Marathon County Public Library

April 15, 2019

The sight of melting snow, budding trees and blooming flowers are all signs that spring is here, and the Marathon County Public Library (MCPL) has one more hallmark to add to the mix! For the second year in a row, MCPL will offer Trail Tales, an interactive outdoor reading experience that families can enjoy together as the temperatures get warmer and folks head outdoors. From April 22 through May 20, kids and families will have the opportunity to walk along the scenic River Edge Trail in downtown Wausau and read the pages of two children’s books that will be posted along the way. The trail will run north-to-south from Kickbusch Plaza (which begins behind MCPL’s Wausau Headquarters) to the River Life...

March 21, 2019

Marathon County's Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department is responsible for maintaining over 60 parks, trails, forest units and recreational facilities across Marathon County. These properties include Marathon Park, Wausau's outdoor pools, the Dells of the Eau Claire Park, Sylvan Hill, The 400 Block, Mountain-Bay Trail and other scenic gems around the area.  Through April 14, the Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department is conducting a public survey of park and recreational facilities as part of an update to the County’s Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. As a valued member of the community, you're invited to take an online survey that will let the County know what you think...

February 6, 2019

Are you a local high school graduate who wouldn't mind parting with your high school yearbook? Or are you helping a family member de-clutter and have some yearbooks to get rid of? The Marathon County Public Library might want them! MCPL’s Wausau Headquarters houses a large collection of local high school yearbooks, including the Wausau East (formerly Wausau High School) Wahiscan, Wausau West Aurora, Newman High School Cardinal (formerly The Red Hat), the D.C. Everest Everette, and Faith Christian Academy annual. In addition, our Marathon City Branch has a limited collection of the Marathon High School Fleetfoot, and our Mosinee Branch also recently acquired a small collection of the Mosinee High School...

January 2, 2019

After the success of last year's first-ever Martin Luther King Jr. "Day On," all Marathon County Public Library locations will be closed on Monday, January 21, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. In addition, most other county agencies and offices will also be closed. Like last year, this MLK Day won’t be a day off for library staff and other county employees. Instead, the county has put together a  “day on” inservice so that county employees can attend various different educational programs based around the ideals promoted by Dr. King. These many seminars, workshops and talks revolve around Dr. King’s teachings of diversity, non-violence and poverty. Highlights of this...

September 26, 2018

From September 24 through September 28, the Marathon County Public Library is honoring Wisconsin veterans with a temporary exhibit at its Spencer Branch. The exhibit, called Wisconsin Remembers: A Face for Every Name is a traveling exhibit that features the name and photo of over 1,600 Wisconsin veterans who served in the Vietnam War.  The photos featured on the traveling memorial wall also appear on the official Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. “Sometimes, it is more than just doing a program. This one hits home to many,” said Audrey Kohlbeck, Spencer Branch Coordinator, who arranged for the traveling wall to come to Spencer. To commemorate this weeklong tribute, the...

July 7, 2018

Next weekend finds us smack dab in the middle of summer and time for Wausau’s annual “Big Weekend,” consisting of Wausau Events’ Balloon & Rib Fest and Chalkfest. This event has been held every year for the past 15 years and has become a staple of summertime in Wausau. Hundreds of artists will work tirelessly in the heat (and sometimes in some rain showers) to work on their creations, adorning downtown Wausau’s 400 Block with cartoon characters, celebrity portraits, inspiring messages and more. Registration for this year’s Chalkfest has already sold out, as it often does. But if you want to work on your skills for next year’s event (or just see what you can do on your own driveway or sidewalk), check...

March 21, 2018

In a few short weeks, Marathon County's Conservation, Planning and Zoning Department will begin the installation phase of its new Uniform Addressing System, which will change more than 20,000 address county-wide. In anticipation of the project's tentative April 9 start date, the county will begin sending out a staggered mailing of Official Notices to property owners whose addresses will be changing as a result of the project. Official Notices will be mailed in a series of batches between late March and November, beginning on the east side of the county and moving west. Property owners will receive the notice a few weeks before sign installation is set to begin in their...

March 14, 2018

There is a lot going on at your library! The Friends of the Library have moved into their new digs in the old bookmobile garage, and their first book sale was a huge success. The Friends made the transition very smoothly, and we look forward to their being able to enjoy the new room for years to come as they raise money to help the library provide its programs.  On another note, the LENA Project will be gearing up in February and March of this year. The library will be hosting and facilitating this important community collaboration designed to help parents of children aged birth to three years old with the critical brain development that centers around language. There are multiple community...

February 14, 2018

Today is Valentine's Day, and love is in the air!  Over the past few weeks, we've been asking adults at our nine library locations and online to tell us what love means to them in six words or less. Folks were limited to a total of three entries per person and could write about any kind of love - love for a friend or family member, significant other, pet, hobby, song, food, inanimate object, etc. We received 16 entries in total, and originally planned on picking our favorites but...we couldn't! We liked all of your entries so much that you're all winners in our book. Read the submitted entries below and put a little love in your heart!   Attentive devoted loving care given faithfully! –...

February 5, 2018

Our Athens Branch's Fiber Arts group recently collaborated on an art blanket to be donated to Aid Africa's Children charity. Local resident Darlene Strack crocheted the blanket and her fellow Fiber Arts group members supplied the yarn and inspired the theme "Four Seasons Farm Field." Every week, the group and other library patrons looked forward to having input on the progress of the design. In addition, Athens Branch Library Coordinator and poet, Dawn Anderson, supported the effort by writing a poem to showcase the symbolism of each row and color in the blanket. The poem is as follows: Four Seasons Farm Field It begins. Spring earth Rich as...

January 23, 2018

If you happen to receive a postcard in the mail like the one pictured here, you're one of the more than 20,000 Marathon County residents who will receive a new address as part of Marathon County's new Uniform Addressing System. This means that later this year (between April and November 2018), residents, business owners and landowners in 41 different Marathon County municipalities will receive a new six-digit uniform address, with a goal of helping emergency services provide the right service to the right place at the right time.  Some residents may feel overwhelmed by the fact they will be receiving a new address, but Marathon County is committed to helping people through this change....

January 19, 2018

The first three years of a child's life are vital to brain development. Children from birth onward learn through talking, singing, reading, and playing. During these interactions, children learn how the world works, acquire vocabulary, stimulate different parts of their brain, as well as many other benefits. While this may seem easy enough, some caregivers may simply not be talking enough or using a variety of words to build a child’s brain! This is where LENA Start can benefit many children in our community. LENA stands for Learning ENvironment Analysis. The LENA System measures the early language environment of children ages birth to 32 months. Using a “talk pedometer” that children wear in a...

January 2, 2018

All Marathon County Public Library locations will be closed on Monday, January 15, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. But this MLK Day won’t be a day off for library staff and other county employees. Instead, the county has organized a “day on” where county offices and agencies will be closed so that its employees can attend a number of educational programs based around the ideals promoted by Dr. King. The programs will revolve around Dr. King’s teachings of diversity, non-violence and poverty. Planned speakers for the day include Stan Davis, owner of the Davis Group of Wisconsin and former Chief of Staff to former Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle; as well as county employees with specialized...

November 21, 2017

Thanksgiving is just two days away, with many people gathering their ingredients, digging out their family recipes and planning their trips home.  But some community members aren't fortunate enough to have the financial resources for a Thanksgiving meal, or to have a place to spend the holiday. Luckily, there are handful of generous organizations and establishments that will offer free Thanksgiving meals during certain hours on November 22 and 23. The organizations and businesses offering these meals are spread across Wausau and its surrounding communities, making them easy to access no matter which part of the city you reside in.   Blue Willow Cafe  Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.,...

October 24, 2017

In February 2016, the Marathon County Board adopted policy to implement a Uniform Addressing system. Instead of the current 10 rural address grids that contain duplicate or similar addresses, there will now be a Uniform Addressing grid, which will enable public agencies — especially emergency services — to provide the right service to the right place at the right time. Currently, 43 municipalities have joined together to partner in the county’s Uniform Addressing Project. Participating municipalities can be viewed at the current status map available at: http://mymarathoncountyaddress.org (if you reside in a town or if you live in the Village of...

August 25, 2017

We’ve recently completed our months-long Pennies for a Cause campaign at the library’s Wausau Headquarters! The campaign, which ran 6/12-8/12 in the children’s area, gave kids and parents the chance to donate coins to be given to a local charitable organization. With each donation, folks also voted for which organization they wanted to receive the money. And now, the votes are in! Nearly $100 was raised throughout the summer and will be donated to the Humane Society of Marathon County, which garnered the most votes, with a total of 54! Runners up include New Life Pet Adoption Center, which received 43 votes, and Stable Hands Equine Therapy Center, with 29 votes. MCPL sincerely thanks all of the generous...

August 10, 2017

The Marathon County Public Library is working with other community partners to present the first-ever Central Wisconsin Book Festival, starting Friday, September 29, and continuing through September 30 with a diverse lineup of events. The festival begins Friday night with “Fact or Fiction,” a live and interactive storytelling event at the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) in Wausau. Other events include, but aren’t limited to, a presentation on early childhood literacy from Dr. Dipesh Navsaria, a conversation with comic writer and artist Tim Seeley and a discussion about Alzheimer’s disease with former Wisconsin governor Martin Schreiber, who recently co-authored a book on Alzheimer’s care and whose wife is...

July 26, 2017

Now that Wausau's city council has voted to allow chickens within the city limits, local residents may be wondering just exactly how to make their dreams of backyard poultry a reality. Well, first things first, we recommend you read the actual ordinance (8.08.012, page 10) and make sure what you're planning aligns with what is permitted in your area. And for those of you in other Marathon County municipalities who are curious about owning chickens, we can point you to the ordinances that may affect you; just contact us at the Reference Desk. Then, when you're ready, check out some of the books offered by your local Marathon County Public Library on the topic of raising chickens, some of which...

June 16, 2017

The kids are out of school, the temperatures are rising and summer is finally upon us! June, July and August are always busy months here at the Marathon County Public Library (and just about everywhere else), with a full calendar of events and activities to attend throughout the summer. We have plenty on our plate with our annual Summer Library Program offerings, with many of our events corresponding with other events and holidays happening across Marathon County. While it’s far from a complete guide, take a look at some of the crossover events we have planned for the coming months in relation to other popular events happening this summer in your community! Celebrate the USA Story Time Tue., 6/27/17...

April 19, 2017

Staff of the Marathon County Public Library celebrated the opening of their newly-completed Wausau Community Room on April 5. Located on the second floor of the library's Wausau Headquarters, the community room was built to allow for easier patron access and to replace the library's third floor meeting room. Library Director Ralph Illick cut the ceremonius ribbon at the unveiling, which was organized by the Wausau Region Chamber of Commerce and was attended by library staff, Marathon County Administrator Brad Karger, employees of the Wisconsin Valley Library Service, members of the Marathon County Board and library board, members of the MCPL Foundation, volunteers from the Friends of Marathon...

July 17, 2016

With great disappointment, today I announce that the Marathon County Public Library will no longer seek to host the Children’s Museum of Marathon County (CMMC) on its third floor. The final report on the weight capacity for the third floor has been completed by FEH Design, and their conclusions for required revisions are too costly to support having a museum occupy that space. This is most unfortunate, as the partnership between the library and CMMC was full of great potential for providing hands on STEM focused and educational experiences throughout our county. Although we will no longer be co-located, we share the desire to bring a new level of interactive and fun learning to our community. The CMMC will...

November 17, 2011

Religious practices have been important since humans first pondered the mysteries of the cosmos. The unique architecture of American cathedrals, chapels, synagogues and  mosques now  represent many faiths.  Changing seasons bring a host of religious celebrations with beautiful artwork,  music, tasty food and artifacts.   As a community center providing access to ideas, the library shall present a series of lobby displays about the major religions practiced in America.   A special  exhibit to instruct about Islam was assembled by international students from the Northcentral Technical College.  We will  follow up with...

February 28, 2010

The Friends of the Marathon County Public Library Team, the "Dewey Decimals", took home the gold Sunday at the Marathon County Literacy Council’s 6th annual Adult Spelling Bee. They won by spelling the final two words "muskeg" and "brolly" correctly.  Competing with them for the top spot was Aspirus Hospital’s team, "Word Warriors",  who received second place. Nine teams competed, had fun, and helped fund the work of the  Literacy Council, to improve literacy in Marathon County. Other teams competing were DC Everest, Wausau Early Bird Rotary, Greater Wausau Evening Kiwanis, Wausau Noon Optimists, "Birds and Bees", Marathon County Retired Educators, and "We Bee Spielers...

February 26, 2010

The Dewey Decimals, the Library's own spelling bee team, is matching their spelling prowess against other area teams this Saturday, February 27 in the Marathon County Literacy Council's Adult Spelling Bee.  Due to the efforts and generosity of the Friends of the Marathon County Public Library, the Library is able to support the Literacy Council's important work and have fun. Come and cheer on the Dewey Decimals!  The Spelling Bee is being held at the Health Sciences Building, Northcentral Technical College (directions here).  The Bee starts at 1:00pm and is free.  Food is available and raffles will be held.  Come and join us.

February 18, 2010

Teams are ready and waiting to spell their hearts out at the Marathon County Literacy Council’s Spelling Bee on Saturday, February 27.   And yes, this includes a team from the Marathon County Public Library.  Our Library Team, staff members Chris and Alissa, and Friends member Bill Dovenbarger are ready to match their spelling knowledge against other area teams in this fun event.  The annual Marathon County Literacy Council’s 6th annual Adult Spelling Bee is Saturday, February 27, 1:00-4:00pm at the Health Science Building, Northcentral Technical College.  The Spelling Bee is the annual fund raiser that helps support the important work of the Marathon County Literacy Council to...

July 9, 2009

Yes, the Marathon County Public Library has its very own pig.  We are participating with other Wausau downtown businesses and Wausau Area Events in celebration of the Big Bull Falls BBQ Ribfest "Pigs on Parade",  in conjuction with all the other activities this weekend.  It promises to be a fun-filled weekend with the hot air balloon rally, Chalk Fest, kayak races, RibFest,  and of course the Pig Parade. Our very talented staff painted our pig and outfitted him with his very own hot air ballon so that he is ready and waiting for the hot air balloon rally.  See our pig here at the library thru Saturday.  On Saturday afternoon he will take his place with the other...

April 22, 2009

Mosinee Branch Library (pictured here) will be part of  the Mosinee Business & Community Expo on April 29th from 3:30-6:30pm. This event will be held at the Mosinee Recreational Center on 11th Street which will showcase Mosinee businesses and community groups. This event is free to the public. Stop by and see us.