POLANKI
the Polish Women's Cultural Club of Milwaukee

Wisconsin, U.S.A.
POLANKI LIBRARY

AT THE POLISH CENTER OF WISCONSIN

HOURS OF OPERATION

TUESDAYS

(12:00-2:00 pm)

WEDNESDAYS

(6:00-8:00 pm)

OPEN DURING FISH FRIES, BRUNCHES & OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS

For more information and/or to make other arrangements, you may reach us at:

(414) 858-9357

Please leave your name and phone number.

Download our Library Brochure below.
(Available in PDF format)

PURPOSE

COLLECTION
The Polanki Library focuses on materials about Poland, as well as Polish Americans, in both the Polish and English languages. The collection includes materials dealing with history, culture, language, heraldry, literature, folklore, music, geography, arts and genealogy. The Polanki Library also includes a small reference collection to assist users with inquiries pertaining to Poland and Polish Americans.

The collection is primarily books but also includes magazines and newspapers, videos, records, tapes, CDs, and other items that support research and reading about Poland and Polish Americans.

USE OF MATERIALS
The Polanki Library collection contains many reference materials available for use while in the library. These items include newspapers, magazines, reference books, and genealogy materials. Non-reference items, such as general literature, records and videos, can be borrowed with a valid Polanki Library card. Items circulate for four weeks and overdue fines will be applied on items that are overdue.

LIBRARY CARDS
The general public is welcome to enjoy the library.  There is no charge for use.  However, in order to borrow materials, an application needs to be completed.  The cost is $15.00/year for the general public and free to current paid members of Polanki or the Polish Heritage Alliance.

Larger donations are gratefully accepted to help support the purchase of new materials and maintenance of the collection.

GIFTS
The Polanki Library is grateful for the generosity of donors who contribute useful gifts of books, current magazines and newspapers, videos, records, CDs and other appropriate materials that enhance the collection and support its mission. Please refer to previous sections for more details on the types of material collected. Items in poor physical condition are generally not added. Donations are accepted with the understanding that the materials become the property of the Library. If the items are not appropriate for the collection in terms of subject matter or other criteria, items may be disposed of through exchange, donation to other libraries or other means, such as a book sale, to raise additional funds for purchasing new materials.

The library also benefits from donations of equipment such as computers, CD, DVD and VCR players, which improve service to our users.

Due to the limited space that is available for housing the collection at the Polanki Library, only certain items may be accepted. All items received require volunteer staff time to process and catalog.

Since the Polanki Library is not an archive, certain materials may be more suitable for other area libraries. If you have photographs, manuscripts, papers of local Polish-American companies or organizations, these would be better housed and more accessible at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, which has an extensive Polish archival collection.

Under federal tax regulations, the Polanki Library cannot provide appraisals or estimates of value for donors. Evaluation is the responsibility of the donor. Donors should complete the “Gift Acknowledgment and Receipt” form available in the Polish Center so they will have a record of making a donation and the Polanki Library can have a file of its generous donors.