Akron Public Library

🏢 Akron Public Library · Akron, Colorado

Akron Public Library

Akron Public Library has served Washington County from a 1931 one-story brick building at the corner of Main and 3rd — its distinctive oblique entry marking the spot where community fundraising, county funding, and a Masonic land donation came together to give eastern Colorado's high plains a permanent home for books.

📞 (970) 345-6818🌐 akron.colibraries.org🧭 Get directions
🕑 Hours & visit📖 About⭐ Highlights📚 Services📍 Nearby❓ FAQ

🕑 Library Hours

Monday Closed
Tuesday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Sunday Closed

Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.

📍 Location, Contact & Directions

Address: 302 MAIN AVENUE, AKRON, CO 80720

Phone: (970) 345-6818

Website: akron.colibraries.org

Plus Code: 85GR5Q6P+FW (AKRON, CO)

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👋 Use the Library Online

&🔍Search the Catalog →&📚Borrow with Hoopla →&🌐Colorado Library Resources →

📖 About Akron Public Library

The story of Akron's library begins in 1915, when Mrs. William McMurdo established the town's first collection in the back of the local post office. Within a year nearly 400 donated books lined the shelves, and Washington County began paying librarian Janette Shaffer $10 a month to keep them organized. In the early 1920s Akron's women's clubs pushed for a proper building, formally establishing the Akron Library Association on April 24, 1922, at Katherine Huey's house. By March 1924 the county allowed the association to use two rooms in the courthouse basement. Then, in 1931, a combination of fundraising, a town contribution, county support, and a land donation from the local Masonic lodge made possible the construction of the current one-story brick library — notable for its oblique corner entry on the northeast corner of Main and 3rd. That building still stands today, housing books for all ages, audiobooks, DVDs, and an extensive local history collection that documents Washington County's agricultural heritage.

⭐ What makes this library special

  • Historic 1931 brick library with a distinctive oblique entry — a landmark on the Akron downtown streetscape
  • Dedicated local history collection documenting Washington County's heritage
  • Hoopla Digital: borrow eBooks, audiobooks, comics, and streaming video with no waitlists
  • AspenCat online catalog for searching and placing holds 24/7
  • Serves all Washington County residents with a free library card

📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card

Akron cardholders can borrow digital content anytime through these free resources:

&📚 Hoopla DigitalBorrow eBooks, audiobooks, comics, music, and streaming video instantly — no waitlists, available 24/7 with your Akron library card.
&📝 AspenCat Catalog & eResourcesSearch the full catalog, manage your account, and access additional electronic resources at akron.catalog.aspencat.info.
&🌐 Colorado State Library eResourcesColorado's statewide databases and research tools are available to all Colorado library cardholders through the Colorado State Library portal at cde.state.co.us/cdelib.

📚 Services

  • Computer workstations with internet access
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Printing and copying
  • Local history and genealogy research collection
  • Children's programming and materials
  • Friends of the Library membership

🎸 Programs

  • Children's storytime programs
  • Summer Reading Program
  • Friends of the Library events and book sales

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Who can get a free library card at Akron Public Library?

All Washington County residents — as well as Colorado residents more broadly — are eligible for a free library card at Akron Public Library. Bring a photo ID with your current address to the library to register in person, or call (970) 345-6818 for information about remote card registration.

Does Akron Public Library have local history or genealogy resources?

Yes. The library maintains a dedicated local history collection focused on Washington County and the surrounding eastern Colorado high-plains region, including historical documents, newspapers, and materials valuable for genealogical research. Staff can assist with research visits during regular open hours.

What digital borrowing options are available with an Akron library card?

Cardholders can borrow from Hoopla Digital — which offers eBooks, audiobooks, comics, music, and streaming video with no holds or waitlists — at any hour. The library catalog is searchable online at akron.catalog.aspencat.info, where you can also renew items and place holds on physical materials.

📜 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.

✎ Notice something out of date? Suggest a correction and we’ll verify and update it.

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