The Marathon County Public Library (MCPL) is a member of the Wisconsin Valley Library Service (WVLS), a library system made up of many other libraries throughout north-central Wisconsin (map).

WVLS facilitates the online library catalog (V-Cat) shared by the public libraries in this system and provides libraries with logistical and financial support.

Additional information about WVLS:

• Founded: August 1961

• Director: Marla Sepnafski

• Website: www.wvls.org

• Address: 300 North First St., Wausau, WI 54403 (WVLS rents space from the Marathon County Public Library.)

• Phone: 715-261-7251

• Fax: 715-261-7259

• Area served: 7,360 square miles including the north central Wisconsin counties of Clark, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida and Taylor.

• Population served: 283,589 (2019 municipal/extended county population)

• Number of libraries: Service is provided to 25 public libraries, plus school, academic and non-public libraries, across the seven-county service area.

• Governance: WVLS operates under Chapter 43 of the Wisconsin Statutes and is governed by a 15-member Board of Trustees. Each participating county has at least one member on the board; the rest are allocated according to population. Trustees are appointed by the Chairs of the County Boards of Supervisors.

• Budget & funding: For the most current information, visit www.wvls.org/budget-resources.

• Major services: Online library catalog administration, collective purchasing, internet access, technical expertise and support, online resources/databases, courier service, consultant service, continuing education and training for library personnel and trustees.

• Staff: For the most current information, visit www.wvls.org/contact-hours.

• State view: WVLS is one of 16 library systems in Wisconsin. Systems range in size from one to 10 counties.