The library has more than 4.5 million catalogued items, many of which are available electronically through Electronic Reserve, web-based online catalog, searchable databases and indices.

The building was first constructed in 1967 and then expanded with the addition of the East Wing in 1974 and conference center in 1987.

The library was named for Golda Meir, the fourth prime minister of Israel,[1] who graduated in 1917 from the Milwaukee State Normal School, an institution to which UWM traces its lineage.

The library's largest collection is the American Geographical Society Library (AGSL), the "foremost geography and map collections" in the US,[2] which houses a vast number of historical and detailed maps, many rare and valuable books, research and technical reports, photographs, satellite images, digital data, and relevant serials.

The archives contains historical resources from Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin, including private papers from individuals, records from businesses and organizations as well as records from UW–Milwaukee.