The Good Hope Branch Library is a publicly funded and managed library and an affiliate of Milwaukee Public Library (MPL), serving almost six hundred thousand residents in Milwaukee, a city in the state of Wisconsin on Lake Michigan's western shore. The Good Hope branch contributes to the total inventory of MPL, which maintains more than 1.8 million volumes and circulates more than 2.8 million items per year. Formally founded in 1878, MPL can be traced back as early as 1847, organized by the Young Men’s Association, starting with dues collected from members for the subscription rental of space. Today, the Good Hope Branch is just one of the 14 affiliate libraries under the Milwaukee Public Library (MPL), or one of 29 affiliate libraries under the Milwaukee County Federated Library System. Additionally, the Good Hope branch offers wireless Internet access and a wide choice of digital resources both for parents and students, especially the LibraryNow featuring online academic support, which has Reading Buddies and Virtual Teacher in the Library to online story times.