The History of Whitefish Bay Public Library

Nearly 90 years ago, a small collection of books in a village hall basement planted the seeds for what would become one of Wisconsin's most beloved community institutions.

Since 1937, this library has outgrown two locations, weathered economic challenges, embraced the digital revolution, and continuously reinvented itself to serve the changing needs of Whitefish Bay residents.

The library's journey from a modest beginning to a thriving 21st-century hub mirrors the village's own evolution. As Whitefish Bay grew from a small suburb to a vibrant community of engaged residents, the library grew alongside it—sometimes struggling to keep pace with demand, but always supported by neighbors who understood that a library is far more than just a place to borrow books. It's where connections are made, where children discover the joy of reading, where seniors find companionship, and where the entire community gathers to learn and grow together.

Modest beginning in the depths of Village Hall

The year was 1937, and Whitefish Bay's population had swelled from just 512 residents at the turn of the century to nearly 10,000 people. The growing village needed a library, but resources were limited. Community leaders made it happen anyway, establishing the Whitefish Bay Public Library in the basement of the old Village Hall. This humble location would serve as the library's home for the first 18 years.

While detailed records from those early years remain scarce, the decision to create a public library during the Great Depression era speaks volumes about the community's priorities. Even in challenging economic times, Whitefish Bay residents recognized that access to books, information, and learning opportunities was essential to the community's vitality.

Eighteen years in a basement, then a building of their own

By 1955, the library had clearly outgrown its basement quarters. The village responded by constructing the first dedicated library building—a purpose-built facility designed to hold 32,000 items. This was a significant milestone, marking the library's transition from a makeshift space to a proper community institution with room to grow.

That first standalone building served faithfully for nearly half a century. Generations of Whitefish Bay children attended their first storytimes there. Students researched school projects among its stacks. Adults discovered new authors and ideas. The library became woven into the fabric of daily life in the village.

But as the decades passed, the building faced an increasingly familiar problem: success. The collection grew. Circulation numbers climbed. Community demand for services expanded. By the turn of the millennium, the library was bursting at the seams with 55,000 items stuffed into a space designed for only 32,000—nearly double its intended capacity. The message was clear: Whitefish Bay needed more library.

When the community rallies, growth follows

The story of the Whitefish Bay Public Library has always been inseparable from the story of community support. In 1982, a group of dedicated residents formalized that support by establishing the Friends of the Whitefish Bay Public Library. For more than 40 years now, the Friends have provided crucial financial and volunteer resources through book sales, memberships, and countless hours of donated time.

The Friends proved their worth immediately and continue to make a tangible difference today. They fund library programs, provide scholarships to local high school seniors, purchase furniture and technology, and support the beloved Summer Reading Program. Their semi-annual book sales have become community traditions, and their eBay store keeps donated books generating revenue year-round.

With the Friends providing advocacy and fundraising muscle, the library embarked on its most ambitious project yet. In June 2002, the expanded and remodeled library opened at its current location, 5420 North Marlborough Drive. The new facility was almost three times the size of the previous building—finally giving the collection, the programs, and the community room to breathe.

The 2002 building transformed not just the library's capacity but its identity. Where the old building had been cramped and overcrowded, the new space featured vaulted ceilings trimmed with wood, Frank Lloyd Wright-style light fixtures, study rooms, expansive public spaces, and dedicated areas for community gatherings. The architecture itself made a statement: this library was designed to welcome, inspire, and serve.

The people behind the pages

Every institution is shaped by the people who dedicate themselves to its mission. Current Library Director Nyama Reed, who has led the library since January 2014, holds the distinction of being the second longest-serving director since the library's founding. Under her leadership, the library has modernized its services, expanded programming, and strengthened its position as a community cornerstone. Reed's influence extends beyond Whitefish Bay—she served as President of the Wisconsin Library Association in 2022 and remains active in state and national library leadership.

The library's staff brings remarkable longevity and dedication. Irina Margulis has been serving patrons since 1999. Steve Lenski joined in 2012 and manages not just adult programming but the library's social media presence—helping the institution connect with residents online as well as in person. Valerie Morris has been delighting children with storytimes and science programs since 2012. This continuity matters; when staff members stay for years or even decades, they become part of the community fabric, remembering patrons' preferences and watching children grow up.

Behind the scenes, the library board and foundation volunteers provide strategic guidance and long-term planning. The Whitefish Bay Public Library Foundation, established in 2021, represents the community's commitment to the library's future. Through an endowment managed by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, the Foundation aims to raise $2.5 million to enhance library offerings for generations to come.

Perhaps no individual better exemplifies the library's role as keeper of community memory than Mimi Bird. A Whitefish Bay resident since age four, Bird spent years meticulously documenting the village's history through photographs, clippings, and careful research. She donated her extraordinary collection—39 volumes of historical materials—to the library, where it was digitized in 2016 thanks to donations from the Bird family, community members, and local organizations. The Mimi Bird Historical Collection now serves researchers and curious residents alike, preserving stories that might otherwise have been lost to time.

Reinventing the library for the digital age

The most dramatic evolution in the library's history may be the one happening right now. While the physical expansion of 2002 was crucial, the library's transformation from a books-only lending institution to a comprehensive community resource hub represents an even more fundamental shift.

The library's tagline says it all: "Established 1937. Re-established every day." That philosophy means continuously adapting to serve modern needs while honoring the core mission of connecting people with ideas and information.

Today's library offers services that would have seemed like science fiction to those founding members in 1937. Patrons can access thousands of e-books and e-audiobooks through the CountyCat system. They can stream movies through Kanopy and music through Hoopla. They can learn new skills through Gale Courses, get homework help through Brainfuse tutoring services, research their family history on Ancestry.com, and even take advantage of 24/7 outdoor hold pickup lockers when the building is closed.

The collection itself has expanded beyond books to include what staff call the Library of Things—non-traditional items that enrich community life. The Seed Library lets gardeners share plant varieties. Museum passes grant access to 24 institutions across Wisconsin and Illinois. Take and Tinker kits provide hands-on learning experiences for curious minds of all ages.

Programming has exploded in variety and reach. Children attend weekly storytimes and arts programs. Teens gather for Dungeons & Dragons sessions and serve on the Teen Advisory Board. Adults choose from multiple book clubs, author visits, historical presentations, technology help sessions, and the delightfully creative Edible Book Festival, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2025. Family programs like monthly Bingo Night and the Great Whitefish Bay Puzzle Race bring generations together.

This evolution reflects a broader reimagining of what a public library can be. As library leadership notes, "A library that is just about lending books seems so last century." Instead, the Whitefish Bay Public Library defines its mission as "connecting all people, inspiring a love of learning and providing easy access to ideas, information and resources." That mission plays out in study rooms where students tackle homework, in staff members helping seniors navigate new technology, in storytimes that foster a lifelong love of reading, and in countless quiet moments when a patron finds exactly the book or resource they need.

A continuing story of community connection

The Whitefish Bay Public Library's history is fundamentally a story about a community's values. Three times—in 1937, 1955, and 2002—the residents of Whitefish Bay made substantial commitments to ensure their library could serve current and future generations. They established the Friends organization to provide ongoing support. They created a Foundation to secure the library's long-term future. They've volunteered countless hours, donated generously, and shown up consistently to use and celebrate their library.

The physical building at 5420 North Marlborough Drive, now more than two decades old, continues to evolve with ongoing maintenance and upgrades, including a major roof replacement project in 2025. But the building is just the vessel. The real library consists of the staff members who know patrons by name, the volunteers who sort books for sales, the children discovering their first favorite author, the teens finding community in gaming sessions, the adults exploring new ideas in book clubs, and the seniors accessing services that keep them connected and engaged.

From a basement collection to a bustling modern hub, the Whitefish Bay Public Library has grown alongside its community for nearly 90 years. The specifics have changed—from card catalogs to computerized systems, from limited hours to 24/7 outdoor pickup, from books-only to multimedia collections. But the heart of the institution remains constant: a belief that knowledge should be accessible, that community matters, and that a library can genuinely make a difference in people's lives.

That founding vision from 1937 is indeed re-established every single day—in every book checked out, every program attended, every question answered, every connection made. The Whitefish Bay Public Library isn't just preserving history; it's actively creating it, one patron interaction at a time.

Looking forward while honoring the past

As the library moves toward its 100th anniversary in 2037, it does so with strong foundations—both literally and figuratively. The building is sound. The staff is dedicated. The Friends and Foundation provide robust support. The community remains deeply engaged. Most importantly, the library continues to embrace its role not as a static repository of books but as a dynamic force for learning, connection, and community building.

The next chapter of the Whitefish Bay Public Library story is being written now, shaped by current staff, board members, volunteers, and patrons. If the first 88 years offer any indication, that chapter will be marked by adaptation, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to serving the community's evolving needs—all while staying true to the vision of those founders who believed a small village hall basement could house something truly valuable: access to knowledge and the connections that knowledge creates.