North Shore Library's New Bayside Home Opens Feb. 2026

The North Shore Library will open its brand-new 24,000-square-foot facility at 711 Grace St, Suite 112, in Bayside, Wisconsin on Monday, February 2, 2026—delivering 50% more space, abundant natural light, and family-focused amenities that transform this beloved community institution. After nearly 40 years in an aging, mostly underground Glendale building, families across Bayside, Fox Point, Glendale, and River Hills will finally have a modern library designed for 21st-century learning, play, and connection. A grand opening celebration will follow in mid-March 2026.

A bright, modern space

The contrast between old and new couldn't be more striking. The former Glendale location at 6800 N. Port Washington Road—built in 1986 with approximately 16,000 square feet of mostly underground space—had no green space, limited natural light, and an increasingly outdated design. The new Bayside facility occupies the entire ground floor of The Symphony, a mixed-use building within the $84 million OneNorth development at the northwest corner of Brown Deer Road and Port Washington Road.

Milwaukee-based architectural firm RINKA (led by Matt Rinka, designer of iconic buildings like The Couture and The Moderne) created a space intended to "redefine the library as a dynamic learning destination and community hub." The design emphasizes open, connected layouts flooded with natural light, first-floor access from all sides, and seamless indoor-outdoor connections to an adjacent plaza. Flexible furniture and moveable bookshelves allow spaces to adapt for everything from story time to community presentations.

Key new amenities families will appreciate include a drive-thru window for quick pickups, a 24-hour exterior gathering space accessible even when the library is closed, cozy reading nooks throughout, and significantly more study rooms for tutoring and homework. The building features wireless internet connectivity and power outlets throughout, addressing the modern reality that libraries serve as community workspaces.

The Sharon La Macchia Children's Section anchors family programming

For families with young children, the new library's crown jewel is the Sharon La Macchia Children's Section—a dedicated children's area funded by a $1 million donation from the La Macchia family. This purpose-built space features constructive play areas where kids can explore hands-on learning elements, caregiver-child engagement zones designed for interactive discovery, and a dedicated story time area for the library's popular programming.

A separate gaming area aims to spark creativity and fun for younger patrons, while the design incorporates elements specifically chosen to promote social interaction and early literacy development. Unlike the cramped quarters of the old facility, the new children's section provides room for multiple activities simultaneously—critical for busy Saturday mornings when families descend for story time and browsing.

The library's Explore Passes program offers particularly valuable perks for Milwaukee-area families. With a library card, families can check out free admission passes (3-day loan periods) to:

• Betty Brinn Children's Museum: Admission for up to 6 guests plus parking discount

• Milwaukee Art Museum: 4 adults plus children 17 and under, with 10% off dining/shopping

• Schlitz Audubon Nature Center: 2 adults plus all children under 17, with free parking and snowshoe rentals

• Mitchell Park Domes: All household members admitted free

• Harley-Davidson Museum: 2 adults plus children under 17, with 50% off additional tickets

Teens get their own dedicated space

Teenagers—often underserved by traditional library designs—receive dedicated attention in the new facility. The teen-specific area provides an attractive, engaging environment separate from both children's and adult sections, complete with gaming opportunities and programming designed for young adults ages 12-18.

The library's annual Summer Reading Challenge through the Beanstack platform offers separate tracks for children (birth through 11, with an 800-minute reading goal) and teens (ages 12-18, targeting 1,200 minutes). Both programs feature weekly Reading Bingo sheets, book review opportunities, prizes, and grand prize drawings—giving families structure and incentives for summer learning.

Technology and the "Share Shed"

Beyond traditional book lending, the new facility emphasizes robust technology throughout. Public computers, printing, and scanning services continue, while digitization services allow patrons to convert VHS tapes, film, slides, photos, and cassette tapes to modern formats—either using library equipment or circulating digitization kits families can take home.

The library's extensive digital resources accessible with a free card include Transparent Language Online (100+ languages), Advanced Placement Source for high school students, Literary Reference Center, and Gale Courses for professional development. For struggling readers, Reading Horizons provides online tutoring for Milwaukee County residents, while Literacy Services of Wisconsin offers in-person adult tutoring through the library.

The quirky Share Shed collection lets cardholders borrow non-traditional items: board games from classics like Scrabble to modern hits like Ticket to Ride and Dixit (1-week loans); lawn games including bocce ball, cornhole, and ladder toss; a telescope for stargazing; portable DVD players perfect for road trips; and practical items like electricity usage meters and canning tool sets.

Community spaces and meeting rooms

The new library includes a dedicated community room for events and presentations, expanded study rooms for tutoring and small group work, and the innovative 24-hour gathering space that remains accessible even outside library hours. A Friends of the North Shore Library alcove provides space for the organization's ongoing book sales.

The Friends organization—a 501(c)(3) supporting the library—funds numerous family programs including the Summer Library Program, the Lucky Day popular materials collection, circulating digitization kits, and the Explore Passes. They hold semi-annual book sales each spring and fall, with ongoing sales at the library year-round, and accept book donations (excluding magazines, textbooks, encyclopedias, and VHS).

A 47-year journey

The North Shore Library's history reflects decades of suburban collaboration. In 1979, Bayside and Fox Point joined forces to create the Fox Point-Bayside Library in just 5,000 square feet of leased space at Stormonth School, with a grand opening on January 20, 1980. By 1982, the space proved inadequate. In 1985, Glendale and River Hills joined the partnership, and Cardinal Stritch College sold land for a purpose-built facility.

The North Shore Library officially opened May 18, 1986 at 6800 N. Port Washington Road in Glendale with approximately 20,000 square feet. That building served the four communities for nearly 40 years before age and design limitations made replacement essential. Today the library holds 126,555 volumes, circulates 336,036 items annually, and serves 25,485 residents across the four municipalities as part of the Milwaukee County Federated Library System (MCFLS).

Overcoming significant funding challenges

The new library represents an $8.2 to $9.5 million investment (figures vary by source depending on what's included). Groundbreaking occurred May 10, 2023, with The Symphony building shell completed by August 2024. The old Glendale location closed December 12, 2025 to allow staff to prepare for the move.

Funding came from multiple sources: Bayside Development Partners II (Cobalt Partners) contributed a $4 million building shell donation; the La Macchia family gave $1 million for the children's section; U.S. Representative Gwen Moore secured a $500,000 federal earmark; and Cardinal Stritch donated approximately $500,000 worth of library equipment and furniture. A capital campaign called "Building a Better North Shore Together," co-chaired by former MLB Commissioner Allan "Bud" Selig and philanthropist Marianne Lubar, raised additional community support.

Despite these contributions, approximately $2.4 million in funding gaps required intervention from the four municipalities, which approved cost-sharing agreements in May 2025. An ongoing dispute with the North Shore Library Foundation—which allegedly holds approximately $800,000 in donations it has refused to release—added complexity to the project's final stages.

Library leadership celebrates

Library Director Rhonda Gould emphasized the cooperative spirit behind the project: "It's a wonderful example of how four different communities—River Hills, Glendale, Bayside, and Fox Point—can come together and work toward one shared goal."

Bayside Village President Eido Walny expressed enthusiasm for the transformation: "I am extremely excited to see that corner get new life. It's going to be a great addition to not only Bayside, but the surrounding communities as well." He also praised the developer's contribution: "We're grateful that Bayside Development Partners II has stepped up with such a generous gift, which will enable us to continue the library's mission of providing the education, knowledge, tools and community spaces that are so important to our area."

Developer Scott Yauck of Cobalt Partners framed the library as central to the OneNorth vision: "We want this development to be a hub of activity in the community and having a library here will add to its liveliness and serve the area's long-standing need to upgrade the community library."

Campaign co-chair Marianne Lubar, a longtime Bayside resident, captured the democratic essence of public libraries: "Libraries are the most democratic institutions in the world. Everyone is welcome, help is available in almost any area of life and the rules are the same for everyone."

Hours, location, and getting there

The new library at 711 Grace St, Suite 112, Bayside, WI 53217 will operate Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Sunday hours may be confirmed closer to opening). The location is accessible via MCTS Route 68 (Port Washington Road) and Route 88 (Brown Deer Road), with a bus stop approximately one minute's walk from the entrance.

The first-floor location with access from all sides represents a significant accessibility improvement over the underground Glendale facility. Specific parking arrangements for library visitors within the OneNorth development have not yet been detailed publicly, though the adjacent Symphony Apartments building includes underground parking for residents.

Conclusion: A new chapter

The February 2, 2026 opening marks more than a change of address—it represents a fundamental reimagining of what the North Shore Library can offer its community. Families gain a children's section designed from the ground up for interactive learning, teens receive dedicated space that acknowledges their distinct needs, and everyone benefits from modern technology, flexible community spaces, and the simple pleasure of natural light streaming through windows.

The mid-March grand opening celebration will provide the community's formal welcome, but February 2 marks when families can begin writing their own stories in this new chapter. For North Shore families who've watched construction progress from groundbreaking to finished building, the wait is nearly over.