Kegoayah Kozga Library
🏢 City of Nome Public Library · Nome, Alaska
Kegoayah Kozga Library
Named for Nome's Kegoayah Kozga Women's Club — the northernmost women's club in America, founded in 1902, whose name translates as "Aurora Club" in honor of the Northern Lights — Nome's public library at 100 West 7th Avenue serves one of Alaska's most storied gold-rush cities on the Seward Peninsula where the Iditarod Trail ends each March.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 12 PM – 7 PM |
| Tuesday | 12 PM – 7 PM |
| Wednesday | 12 PM – 7 PM |
| Thursday | 12 PM – 7 PM |
| Friday | 12 PM – 6 PM |
| Saturday | 12 PM – 6 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 100 West 7th Avenue, NOME, AK 99762
Phone: +1-907-443-6628
Website: nomealaska.org
Plus Code: 92PPGJ32+3P (NOME, AK)
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📖 About Kegoayah Kozga Library
Kegoayah Kozga Library is the public library of Nome, Alaska, a Bering Sea community of about 3,700 residents and the administrative hub of the Nome Census Area. The library takes its name from the Kegoayah Kozga Women's Club — the northernmost women's club in America, established in 1902 — whose name was described in a 1913 magazine as meaning "Aurora Club," signifying "the dawn of woman's work in Alaska." Nome rose to prominence during the gold rush of 1898–1900, when three Nordic Americans discovered placer gold on the ocean beach and the population briefly swelled past 12,000; the library preserves that layered history alongside the living culture of Inupiaq peoples who have inhabited this coastline for millennia. Situated at 100 West 7th Avenue, the library provides the peninsula's remote villages with interlibrary loan access, digital resources through Alaska's statewide SLED portal, and a physical anchor for literacy and community learning in a city accessible only by air or winter trail — including as the finish line of the annual Iditarod Sled Dog Race.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Name "Kegoayah Kozga" honors the women's club of the same name — founded 1902, the northernmost in America — meaning "Aurora Club" after the Northern Lights
- Serves Nome (pop. ~3,700), the administrative hub of the Nome Census Area, 33 miles south of the Arctic Circle
- Located steps from the Iditarod finish-line arch on Front Street — a destination for mushers, volunteers and visitors each March
- Gateway to Alaska's statewide SLED digital library: research databases, tutoring, genealogy and Alaska archives
- Open six days a week including Saturday, with evening hours Monday through Thursday until 7pm
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
A Nome library card unlocks free digital content through Alaska's statewide services:
📚 Services
- Public computers and free Wi-Fi
- Interlibrary loan for the Seward Peninsula region
- Reference and reader's advisory assistance
- Circulation of books, audiobooks, DVDs and periodicals
- Access to SLED statewide research databases and digital collections
🎸 Programs
- Children's and youth reading programs
- Summer Reading Program
- Community programming tied to Iditarod season events
📍 Nearby Libraries in Western Alaska
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Kegoayah Kozga" mean?
The name "Kegoayah Kozga" comes from Nome's Kegoayah Kozga Women's Club — the northernmost women's club in America, formed in 1902. A 1913 Bay View Readers Club magazine described the name as meaning "Aurora Club," in reference to "the dawn of woman's work in Alaska" — a tribute to the Northern Lights and the pioneering women who built community institutions in Nome.
Is the Kegoayah Kozga Library open during Iditarod season?
Yes — the library maintains its regular schedule (Monday–Thursday noon–7pm, Friday–Saturday noon–6pm) during Iditarod season in March. The finish-line arch on Nome's Front Street is just a few blocks away, making the library a warm stop for visitors and volunteers.
How do I get a library card in Nome?
Visit the library at 100 West 7th Avenue during open hours. Nome residents can get a free library card. Cards also unlock the statewide Alaska Digital Library (Libby) and SLED databases for digital borrowing and research.
Does the Kegoayah Kozga Library serve surrounding villages?
Yes — through interlibrary loan and Alaska's statewide digital resources (SLED), the library extends services across the Nome Census Area. Nome is the regional hub for many Seward Peninsula communities that lack their own library facilities.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.
