Tessera, the small squarish pieces of colored marble or tile, were used in the entrance and in the Art, Music and Recreation Department.

Some of the materials used in the interior are yellow Sienna marble, brass and stained glass (lighting fixtures), hardwoods such as oak and mahogany, and scagliola (used for the pillars).

The bay leaf garland design found above the doors in the corridor is actually made of painted plaster, not carved wood.

[10] The green roof is expected to reduce polluted stormwater runoff, urban heat islands, and improve air quality.

[12] The Old Board Room is adjacent to the former office of the city librarian, which had a prime location on the Wisconsin Avenue side of the building.

The Children's Room was named at the request of an anonymous donor in memory of Elizabeth A. Brinn, a Milwaukee businesswoman and entrepreneur.

Thirty-one different animal shapes in a variety of colors greet visitors and reappear throughout the room to highlight other areas of interest.

The archive encompasses over 12,000 items that drawings and plans that "record the talent and design styles of architects who shaped the appearance and history of Wisconsin.

There are 30 computers in the room equipped with programs to support reading, creative writing, math, science, geography and other academic assignments.

Librarians at the Humanities Desk provide patrons with reference assistance in the areas of religion, philosophy, psychology, education, law, the military and government, language and literature, travel, history, biography, genealogy and the social sciences.

Staff and volunteers all work to acquire, process, organize, retrieve, copy and preserve materials in these subject areas.

[17] This department contains indices published in both paper and online format such as Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature, the Education Index, and EBSCO.

The library is also a designated Patent and Trademark Resource Center, conducting regular classes to help the intellectual property needs of the public.