Library Locations

Welcome to the Central Library

201 West Mifflin Street Madison, WI 53703 (608) 266-6300   see news stories on the new Central Library proposal Central Library Events and Programs

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Proposals for a New Central Library

The Central Library Disposal Surplus Property Criteria and Selection Committee was appointed by Mayor Cieslewicz to request and analyze development proposals for a new Central Library. On Thursday, May 14, the Committee met to review proposed plans for the development of a new library building or the rehabilitation of the existing library, and recommended the plan proposed by the Fiore Companies. The Library Board will meet to discuss this on Thursday, June 4 at 4:30 p.m. in Room 201 of the Central Branch. You can still pose a question or share your comments or suggestions with the Committee and the Library Board. Questions - and the developers' answers - will be posted on the library's web site shortly.

The Committee and the Library Board held a public meeting on Thursday, January 8th. At this hearing, the two developers that have responded to the Committee's Request for Proposals, T. Wall Properties and Fiore Companies/Irgens Development Partners, presented their very different plans for a new Central Library, and answered questions about their proposals. The meeting was also taped by City Channel and is available on their web site. [more info]

 

Where you'll find us:

• on the isthmus
• one block from the State Capitol Building
• in the heart of downtown Madison
• Bus Routes

 

Hours:

Monday - Thursday: 9:00 - 9:00
Friday: 9:00 - 6:00
Saturday: 9:00 - 5:00
open Sundays, October - April: 1:00 - 5:00 (no telephone service)

Monday - Thursday, the Children's Room closes at 6 p.m. Please ask staff in other areas to help you retrieve a book or other items from the children's room.

 

www.flickr.com Go to madisonpubliclibrary's photostream

 

Central Library News

 

Update on the Planning for a new Central Library

• Design for new Library complex approved (The Badger Herald, 6/11/09)
• Laptop City Hall: Are libraries losing their usefulness in a digital age? (Capital Times, 6/11/09)
• Madison must decide if rebuilding Central Library is too expensive (Capital Times, 6/11/09)
• Madison Library Board Approves New Library Plan (Wisconsin State Journal, 6/5/09)
• The Approved Madison Library Project (IBtv - InBusiness, 6/1/2009)
• Library: Where Will the Money Come From? (InBusiness, 6/1/2009)
• City Considers Cost of New Downtown Library (Isthmus Madison.gov blog, 5/21/09)
• Committee Recommends New Plan for Central Library (WISC-TV, 5/16/09)
• Panel recommends Fiore plan for library (Wisconsin State Journal, 5/15/09)
• Laptop City Hall: Central Library committee recommends new stand-alone building (Capital Times, 5/14/09)
• Madison Public Library:  Proposals for a new Central Library (January 8, 2009 meeting available for viewing on the City Channel web site)
• Developers Present Plans For New Madison Library (WKOW-TV, 1/9/09)
• Developers Pitch Competing Ideas for Central Library (Wisconsin State Journal, 1/8/09)
• Van Mell: Ask Right Questions About Library (Wisconsin State Journal, 12/31/09)
• Central Library Proposal (Isthmus Forum, first post 12/18/08)
• Laptop City Hall (Capital Times Blogs, 12/15/08)
• Madison library project narrowed down to 2 proposals (UW Badger Herald, 12/04/08)
• Madison has two library proposals (Wisconsin State Journal, 12/03/08)
• [more information]

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