Bovill Community Library
🏢 Latah County Library District · Bovill, Idaho
Bovill Community Library
The Bovill Community Library occupies a historic former Catholic church — moved to Bovill from Elk River in the 1930s and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 — at 310 1st Avenue in this small Latah County logging town. The library itself opened in 1990 and moved into the lovingly restored church building in July 1999 after a community-driven fundraising campaign that involved the Idaho Heritage Trust, Avista Utilities, and descendants of the church's original benefactors.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–2pm |
| Tuesday | 3pm–6pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–2pm |
| Thursday | 3pm–6pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 310 1st Avenue, Bovill, ID 83806
Phone: (208) 826-3451
Website: latahlibrary.org
Plus Code: 85R5VJ54+CJ (Bovill, ID)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Bovill Community Library
The Bovill Public Library opened in 1990 and spent its first nine years inside Bovill's City Hall. The opportunity to expand came in 1997 when the historic St. Joseph's Catholic Church building — which had been moved from Elk River in the 1930s after the Clearwater Timber Company closed and the town's population dwindled — went on the market. Community members formed the Bovill Library Historic Building Preservation Committee and launched a fundraising campaign, securing grants from the Idaho Heritage Trust, support from former parishioners, and a historic-preservation grant from Washington Water Power (now Avista Utilities) — the first project to receive funds from that utility's preservation endowment. After extensive volunteer renovation, the library opened in its new home in July 1999. The 1982 listing on the National Register of Historic Places protects the building. Bovill Library is a branch of the Latah County Library District, sharing a catalog and digital resources with branches in Moscow, Deary, Potlatch, Troy, and other Latah County communities.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Housed in a 1930s historic church building relocated from Elk River — listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982
- Library opened in 1990; moved into the renovated church in July 1999 after a grassroots community and grant-funded preservation campaign
- First project to receive preservation funds from the Avista Utilities (then Washington Water Power) community endowment
- Branch of the Latah County Library District, sharing a catalog and digital resources with Moscow, Deary, Troy, Potlatch and other branches
- Supported by a Friends of the Bovill Library group providing fundraising and volunteer assistance
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Bovill cardholders share the Latah County Library District's digital collections and Idaho's statewide resources:
📚 Services
- Book and media lending through the Latah County Library District VALNet shared catalog
- Interlibrary loan through the district
- Free Wi-Fi in a historic building in central Bovill
- Children's storytime programming (seasonal)
- Community resource directory for local organizations
- Friends of the Bovill Library fundraising and volunteer support
🎸 Programs
- Bovill Storytimes (seasonal — check latahlibrary.org for schedule)
- Summer reading program
- Tech help sessions (check district events calendar)
- Community events coordinated with Friends of the Library
📍 Nearby Libraries in Latah County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Bovill Community Library inside an old church?
The building is a former St. Joseph's Catholic Church that was physically moved from Elk River to Bovill in the 1930s when Elk River's population declined after the Clearwater Timber Company closed. The church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. When the property went on the market in 1997, the community formed a preservation committee, raised funds through the Idaho Heritage Trust, Avista Utilities, and private donors, and converted it into the library, opening in July 1999.
What are the Bovill Community Library's hours?
The library is open Monday and Wednesday 10 a.m.–2 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday 3–6 p.m. It is closed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Can I get books from other Latah County branches delivered to Bovill?
Yes. Bovill is a branch of the Latah County Library District, which uses a shared VALNet catalog. You can place holds on items from any district branch — including Moscow, Deary, Troy, and Potlatch — and pick them up at the Bovill location.
Does Bovill Community Library have free internet access?
Yes, the library provides free Wi-Fi. You can also access the Latah County Library District's digital resources — including LiLI databases, IDEA eBooks and OverDrive — from any device with your library card.
👶 This library runs story times for kids. See how library story times work — ages, what happens and that they are free — and find other libraries with story-time programs library story times by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.