Library

Charles and JoAnn Lester Public Library

Services and Hours

We are open year round Mondays thru Thursdays from 9-7, Fridays from 9-5 and Saturdays from 9-12. We have outside drop box for returning materials.

The Charles and JoAnn Lester Library  has been serving the Nekoosa community for 100 years.

In 1908, the Literary Club of Nekoosa decided to provide the residents of Nekoosa with a recreational and educational reading center. Demand for library materials grew and on February 2, 1912, a formal library was installed in the S.A. Denis drug store. In 1939, a new public library was built on Patton Avenue as part of a Public Works Administration grant. In 1997, after experiencing tight quarters for years, the present library was built through community donations and a large bequest by Charles and JoAnn Lester.

The Charles and JoAnn Lester Library offers materials and services to meet the educational, recreational, and cultural needs of the community. We offer a variety of materials including fiction and nonfiction collections for all reading levels, large print collection, internet and wi-fi access, DVDs, Blu-Rays, Wii games and Overdrive downloadable audio and digital books. In addition, we have over 50 magazine subscriptions and a rich local history collection, including every high school yearbook ever published by the Nekoosa School District.

Services we offer include interlibrary loan, access to a number of online databases, a community garden, a summer reading program, exam proctoring, and various special events throughout the year.

The library is located at 100 Park Street.  Park Street is  a side street that runs between the Nekoosa Safety Center/Municpal Offices and Dollar General.

Meeting rooms for small (less than 12) to very large groups (approximately 75) are available.  In addition, we do offer meeting room use for select private events such as baby showers and wedding showers.  We do not permit children’s parties, alcohol or open flames on the premises.

Services for children include board books for babies and toddlers, picture books for all ages, an Easy Reader section for those mastering the art of reading, and AWE Early Literacy Computer that has over 50 educational games designed specifically for kids, and a separate nonfiction and fiction collection for ages 6 and up. Our children’s area offers a reading area with a cozy reading castle, a train table, a kitchen set with a variety of play food, a shopping cart, child size seating, computer access and funhouse style mirrors.

We have access to the South Central and WorldCat library collections, and we are able to borrow almost any item you need. The world is at your fingertips at your local library in Nekoosa.

The Charles and JoAnn Lester Library: Connecting People, Inspiring Ideas, Transforming Lives!