Alfred Dickey Public Library
🏢 James River Valley Library System · Jamestown, North Dakota
Alfred Dickey Public Library
Alfred Dickey Public Library occupies a 1919 Egyptian Revival building — one of the finest examples of Prairie School architecture in North Dakota — where Louis L'Amour spent hours reading as a youth before becoming one of the best-selling western authors of all time.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9:30am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9:30am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9:30am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9:30am–8pm |
| Friday | 9:30am–6pm |
| Saturday | 11am–4pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 105 THIRD STREET SE, JAMESTOWN, ND 58401
Phone: (701) 252-2990
Website: jrvls.org
Plus Code: 86R3W74R+GR (JAMESTOWN, ND)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Alfred Dickey Public Library
Alfred Dickey Public Library is the central branch of the James River Valley Library System, housed in a landmark 1919 building at 105 Third Street SE in Jamestown, North Dakota. The library's story begins in January 1901, when Alfred M. Dickey — North Dakota's first lieutenant governor — called a public meeting to establish a free reading room three days before his death. His son Alfred E. Dickey honored the pledge and bequeathed $20,000 for a permanent building, which architect J. A. Shannon (trained in the Sullivan School of Chicago) designed in Egyptian Revival style with a lotus-leaf motif woven through windows, light fixtures, columns, and terra cotta exterior ornaments. Roseate Tennessee marble and terrazzo floors complete the interior. The building opened in 1919, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, and today houses an interactive Louis L'Amour exhibit — the legendary western author explored the library's stacks as a Jamestown youth, calling it the place where he developed his passion for storytelling. The library also maintains an Alfred Dickey display and a seed library, and the system's Stutsman County Library branch serves the county courthouse district nearby.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Built in 1919 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 — a rare Prairie School / Egyptian Revival landmark in North Dakota
- Lotus-leaf motifs in windows, light fixtures, columns, and terra cotta ornaments, with roseate Tennessee marble and terrazzo floors
- Interactive Louis L'Amour exhibit honoring the celebrated western author who read here as a Jamestown youth
- Named for Alfred M. Dickey, North Dakota's first lieutenant governor, who called the founding meeting in January 1901
- Library of Things collection: household tools, games, bakeware, and state park passes available to borrow
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
James River Valley Library System cardholders can read, listen, and research free through North Dakota's statewide digital services:
📚 Services
- Circulating books, DVDs, audiobooks, and magazines
- Library of Things: tools, games, bakeware, and state park passes
- Seed library — free seeds to grow at home
- Meeting room for up to 30 adults (non-commercial reservations)
- Public computers, printing, scanning to email (20¢/side)
- Interlibrary loan through JRVLS partner institutions
- Online account management: reserves, renewals, borrowing history
- Louis L'Amour exhibit and Alfred Dickey historical display
🎸 Programs
- Children's, teen, and adult programming
- Summer reading program
- Genealogy and archives research support (Matchie Collection)
- Community events and author programs
- Bookmobile routes serving Stutsman County communities
📍 Nearby Libraries in Central North Dakota
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in JAMESTOWN · Browse all North Dakota libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the connection between Alfred Dickey Library and Louis L'Amour?
Louis L'Amour, one of the best-selling western fiction authors of the 20th century, grew up in Jamestown, North Dakota. As a youth he spent long hours reading at Alfred Dickey Free Library — his sister Edna worked there as a librarian. He later credited the library as the place where he developed the deep reading habit that fueled his career. The library today maintains an interactive Louis L'Amour exhibit honoring that connection.
Why is the Alfred Dickey Library building architecturally significant?
The building, designed by architect J. A. Shannon in Egyptian Revival style and opened in 1919, is considered a rare and fine example of Prairie School architecture in North Dakota. Its distinctive features include lotus-leaf motifs in the windows, light fixtures, and columns, terra cotta ornaments on the exterior, and roseate Tennessee marble and terrazzo floors inside. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 3, 1980.
What is the Library of Things at Alfred Dickey Library?
The Library of Things lets cardholders borrow everyday items they might not want to buy — including household tools, games, puzzles, bakeware, and North Dakota state park passes. Items check out like regular library materials. Stop by 105 Third Street SE or check jrvls.org for the current catalog of available items.
Does the James River Valley Library System have more than one location?
Yes. Alfred Dickey Public Library at 105 Third Street SE is the main branch (Mon–Thu 9:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m., Fri until 6:00 p.m., Sat 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; phone 701-252-2990). The Stutsman County Library, located at 910 Fifth Street SE (phone 701-252-1531), is a second branch serving the county area, open Mon–Fri 12:00–5:00 p.m. Both share a library card and catalog.
🧰 This library lends a “Library of Things.” See what you can borrow besides books and find other libraries with a Library of Things Library of Things 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.
📅 This library has meeting & community rooms. See how library meeting rooms work — booking, policies and fees — and find other libraries with meeting or community rooms meeting rooms by state.
🌱 This library has a seed library. See how library seed libraries work — borrow free seeds, grow them, and save some to return — and find other libraries with a seed library seed libraries by state.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.
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