Overview
The Marathon County Public Library's headquarters, sometimes called simply the "Wausau library," is located at 300 North First Street in Wausau. MCPL has branches inHistory
Early years
The first library in Wausau was formed in 1871 by the Pine Knot Literary Society, a men's literary club.Louis Marchetti. ''History of Marathon County and Representative Citizens''. Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1913. The club had more than 700 books, some purchased and others donated by club members. The library was kept in the offices of the ''Wisconsin River Pilot'' newspaper. Residents could purchase a membership to the club and the right to check out books for $3 per year or 25 cents per week.Michael Kronenwetter. ''Wisconsin Heartland: The Story of Wausau and Marathon County''. Midland, Mich.: Pendell Publishing Co., 1984. In 1879, the Pine Knot Literary Society donated its library to the Ladies Literary Club of Wausau, who managed the collection under the same subscription arrangement until 1897, when the Wausau Free Public Library was established. At this time, the city of Wausau agreed to appropriate five percent of its license fees each year (between $600 and $1,750) to purchase books for the library. Around this time, the library was moved to the second floor of the courthouse. where it remained, rent free, for three years by arrangement with the Marathon County Board. By 1904, the library collection had moved several times – from the basement of a bank to a store building – and had no permanent home. On July 5, 1904, the Wausau City Council adopted a resolution to accept a gift of $25,000 from steel magnate and philanthropistCarnegie Building (1907)
The library's new 3,402 square foot building opened on April 3, 1907. It held 4,968 books and served 4,785 registered users. The first librarian was Nellie Silverthorn, daughter of Willis C. Silverthorn, a founding member of the Pine Knot Literary Society. By 1912, 50,427 books were borrowed in the previous year from the Wausau Public Library by 5,788 patrons. The library held 7,976 books. In 1925, Walter Alexander donated more land for the library and park, allowing space for the library to expand, under the condition that the land be used only for the library and public park.Parcher Addition (1929)
By the 1920s, the library was overcrowded. In its 1923 report, the library stated that it circulated 114,492 books and held 54,634 books in its collection. The library board voted to put a 4,187 square foot addition onto the library, increasing the square footage to 15,200 square feet. The addition also provided a community room with space for 300 people, committee meeting rooms and a kitchen.''Wausau Daily Record Herald'', March 13, 1939. The money for the $80,000 addition came from the estate of Mary Single Parcher, whose will had established the Parcher Welfare Fund, to be used in a manner "most likely to promote the pleasure and happiness of the city of Wausau". The addition was dedicated on April 12, 1929.Formation of Marathon County Library and Bookmobiles (1937)
In 1937, the Marathon County Library was established as a1968 Addition
Between 1929 and 1969, the number of borrowers at the Wausau Public Library doubled each decade and the auditorium and kitchen were reappropriated for bookshelves and programming areas. By 1966, the library again was overcrowded. In 1965, the library held more than 87,000 books and served more than 23,000 people. On May 10, 1966, the Wausau City Council approved a $589,000 addition to the library. The city borrowed $415,000, $193,000 came from a federal grant, and $30,000 was raised through private donations. The 29,860 square foot addition made it the largest library in the county.Consolidation (1974)
By 1972, the Wausau Public Library had a collection of 247,255 books and the Marathon County Library had 132,669.Vivian Maddox. Report on Proposed Merger of Wausau Public Library and Marathon County Library, March 7, 1973. The county had inadequate facilities and the majority of Wausau Library patrons were not residents of the city. On September 20, 1972, Edward Fromm, president of the Marathon County Library Board approached Robert See, president of the Wausau Public Library Board, about merging the two libraries. The first meeting of the joint boards occurred on November 1, 1972 and the Marathon County Board and the Wausau City Council approved the merger in 1973.''Wausau Daily Herald'', August 29, 1984. On January 1, 1974, the Marathon County Library and the Wausau Public Library merged to form the Marathon County Public Library and all library operations moved to the Wausau Public Library building.Renovations
After about 75 years, the original Wausau library building was falling into disrepair. The building had cracked plaster, leaking roofs, drafty spaces and rotting rafters.''Wausau Daily Herald'', May 17, 1984. In 1990, the library closed for two weeks for asbestos removal. The Wausau City Council and the Marathon County Board agreed that the library needed to be repaired, but could not agree on how to pay for the project. On February 11, 1992, the Wausau Common Council Committee of the Whole approved a plan in which the city would build the new library on the grounds of the existing building and lease it back to the county to recoup costs. On August 25, 1993, the city broke ground on the new library.''Wausau Daily Herald'', August 25, 1993. The project cost $5.3 million and the costs were split between the city of Wausau and Marathon County.''Wausau Daily Herald'', January 12, 1995. The new library opened on January 3, 1995.Current
The Wausau Public Library received the Library of the Year Award from theNotes
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