Go Treasure Hunting in the Rare Books Room at the Central Library!
The rarest, most special items in the holdings of the Milwaukee Public Library can be found in the Rare Books Room on the second floor of the Central Library. This beautiful space includes a climate controlled book area and a reception room. It was dedicated in 2001 in honor of Richard E. Krug, city librarian from 1941 to 1975 and his wife Lucile Krug, whose generosity endowed construction of the Room and continues funding for the Krug Educational Program series of lectures.
The Rare Books collection of more than 6,000 items includes pieces of special value, such as signed first editions, books and ephemera published before 1868, artist's books, maps, prints and other items of local historical or cultural significance.
Due to the uniqueness of materials in the Rare Books Room certain procedures are in place to request a viewing of materials in this special collection. Though all items are available for viewing, an appointment must be made in advance. Appointments can be made by calling the Art, Music and Recreation Dept at the Central Library by calling 286-3071 or 286-3011.
To search holdings in the Rare Books Room please click here.
Future entries will highlight individual treasures found in the Rare Books Room. Fortunately, you can leave the treasure map at home as long as you can find the Central Library!
Submitted by Patricia DeFrain Rare Books Librarian
Take the Bucks Reading Challenge! This statewide reading program starts Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012. Students in grades 3-10 can sign up at any Milwaukee Public Library. When you read 500 or more pages by Feb. 28th, you earn a voucher to mail in for a free ticket to a Milwaukee Bucks game! (Parent or guardian must purchase a discounted ticket at the same time). When you read 750 pages or more by Feb. 28, you get the ticket and a chance to win an autographed Bucks basketball or be recognized on the court at halftime!
Qur'an from the Kingdom of Mysore. Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford .
If you thought last February's Groundhog Day blizzard was bad, come and watch MPTV's I Remember Milwaukee episode on the 65th anniversary of the 1947 blizzard that stopped Milwaukee cold for days. If you lived through it, this will be a trip down memory lane and an opportunity to share your memories.
