Williams Public Library
🏢 Coconino County Library District · Williams, Arizona
Williams Public Library
Williams Public Library is the community anchor of 'The Gateway to the Grand Canyon' — a Route 66 town of 3,200 residents where the last stretch of the Mother Road was decommissioned in 1985 and the Grand Canyon Railway still departs daily for the South Rim.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–12pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–5pm |
| Thursday | 9am–5pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 113 S 1st St, WILLIAMS, AZ 86046
Phone: +1928-635-2263
Website: williamspubliclibrary.org
Plus Code: 85797R27+36 (WILLIAMS, AZ)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Williams Public Library
Williams, Arizona, was incorporated in 1901 and named for William Sherley 'Old Bill' Williams, a mountain man and trapper whose statue stands in Monument Park on the city's west side. The city earned national attention on October 13, 1984, when Interstate 40 bypassed its final stretch of Route 66 — making Williams the last city on the Mother Road to be bypassed. Today Williams serves about 2,940 residents and functions as a southern gateway to the Grand Canyon, roughly sixty miles and one hour's drive from the South Entrance. Williams Public Library, a member of the Coconino County Library District, holds more than 11,000 volumes and circulates approximately 15,300 items per year. The library's collection spans fiction, non-fiction, audiovisual materials and digital resources through Libby, and the library makes available a PDF history of Williams for researchers interested in the city's Route 66 and railroad heritage.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Located in Williams, the last city whose Route 66 section was bypassed by I-40, on October 13, 1984
- Gateway to the Grand Canyon — 60 miles from the South Rim, southern terminus of the Grand Canyon Railway
- Coconino County Library District member with a collection of more than 11,000 volumes
- Circulates approximately 15,300 items per year, serving a community of about 2,940 residents
- Digital PDF history of Williams available through the library for local and Route 66 researchers
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Williams cardholders can borrow digital titles and access Arizona statewide resources free:
📚 Services
- Public computers and free Wi-Fi
- Printing and copying
- Interlibrary loan through the Coconino County Library District
- Local history PDF resources on Williams and Route 66 heritage
- Reference assistance
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes and youth programming
- Summer reading program
- Community events and reader's advisory
📍 Nearby Libraries in Northern Arizona
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Williams called 'The Gateway to the Grand Canyon'?
Williams sits approximately 60 miles and one hour's drive south of the Grand Canyon's South Entrance, making it the closest incorporated city to the park. It is also the southern terminus of the Grand Canyon Railway, which has carried visitors directly to Grand Canyon Village since 1901. The city's location on historic Route 66 and its proximity to the rim have made it a natural stopping point for Grand Canyon–bound travellers for over a century.
What is the Route 66 connection to Williams?
Williams holds a unique place in American highway history as the last city whose stretch of Route 66 was bypassed by Interstate 40. On October 13, 1984, I-40 opened around Williams after years of legal disputes, marking the practical end of Route 66 as a continuous through-route. The original Mother Road was officially decommissioned the following year. Williams preserves a six-block historic downtown district that still reflects its Route 66 heritage.
What digital resources can I access with a Williams Public Library card?
Williams Public Library cardholders can borrow eBooks and digital audiobooks through Libby (OverDrive) and access the statewide Reading Arizona (DAZL) collection. Additional online research databases are available through the Coconino County Library District. All digital resources are free with a valid library card.
📜 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.
🖨 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.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.
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