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Milwaukee Public Library Foundation


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Benjamin Franklin
Award Dinner

Author Events & Calendar

Wisconsin Writers Wall of Fame

Poet Laureate

Literary Lunch

Used Book Sales

Tour Historic Central Library

Join the Friends to receive advance notification of upcoming library events!

Benjamin Franklin Award Celebration
Nearly 400 guests gathered at the magnificent Central Library for the 19th annual Benjamin Franklin Award Celebration on Thursday, October 18th to honor Northwestern Mutual CEO, Ed Zore.  Zore Joins a prestigious list of previous Benjamin Franklin Award recipients. Guests enjoyed a lovely cocktail hour while bidding on exciting silent auction items.  Foundation president, John Stollenwerk presented the award to Mr. Zore who remarked, “The Milwaukee Public Library is the center of culture in our community.  It's important to have a great system to enhance both learning and fun.”  The program was followed by an elegant “Taste of Central” dinner reception featuring dinner stations throughout the 2nd floor of the library finishing with desserts in the Children’s room. 

The dinner is the foundation’s major fundraising event of the year.  Proceeds from the event help to strengthen the resources of the foundation, enabling it to support and enhance library collections, technology, programming, and facilities as well as funding scholarships to train public service librarians.


Author Events & Calendar

In partnership with Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops, the Friends of the Milwaukee Public Library present renowned authors throughout the year. Milwaukee Public Library maintains a searchable calendar of events listing all of its activities. Search for Author/Storyteller events.


Wisconsin Writers Wall of Fame

The Milwaukee Public Library’s Wisconsin Writers Wall of Fame pays tribute to a spectrum of literary talents – novelists, poets, journalists, playwrights, historians – whose work has been influenced by their life and experiences in Wisconsin. The Friends of the Milwaukee Public Library sponsor the Wisconsin Writers Wall of Fame reception when a new name is added. Search the library's calendar of events for Special Events.


Milwaukee's Poet Laureate

Peggy Hong was named Milwaukee’s Poet Laureate for 2006-2007.  The Friends of the Milwaukee Public Library sponsor receptions and other events featuring Milwaukee’s Poet Laureate.  Search the library's calendar of events for Poetry Events.


2008 Spring Literary Lunch

The Plague of Doves by Louise ErdrichMay 19, 2008 – Save the Date!
The Friends of Milwaukee Public Library will host the 2008 Spring Literary Luncheon on Monday, May 19 at the beautiful Wisconsin Club. The Friends are pleased to have award-winning author Louise Erdrich as the featured speaker.  Erdrich, a Minnesota native, is the author of eleven novels including, The Painted Drum, Love Medicine, and her upcoming novel, The Plague of Doves

Invitations will be mailed in March to Friends members.  Please call for more information: 414-286-8720.

Mail RSVP
Print out this form (requires Adobe Reader and mail it in with payment to:

Milwaukee Public Library Foundation
814 West Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI  53233

Online RSVP

The Friends of the Milwaukee Public Library and the Milwaukee Public Library Foundation accept registration via PayPal, a service that permits businesses and individuals to securely, easily, and quickly send and receive payments online.  You do not need a PayPal account, Visa and Mastercard are accepted.


Used Book Sales

Book sales at Central Library and the neighborhood branches annually raise $50,000 - $60,000 – all of which is granted back to the library to purchase needed materials and support library programs. The Bookseller, located in the Central Library, is open for browsing. Special weekend used book sales are held throughout the library system.


Tour Historic Central Library
Both Milwaukee visitors and area residents interested in a taste of Milwaukee's culture are invited to tour the past and present glory of the Central Library with the Friends of Milwaukee Public Library. Free tours begin at 1:30 p.m. each Saturday afternoon in the rotunda. Tours other times are available by appointment. Sign language interpretation is also available by appointment. Call 286-TOUR.

The Milwaukee Public Library was founded in 1878. After several moves, the Central Library was built in response to the need for more spacious quarters. It opened its doors to the public on October 3, 1898. The original structure is a combination of French and Italian Renaissance styles built of Bedford limestone. Several additions help make up the block-long building that stands today. Central Library has been designated a landmark by the Milwaukee Historic Preservation Commission and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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