About the Library
General Information
Phone: (608)742-4959
Our Location:
253 W Edgewater St., Portage, WI 53901
DIRECTIONS- coming from the:
South: Take I-90/94 West to I-39 North exit. Follow I-39 North to Hwy 33 East exit (Exit 87). Follow Hwy 33 East through town to Wisconsin St (Hwy 16 East)stoplight. Turn right, go 1 block and turn right onto West Edgewater. Go just beyond the parking lot. The library is located on the right, near the end of the block.
West: Directions same as above.
North: From I-39 take Hwy 33 East exit. Proceed the same as above. Otherwise,from the north side of town, take Business 51 (New Pinery Rd) south to stoplight at MacFarlane Rd and Wisconsin St. (Hwy 16). Proceed through the light for 3 blocks, and turn left. The library is a 1 1/2 blocks on the left.
East: Follow Hwy 33 West (Cook St) through town. Turn left at the stoplight at the intersection of Cook St and Wisconsin St (Hwy 16). Go 1 block and turn right onto W. Edgewater St. The library is located on the right, just beyond the parking lot.
Director
Shannon Schultz
Library Board
President: Richard Davis
Vice-President: Addie Tamboli
Secretary: Eleanor McLeish
Treasurer: Beverly Hoffmann
Dr. David Gregory
Douglas Varvil-Weld
Charles Poches
Eleanor Voigt
Klay Vehring
Library Cards
Available FREE to any Portage Area resident. Must have valid, CURRENT ID in order to apply. Cards issued may be used at most Wisconsin public libraries, if barcoded by the Wisconsin library. Borrower MUST bring library card to check out materials.
Loan Periods
Books, Recorded Books: 28 days
Books with holds, CDs, Software, Magazines: 14 days
Videocassettes, DVDs: 7 days
Projectors, AV Equipment: 3 days
Limit of 2 renewals
Fines
Adult materials: 10¢ / day
Children's materials: 5¢ / day
ILL materials, Software: 25¢ / day
Videocassettes, DVDs, Equipment: $.50 / day
Returning Materials
Materials may be returned to any public library in Adams, Columbia, Dane, Green, Portage, Sauk or Wood counties, regardless of where borrowed.
Refunds
Refunds for lost items returned will be made within 6 months of due date, if a receipt is provided.
Photocopies
Copies are 10¢ for 8-1/2 x 11 or 8-1/2 x 14 page from paper. 10¢ for copies printed from microfilm or microfiche.
Materials
AV Equiment
Available for loan for a small fee. Advance reservations are recommended.
Slide projector: $5 for 7 days
Recorded Books
Books on tape, books on CD and other audiotapes for children & adults are available for loan. Most check out for 28 days.
CDs
More than 600 are on hand.
Fiction
Arranged alphabetically by author. Separate shelving for mysteries, westerns, fantasy, science fiction and adult literacy materials.
Government Documents
Special collections of materials are available, including a representative collection of local, state, and federal government documents on file in the reference area and on the Internet. Please ask for assistance in locating these materials.
Large Print
A collection of easy-on-the-eye books housed on the main floor.
Local History Collection
Materials about Portage and Columbia County are avaiable for use in the Sanderson Memorial Room. Local histories are accessible online by selecting "Genealogy & Local History" on the library web site.
Magazines & Newspapers
130 magazine titles and 11 newspapers are offered for use in the library. Back issues may be borrowed. The Daily Register can be viewed on microfilm from the 1850s. Copies can be made on the library's Readers/Printer. Many magazine articles are available in full text with access to EBSCOhost and Proquest on library computer terminals.
Story Hour Kits
Collection of program materials can be borrowed by daycare providers to create their own storytimes.
Vertical File
Pamphlets, clippings, brochures, etc. are available on topics of current and practical interest. Of special note are the extensive Portage History and Pictures files.
Video
A collection of titles in VHS & DVD formats are available for 7- day loan. Other titles can be obtained through interlibrary Loan. Educational, Film Classics and Children's Close-Captioned Videos are provided.