Madison Public Library is committed to the health and safety of staff and the public and is working closely with the City of Madison and Public Health Madison & Dane County to be proactive and take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

All Madison Public Library buildings are currently closed to the public, except for computer use, printing, and curbside pickup and returns — all by appointment.

Lakeview Library staffing news

Lakeview has a new supervisor. Librarian Carra Davies, interim library supervisor since May 2020, was recently hired as the Lakeview Library’s permanent supervisor. Carra has worked for Madison Public Library since 2010 and was previously a librarian at the Alicia Ashman and Lakeview libraries. We welcome Carra’s compassionate and effective leadership during these difficult times.

Teen Librarian Robin Amado recently left for a new position in another state. We will miss Robin’s energy and enthusiasm for serving Northside teens and their families.

Voting in 2021 elections

Lakeview Library was a popular in-person absentee voting spot in the fall elections but will not serve as an in-person absentee voting location in the spring elections. Libraries that will offer in-person absentee voting from Feb. 2‒12 (Spring Primary) and March 23‒April 2 (Spring Election) are Alicia Ashman, Goodman South Madison, Meadowridge and Pinney Libraries. 

Lakeview will be an Election Day polling place, however, and will be closed for regular service on election days: Feb. 16 Spring Primary and April 6 Spring Election. Learn more at madpl.org/new/vote-madison-public-library.

Tax assistance at Lakeview Library

Lakeview and Central Libraries will be offering tax assistance this year. Customers can sign up for February appointments now and, starting Feb. 15, can sign up for March and April appointments. The signup process will be different due to COVID-19 safety concerns. For more information on how to sign up for tax assistance, visit madpl.org/tax-assistance.

Curbside pickup and returns

• Call 608-246-4547 or schedule an appointment online for curbside pickup at Lakeview Library.
• Service hours are 10 am‒6 pm, Monday‒Friday, 12‒5 pm Saturday.
• Return books to the book drop 24/7.
• Visit madpl.org/curbside for more details, online scheduling links and updated schedules.

Reference assistance and hold requests

• Call the centralized reference line at 608-315-5151 (toll free 888-266-7805) to place holds, request materials, or for more information about library services and online collections. Please note: this line is not answered by Lakeview Library staff.
• Service hours are 10 am‒6 pm, Monday‒Friday, 12‒5 pm Saturday.
• Ask us a question online at madpl.org/ask.

Computers, internet and printing

• Call 608-315-5151 (toll free 888-266-7805) to schedule an appointment; walk-up service may be available. Learn more about computers, internet and printing services at Lakeview Library at madpl.org/computers.
• Service hours are 10 am‒5:30 pm, Monday‒Friday.

Visit us online

With your library card, you will have instant access to nearly 100,000 eBooks and audiobooks through Wisconsin’s Digital Library, over 50 online magazines through Flipster, as well as Mango Languages, Consumer Reports, The New York Times, and many more free online resources. Visit madpl.org/at-home for all the resources you can use online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Don’t have a library card? No problem. Sign up for a library card at madpl.org/apply, and we will mail you a card.

Library is now fine free

In August 2020, the Madison Public Library Board voted to go fine free, meaning you will no longer see charges if you return an item a bit late. We are proud to join other libraries across the country and right here in Dane County to make our libraries easier to use and reduce barriers for those who cannot afford fines.

We are currently waiving existing fines from patron accounts. To date, we have removed more than 3,000 blocks on library cards due to fines and have cleared more than 10,000 patron records of fines. If you have questions about fines, lost or damaged charges, or your library record, contact the library’s Borrow Services department at 608-266-6357 or madcirc@madisonpubliclibrary.org. Learn more at madpl.org/fine-free.