
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Oshkosh cardholders unlock Wisconsin's statewide digital library plus streaming, learning and local history collections:
📚 Services
- Free library cards for Oshkosh and Winnefox System area residents
- Notary service — free, by appointment only (call 920-236-5205 or book via Calendly)
- Public computers, printing, fax and free Wi-Fi
- Meeting and study room reservations
- Home delivery and Roving Readers program for patrons unable to visit
- Job search resources and career materials
- Reference and readers' advisory assistance
- Interlibrary loan through the Winnefox Library System
🎸 Programs
- Storytimes and youth programming
- Summer reading challenge for all ages
- Book club kits and book bundles
- History and genealogy programs
- Arts and crafts events
- Adult programs and author events
- Community engagement programming
📍 Nearby Libraries in the Winnefox Region
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed the Oshkosh Public Library building, and when was it built?
The library was designed by architect William Waters, who had just completed the Wisconsin pavilion for the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The Neo-classical building — featuring six Ionic columns, a raised main floor and a dome 46 feet above the reading room — opened on Labor Day, September 3, 1900, funded by a $75,000 bequest from lumberman Marshall Harris and a $25,000 gift from Senator Philetus Sawyer.
What happened to the library in the 1993–94 renovation?
A $10.9 million project, partly funded by a $5 million anonymous gift later attributed to Alberta Kimball, wrapped the original 1900 Waters building in a U-shaped modern addition designed by Howard Needles Tammen & Bergendoff with Frye Gillan Molinaro Architects. The expansion kept the historic building as the visible centerpiece, with a second-floor skylight in the new wing framing the original dome.
Does the Oshkosh Public Library offer notary services?
Yes. The library provides free notary services by appointment — no library card required. Reserve a time by calling (920) 236-5205 or booking online at calendly.com/oshkoshpubliclibrary.
What is the Winnefox Library System, and does a card work at other libraries?
The Winnefox Library System was established in 1977 and now serves five Wisconsin counties: Green Lake, Marquette, Waushara, Winnebago and Fond du Lac. An Oshkosh Public Library card works at member libraries across the system, and materials can be borrowed and returned at any participating location.
📋 This library offers notary services. See what a library notary can do — what to bring, fees and appointments — and find other libraries with a notary notary services by state.
📚 This library has study rooms. See how library study rooms work — booking, time limits and quiet vs group rooms — and find other libraries with study rooms libraries with study rooms by state.
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