Shawano County Library
🏢 InfoSoup Consortium · Shawano, Wisconsin
Shawano County Library
Shawano County Library — founded in 1889 and shaped by a 1915 Carnegie building — has been the heart of community life in northeast Wisconsin for more than 130 years, offering extended Monday evening hours, Wisconsin State Park passes, and six branch locations across Shawano County.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 8am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 8am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 8am–6pm |
| Thursday | 8am–6pm |
| Friday | 8am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–1pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 128 S. Sawyer St., Shawano, WI 54166
Phone: (715) 526-3829
Website: shawanolibrary.org
Plus Code: 86PHQ9JR+9X (Shawano, WI)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Shawano County Library
Shawano County Library traces its roots to March 7, 1889, when a group of local citizens met to establish a public reading room in Shawano. The library grew through several downtown homes before a $10,000 Andrew Carnegie grant funded a purpose-built library on E. Green Bay Street, dedicated in December 1915. In 1960 the collection moved to its current home at 128 S. Sawyer Street, which was nearly doubled in size through a major expansion in 1990. Today the system serves Shawano County through six branches — Shawano, Birnamwood, Bonduel, Mattoon, Tigerton and Wittenberg — with a shared catalog through the InfoSoup consortium. The main branch participates in Wisconsin's statewide library State Park Pass program, giving cardholders free day-use access to Wisconsin state parks and recreation areas.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded 1889 — one of northeast Wisconsin's oldest public libraries, built on an 1889 citizen petition and an 1915 Andrew Carnegie grant
- Main branch open until 8 p.m. on Mondays for after-work and after-school visits; Saturday hours until 1 p.m.
- Six-branch county system serving Shawano, Birnamwood, Bonduel, Mattoon, Tigerton and Wittenberg
- Wisconsin State Park Passes available for checkout — free day-use vehicle admission to state parks and recreation areas
- Escape room, meeting rooms (three at the main branch), chromebook lending, and mobile hotspot checkout
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Shawano County Library cardholders unlock Wisconsin's statewide and consortium digital collections at no charge:
📚 Services
- Wisconsin State Park Passes for cardholder checkout
- Public computers, printing (color at main branch), scanning & faxing
- Free Wi-Fi inside and extending outside the building
- Chromebook lending (patrons 18+) and mobile hotspot checkout
- Escape room puzzle activity at the main branch
- Meeting rooms (three at Shawano main branch)
- SARA assistive reading device for visually impaired patrons
- Homebound delivery service (monthly)
- Microfilm reader for historical newspapers
- Mobile printing at most branches
🎸 Programs
- Storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers across all branches
- Summer Reading Program for all ages
- Teen programs and craft nights
- Adult programming: game nights, craft activities and special events
- Local history and genealogy access via Ancestry Library Edition, HeritageQuest and Historic Newspapers
📍 Nearby Libraries in Northeast Wisconsin
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How did Shawano County Library get started, and how old is it?
Citizens first organized the library on March 7, 1889, making it more than 135 years old. It operated in rented rooms — including a corner of the fire station — until an Andrew Carnegie grant funded a dedicated building dedicated in December 1915. The current building at 128 S. Sawyer Street has served the community since 1960 and was expanded in 1990.
Can I borrow a Wisconsin State Park Pass from the library?
Yes. The Shawano County Library participates in the Wisconsin DNR and DPI's State Park Library Pass program. Cardholders can check out a daily vehicle admission pass that grants free day-use entry to Wisconsin state parks and recreation areas — great for family outings without the gate fee.
Does the library have an escape room?
The main Shawano branch hosts a collaborative escape room puzzle activity. Groups work together to solve clues within a set time — a popular option for team-building and family fun. Check the library's event calendar at shawanolibrary.org for scheduled sessions.
What are the library's hours and which evening is it open latest?
The main branch is open Monday 8 a.m.–8 p.m. (the latest of the week), Tuesday through Thursday 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m.–1 p.m. The library is closed on Sunday.
🖨 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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