Cumberland County Public Library
🏢 Cumberland County Public Library · Burkesville, Kentucky
Cumberland County Public Library
Founded in 1938 with WPA support, Cumberland County Public Library has served Burkesville and the surrounding Cumberland River highlands for nearly nine decades, and its dedicated Randolph N. Smith Genealogy Library makes it a regional destination for family history research.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–5pm |
| Thursday | 9am–5pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–12pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 114 HILL STREET, BURKESVILLE, KY 42717
Phone: +1270-864-2207
Website: cumberlandcountylibrary.org
Plus Code: 868PQJRH+7G (BURKESVILLE, KY)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Cumberland County Public Library
Cumberland County Public Library was established in 1938 as a WPA-funded institution — one of the New Deal-era libraries created to bring free reading and education to rural Appalachian communities. It initially operated from the courthouse basement before relocating to its permanent home at 114 Hill Street, Burkesville, in October 1967 on land donated by W. Less McComas, the site of a former telephone company switchboard. The building received its first major renovation in 2008, more than 40 years after it was constructed. The library's bookmobile service began in 1954, with Ruby D. Lee serving as driver and librarian of the first vehicle distributed by Governor Lawrence Wetherby. Today the library is a genuine community hub: it houses the Randolph N. Smith Genealogy Library with birth, marriage, death, census, cemetery, and military records plus on-site Ancestry Library Edition access; it hosts the Lucille Sell Garner Yearbook Archive; and it offers digital resources through Kentucky Libraries Unbound and Hoopla. Regular programs include story time, a book club, card club, bridge club, and a crochet circle.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded 1938 as a WPA library — nearly 90 years of continuous service to Cumberland County
- Randolph N. Smith Genealogy Library — specialized collection of birth, death, census, military records, and on-site Ancestry Library Edition
- Lucille Sell Garner Yearbook Archive — historical Cumberland County school yearbooks in partnership with the county school district
- Bookmobile service reaching patrons throughout rural Cumberland County since 1954
- Relocated to Hill Street in 1967 and renovated in 2008 — comfortable, dedicated library facility for a county of ~7,000 residents
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Kentucky cardholders access Kentucky Libraries Unbound and Hoopla for free eBooks, audiobooks, comics, and streaming video at any time.
📚 Services
- Book, DVD, audiobook, and magazine lending
- Public computers with internet access
- Free Wi-Fi
- Free library card for Cumberland County residents
- Randolph N. Smith Genealogy Library (records + on-site Ancestry Library Edition)
- Lucille Sell Garner Yearbook Archive (Cumberland County schools)
- Bookmobile and community outreach service
- Kentucky Libraries Unbound eBooks & audiobooks
- Hoopla Digital streaming
- Kentucky Virtual Library (KYVL) databases
- Online library card application
- School field trips and community event visits
🎸 Programs
- Story Time — Fridays at 10am
- Bookies Book Club — 3rd Monday at 1pm
- Card Club — Wednesdays at 1pm
- Bridge Club — Thursdays at 1pm
- Crochet Club — 2nd Tuesday at 1pm
- Adult Summer Reading Challenge
- Genealogy research assistance (contact Dennis at 270-864-2207)
📍 Nearby Libraries in Southern Kentucky
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in BURKESVILLE · Browse all Kentucky libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What are Cumberland County Public Library's hours?
The library is open Monday through Friday 9am–5pm and Saturday 9am–12pm. It is closed on Sundays.
What genealogy resources does the library offer?
The Randolph N. Smith Genealogy Library holds birth, marriage, death, census, cemetery, and military records for Cumberland County and the region. On-site access to Ancestry Library Edition is available for free during library hours. Contact Dennis Sells at 270-864-2207 for research assistance.
Does the library have a bookmobile for residents who can't visit in person?
Yes. The library's bookmobile service has served rural Cumberland County since 1954. Contact the library at 270-864-2207 to arrange a bookmobile visit or learn the current route schedule.
What digital borrowing options are available with a Cumberland County library card?
Cardholders can borrow eBooks and audiobooks through Kentucky Libraries Unbound and Hoopla Digital — both offer immediate access with no waiting lists. The Kentucky Virtual Library (kyvl.org) also provides free research databases and magazine archives.
📜 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.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in October 2026.
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