J.H. Robbins Memorial Library
🏢 Central Kansas Library System · Ellsworth, Kansas
J.H. Robbins Memorial Library
The J.H. Robbins Memorial Library at 219 N. Lincoln Avenue has served the Ellsworth County seat since its founding, bearing the name of a community benefactor whose gift helped establish public library service in this historic cattle-trail city on the Smoky Hill River. The library is a member of the Central Kansas Library System and keeps weekday hours until 6 p.m. — making it a convenient after-work and after-school resource for Ellsworth County residents.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–6pm |
| Thursday | 10am–6pm |
| Friday | 10am–6pm |
| Saturday | 10am–2pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 219 N. Lincoln Avenue, Ellsworth, KS 67439
Phone: (785) 472-3969
Website: ellsworthlib.org
Plus Code: 86C3PQHC+J6 (Ellsworth, KS)
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📖 About J.H. Robbins Memorial Library
The J.H. Robbins Memorial Library is the public library of Ellsworth, Kansas, the county seat of Ellsworth County on the Smoky Hill River in central Kansas. Ellsworth gained national fame in the 1870s as a cattle-drive terminus on the Chisholm Trail — a wild boomtown that rivaled Abilene for the Texas cattle trade before the railhead moved west. The library preserves that storied past while providing thoroughly modern services. Named in honor of J.H. Robbins, a local benefactor who contributed to founding public library service in the community, the library belongs to the Central Kansas Library System (CKLS), a 17-county cooperative based in Great Bend. Through CKLS, patrons access Libby eBooks, Kanopy streaming films, cloud library titles, and the ASL Deafined database, plus interlibrary loan and a shared catalog. The library's mission centers on bringing people together, fostering creativity, and encouraging lifelong learning, with a community room available for rental.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Named for J.H. Robbins, the community benefactor whose support helped establish public library service in Ellsworth County
- Located in Ellsworth — a city famous as one of the wildest cattle-drive terminals of the 1870s Chisholm Trail era
- Open Monday through Friday until 6 p.m., and Saturday until 2 p.m. — convenient for after-work visits
- Member of the Central Kansas Library System (CKLS), sharing resources across 17 counties
- Community room available for meetings and events by reservation
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Ellsworth cardholders can access these digital services free through CKLS and the Kansas State Library:
📚 Services
- Book, DVD & audiobook checkout via the CKLS Pathfinder shared catalog
- Interlibrary loan through the CKLS courier network
- Community room rental for meetings and events
- Public computers, printing & Wi-Fi
- Reader's advisory and reference assistance
🎸 Programs
- Children's programs and youth services
- Summer reading program
- Community room events
- Library-sponsored adult programming
📍 Nearby Libraries in Central Kansas
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was J.H. Robbins, and why is the library named after him?
J.H. Robbins was a local benefactor who contributed to establishing public library service in Ellsworth. The library was named the J.H. Robbins Memorial Library in his honor to recognize his role in founding community library access for Ellsworth County residents.
What are the library's hours?
The J.H. Robbins Memorial Library is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The library is closed on Sundays. Call (785) 472-3969 to confirm holiday hours.
What is Ellsworth's historical connection to the Chisholm Trail?
In the early 1870s, Ellsworth was one of the most important cattle-shipping points on the Kansas Pacific Railway, rivaling Abilene as the terminus of the Chisholm Trail. Texas longhorn cattle were driven north and shipped east from here, and the town gained a wild reputation that attracted famous gunfighters and lawmen. That cattle-town heritage is a central part of Ellsworth County's identity today.
Can community groups use the library's meeting room?
Yes. The J.H. Robbins Memorial Library has a community room available for rental by local organizations. Contact the library at (785) 472-3969 for availability, policies, and to make a reservation.
🖨 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.
