W.J. Niederkorn Library
🏢 Monarch Library System · Port Washington, Wisconsin
W.J. Niederkorn Library
Celebrating 125 years of community service since its 1899 founding, the W.J. Niederkorn Library on Grand Avenue in Port Washington is Ozaukee County's lakeside library — with a collection of 54,000 volumes, Monarch Catalog access, an Adventure Pass collection, and a $1.1 million renovation underway.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–6pm |
| Saturday | 9am–1pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 316 W. Grand Avenue, Port Washington, WI 53074
Phone: (262) 284-5031
Website: wjnlib.org
Plus Code: 86MJ94QG+22 (Port Washington, WI)
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📖 About W.J. Niederkorn Library
The W.J. Niederkorn Library has served the Port Washington community since 1899, when the Port Washington Woman's Club decided to 'inspire the community through reading' and established the library in the back of the Courtland Drug Store with Edgar Smith, the druggist, as its first librarian. The library expanded to the courthouse basement in 1908, then City Hall in the 1920s, then the Wisconsin Street School in the 1930s — before a 1961 donation from William James Niederkorn made possible the independent library at its current home on Grand Avenue, which the institution has carried his name ever since. A 2001 expansion doubled the building's size, and 2024 brought the library's 125th anniversary alongside $1.1 million in federal grant funding for a 2025–2026 renovation. The library belongs to the Monarch Library System spanning Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Washington, and Dodge counties, giving cardholders access to more than 3 million items. With 417 programs and nearly 7,700 attendees in a typical year, the library runs 49% more community programming than the average Wisconsin public library.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded 1899 by the Port Washington Woman's Club — celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2024 as one of Ozaukee County's oldest institutions
- Named for William James Niederkorn, whose 1961 donation established the library's independent building on Grand Avenue
- Monarch Library System member: access to 3 million+ items across libraries in Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Washington & Dodge counties
- Adventure Pass Collection: borrowable admission passes to area cultural attractions and parks
- Designated community cooling center for Ozaukee County; innovative 'Cycling Without Age' trishaw rides to the library
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Port Washington cardholders can borrow, stream, and learn free through Wisconsin's statewide and Monarch System digital collections:
📚 Services
- Adventure Pass Collection: borrowable admission passes to area attractions
- Monarch Catalog access to 3 million+ items in four Wisconsin counties
- Bookable study rooms
- Drop-in technology assistance
- Public computers, printing & free Wi-Fi
- Community cooling center (Ozaukee County-designated)
- Interlibrary loan and material recommendations
🎸 Programs
- Storytimes with crafts (Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m.)
- Teen Cafe — after-school activities for grades 7–12
- Adult programs, book clubs, speakers, and presenters
- Grief support group (first and third Wednesdays, free)
- Summer Reading Program
- Cycling Without Age — free trishaw rides to the library
📍 Nearby Libraries in Ozaukee & Washington Counties
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Port Washington · Browse all Wisconsin libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was William James Niederkorn, and why is the library named after him?
William James Niederkorn was a Port Washington resident whose generous donation in 1961 made it possible for the city's library — which had previously operated out of a drug store, courthouse basement, City Hall, and a school — to finally have its own independent building. The community honored his contribution by naming the library the W.J. Niederkorn Library, and it has carried that name at the Grand Avenue location ever since.
What is the Adventure Pass Collection?
The Adventure Pass Collection is a set of borrowable admission passes to area cultural attractions and parks that W.J. Niederkorn Library cardholders can check out just like a book. It's a way for families and individuals to explore local destinations at no cost using their library card.
How many libraries are in the Monarch Library System, and what can I borrow?
The Monarch Library System links libraries across Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Washington, and Dodge counties in Wisconsin, giving cardholders access to more than 3 million items through a shared catalog at search.monarchcatalog.org. W.J. Niederkorn Library's own collection holds 54,784 volumes, but the shared system vastly expands what you can borrow.
Is the library undergoing any renovations, and will it remain open?
The library received $1.1 million in federal grant funding in 2024 for renovations planned for 2025–2026. Check the library's website at wjnlib.org or call (262) 284-5031 for the latest updates on any temporary service changes during the project.
📚 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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