Augusta Public Library
🏢 South Central Kansas Library System · Augusta, Kansas
Augusta Public Library
From Mary Ellen Haines' travelling walnut bookcase of the 1880s to a modern community hub at 1609 State Street, the Augusta Public Library has connected Butler County residents with books, technology, and each other for well over a century.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–7pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–7pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–7pm |
| Thursday | 9am–7pm |
| Friday | 9am–6pm |
| Saturday | 9am–1pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 1609 State Street, Augusta, KS 67010
Phone: (316) 775-2681
Website: augusta.scklslibrary.info
Plus Code: 8695M2RC+8F (Augusta, KS)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Augusta Public Library
The Augusta Public Library has its roots in one of Butler County's earliest lending collections — a glass-fronted walnut bookcase of seventy-five books organized by Mary Ellen Haines in the late 1800s, which circulated through Augusta homes and businesses. In the early 1900s the Outlook Club campaigned for a permanent home, with each member donating a book annually, until the citizens of Augusta voted to establish a tax-supported public library at 1609 State Street. Today the library serves Augusta — a city of roughly 9,000 founded in 1868 at the confluence of the Walnut and Whitewater Rivers and transformed by the Butler County oil boom of 1914 — as a member of the South Central Kansas Library System (SCKLS). Holding more than 21,000 volumes and circulating nearly 55,000 items a year, the library pairs traditional lending with passport acceptance services, free technology help appointments, and a monthly homebound delivery program.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded through community effort by Mary Ellen Haines' travelling bookcase in the 1880s; established as a tax-supported library after an Outlook Club campaign
- Holds 21,290+ volumes and circulates nearly 55,000 items annually for a city of approximately 9,265 residents
- Official passport acceptance facility — application forms on-site, appointment required
- Free 30-minute one-on-one technology help appointments and monthly homebound book delivery for Augusta residents
- Digitized local obituaries dating from 1981, supporting Butler County genealogy research
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Augusta cardholders can borrow and research digitally through the Sunflower consortium and the State Library of Kansas:
📚 Services
- Books, DVDs, magazines, and audiobook lending
- Interlibrary loan (up to 3 items, no charge) via SCKLS and the Kansas State Library
- Passport acceptance services (appointment required; forms on-site or online)
- Free 30-minute one-on-one technology help (call 316-775-2681 to schedule)
- Monthly homebound book delivery — free, door-to-door, for Augusta residents
- 6 public computers with 2-hour sessions and free Wi-Fi
- Vancil Community Room and study room for public use
- Notary public services
- SCKLS Rotating Collections and State Courier delivery
🎸 Programs
- Summer Reading Challenge — tracks for Preschool (4 & under), School-Age (5–11), Teen (12–17), and Adult (18+)
- Preschool Storytime — ages 3–5 not yet in kindergarten (registration required; limited class size)
- Book Buddies — 20-minute storytime with rhymes, songs, and craft activities for early literacy (October through April)
- A Novel Idea — monthly adult book club (current selection at the Circulation Desk)
- Monthly Craft Night — free crafts for ages 16 and older
- Genealogy Sessions — rotating video and hands-on family history research sessions
- Teen cooking and youth programming for middle and high school students
📍 Nearby Libraries in South Central Kansas
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Augusta Public Library get its start in Butler County?
The library traces its origins to Mary Ellen Haines, who organized one of Butler County's earliest lending collections in the late 1800s — a glass-fronted walnut bookcase of 75 books that circulated through Augusta homes and businesses. In the early 1900s the Outlook Club took up the cause, with members donating a book each year and raising community funds until Augusta's citizens voted to establish a permanent, tax-supported public library at 1609 State Street.
Does Augusta Public Library offer passport services?
Yes. The Augusta Public Library is an official passport acceptance facility. Application forms are available at the library or can be completed online before your visit. Appointments are required — call (316) 775-2681 to schedule.
How do I borrow eBooks and audiobooks with my Augusta library card?
Augusta is a member of the Sunflower OverDrive Consortium. Download the free Libby app, select 'Sunflower eLibrary,' then choose 'Augusta Public Library' and sign in with your card number. You can also get a free Kansas Library eCard at the library to access 250,000+ additional digital books and databases provided statewide by the State Library of Kansas.
Can the library deliver books to me if I cannot visit in person?
Yes. Augusta Public Library offers a free monthly homebound book delivery service for Augusta residents who are unable to visit. Call (316) 775-2681 to enroll or learn more.
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