Menomonee Falls Public Library

What Menomonee Falls Public Library does

Menomonee Falls Public Library (MFPL) is a public library founded on March 26, 1906, operating under the governance of the Village of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, and serving the residents of Waukesha and Jefferson counties. The library operates from a 52,941 square foot facility built in 2003, with a staff of approximately 19 employees, and maintains more than 17,000 active cardholders. It is a member of the Bridges Library System and participates in the CAFÉ Libraries consortium of 24 libraries, which provides a shared Polaris/Vega catalog, interlibrary loan, and digital collections accessed via the Libby app.

The library offers a broad portfolio of services spanning traditional lending (books, media), digital resources, a Library of Things collection of 400+ loanable items including tools, games, and electronics (notably Nintendo Switch 2 and Yoto Minis), The Forge makerspace (3D printing, button pin makers, sewing, crafting), the CoLab reservable collaborative workspaces, the Maude Shunk Local History Room with digitization equipment, Explore Passes to regional attractions, a Quiet Room, the permanent StoryWalk in Library Park, and age-specific programming (1000 Books Before Kindergarten, Summer Library Program). Underlying technology includes RFID self-checkout kiosks, the CAFÉ Mobile App, and the CAFÉ/Vega catalog platform.

MFPL is funded primarily through local tax revenues from the Village of Menomonee Falls, supplemented by donations and fundraising from the Menomonee Falls Library Friends (501(c)(3), which contributed $20,000+ in 2025), grants (e.g., Greater Menomonee Falls Foundation funded the CoLab), and a unique revenue-sharing partnership with Latitude Café (10% of sales). Library cards and most services are free to eligible residents; nominal voluntary donations apply in select cases (e.g., $0.50 suggested at the makerspace). Commercial revenue is not generated and is not the operational model.

Name

Menomonee Falls Public Library

Legal name

Menomonee Falls Public Library

Website

https://menomoneefallslibrary.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1906

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Menomonee Falls Public Library is a tax-funded public library in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, serving 17,000+ cardholders with traditional lending, a makerspace, collaborative workspaces, local history archives, and community programs.

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), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Community lending library
• Library makerspace programs
• Digital library resources
• Local history archives

Headquarters

HQ city

Menomonee Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Funding (Tax Revenue): Primary funding source from local tax revenues supporting library operations, materials, and programs
2. Donations and Fundraising: Menomonee Falls Library Friends (501(c)3 nonprofit) conducts fundraisers including book sales, bake sales, and donations. Donated over $20,000 to the Library in 2025
3. Latitude Café Revenue Sharing: Family-owned coffee shop on second floor; 10% of Latitude Café sales go toward supporting the Library

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Menomonee Falls Public Library provides free public library services to Village of Menomonee Falls residents and surrounding communities, including lending of physical and digital materials, programs for all ages, makerspace and co-working facilities, local history research resources, and free admission passes to local attractions. The library operates as a 52,941 square foot community hub offering books, media, a Library of Things collection of 400+ loanable items, public computers, meeting rooms, and a partner-operated coffee shop.

Product overview

Menomomonee Falls Public Library offers a comprehensive suite of public library services spanning physical and digital collections, collaborative spaces, makerspace facilities, and community programs. The core offerings include traditional lending (books, media, Library of Things with 400+ items including video games and tools), digital access via Libby app and databases, and specialized spaces like the CoLab collaborative workspaces and The Forge makerspace. Key services include the Maude Shunk Local History Room with digitization equipment, Explore Passes to local attractions, StoryWalk outdoor reading trail, and accessibility resources like the Quiet Room and Social Story. The library operates the CAFÉ Libraries Mobile App for patron services and partners with Latitude Café (10% sales donation to library). Summer and Winter Reading Programs serve all ages, while early literacy initiatives like 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten support youth development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CoLab (Collaborative Workspaces) Reservable collaborative workspaces on the second floor of the library, designed for meetings, study groups, job interviews, tutoring, and virtual work. Two spaces (CoLab A and CoLab B) with laptop lending options.
• The Forge (Makerspace) Makerspace on the second floor offering tools and equipment for hands-on creativity including 3D printing, embroidery, sewing, crafting, and jewelry making. Features FlashForge Adventurer 5M Pro 3D printer, button pin makers, and various crafting equipment. Badging required for some equipment.
• Maude Shunk Local History Room Local history archive preserving documents, photographs, and historical information about Menomonee Falls and surrounding communities. Includes digitization equipment (Epson scanners, CZUR book scanner, video-to-digital conversion), access to Ancestry Library Edition and FamilySearch, and participation in Recollection Wisconsin digitization initiative.
• Explore Passes Free admission passes to local attractions including Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, Discovery World, Milwaukee Art Museum, Betty Brinn Children's Museum, Mitchell Park Domes, Bookworm Gardens, and 12 Wisconsin historic sites. Passes check out for three days and cannot be reserved.
• Library of Things Collection of over 400 loanable items including video games (Nintendo Switch), outdoor games (Corn Hole, KanJam, disc golf), car tools, yard and gardening tools, role-playing games, board games, and other specialty items not typically found in libraries.
• Quiet Room Multi-purpose sensory-friendly space in the Children's Department featuring calming blue lighting, bubble tube, wiggle cushion, weighted lap pad, bean bag seating, and glider chair. Designed for children needing sensory breaks and includes diaper changing station.
• Seed Library Free seed distribution program encouraging community gardening and sustainable food practices. Patrons can obtain seeds to grow their own produce.
• Librarian's Choice Bundles Personalized book selection service where librarians curate book bundles based on patron preferences and reading interests. Available for children, teens, and adults.
• Curbside Pickup Appointment-based hold pickup service allowing patrons to retrieve materials without entering the library. Available Monday through Saturday 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM.
• StoryWalk Permanent outdoor reading trail in Library Park featuring story pages displayed on signs along a walking path, combining reading with outdoor activity for children and families.
• CAFÉ Libraries Mobile App Mobile application for searching library catalog, renewing items, placing holds, finding events, and managing library account. Available for iOS and Android devices.
• Summer Library Program Annual reading incentive program for all ages (children, teens, adults) featuring prizes, challenges, and community events throughout summer months.
• 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Early literacy program encouraging families to read 1,000 books with children before kindergarten. Free program with prizes including books and stuffed animals at milestones.
• Toniebox Collection Screen-free audio player system for children ages 3+ featuring magnetic figurines (Tonies) with stories and music. Three Tonieboxes and 37 Tonies available for checkout.
• Social Story Accessibility Resource PDF social story resource helping children (especially those with autism) prepare for library visits. Describes library environment, what to expect, and appropriate behaviors. Available for download and in-person reference.
• Digitization Services Digital History Lab equipment including Epson Flatbed Scanner, CZUR Book Scanner, Epson FastFoto Scanner, video-to-digital conversion, slide scanner, and cassette tape recorder available for patron use.

Quantifiable outcome

• 620+ adult registrations for 2025 Summer Library Program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Latitude CaféminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2024Family-owned coffee shop (Amber and Daniel Levy) located on the second floor of the Library. Open since September 2024. 10% of Latitude Café sales support the Library. Coffee shop hours: Mon-Thu 9AM-6PM, Fri-Sat 9AM-4PM.
• Recollection WisconsinminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Statewide digitization initiative helping cultural heritage institutions preserve and facilitate access to historical resources. MFPL officially began participation in 2024.
• Menomonee Falls Historical SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Agreement for the Library to serve as a holding area for historical paper documents. Collaboration on preserving and digitizing local history materials.
• Bridges Library SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFPL is a proud member of Bridges Library System, a consortium of libraries in Waukesha and Jefferson counties. The partnership enables shared catalog (CAFÉ Libraries), digital collections, interlibrary loan, and collaborative programming across 24 libraries.
• Menomonee Falls Library FriendscoreGTM or Marketing Partner501(c)3 nonprofit organization that supports library programming and services. Donated over $20,000 to the Library in 2025. Funds the majority of library programs for all ages (totaling over $11,000 annually). Supports CoLab creation, Summer Reading Program prizes, early literacy programs, and staff education.
• Falls Cable AccessminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal media partner that produced video content featuring library spaces and the Latitude Café owners.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Milwaukee Public Library: Milwaukee Public Library is the large incumbent system for the broader Milwaukee metropolitan area; it overlaps with MFPL on mission and many services but operates at a much larger scale with multiple branches, creating an aspirational benchmark rather than a direct competitor.
• Madison Public Library: Madison Public Library is a larger Wisconsin public library system with a more developed makerspace (the Bubbler) and Library of Things; it sets a forward-looking benchmark for the kind of community-creation programming MFPL's Forge is positioning toward.

Direct peers

• Pewaukee Public Library: Pewaukee Public Library is a smaller Waukesha County library within the CAFÉ consortium, serving a similar affluent suburban population profile and offering a directly comparable mix of programming, digital lending, and community services.
• Waukesha Public Library: The Waukesha Public Library serves as the county seat library in the same Bridges Library System consortium as MFPL, offering directly comparable public library services, CAFÉ catalog access, and program structures to a similar residential community.
• Brookfield Public Library: Brookfield Public Library is a peer community in Waukesha County within the CAFÉ consortium, serving a comparable suburban Milwaukee Village with similar collections, programs, and makerspace-style offerings.
• Cedarburg Public Library: Cedarburg Public Library is a Wisconsin public library of similar scale and suburban community profile, offering a directly comparable mix of traditional lending, programming, and digital services.
• Elm Grove Public Library: Elm Grove Public Library is a nearby Waukesha County library within the CAFÉ consortium with a comparable small-staff, single-location operating model and community programming profile.
• Mukwonago Community Library: Mukwonago Community Library is a similar-sized Wisconsin public library within the CAFÉ consortium, providing directly comparable services including community programming, maker-style offerings, and digital collections.
• New Berlin Public Library: New Berlin Public Library is a comparable suburban Milwaukee-area public library within the Bridges Library System, matching MFPL on community profile, funding model, and service mix.

Others

• Recollection Wisconsin: Recollection Wisconsin is a statewide digital initiative that MFPL joined in 2024; it is an ecosystem partner rather than a competitor, providing shared infrastructure for local-history digitization that is a direct extension of MFPL's Maude Shunk Local History Room capabilities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mfallslibrary
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCty43vUZndxecbOrSQm_krw
• Facebookfacebook.com/MenomoneeFallsPublicLibrary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/menomonee-falls-public-library
• Instagraminstagram.com/menomoneefallslibrary
• Pinterestpinterest.com/menomoneefallslibrary

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Menomonee Falls Public Library