Public Library Organization and Governance
Wisconsin state law currently establishes four methods of public library organization and governance.
- Municipal libraries, the method by which the majority of public libraries in the state are organized. [43.52]
- Joint libraries, created by an agreement of 2 or more municipalities or a county and 1 or more municipalities. The Community Library in Kenosha County and the Shawano City-County Library are examples of this method. [43.53]
- Consolidated county libraries, as established by a county board. The Brown County Public Library and the Marathon County Public Library fall into this category. [43.57(1)]
- County library services, established by a county board to serve residents in ‘unlibraried’ areas of the county. The Dane County Library Service is an example of this method. [43.57(3)]