Garrett Public Library
🏢 Evergreen Indiana · Garrett, Indiana
Garrett Public Library
Garrett Public Library on East Houston Street is the community hub of Garrett, Indiana — a railroad city founded in 1875 by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in the heart of DeKalb County. Open until 8 pm four nights a week, the library pairs an expanding Library of Things with a Local History Room holding yearbooks, newspapers, and vintage directories, making it equally useful for a quick borrow and a deep community-history dive.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–6pm |
| Saturday | 9am–4pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 107 East Houston Street, Garrett, IN 46738
Phone: (260) 357-5485
Website: garrettpl.org
Plus Code: 86HP8VX7+8W (Garrett, IN)
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Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Garrett Public Library
Garrett Public Library serves Garrett and the surrounding rural corners of DeKalb County from a single location at 107 East Houston Street. The library embraces five core values — welcoming, knowledgeable, accessible, inclusive, and rooted — and its mission is to connect, empower, engage, and honor the community. Garrett is a small railroad city built by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and the library's Local History Room preserves that heritage through archived newspapers, high school yearbooks, and historical city directories. The library is a member of Evergreen Indiana, linking its patrons to a statewide shared catalog and delivery system covering more than 100 Indiana libraries. Digital offerings include the statewide INSPIRE portal, hoopla, and Libby through the Evergreen Indiana consortium. A weekly Tech Tuesday program helps patrons navigate computers and devices, and outreach staff bring programs and materials to nursing homes and senior centers across the county.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Open four nights a week until 8 pm (Mon–Thu) — one of the more generous evening schedules among Indiana's smaller public libraries
- Local History Room with archived newspapers, yearbooks, and historical directories documenting Garrett's railroad heritage dating to 1875
- Library of Things — an expanding collection of non-traditional items available for checkout beyond books and media
- Weekly Tech Tuesday drop-in sessions for patrons needing computer and device help
- Outreach program delivering library materials and programs to nursing homes and senior centers in DeKalb County
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Garrett cardholders can read, stream, and research free through Indiana's statewide and consortium collections:
📚 Services
- Local History Room — archived newspapers, yearbooks, and historical city directories
- Library of Things — non-traditional item lending beyond books and media
- Three meeting spaces for groups and community events
- Weekly Tech Tuesday — drop-in computer and device assistance
- Homebound services — delivery and pickup of materials for patrons unable to visit
- Outreach to nursing homes and senior centers throughout DeKalb County
- Genealogy resources and research databases
- Public computers, printing & free Wi-Fi
- Interlibrary loan through Evergreen Indiana (100+ member libraries)
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes and youth programming
- Teen programs and activities
- Adult programs and events
- Tech Tuesday — weekly technology help sessions
- Summer Reading Program for all ages
- Senior and nursing-home outreach programming
📍 Nearby Libraries in Northeast Indiana
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How did Garrett, Indiana, get started, and how does that history connect to the library?
Garrett was founded in 1875 as a division headquarters city for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad — the railroad platted the town and named it for John Work Garrett, president of the B&O. That railroad heritage is preserved in the library's Local History Room, which holds archived local newspapers, high school yearbooks, and historical city directories that document Garrett's growth from a railroad camp into DeKalb County's second-largest city.
What is the Library of Things at Garrett Public Library?
The Library of Things is an expanding collection of non-traditional items you can borrow with your library card — beyond books, DVDs, and audiobooks. Common Library of Things items at Indiana public libraries include tools, games, puzzles, and specialty equipment. Check the library's website at garrettpl.org or call (260) 357-5485 for the current list of available items.
Does Garrett Public Library offer help for seniors or people who can't visit in person?
Yes. The library's homebound services program delivers and picks up library materials for patrons unable to visit in person. The outreach team also brings programming, crafting activities, and materials directly to nursing homes and senior centers throughout DeKalb County. Contact the library at (260) 357-5485 to arrange homebound delivery.
Can I use my Garrett Library card at other Indiana libraries?
Yes. Garrett Public Library is a member of Evergreen Indiana, a statewide consortium covering more than 100 public and institutional libraries. Your Garrett card gives you access to the shared catalog at garrett.evergreenindiana.org and allows you to borrow physical materials from any Evergreen Indiana member library through the statewide delivery network.
📜 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.
🧰 This library lends a “Library of Things.” See what you can borrow besides books and find other libraries with a Library of Things Library of Things by state.
🖨 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.
📅 This library has meeting & community rooms. See how library meeting rooms work — booking, policies and fees — and find other libraries with meeting or community rooms meeting rooms by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.