Chiniak Public Library
🏢 Kodiak Island Borough · Chiniak, Alaska
Chiniak Public Library
Chiniak Public Library is a volunteer-run community library perched at the end of the Chiniak Road on Kodiak Island’s southern tip, serving one of Alaska’s smallest and most scenic coastal communities. Open ten hours a week, it is a quiet gathering place for the roughly 60 residents of this rugged island outpost.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 43318 SPRUCE WAY, CHINIAK, AK 99615
Phone: (907) 486-3022
Plus Code: 9399JQ68+VH (CHINIAK, AK)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Chiniak Public Library
The Chiniak Public Library occupies the small community of Chiniak, a census-designated place at the southern end of Kodiak Island in the Kodiak Island Borough. The village was first recorded in the 1880 U.S. Census as an Inuit settlement of 24 residents, was later abandoned, and was resettled beginning around 1990 by a non-Native community of fishermen, homesteaders and outdoor enthusiasts. Today around 60 people call Chiniak home, and the library — maintained by dedicated community volunteers — holds a collection of approximately 3,800 volumes. Patrons can browse the catalog through LibraryThing and the library shares automation infrastructure with the Kodiak Island Borough School District’s Destiny system. The library is open just ten hours per week — Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday midday — reflecting the volunteer-staffed character of this close-knit community at road’s end.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Volunteer-run community library serving one of Alaska’s most remote road-accessible villages, with only about 60 year-round residents
- Collection of approximately 3,800 volumes cataloged through LibraryThing, with catalog also shared via the Kodiak Island Borough School District’s Destiny system
- Located at the terminus of Chiniak Road, the southernmost point of Kodiak Island reachable by road — surrounded by stunning Gulf of Alaska scenery
- Open ten hours per week: Tuesday & Thursday evenings and Saturday midday — hours set to accommodate working residents and weekend visitors
- Free access to SLED (Statewide Library Electronic Doorway) digital resources for all Alaska cardholders
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Chiniak Library cardholders — and all Alaska residents — can access free digital resources statewide:
📚 Services
- Book lending with community library cards
- Collection of approximately 3,800 print volumes
- Online catalog browsing via LibraryThing
- Interlibrary loan through the Alaska library network
- Statewide SLED digital resource access
🎸 Programs
- Volunteer-organized community reading events
- Summer reading activities for island children
- Seasonal community gatherings and programs
📍 Nearby Libraries on Kodiak Island
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who runs the Chiniak Public Library, and how is it funded?
The Chiniak Public Library is maintained by community volunteers and receives funding support through the Alaska State Library grant program and the Kodiak Island Borough. Its small staff of dedicated locals keeps the library open ten hours each week.
Can I access Chiniak’s catalog online?
Yes. The library’s collection is cataloged through LibraryThing, which you can browse online. The library also shares automation infrastructure with the Kodiak Island Borough School District’s Destiny system.
How far is Chiniak from Kodiak city, and is it accessible by road?
Chiniak is approximately 14 miles south of Kodiak city by road (Chiniak Highway), making it one of the few Kodiak Island communities accessible by car. The drive runs through spectacular coastal scenery along the Gulf of Alaska.
What digital resources are available with a Chiniak Library card?
Any valid Alaska public library card — including a Chiniak card — unlocks SLED (lam.alaska.gov/sled), Alaska’s statewide portal for free eBooks, audiobooks, magazines and research databases, accessible from home 24 hours a day.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.