Monroe Community Library
🏢 Corvallis-Benton County Public Library · Monroe, Oregon
Monroe Community Library
Monroe's historic Southern Pacific train depot has a second life as the Monroe Community Library — a building shaped like the depot it repurposes, complete with a working railroad wigwag signal, solar panels on the roof, and Wi-Fi that never turns off, even at midnight.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 10am–1pm, 1:30pm–4:30pm |
| Wednesday | 2pm–7pm |
| Thursday | 10am–1pm, 1:30pm–4:30pm |
| Friday | 10am–1pm, 1:30pm–4:30pm |
| Saturday | 12pm–3pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 380 North 5th Street, Monroe, OR 97456
Phone: (541) 847-5174
Website: cbcpubliclibrary.net
Plus Code: 84PR8P92+JP (Monroe, OR)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Monroe Community Library
The Monroe Community Library is a branch of the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library system, serving south Benton County from a building that is itself a piece of local history. The City of Monroe relocated and completely refurbished the original Southern Pacific train depot, incorporating it as the left wing of the new library; the wing retains the depot's silhouette and displays a 1936 railroad wigwag sign at its end, along with geological specimens and historical relics from the local historical society — making the library a quiet museum of Monroe's past as well as a living community hub. The capital campaign launched in 2008; by September 2011 the project had secured all $840,000+ in funding through major grants from the Collins Foundation, Ford Family Foundation, James and Marion Miller Foundation, and Meyer Memorial Trust, supplemented by community donations ranging from student fundraisers to local organizations. Today the library holds Maker Kits — checkable items enabling home-based creative projects — and maintains 24/7 Wi-Fi for patrons who need connectivity outside staffed hours. A Legacy Fund established in 2019 ensures the historic building's long-term upkeep. As part of the CBC system, every Monroe card unlocks 300,000+ items via permanent delivery, Libby eBooks, and Answerland live reference.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Housed in Monroe's historic Southern Pacific train depot — repurposed as the library's left wing, complete with a 1936 railroad wigwag sign
- Capital campaign (2008–2011) raised $840,000+ through foundations, grants, and community donations
- Solar panels on the roof generate more electricity than the lighting consumes — a net-positive energy building
- 24/7 Wi-Fi throughout the facility, available even when the library is closed
- Maker Kits for checkout — enabling home-based creative projects for children in the community
- Legacy Fund (est. 2019) dedicated to preserving the historic depot building for future generations
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Monroe cardholders unlock Oregon's statewide and Benton County digital collections for free:
📚 Services
- Books, DVDs, and audiobooks for checkout
- Maker Kits — creative project kits for home use
- Access to 300,000+ item system collection via permanent delivery service
- 24/7 Wi-Fi — available even when the library is closed
- Meeting room and community gathering space
- Public computers and printing
- Interlibrary loan through the Corvallis-Benton County system
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytime and youth programming
- Summer reading program
- Community events, dance lessons, and public gatherings in the meeting room
- Programs coordinated through the Corvallis-Benton County system
📍 Nearby Libraries in Benton County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the railroad wigwag sign in the library?
When the City of Monroe repurposed the old Southern Pacific train depot as the library's left wing, they preserved a 1936 railroad wigwag signal — a pendulum-style warning device historically used at railroad crossings — and installed it at the end of the depot wing. The building also houses geological specimens and historical relics donated by the local historical society, so the library doubles as a small depot-era museum.
How was the new Monroe Community Library funded?
A community capital campaign launched in 2008 and reached its $840,000+ goal by September 2011 — about four years from start to full funding. Major contributors included the Collins Foundation, Ford Family Foundation, James and Marion Miller Foundation, and Meyer Memorial Trust, alongside student fundraisers, local businesses, and community organizations including the Benton County Cultural Coalition and Long Tom Grange.
Is the Wi-Fi really on all night?
Yes. The Monroe Community Library maintains its Wi-Fi 24 hours a day, seven days a week — even when the building is staffed only Tue–Sat. Patrons can access the network from the parking area during off hours, which is especially useful in a rural community where home broadband options may be limited.
What are Maker Kits, and who can borrow them?
Maker Kits are checkable library items — kits containing materials and instructions for home-based creative projects in areas like art, STEM, and crafts. They were introduced specifically to support children in Monroe who have limited access to arts education in local schools. Any Monroe Community Library cardholder can check them out just like a book.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
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