Burr Oak Community Library
🏢 Central Kansas Library System · Burr Oak, Kansas
Burr Oak Community Library
Burr Oak Community Library anchors the civic life of one of Jewell County's smallest incorporated cities — a town of roughly 140 residents that traces its roots to 1871, when settlers laid out the townsite along Burr Oak Creek. Open four afternoons and one evening each week at 231 S Pennsylvania Street, the library keeps Jewell County's prairie heritage alive while connecting patrons to digital collections spanning the state.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 4pm–7pm |
| Tuesday | 11am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 11am–5pm |
| Thursday | 11am–5pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 231 S Pennsylvania, BURR OAK, KS 66936
Phone: +1785-647-5597
Website: facebook.com
Plus Code: 86F3VM9W+QG (BURR OAK, KS)
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📖 About Burr Oak Community Library
The Burr Oak Community Library serves Burr Oak, a small Jewell County city in the rolling plains of north-central Kansas near the Nebraska border. Burr Oak was platted in 1871, incorporated in 1880, and takes its name from the creek that runs through the area; at its peak in the late 19th century the town drew homesteaders to a region that would later shed much of its population across successive decades of agricultural consolidation. The library, located at 231 S Pennsylvania Street, is a member of the Central Kansas Library System (CKLS), the regional cooperative that provides shared cataloging, digital services, and interlibrary loan support to public libraries across 17 north-central Kansas counties. Through CKLS membership, a Burr Oak card connects patrons to the Sunflower eLibrary, Libby eBooks via the Kansas Library eCard, and hoopla streaming — statewide digital resources available on any device 24 hours a day. For a community of barely 140 residents served by the Rock Hills USD 107 school district, the library is an essential thread in the social fabric of a place where the nearest larger library is some 15 miles away.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Community public library serving Burr Oak, an incorporated Jewell County city founded in 1871 along Burr Oak Creek
- Member of the Central Kansas Library System (CKLS), linking patrons to shared catalogs and statewide interlibrary loan
- Evening hours on Monday (4–7 pm) for after-work and after-school visits
- Free access to Libby, hoopla, and Sunflower eLibrary through CKLS and the Kansas Library eCard
- Physical collection of books and media at 231 S Pennsylvania Street in the heart of Burr Oak
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Burr Oak Community Library cardholders can read, stream, and research free through CKLS and the State Library of Kansas:
📚 Services
- Public book and media lending
- Free wireless internet access
- Interlibrary loan through the Central Kansas Library System
- Shared online catalog for holds and account management via CKLS
- Computer access and basic printing
- Youth and community programs
🎸 Programs
- Children's story-time and youth programming
- Summer reading program
- Community events and seasonal reading challenges
- Adult programming tied to CKLS statewide initiatives
📍 Nearby Libraries in Jewell & Republic Counties
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Burr Oak Community Library's hours?
The library is open Monday 4–7 pm, Tuesday through Thursday 11 am–5 pm, and closed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The Monday evening slot is the main option for working adults and students returning from school. Hours may vary around holidays; call (785) 647-5597 to confirm.
Is Burr Oak Community Library part of a regional library system?
Yes. It is a member of the Central Kansas Library System (CKLS), a regional cooperative serving 17 counties across north-central Kansas. CKLS provides shared cataloging, digital platforms, consulting, and interlibrary loan support, so Burr Oak cardholders can request materials from member libraries across the region and the state.
Can I access eBooks and digital resources with a Burr Oak library card?
Yes. Through CKLS membership and the free Kansas Library eCard, Burr Oak cardholders have access to Libby / OverDrive for eBooks and audiobooks, hoopla for streaming movies, music, and comics, and the Sunflower eLibrary for additional downloadable titles — all available 24 hours a day from any smartphone, tablet, or computer.
How small is Burr Oak, and why does such a small town have its own library?
Burr Oak had a population of about 140 residents in the 2020 census, making it one of the smallest incorporated cities in Kansas with its own public library. The town was laid out in 1871 and grew during the homestead era, and the community library has remained a focal point of local civic life. The nearest alternative library is roughly 15 miles away in Jewell, so the local branch is a genuine daily necessity for many residents.
🖨 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 October 2026.
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