Martin Monsen Regional Library
🏢 Bristol Bay Borough Libraries · Naknek, Alaska
Martin Monsen Regional Library
Named for a Norwegian-born Bristol Bay cannery pioneer, the Martin Monsen Regional Library has anchored Naknek since the early settlement era — today offering books, computers, inter-library loans, and round-the-clock outdoor Wi-Fi on Alaska’s remote southwestern coast.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 10am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–5pm |
| Thursday | 10am–6pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 101 Main Street, Naknek, AK 99633
Phone: (907) 246-4465
Website: bristolbayboroughak.us
Plus Code: 93C5V2G6+Q5 (Naknek, AK)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Martin Monsen Regional Library
The Martin Monsen Regional Library is the main public library of Bristol Bay Borough, serving the communities of Naknek, King Salmon, and surrounding villages from its home at 101 Main Street. The library honors Martin Monsen (1873–1950), a Norwegian immigrant from Stavanger who arrived in Bristol Bay in 1898, worked as a winter watchman at the Naknek Packing Company cannery, and settled in Naknek with his wife Martha McGlashan Monsen in 1912. Martha, born in Akutan in 1890, served for generations as Naknek’s postmistress and midwife. The borough library system includes a branch in South Naknek and circulates more than 6,500 items annually to a registered population of roughly 987 residents. Because internet connectivity is limited in Bristol Bay, the library keeps Wi-Fi active in its parking lot 24 hours a day, seven days a week, extending its reach beyond posted hours.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Named for Martin Monsen (1873–1950) — Norwegian-born Stavanger native who arrived in Bristol Bay in 1898 and spent decades shaping Naknek’s community life
- The McGlashan-Monsen family photograph collection (1880–1974, donated to UAA/APU Consortium Library Archives) documents early Naknek, Akutan, canneries, and life on the Naknek River
- 24/7 free Wi-Fi in the parking lot — no password, accessible even when the building is closed
- Four public computer workstations with free internet access; printing, scanning, copying, and fax on site
- Administers two locations: the main Naknek branch and the South Naknek Branch Library at 1 School Road, South Naknek
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Martin Monsen cardholders access Alaska’s free statewide resources online:
📚 Services
- Circulating books, magazines, audiobooks, DVDs, and CDs for all ages
- Inter-library loan (ILL)
- Four public computer workstations with free internet access
- 24/7 free outdoor Wi-Fi (no password required)
- Free in-library Wi-Fi
- Photocopying, scanning, printing, and faxing
- Curbside lending (advance notice required)
- Children’s room with dedicated materials
- Online catalog with remote access (monsen.biblionix.com)
🎸 Programs
- Summer Reading Program (Collaborative Summer Library Program)
- Author, poet, and artist visits hosted in partnership with Alaska Library Network
- Children’s programming — contact (907) 246-4465 for current schedule
📍 Other Alaska Public Libraries
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Martin Monsen, and why is the library named after him?
Martin Monsen was born in Stavanger, Norway in 1873 and arrived in Bristol Bay in 1898, where he worked as a winter watchman at the Naknek Packing Company cannery. In 1912 he married Martha McGlashan — born in Akutan in 1890 — who served for decades as Naknek’s postmistress and midwife. Martin died in 1950. His son Melvin Monsen Sr. later donated a family photograph collection spanning 1880–1974 to the UAA/APU Consortium Library Archives, documenting life in Naknek, Akutan, and the Bristol Bay canneries. The library honors the Monsen family’s central role in Naknek’s history.
Does the library have materials on Bristol Bay history and the salmon fishing industry?
Yes. The library serves a community whose identity is woven through one of the world’s most productive wild salmon fisheries. The collection includes local history materials, and the McGlashan-Monsen Family Photographs (HMC-1278) — held at the UAA/APU Consortium Library Archives — cover circa 1880–1974 and document Naknek, Akutan, reindeer herding, fishing, and life on the Naknek River. Alaska’s SLED portal also provides free access to Alaska’s Digital Archives for historical photos and documents.
Can I access the library’s Wi-Fi when the building is closed?
Yes — the library keeps Wi-Fi available in the parking lot 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with no password required. For many Bristol Bay residents and seasonal workers, this outdoor connection is essential for filing Alaska PFD applications, accessing telehealth, and completing work during the long salmon season when the building’s posted hours (Tue–Sat) may not align with work schedules.
What should I know about visiting during Bristol Bay salmon season (May–August)?
The library is open Tuesday through Saturday year-round, but the borough’s website notes that internet speeds may be constrained during the May–August peak season due to high demand borough-wide. The library may also close without prior notice due to severe weather or unforeseen circumstances. Call ahead at (907) 246-4465 or check for notices posted at the entrance, especially during winter months.
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