Potlatch Public Library
🏢 Latah County Library District · Potlatch, Idaho
Potlatch Public Library
The Potlatch Public Library has served this small Latah County lumber town since 1908, when it opened as a reading room in the basement of the Union Church. It became the Potlatch Free Public Library in 1914 with support from Potlatch Company officials and local women, and the current building at 1010 Onaway Road opened in January 2000 after a community-driven fundraising campaign.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 12pm–6pm |
| Tuesday | 1pm–6pm |
| Wednesday | 1pm–6pm |
| Thursday | 1pm–6pm |
| Friday | 12pm–5pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 1010 Onaway Road, Potlatch, ID 83855
Phone: (208) 875-1036
Website: latahlibrary.org
Plus Code: 85R5W4JG+3W (Potlatch, ID)
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📖 About Potlatch Public Library
The Potlatch Public Library is a branch of the Latah County Library District (LCLD) serving the small community of Potlatch in northern Latah County, Idaho — a town shaped by the timber industry of the Potlatch Lumber Company. The library began in 1908 as a public reading room in the basement of the Union Church, primarily serving the company town's many bachelors. In 1914 it was formally organized as the Potlatch Free Public Library, championed by local women and Potlatch Company director Frederic S. Bell, with monthly stipends from company officials and rent-free use of a company building beginning in 1930. After the Potlatch Lumber Company sold the town in the 1950s, it donated the building to the community. A new building was constructed at 635 Pine Street in 1971 with community donations, and by 1993 the Friends of the Potlatch Library had raised funds — with a matching federal grant — for the current facility at 1010 Onaway Road, completed in January 2000. As a LCLD branch, Potlatch cardholders share access to the district's Koha catalog, Libby, hoopla, and Idaho's LiLI statewide databases. A meeting room is available for community reservation, and Tech Help drop-in sessions are held on second Wednesdays.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded in 1908 as a reading room in the Union Church basement — one of Idaho's longest-continuously-operating small-town libraries
- Organized as the Potlatch Free Public Library in 1914 with support from Potlatch Company director Frederic S. Bell and local women advocates
- Current 1010 Onaway Road facility opened January 2000, funded by community donations and a matching federal grant secured by the Friends of the Potlatch Library
- Part of the Latah County Library District — one LCLD card gives access to all seven branches and the shared digital collection
- Community meeting room available for public reservation, plus Tech Help drop-in sessions on second Wednesdays
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Potlatch cardholders share the full Latah County digital collection:
📚 Services
- Public computers, printing & free Wi-Fi
- Community meeting room available for reservation (email potlatch@latahlibrary.org)
- Drop-in meeting room use on a limited basis
- Interlibrary loan through the LCLD shared Koha catalog
- Tech Help drop-in — second Wednesdays 2:00–3:00 p.m.
- Full digital library access shared with all LCLD branches
🎸 Programs
- Tech Help drop-in sessions — second Wednesdays 2:00–3:00 p.m.
- Book Review Club (monthly)
- Summer reading program
- Community events and programs throughout the year
- Friends of the Potlatch Library — fundraising and volunteer support
📍 Nearby Libraries in Latah County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How old is the Potlatch Public Library and how did it start?
The Potlatch Public Library traces its origins to 1908, when it opened as a reading room in the basement of the Union Church, primarily for the Potlatch Lumber Company town's many bachelor workers. It was formally organized as the Potlatch Free Public Library in 1914, championed by local women and company director Frederic S. Bell — making it one of Idaho's longest-continuously-operating small-town libraries.
What are the Potlatch library's hours?
The Potlatch branch is open Monday 12:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday 1:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m., and Friday 12:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. It is closed Saturday and Sunday. Call (208) 875-1036 or email potlatch@latahlibrary.org for holiday schedules.
Is there a meeting room at the Potlatch library?
Yes. The Potlatch meeting room is available for community reservation and public use. To request a reservation, email potlatch@latahlibrary.org or call (208) 875-1036. Drop-in use is also permitted on a limited basis when the room is not reserved.
Can I get technology help at the Potlatch library?
Yes. Latah County Library District runs Tech Help drop-in sessions at the Potlatch branch on second Wednesdays from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. A 15-minute session covers smartphones, tablets, Libby, email setup, laptops and more. For larger issues, call the Moscow Public Library at (208) 882-3925 to schedule a free one-on-one appointment.
🖨 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.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.