Writing a review for a library is amusing to me. I've always been a library lid, I worked in public libraries for quite some time and now I teach about public libraries in an master of library and information science program. But obviously not all public libraries are the same. I've been meaning to visit this library since I moved to Milwauke, but I never made it happen. So, I was delighted that the Tosa Library was very close to my last errand of the day which happened to be in Wauwatosa. Such a lovely, sunlit space with creative and quirky art that refected this community. I roamed the teen, children's, and adult sections and was delighted to encounter helpful staff in each section. A true highlight and community asset of Tosa! read more

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Always love this library. It is generally easy to get into and out if you're in a hurry. The staff are very friendly, helpful and patient with some folks who just want to sit and talk. They have great recommendations and have different areas throughout for you to try something new. Don't forget they also have passes to museums, the zoo, etc that you can rent out, too! read more

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We love Wauwatosa Public Library. They have the most friendly and helpful staff. Kids area bathrooms are so cute. I love the kids activity room so cool! read more

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I really enjoy going to this library for some quiet time! My husband works mostly from home and sometimes when he gets bored at home, he hours to the library and stories I go with him. This library is bigger than it looks from the outside. The upstairs has an adults and a children's sections. There's also a long table and chalkboard outside the stilts section that's good for small group studying. The adults section has a ton of seating areas including private study rooms, comfy couches, and more traditional cubicles and desks/chairs. Their book selection is great and if they don't have something, chances are they can get it from one of the other libraries. Their online portal is easy to navigate and requesting books is so convenient! They also have some art on the first floor. Overall exactly what you'd want from a library! read more

I was there today picking up books with my daughter And the lady with braces and eye glasses was helping a women with something. I cant NOT believe there are people working at the library with so many anger issues and rude communication skills. The lady she was helping just walked away from her I am Assuming due to her tone of voice. So the lady with the glasses behind the desk just started speaking to her loudly, and saying "whats wrong with you, Iam just trying to help ypu!" "I dont know what you want me to do with these videos??" "Do you want to check them out, I don't understand what you are doing" It was clear to me the women who walked away didnt want to spoken down to in a fanatical angry tone of voice by someone who is working behind a customer service desk. The women finally said "retuning" after the women with the glasses kept talking. The the lady with the glasses actually said "how Iam I suppose to know" Which is strange cause all she had to do is scan them and it would be clear to her. Then the lady with the glasses said "you need to tell me and I do t understand what your problem is" The women finished at self check out and walked back to her half way and said " Iam not interested in speaking to rude people who yell angrily at me" And the the lady with glasses started arguing again in front of everyone "how Iam I suppose to know what you want to do, why are you saying that to me, why couldn't you just finish with me" The women said "look how you are behaving right now, thats why" and she walked out The lady with the glasses said "have a nice day, hope you have a very nice day, hope you have a good weekend, enjoy your day" Over and over again Wow, cant the library find kind happier people to give jobs too. My daughter and I dont need to hear that from a public and private funded organization read more

The Tosa Public Library is a happening place. That sounds super cheesy- but it really is, just take a walk through the holds section! Their kids section has a fun little play area with a train table and I love that they have little "carts" for the kiddos to push around. The adults section has a quiet area. The furniture is very library traditional and might need some updating but otherwise it's comfortable enough. They have a huge selection of books and I love that they have a no late fee policy. It's been my go to spot to finish up work when I'm in the area and would definitely recommend checking them out! read more

It's still exactly how I remembered it when I went to Longfellow Middle School... stopped in for a few minutes to print a couple things and staff was very friendly. read more

I am so happy with the Wauwatosa Library. I really love being able to pick books from home on my computer. I will patiently wait for a new book, knowing I'm in line when it becomes available. After receiving an email when the book is ready it becomes a quick trip to pick it up. As the books are on hold, and are conveniently located for pickup right past the checkout area. The children's area is a fun place to take my grandkids to explore and find new books. Great staff and friendly service! read more

I love reading but hadn't been doing as much of it as I wanted because the books I had were uninspiring so I decided it was time to find a library. The Wauwatosa library is very convenient for me- less than a mile walk so a perfect Saturday activity. As a few others have said the space can be a bit confusing since it's connected to government buildings but once you get in and find the adult section upstairs it's not too bad. There are good working spaces- tables and comfy chairs as well as more individual carrels and the WiFi has been reliable when I've visited. The check out limit is fantastic! I could check our more books than I could ever finish in time and renewal is easily done online. I love that I can browse, renew and place on hold from home so I know whether to make the trip and can plan what to get before I go. The online portal is intuitive which is great. I have found it a bit difficult to get newer books quickly as they often have many holds on them but the Milwaukee county system shares books so they move through pretty quickly. They also have a great system to email me when my books will be due in 3 days to remind me to return or renew them and they also email for holds which is great! read more

I am a fan of the Tosa Library. As a regular reader, I end up visiting here probably weekly! I love that they now allow you to request books either online or on your app and then notify you via email and/or text message when they are ready. I also think it's great that they share books throughout all the area public libraries, so you can rest assured even if Tosa doesn't have it, they can probably get it for you without driving to a different location. I think the parking lot set up is a bit obnoxious, but there are worse things in life and it doesn't deter me from visiting. It is a shared city building, so just be aware when you arrive but everything is well marked. The staff has always been kind to me, and helpful with answering any questions or finding any books for me. Plus, who doesn't love free books! It's a great way to check out the latest book your friend is raving about without waiting for them to be done reading it or spending money if you're not sure about your tastes in books aligning well. read more

I've been going here for 10+ years. So that probably makes me qualified to have an informed opinion. [smile] I've loved this library since day one. I see that some have complained about the physical premises, broken this or that, etc. To me, these are of secondary importance. Each library is unique - some are huge, some are tiny, old, newer, they might not have enough computers, or they're older, etc etc. You can work around these inanimate factors. Of primary importance to me is the level of customer service, how the workers treat me, day in and day out. And I can say that 9.8 times out of ten, my interaction with the staff here has been pleasant. In some cases, quite enjoyable especially at the check-out desk. They always have a smile for you, and seem genuinely interested in helping you. The only few sour apples I've encountered were at the reference desk, sorry to say. But, I just chalked it up to stress, or their personality type. I've found that certain types, who are really intelligent, are somewhat less patient and more ... 'prickly'. C'est la vie. read more

Tosa has a nice library. It was recently remodeled. They have books, music and movies available. If they don't have what you need available, they will order it from another library. The librarians are friendly and helpful. The kids area is great. They have all sorts of learning toys and regularly scheduled events for kids. read more

Wauwatosa Public Library - Libraries Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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I finally got my library card the other day, a long *overdue* task.. hee hee (sorry). It was great to check out the building and do a bit of browsing with my daughter. The librarians I met were super helpful and kind. On the whole, the library had a really nice selection of books. The adult section is branched off from the kids' section and each space has enough room for books, computers, and studying zones. The only section that I felt was a little lacking was the board book section for babies/toddlers. There just weren't very many available. However, I love the tiny child-sized, comfy chairs they have in the area and there are a few puzzles for kids to play with. This summer, I know I'll be spending hours and hours here, scoping out good new reads! read more

This is still my go-to library and they have made great changes. They still have the awesome self-check-out stations, but now the book check-IN is also automated! It makes me feel like I'm living in the future. It's a little conveyer belt that scans your book as it whisks it away to the back sorting room. You can get a receipt for that, too if you want, but let's save paper and also remember the Mitch Hedberg "donut receipt" bit he's so famous for. read more

I'm really not sure how to write a review for a library. There are many books, magazines and other periodicals here. There are computers and free wifi. I walk past stacks of DVDs and other media that can be checked out. There are also tables. This is why i love the Tosa Public Library. I go there to get work done on school papers or to do some reading. They have an ample amount of larger (4 chairs) and smaller tables for your use. They alos have more comfortable chairs set up throughout the library. It is a great place to come and get homework done, away from the distraction of my home. read more

One of the better libraries in the Milwaukee County System. They have a great selection of non-fiction here and the new book section is large and varied. Probably the best thing about Tosa is you can rent art and sculpture from the romo downstairs. They have tons of hanging paintings all framed and hooked and ready to go that you can rent for whatever the rental period is; 3 weeks, I believe. This is a great way for students or someone else looking for a little culture to experiment with different looks w/out the huge financial commitment that comes with buying artwork. read more

I ventured into the Wauwatosa Library a few months ago -- after realizing I could use my MPL card there! It is a short 1.3 mile walk from my door to theirs -- which makes it perfect for a lazy Saturday afternoon fall walk. I am used to the downtown (central) library so this is a nice change of pace -- less cavernous and intimidating. I've only ever visited the Adult (2nd floor) library and the holds pick-up area (1st floor) but I have been impressed by the selection and availability of books here! The new arrivals in the adult library are clearly organized and I have been able to find copies of new and notable reads at this location with ease. The movie selection is incredible -- lots of television series, documentaries and even some new / recent releases. Eat your heart out, Netflix! The two drop boxes outside (for media and books) make it easy to return items at your convenience even when the library is not open. There are a lot of tables on the 2nd floor and some comfortable chairs where one could sit and read, too. Staff have been incredibly helpful on my many visits to this location. Reading is FUN-damental! read more

Nice library. 2 floors. The top floor is split in half. The first half for the kids and the other door the adults. It was quiet when I was there and they have study rooms. read more

Wauwatosa Public Library - Books on books on books - Libraries Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Ode to the Tosa Library.... I left you a long 5 or 6 years ago, and I didn't give it a second thought. I renewed my "new" library card tonight and I came out with an armful of books and CD's. Oh, how I've missed you, sweet Library! Friendly staff! Self check ins (wow, that changed)! Easy to find sections. In addition to books, you can check out CD's, DVD's (seriously, I checked out "The Eyes of Tammy Faye" years ago, and it was absolutely fascinating.). There's free WiFi available as well. Thanks, TPL. I'm a forever fan of yours and I will continue to support you! read more

This library ROCKS!!! I don't think I have ever seen a better library than this one. wow. They even have sweet FREE computers upstairs that you can use for as long as you want without restrictions to get whatever you need done. If you have your laptop like I do, they have FREE wifi available from everywhere in/around the building that you can do everything with (some libraries are retarded and only let you use web based email, which is stupid if i am using my own laptop). they have modern books, they have a ginormous children's section (with kids' computers too, games and educational stuff included), and always something cool/interesting going on. I can't say enough good things about this library. I was really impressed and grateful to them to be able to use their services (As long as you live in or receive mail in Milwaukee county, they will let you get a card and use their services. I was at the Marina in town for a while. yay!) 5 stars, totally!! read more

Fantastic library all around. All of its areas, including the main staircase, feel spacious and are well-lighted. I appreciated the extensive DVD collection in my pre-Netflix days. I think its cool that they not only loan media materials but wall art and sculpture, all for free. My favorite aspect of this library is the large alcoves with floor to ceiling windows, that jut out from the building, on the 2nd floor in the Adult area. You can sit and study in them and imagine you are enjoying the outside (says the woman desperately suffering from cabin fever; it being January in Wisconsin). They are great places for squirrel-watchers (is there such a thing?) The only problem is that they are popular places to sit for long periods of time, and you inevitably wind up sharing the alcove with someone. The way the seats are set up means you are usually sitting facing each other, and then you have that whole too much frequent eye contact over the tops of your reading material with a stranger thing going on :-). However, today I discovered the perfect solution. I had been debating - should I plant myself in an alcove with stranger eye contact, or a nice private and cozy study carrel? Although the carrels aren't near the windows. Alcove? Carrel? Alcove? I traveled all the way down to the last alcove in the corner, and lo and behold - TWO CARRELS IN AN ALCOVE! Research paper writing Nirvana. Privacy in the glorious and rare winter sunshine. If they'd put a coffee shop in this place, I'd go on to a PhD. read more

Super impressed with the pickup program they implemented for COVID 19. It helped our family tremendously to have some new books to read during this time. The plan was organized and well executed, and although they were swamped by requests, everything went smoothly and the staff was super helpful and friendly. Thanks for being a positive force in the community! read more

Parking is poor since its shared. I dont personally like the layout of the library w/ books upstairs and seems claustrophobic. Only reason I had to go there was to find a movie for class and for someone who has never been there its confusing. Hard to find things. Also its hard to determine what door to go in to access the actual library since its in the city hall bld not its own entrance. I do have to say that its a good use of space that they have but I believe that they should have their own building and spread it out. Frustrating also that when I wanted to return the movie the media drop box was locked and I had to come back during open hours. I love libraries but not the one in Wauwatosa. read more

Nice library, super great storytime! I took my 10-month-old to Rhyme Time and it was awesome. The librarian did an outstanding job, my baby was interested and entertained, and it was a fun (and free) way to meet some new people. One of the best storytime experiences we've had. I wish it was offered evenings or weekends too. read more

I would have given this 5 stars if you didn't have to go up steps or take an elevator to get to the library. But once you are there, it is well stocked with books, videos, music and computers. Staff has also been very helpful. read more

Excellent children's library and programming! We love libraries, because we love books, but the staff here are special. We are lucky to have this resource in our community! read more

Love love this library !! Walked into the Brookfield Library a few weeks ago with a friend a (who lives in Brookfield) since we have kids under the age of 3 yrs...we would take them to story time..being new to the area...I tried Brookfield Library and felt really disappointed to know that I wasn't able to get a Library card with them...I was not aware of Wauwatosa Library and was amazed at how wonderful this place is..the kids section is awesome!! The staff is just as wonderful...always helpful with questions about where to find items..and checking out books (and returning) is just the easiest process at this library.. I love the welcome feeling that this library provides (that I didn't feel from Brookfield...saddening) we are especially pleased and amazed at Miss Sue and how wonderful she does story time!! She is very patient and just has a natural way with the little ones that show up for story time..thank you for your great work Miss Sue !!! We look forward to seeing you weekly!! read more