Marathon County Public Library - Wausau Headquarters — Attraction in Wausau

I give this 3 stars only because the building is beautiful. You have to pay to park which is annoying but in fairness that is not the Libraries fault. However, the staff is beyond particular and rude. I turned off lights in a study room and got scolded by a staff. "You aren't allowed turn off the lights." I work in the dark because I get migraines. Which I explained. She said "We'll with the lights off we don't know if you are sleeping or not so you can't do it. Bring dark sunglasses next time. " I have literally been to dozens of libraries in dozens of towns and no one has ever cared that I work with the lights off. So what is the deal? If I am doing something really horrible like smoking or having sex in there sure get mad but turning the lights off really? Screams of not enough to do. Meanwhile they don't say a word to people talking full volume on cell phones. So what is really more of an issue for patrons. Loud guests in the main area or no lights in a side room?

Update. I decides to try to give them a second chance. I had not been there in literally like 8 months. I walked around the facility and took a look out a window in one of the rooms. I was just staring out the window doing nothing else as I moved along trying to find where I was going to set up a station. I was by the window less than a minute and was already headed towards the door when I was again scolded by a staff "This room has to be reserved." So same issue employees without enough to do. I didn't sit any of the chairs, didn't put any of my stuff down. All of which would be indications I intend to stay. How about next time see if I actually do stay then say something. Because why say something if I am leaving the...

I am a student in Colorado and needed a place to study and do some schoolwork while visiting home. I used to come to this library years ago and it was in much better shape. I went in twice this week to try and do schoolwork and there were no desks or tables available. If there was one, it was just a chair against a wall where I obviously won't be able to work at. All of the tables inside were filled with people who weren't doing any work. Half of them were sleeping or lying over the tables. I was able to get a spot in the teen section today where I watched two people brushing their teeth at the tables and spitting in a trash can. There was one person who kept circling me multiple times where I was sitting and studying which made me uncomfortable and I went to leave. There are multiple people loitering outside and on the stairs to go to the lower parking lot. This used to be a much nicer library to study at but I don't feel comfortable going back there anymore with the amount people loitering inside...

The interlibrary loan system affords a generous selection of books. The drive-thru is so convenient and the employees are generally very accommodating and friendly. The Wausau library has beautiful windows and my children loved the sloth fossils. But having spent time in many libraries over the years, I think there could be a better design. I know, nobody was asking me for design input, but it just seems kind of dark despite the windows - they went for the overly popular "gray" tones. My children had looked forward to visiting this library after lockdown, but they weren't as excited once they got there as I had hoped. Also, it would be nice to see more Christian homeschool materials that align with the popular curriculums such as Sonlight. Nonetheless, for being this far from larger cities, I think it is a fine library and we will continue to use it. The children also LOVE...