News & Events
October 2026 |  | Hundreds of Books. Amazing Deals. One Great Cause.
Whether you're searching for bestselling fiction, children's favorites, cookbooks, mysteries, or unexpected gems, you'll find plenty to browse at the Friends Book Sale. Best of all, proceeds support the Friends of the Oconomowoc Public Library and their efforts to enhance Library programs and services.
Become a Friends member at the door and shop the Friday presale!
Sale Hours
Friday, October 9 - 4–6 pm (Friends Members Only)
- 6–8 pm (Open to Everyone)
Saturday, October 10 Sunday, October 11 | |
Help Make the Friends Book Sale a Success!
The Friends of the Oconomowoc Public Library are looking for volunteers to help with the upcoming Book Sale. Whether you can spare a few hours sorting books, assisting shoppers, or helping with setup and cleanup, your time makes a difference.
Volunteering is a great way to support the Library, meet fellow book lovers, and help raise funds for programs and services that benefit our community.
Interested in lending a hand? Sign up for a volunteer shift here!
Thank you for supporting the Friends and helping make the Book Sale a success! |  |
2026 Summer Library Program by the Numbers
Our community made this Summer Library Program one for the record books! Together, readers logged over 2.2 million minutes read, visited the Library 30,493 times, checked out 62,000 items, and attended 149 programs with 9,101 attendees. Participation grew by 17.6% over last year, reaching 2,491 participants. Thank you for making reading, learning, and discovery part of your summer.
|  |
Your Next Adventure Starts at the Library
Looking for a new place to explore? Soon, your library card will help you discover Wisconsin's state parks.
We're adding Wisconsin State Parks passes to our collection of Explore Passes, making it even easier to experience nature, hiking trails, scenic vistas, and outdoor recreation across the state. The program is made possible through the generous support of the Friends of the Oconomowoc Public Library.
Watch for more information coming soon.
|
 | Library Whispers
Ancient Prophecy! Long has it been claimed that Athena and Poseidon, the griffins standing guard at OPL, once kept watch over Chicago’s infamous Everleigh Club. It’s a juicy story, but our fact-checkers have uncovered the truth.
Sources reveal that the griffins were actually created for the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia before eventually making their way to Oconomowoc. After spending years at Briar Cottage and later Draper Hall, they were rescued at auction in 1967 when community members rallied to keep them in town.
Of course, the griffins have inspired a few legends of their own over the years. One particularly dubious tale speaks of a little-known griffin prophecy:
“When the Guardians of Books stand watch over Oconomowoc, stories shall flourish and readers shall prosper. But should either guardian be fed, it will immediately consume three James Patterson novels before anyone notices.”
Given the size of the Patterson collection, experts agree it could be years before such loss would be detected.
Fortunately, Poseidon and Athena appear content with guarding the Library’s treasures rather than snacking on them. Even so, staff continue to recommend that visitors admire the guardians from a respectful distance and refrain from feeding the griffins.
The Library’s collection development policy does not currently account for griffin-related losses.
Researchers continue to debate the prophecy’s authenticity. The griffins have declined to comment. |
|
|
|
 |
Monthly Reading ChallengesOur monthly reading challenges are here to keep the fun going all year long. In October, read 10 hours to earn a Beardie Buck worth $1 toward a Friends Book Sale item. Pick up your reading log at the New Children's Shelf and return your completed log during the first week of November to claim your reward. Open to all ages. |
|
|
 |
Join the Friends of the Library!The Friends of the Oconomowoc Public Library is a nonprofit group created to support the mission of the Oconomowoc Public Library by raising funds for the Library for special programs and purposes including Explore Passes, Clementine's care, and so much more.
Annual membership fees help support the Friends fundraising efforts and give members early access to book sales.
Learn more about the Friends! |
|
|
|
| The Other Side of Change: Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans |
Maya Shankar |
When life takes an unexpected turn, how do we move forward? Cognitive scientist Maya Shankar blends compelling personal stories and research to explore how life's biggest disruptions can reveal new strengths, perspectives, and possibilities. |
Recommended by Jen |
| |
| Cemetery Boys |
Aiden Thomas |
Yadriel wants to prove himself a true brujo to his traditional Latinx family. While trying to contact the ghost of his murdered cousin, he accidentally summons Julian, the school’s bad boy. As they work together to solve a mystery, an unexpected bond begins to grow between them. |
Recommended by Natalie |
|
|
| The Beheading Game |
Rebecca Lehmann |
When Anne Boleyn wakes up the day after her beheading, she sews her head back on and sets out to seek revenge—in a queer-feminist retelling of one of history’s most egregiously wronged women. |
Recommended by Tammy |
| |
| Ain't No Grave |
Skottie Young |
An outlaw tries to put her violent past behind her when she falls in love, gets married and becomes a mother. When she learns that an illness threatens to take all of that away, Ryder chooses to once again pick up her guns and fight. In an effort to have more time in this world, she sets out across the land to a place beyond the living, looking to kill the one that holds her life in his hands... Death, himself. |
Recommended by JJ |
|
|
|
|
Regular Library Hours
Labor Day–Memorial Day The Library will be closed on Friday, November 6, for staff training. |
|
|
 |
Your Library StoreGet fun Library accessories! Order your Library shirts, sweatshirts, bags, or coffee mugs online.
Shop Now! |
|
|
