About

The MCPL Foundation is an independent nonprofit that raises private funds to support the Marathon County Public Library. We help enhance library collections, programs, services, technology, and facilities—strengthening what public funding alone can’t cover.

We’ve listed the most common questions about library services and resources on this page. If you can’t find your question in this list of FAQs, please contact us.

With nine locations throughout Marathon County, Wisconsin, chances are there’s an MCPL near you! For immediate assistance (regardless of location), call 715-261-7200. You may also contact us by email, or dial 715-261-7209 for 24/7 automated assistance.

For immediate assistance, call MCPL Wausau at 715-261-7200 during the library’s hours of operation. For 24/7 account access, call 715-261-7209 or log in online. To contact a specific MCPL location by phone or mail, visit our locations page. Otherwise, you may use the contact form on this page.

News and updates from the Marathon County Public Library—the latest library news, reading suggestions, research tips and more. These contents also are shared in our social media, e-newsletter and print newsletter.

MCPL is a consolidated county library with nine locations throughout Marathon County, Wisconsin, including its Wausau headquarters and branches in Athens, Edgar, Hatley, Marathon City, Mosinee, Rothschild, Spencer and Stratford. MCPL is a member of and the resource library for the Wisconsin Valley Library Service, and it is a participant in the V-Cat consortium and the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium.

Thank you for your support of the Marathon County Public Library! We gratefully accept monetary donations through the MCPL Foundation and material donations through the Friends of MCPL.

Volunteer at Marathon County Public Library! Help with programs, events, and Homebound Services, or join the Friends of MCPL to support book sales and fundraising. Apply at any library location.

The Marathon County Public Library Board of Trustees—commonly known as the Library Board—operates under Chapter 43 of the Wisconsin Statutes. Per its bylaws, the Library Board has seven members: two members of Marathon Co. Board of Supervisors, one administrator of a Marathon Co. school district, and four representatives of the general public.

Friends of Marathon County Public Library is a nonprofit volunteer organization with the goal of promoting and improving library services in Marathon County, Wisconsin. These goals are funded via donations, membership fees, book sales and special fundraising events.

These documents outline how the library operates and serves the public, covering topics such as borrowing materials, access to services and spaces, technology and internet use, patron behavior, privacy, and the library’s responsibilities to the community.

The Marathon County Public Library is a member of Wisconsin Valley Library Service, a library system that serves 20+ public libraries throughout north-central Wisconsin. WVLS facilitates the online library catalog (V-Cat) shared by the public libraries in this system and provides libraries with technical, logistical and financial support.