Oglala Lakota College Woksape Tipi Library
🏢 Oglala Lakota College · Kyle, South Dakota
Oglala Lakota College Woksape Tipi Library
The Oglala Lakota College Woksape Tipi Library serves as both the academic library for Oglala Lakota College and the designated public library for the Pine Ridge Reservation — one of the most remote library service areas in the United States, spanning nearly 3,500 square miles on the Great Plains.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 8:30am–5pm |
| Tuesday | 8:30am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 8:30am–5pm |
| Thursday | 8:30am–5pm |
| Friday | 8:30am–5pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 3-Mile Creek Road, Kyle, SD 57752
Phone: (605) 455-6069
Website: library.olc.edu
Plus Code: 85MV9Q85+CV (Kyle, SD)
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📖 About Oglala Lakota College Woksape Tipi Library
Woksape Tipi — a Lakota phrase meaning 'house of wisdom' — sits on the campus of Oglala Lakota College in Kyle, South Dakota, the Oglala Lakota Nation's tribal college founded in 1971. The library doubles as the public library for the entire Pine Ridge Reservation and coordinates 13 branch library locations scattered across the reservation's nearly 3,500 square miles in Shannon and Jackson counties. Its holdings include a general circulating collection for students and community members, as well as one of the region's most significant archival collections: historical documents, photographs, audio recordings, and newspapers documenting Pine Ridge, Rosebud, and surrounding reservation history, Lakota language materials, and the papers of prominent tribal leaders. All Pine Ridge residents may obtain a library card and access resources in person; OLC students additionally gain remote access to the college's licensed databases and digital collections.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Designated public library for the Pine Ridge Reservation — serves a community spread across nearly 3,500 square miles
- Name 'Woksape Tipi' is Lakota for 'house of wisdom' — reflects the library's dual academic and community mission
- Coordinates 13 branch library locations across Shannon and Jackson counties on the reservation
- Archives hold historical documents, photographs, and audio recordings on Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservation history
- Part of Oglala Lakota College, founded 1971 as a tribally controlled college of the Oglala Lakota Nation
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Pine Ridge community cardholders access South Dakota's statewide digital resources at no cost:
📚 Services
- Public library services for all Pine Ridge Reservation residents — free library card available
- Circulating print collection for general community borrowing
- Archival collections — Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservation history, photographs, audio recordings, tribal newspapers
- Lakota language and culture materials
- 13 branch locations coordinated across Shannon and Jackson counties
- Reference and research assistance
- Digital resource access through South Dakota State Library statewide programs
🎸 Programs
- Community access to archival research and tribal history collections
- Support for OLC students through library instruction and research consultations
- Statewide summer reading programs through SDSL
- Interlibrary loan and resource sharing
📍 Nearby Libraries in Western South Dakota
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'Woksape Tipi' mean?
Woksape Tipi is a Lakota phrase that translates as 'house of wisdom.' It reflects the library's role as both the academic heart of Oglala Lakota College and the public library for the Oglala Lakota Nation community on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Can community members who are not OLC students use the library?
Yes. The Woksape Tipi Library serves as the official public library for the Pine Ridge Reservation, so all reservation residents — not just college students — may obtain a free library card and use the circulating collection and in-person services. Contact the library at (605) 455-6069 for card registration details.
What kinds of archival materials does the library hold?
The Woksape Tipi Archives holds historical documents, photographs, audio recordings, and newspapers relating to the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations, Lakota language and cultural materials, and records connected to tribal history and the Oglala Lakota Nation. Researchers can contact the archives to inquire about access.
How remote is Kyle, South Dakota?
Kyle sits in Shannon County (now Oglala Lakota County) in the southwestern corner of South Dakota. The Pine Ridge Reservation covers nearly 3,500 square miles — larger than Delaware and Rhode Island combined — making the Woksape Tipi Library and its 13 branches one of the most geographically spread public library systems in the United States.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.