If you Google Milwaukee’s Central Library, you’ll see images of a gorgeous Neo-Renaissance-style (according to Wikipedia) building. And it’s true: The Central Library is a work of art. It was originally home to the Public Museum, a history of which can still be seen in little remnants and “clues” throughout the building.
But there’s more to the Central Library than the beautiful “old” building. I just tried to find images of the newer building online and couldn’t. There’s Centennial Hall, for instance, a beautiful auditorium that is attached to the old library, has a very unassuming “side entrance” on 8th Street, around the corner from the Central Library’s grand entrance on Wisconsin Avenue, and was originally built for the Public Museum back in the day.
And slightly north of Centennial Hall is the newer section of the library, very 1960s-looking, with lots of glass and metal panels bounded by giant blocks of stone, and featuring a “drive up” book window.
Yes, that’s right. A drive-up window! I loved this feature when I was in grad school. I could call up the downtown library, order the book I needed, and ask for them to hold it for me at the drive-up window. Then I’d drive downtown and not need to find parking or anything, just swing by and pick up my book like I was driving through McDonald’s for a burger and fries.
Anyway, lately my daily routine has me driving west on Wells Street just north of the library, and I always seem to get stopped at the light at 8th and Wells—where I always look over at the side of that building and think about how striking it is.
So when I hit the light at the right time yesterday, I rolled down my window and took a picture. (The awning just barely visible at the bottom of the frame is the overhang above the drive-thru window.)
And then I fiddled with it and decided to try cropping it as a square to see if I could get at what it was that so drew my eye in the first place.
Here’s the result. Just thought I’d share!😀
Katherine Wikoff 
I actually remember going to the museum as a high scooter in 1962 to see the celocanth(an ancient fish) with my best friend. I also have fond memories of going to the museum with my aunt and uncle who took us every Sat. When I was seven. I loved it. The photo of the back of the library is goog, though I never used the drive through.
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Wow, a coelacanth! I assume it was a specimen, but is there any chance it was alive and in a tank? Was there a traveling exhibit that came through town at that time? I think this may be the first time I’ve heard of anyone seeing this fish in Milwaukee. So cool!
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A library drive-up window would be very nice. I mostly get ebooks from the library, which only needs the Libby app, but in the rare cases of checking out a physical book, it would be handy. Or for returning said book.
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I also mostly get ebooks now, too, which alllows for portability and access on any device in any place that gets a signal. Or even anyplace that doesn’t, as long as I’ve had the foresight to download.
I LOVE that I can pull out my phone and read a book whenever I’m stuck in a line or waiting for a behind-schedule doctor.
But yes, I totally agree: For those older books that are unavailable online, or even for currently available ebooks that there’s a long wait list for (you’re #545 on 6 copies, wait time 5 years 😂), sometimes that physical copy on the shelf or in storage that the librarians will pull out for you and have waiting at the drive-up window for checkout is a pretty fabulous option!
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Same here with having handy reading material on my phone. I’ve got my library app to always download books so I don’t forget.
Wow, I don’t know if you were exaggerating for effect, but I roll my eyes when the wait time is “a few months”.
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Def exaggerating! 😂 But I’ve been well over #200 on some books.
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