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: circulating collections (including an expanded “library of things” that now loans tools, games and STEM kits), reference assistance, programming, technology access and welcoming public spaces. Lovell said the library added four librarians in the past year (two in children’s services and two in adults) and maintains a staff of roughly 43, mostly part‑time, to operate programs and services.

On operations and patron access, Lovell described changes to overdue‑fee policies and service pricing. He said the library removed overdue fines for returned materials while keeping long‑overdue enforcement in place: cards are blocked if items are not returned after 28 days, and the library uses system tools to help recover long‑overdue items. “We don't charge overdue fees when the material is returned, but you still have to return the materials,” Lovell said, explaining the policy is intended to reduce barriers while preserving incentives to return items.

Lovell addressed digital collections and costs, explaining the library participates in both Libby (a curated, statewide consortium) and Hoopla (a pay‑per‑use service). He said rising per‑use costs for Hoopla have prompted the Milwaukee County library system and its suburban partners to evaluate whether to phase Hoopla out and redirect funds to expanded Libby purchases; Lovell said 2026 is likely to be the last year some libraries keep Hoopla.

Looking ahead, Lovell outlined the library’s capital priorities should the municipal complex project include a library redesign: more and better‑sized study rooms, a quiet reading area, a local history room (in partnership with the Wauwatosa Historical Society), a larger storytime room for children, a dedicated young‑adult space, more flexible public meeting/classroom rooms, a makerspace (including donated 3D printers), improved power and data ports, family restrooms and a sensory room. He also emphasized accessibility upgrades such as lower shelving and wider aisles to move from minimum ADA compliance toward a more ADA‑friendly facility.

Alderman Folger asked whether any public details about capital discussions could be shared. Lovell said the Wauwatosa Public Library Foundation has been a strong supporter and would be prepared to assist in a capital fundraising campaign, and that library leadership has consulted with other Wisconsin libraries that have completed similar projects.

Committee members used the Q&A to seek follow‑up data: one member asked whether the library tracks age cohorts of cardholders to measure whether youth programming leads to lasting library use; Lovell said he did not have that breakdown on hand and suggested it as a follow‑up research item for future reports.

No formal motions or votes on capital work were taken at the meeting. The committee thanked Lovell and library staff and moved on to the council agenda; the Committee of the Whole adjourned without taking action on the library project.