Written by Chad Dally
In an effort to provide more consistency and uniformity across its 9 locations, the Marathon County Public Library (MCPL) will change its hours of operation starting January 12, 2020, to include a balance of morning, afternoon, and evening hours.
The library’s Board of Trustees in October 2019 unanimously approved the changes, which were based on factors such as hourly circulation and door counts, staffing and safety issues, public and staff surveys, and comparisons with other libraries in Wisconsin and elsewhere in the United States.
See below for a full breakdown of the hours by location, but here are a few key things to keep in mind if you’re wondering about your next trip to the library after January 12, 2020:
- Depending on the location and day of the week, our 8 branch libraries (i.e., this does NOT include the Wausau headquarters) will be open various days either from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, and all 8 branches will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday. Also, branches were paired up to coordinate hours and because patrons who completed surveys expressed a willingness to travel to other branches outside their home community. For example, our Spencer and Stratford branches were paired together so that when the Spencer Branch closes at 4 p.m., Stratford will be open until 7 p.m. (and vice-versa). Patrons who need library services can make the short drive between the two.
- All 8 branches will be open on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.! We really think the public will enjoy the opportunity to stop by over the weekend to pick up a book or two, maybe check out a movie for a date night, or use a public computer or wi-fi.
- The library’s Wausau headquarters will close at 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Its Friday and Saturday hours will stay the same, but Wausau’s library will no longer be open on Sunday.
We recognize that the new hours may take some getting used to, but we’re confident that the majority of our patrons will appreciate the change and the consistency it brings to the way we operate throughout the county.
A few events will need to meet at new times, but we still will offer great programming like story times, movies, author readings, and much more, as well as providing access to public computers with internet/wi-fi at all 9 locations. And remember, the 8 MCPL branches recently began to leave their public wi-fi turned on even when the library is closed. This means that late at night or very early in the morning, the library’s free wi-fi can be utilized from the library’s parking lot via your laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Learn more about that recent wi-fi change here.)
If you have any questions about the new hours and if a favorite activity of yours will be affected by the upcoming changes, please contact your local library. Respective phone numbers and new hours are listed below.
New MCPL Hours Starting January 12, 2020
MCPL ATHENS – 715-257-7292
Mon: 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Tue: 1 p.m.– 7 p.m.
Wed: 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Thu: 1 p.m.– 7 p.m.
Fri: 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Sat: 10 a.m.– 2 p.m.
Sun: Closed
MCPL EDGAR – 715-352-3155
Mon: 1 p.m.– 7 p.m.
Tue: 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Wed: 1 p.m.– 7 p.m.
Thu: 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Fri: 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Sat: 10 a.m.– 2 p.m.
Sun: Closed
MCPL HATLEY – 715-446-3537
Mon: 1 p.m.– 7 p.m.
Tue: 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Wed: 1 p.m.– 7 p.m.
Thu: 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Fri: 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Sat: 10 a.m.– 2 p.m.
Sun: Closed
MCPL MARATHON CITY – 715-443-2775
Mon: 1 p.m.– 7 p.m.
Tue: 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Wed: 1 p.m.– 7 p.m.
Thu: 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Fri: 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Sat: 10 a.m.– 2 p.m.
Sun: Closed
Drive-thru hours: During regular business hours
MCPL MOSINEE – 715-693-2144
Mon: 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Tue: 1 p.m.– 7 p.m.
Wed: 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Thu: 1 p.m.– 7 p.m.
Fri: 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Sat: 10 a.m.– 2 p.m.
Sun: Closed
MCPL ROTHSCHILD – 715-359-6208
Mon: 10 a.m.– 7 p.m.
Tue: 10 a.m.– 7 p.m.
Wed: 10 a.m.– 7 p.m.
Thu: 10 a.m.– 7 p.m.
Fri: 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Sat: 10 a.m.– 2 p.m.
Sun: Closed
MCPL SPENCER – 715-659-3996
Mon: 1 p.m.– 7 p.m.
Tue: 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Wed: 1 p.m.– 7 p.m.
Thu: 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Fri: 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Sat: 10 a.m.– 2 p.m.
Sun: Closed
MCPL STRATFORD – 715-687-4420
Mon: 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Tue: 1 p.m.– 7 p.m.
Wed: 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Thu: 1 p.m.– 7 p.m.
Fri: 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Sat: 10 a.m.– 2 p.m.
Sun: Closed
MCPL WAUSAU – 715-261-7200
Mon: 9 a.m.– 8 p.m.
Tue: 9 a.m.– 8 p.m.
Wed: 9 a.m.– 8 p.m.
Thu: 9 a.m.– 8 p.m.
Fri: 9 a.m.– 5 p.m.
Sat: 9 a.m.– 5 p.m.
Sun: Closed
Drive-thru hours: Mon.–Fri., 9:00 a.m .– 5:00 p.m.
Chad Dally
Library Specialist | Marathon County Public Library
Chad Dally is a library specialist with the Marathon County Public Library, where he’s worked since 2012. He splits his time at the library between reference and programming, and generally prefers to read nonfiction over fiction. Email Chad Dally
You might also like…
- The Marathon County Literacy Council :: Helping Others Obtain the Power of Reading
- “I’m Glad You Asked . . .” The Top-5 Questions People Ask Staff of the Marathon County PUBLIC LIBRARY
- Guiding Our Economic Future by Enhancing High-Speed, Broadband Internet Access in Rural Marathon County
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