Browser the Library Lion
Let's tell the TAIL of the Library’s current mascot, Browser the Library Lion.
Once upon a time, in a decade called the 1980s, the Children’s Department and the Publications & Exhibit Department teamed up and applied for a grant to create a memorable library mascot that could connect with families and especially children and promote the Milwaukee Public Library!
Upon receiving the Dayton Hudson Foundation B. Dalton Booksellers grant, a committee of library staff came up with the idea of a lion. Libraries , in general, and the MPL , specifically, have a long history with lions. Lions are often depicted as guardians of public institutions of knowledge and learning. While sharing a building with the Milwaukee Public Museum, museum staff brought back a lion cub from one of their artifact-finding missions in the 1920s. This little lion, named Sim, lived on the 4th floor museum offices and roof of Central Library for some weeks. He eventually was moved to the Washington Park Zoo. Now while there is nothing definitive that Sim was the inspiration for Browser, it doesn’t seem coincidental.
As part of the grant, MPL partnered with the Theatre School Ltd to create and bring the figures to life. Bob Geniusz, their faculty artist, actually created the two coordinating figures. One was a costume that could be worn by a performer, and the other was a coordinating sphinx-like lion sculpture that could be carried in parades. The costume and sculpture cost $700 to create.
The grant also paid Theatre School Ltd members for 13+ performances. The yet unnamed Lion debuted during National Library Week in April of 1985. That summer he made appearances at Juneteenth, Summerfest, Imagination Celebration, Milwaukee County Zoo, many of Milwaukee’s ethnic festivals, and visits to every library branch.
In early July of 1985, a naming contest was announced. In August, at an MPL event hosted by Milwaukee County Zoo, his name was officially announced, Browser. The winning entry was from a little girl named Kathleen Simeth, and she appeared with Browser during the event. Ever since, August 1, 1985 has been officially Browser the Library Lion’s birthday.
Even after the grant funding was gone, the Theatre School Ltd continued to be contracted to handle performances and maintain the costume. In 1991, the Theater School Ltd closed and the original costume has been lost to history. The “Browser Sphinx” as he is endearingly called, was recently rediscovered tucked away in a storage area on our 4th floor. He is currently on display on the 2nd floor of Central Library through August.
Browser has had two makeovers since his initial design! The first makeover came around 1993/1994. Browser was redesigned as a furry, soft, dark brown character with very cat-like eyes. The second makeover came in 2016. After more than 20 years, the costume needed a refresh. A fundraiser was created to raise funds for the redesign. The current Browser debuted in October of 2016. This current form is lighter in color with a large soft head and much smaller eyes. There are also some fun cartoon drawings of Browser as well and a "pin the nose on Browser" game.
Browser shows up in MPL’s social media fairly regularly and sometimes along with another former mascot, who is a bit older at 86, Billy the Bookworm. Sometimes their relationship might appear as a rivalry, but they are actually good friends. Billy is like a curmudgeonly older fun-uncle that has a strange sense of humor, lots of stories, sometimes seems grumpy but LOVES Browser wholeheartedly!
Visit Central Library now through the end of August to see the “Browser sphinx” up close as well as other photos and materials about Browser’s history on display on the 2nd floor! Pick up your free Billy or Browser buttons in the Frank P. Zeidler Room or Betty Brinn Children’s Room, available while supplies last.
