Wauwatosa Public Library reports record circulation and outlines renovation goals

Wauwatosa Public Library checked out 908,612 items in 2025 — the highest circulation in the library’s 140‑year history — library director Peter Lovell told the Wauwatosa City Committee of the Whole. Lovell used the library’s annual report to combine performance metrics with comparisons to other Wisconsin libraries and to describe priorities if the city’s municipal complex project includes a redesigned library.

Lovell said the total circulation number includes both physical and digital items and credited program and collection changes for the increase. “In 2025, we checked out 908,612 items. That was the highest circulation that we've had in our 140 year history,” Lovell said. He also reported program attendance rose to 24,767 and that the library logged about 337,000 visits, ranking No. 7 in the state for visits and reference questions; the library’s children’s circulation ranked No. 3 in Wisconsin.

The presentation framed services as five core functions:…