Milwaukee Public Library

What Milwaukee Public Library does

Milwaukee Public Library (MPL) is a municipal public library system owned and operated by the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, founded in 1878. It serves city residents through a Central Library at 814 W. Wisconsin Avenue and 13 neighborhood branch locations (Atkinson, Bay View, Capitol, Center Street, East, Good Hope, Martin Luther King, Mitchell Street, Tippecanoe, Villard Square, Washington Park, Zablocki, and Central Drive-Up), with a workforce of 251-500. MPL's core technical platform is the CountyCat catalog system, shared via the Milwaukee County Federated Library System (MCFLS), which enables unified search, reservation, and account management across physical and digital collections. Its product portfolio spans physical and digital lending (books, DVDs, music; hoopla for streaming ebooks, audiobooks, music, movies, comics, and TV), subscription databases (Ancestry, HeritageQuest, Gale Business: Plan Builder, Pronunciator, Peterson's, Brainfuse, BadgerLink resources), specialized facilities (Makerspace, Cargill Community Kitchen, Chromebook lending, public computing, print/scan/fax), archival and research services (MPL Digital Collections with 50,000+ historic photos, Shipshape Great Lakes vessel database with 10,000+ records, rare books, Milwaukee Road Archives, African American Genealogy Pathfinder), and programs (Summer Reading Challenge via Beanstack, Entrepreneur-In-Residence, Milwaukee Poet Laureate, story times, ESL and refugee services, tutoring, job seeking).

MPL operates on a free-to-resident pricing model: library cards are issued at no charge to City of Milwaukee residents, and core services are provided without fee. Revenue derives from City of Milwaukee municipal appropriations (primary funding), supplemented by donations to the Milwaukee Public Library Foundation and grants (e.g., Brewers Community Foundation, Elizabeth J. Tellier Foundation). MPL participates in the Federal Depository Library Program, receiving government documents as a designated depository. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer across physical branches and a 24/7 online platform (mpl.org), with marketing executed through the website, Now@MPL blog, email newsletter, social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn), and the Summer Reading Program as an annual acquisition event. Customer segments span youth, K-12 educators, job seekers, entrepreneurs/small business owners, genealogy researchers, refugees/immigrants, and older adults. No venture capital, private equity, or public listing is involved; MPL is wholly owned by the City of Milwaukee under Mayor Cavalier Johnson and governed by a Library Board.

Name

Milwaukee Public Library

Legal name

Milwaukee Public Library

Website

https://mpl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1878

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Milwaukee Public Library is a municipal library system serving City of Milwaukee residents through 14 branches and a Central Library, providing free physical and digital lending, research databases, unique archival collections, and community programming including Summer Reading and Entrepreneur-In-Residence.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF), Civic Education & Community Engagement (Voting, Local Government) (EDAAAFAC)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Digital collections
• Community programs
• Research databases
• Genealogy resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Primarily funded by City of Milwaukee municipal government appropriations as a public library system.
2. Foundation Donations: Milwaukee Public Library Foundation accepts charitable donations to support library programs, collections, and services.
3. Federal Depository Library Program: Participates in the Federal Depository Library Program, receiving government documents as a designated depository.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Milwaukee Public Library operates a municipal library system serving the City of Milwaukee through 14 neighborhood branch locations plus a Central Library. It provides free access to physical and digital collections (books, DVDs, music), e-books and audiobooks (via hoopla), research databases (Ancestry, HeritageQuest, BadgerLink), digital archives (50,000+ historic photos), and community programming including the Entrepreneur-In-Residence program and Summer Reading Challenge.

Product overview

Milwaukee Public Library (MPL) is a municipal public library system serving the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, operating 14 branch locations plus the Central Library. The library offers a comprehensive portfolio of services organized around its core platform: the CountyCat online catalog (shared with Milwaukee County Federated Library System) that provides unified access to physical and digital collections. The product portfolio centers on physical and digital content access through eBooks & Downloads and hoopla streaming services, supported by extensive Databases & Research Tools including genealogy resources (Ancestry, HeritageQuest), career preparation (Peterson's, Brainfuse), language learning (Pronunciator), and business research (Gale). MPL Digital Collections provides online access to historical archives. Key programming products include the Summer Reading Challenge (tracked via Beanstack), the Entrepreneur-In-Residence business support program, Makerspace creative technology facilities, Genealogy Services with specialized African American research resources, and comprehensive Education & Outreach services including ESL, tutoring, and job seeking support. The library also offers technology lending (Chromebooks), public computing, meeting room reservations, accessibility services (including Talking Book and Braille), and Local History & Archives special collections.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Library Catalog (CountyCat)
• hoopla Digital Media Service
• MPL Digital Collections
• Databases & Research Tools
• Summer Reading Challenge
• Entrepreneur-In-Residence Program
• Makerspace
• Cargill Community Kitchen
• Genealogy Services
• LibraryNow
• Shipshape Database

Quantifiable outcome

• Free services for all city residents - library card and core services cost nothing

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Milwaukee County Federated Library SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMPL participates in the Milwaukee County Federated Library System (MCFLS), which administers shared services including the CountyCat catalog system, remote database access for cardholders, and inter-library loan programs across Milwaukee County libraries.
• Wisconsin BadgerLinkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMPL provides access to BadgerLink, Wisconsin's Online Library which delivers licensed digital content including Hobbies & Crafts Source, Home Improvement Source, HeritageQuest, and other databases not available through regular search engines.
• Wisconsin Marine Historical SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to create and maintain the Shipshape database of Great Lakes vessels (10,000+ records) and the Great Lakes Marine Collection. Society contributed volunteer hours and financial support; received matching grants from Wisconsin Coastal Management Program.
• Milwaukee County Genealogical SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Milwaukee County marriage certificates digitization (1822-1876). MCGS volunteers created alphabetical name indexes with over 42,000 names, coordinated re-filming and preservation of records.
• Wisconsin Historical SocietysupportingOthersPartnership for genealogical resources and research access. Wisconsin Historical Society provides access to vital records, census data, and historical archives through MPL databases.
• Milwaukee County Historical SocietysupportingOthersPartnership for local history resources and research materials. Society's research library provides historical information about Milwaukee and Milwaukee County.
• Milwaukee Public Library FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Foundation supports MPL through fundraising, donations, and grants. Sponsors the Summer Reading Program and other library initiatives through generous donations.
• Friends of MPLsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFriends of MPL operates the bookseller at Central Library, providing used books for sale. Adult Summer Reading participants receive coupons for free used books from Friends.
• Freewheelers Collection (Central City Artists & Craftsmen Association)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMPL holds organizational papers of the Freewheelers, a group of local Black artists who met and exhibited at the Martin Luther King Branch throughout the 1970s and 80s. Part of Milwaukee Black Arts Movement digital collection.
• hoopla (Midwest Tape)coreTechnology or Integrationhoopla digital service allows cardholders to instantly borrow movies, music, audiobooks, e-books, comics and TV shows. Paid for by MPL and administered by Milwaukee County Federated Library System. Two items per patron per month.
• Brainfuse (Elizabeth J. Tellier Foundation)supportingOthersLive tutoring and homework help service sponsored by a grant from The Elizabeth J. Tellier Foundation. Available seven days a week from 11am-11pm for students of all ages.
• City of MilwaukeecoreOthersMPL is a municipal library under the City of Milwaukee government. The City provides primary funding through appropriations. Mayor Cavalier Johnson oversees city operations including the library system.
• Federal Depository Library ProgramcoreOthersMPL participates in the Federal Depository Library Program, receiving government documents from federal agencies as a designated depository library.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Seattle Public Library: Municipal library serving Seattle with a central library and 26 branches. Comparable in urban scale, free service model, strong digital-services portfolio, and investment in modern civic-infrastructure programming.
• Boston Public Library: Large municipal public library with a Central Library and 24 branches. Comparable to MPL in its free municipal service model, distinct focus on local history and special collections, and partnership-driven community programming.
• Chicago Public Library: Major Midwestern urban public library system serving Chicago with 80+ branches and similar programs (maker labs, business/Small Business Center, digital lending). Directly comparable in scale, urban demographics, and role as a municipal civic-institution anchor.
• Indianapolis Public Library: Municipal public library system for Indianapolis with a central library and multiple branches. Similar in scale, free-service model, county-level federation, and emphasis on early-literacy and community programs.
• Hennepin County Library: County-level public library system in the Minneapolis metro with 41 branches. Closely comparable to MPL in branch-network density, federated catalog structure, and free public service model across a metropolitan area.
• Cleveland Public Library: Midwestern urban public library serving Cleveland with a main library and neighborhood branches. Comparable in municipal funding structure, urban demographic mix, and emphasis on literacy, job-seeking, and workforce-development programming.
• Detroit Public Library: Midwestern urban municipal library serving Detroit with 21 branches. Shares MPL's Midwest Rust-Belt urban context, municipal funding model, and focus on digital literacy, job resources, and special collections.
• Free Library of Philadelphia: Philadelphia's municipal public library system with a central library and 54 branches. Comparable as a free, municipally funded urban library with parallel programs in ESL, workforce development, and digital inclusion.
• Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library: Combined city/county library serving the Cincinnati metro with 41 branches. Comparable to MPL in branch-network scale, federated funding, and breadth of programming including makerspaces and small-business support.
• St. Louis Public Library: Municipal library system serving St. Louis with 17 branches. Comparable as a free, urban Midwestern library with strong special-collections, local-history, and workforce-development focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MilwaukeePubLib
• Facebookfacebook.com/Milwaukee.Public.Library
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=http://mpl.org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Milwaukee Public Library