Paul Sawyier Public Library
🏢 Franklin County District Public Library · Frankfort, Kentucky
Paul Sawyier Public Library
The public library of Kentucky's capital, the Paul Sawyier Public Library overlooks the Kentucky River at 319 Wapping Street in downtown Frankfort — open until 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and home to a collection of original paintings by the local impressionist it is named for.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–8pm |
| Thursday | 10am–8pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–4pm |
| Sunday | 1pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 319 Wapping Street, Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: (502) 352-2665
Website: pspl.org
Plus Code: 86CQ54XC+32 (Frankfort, KY)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📍 Plan your visit
🚉 Getting there
319 Wapping St, Frankfort, KY 40601. Get transit & driving directions → (live subway, bus & car routes).
🚘 Parking
Free parking lot, free street parking nearby.
♿ Accessibility
Includes wheelchair-accessible entrance, accessible parking.
⭐ Visitor rating
4.8 / 5 from 190 Google reviews.
🕑 Best time to go
Usually calmest soon after opening; busiest around 5 pm.
Visit details from the library’s Google Business Profile, verified October 2026 — confirm on official page before a special-date trip.
📖 About Paul Sawyier Public Library
The Paul Sawyier Public Library is the public library serving Franklin County, Kentucky, and its capital city of Frankfort. Its roots reach back to 1906, when the Woman's Club of Frankfort set out to give the capital a public library; that library opened on December 12, 1908. Bookmobile service began in 1955 and merged with the main library in 1965 to form the Paul Sawyier Public Library, named for the Frankfort-associated impressionist painter Paul Sawyier. Established in its modern form by Franklin County Fiscal Court on July 7, 1971, the library operates as the Franklin County District Public Library, a political subdivision of the Commonwealth. It moved into its current state-of-the-art building at 319 Wapping Street, along the Kentucky River in downtown Frankfort, in 2006, with a building expansion completed in 2018. The library still displays a small collection of original Paul Sawyier paintings, many depicting the Frankfort area.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Displays a collection of original paintings by impressionist Paul Sawyier, the Frankfort artist the library is named for
- Modern riverfront building at 319 Wapping Street, opened in 2006 and expanded in 2018, in downtown Frankfort
- Open until 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday for after-work and after-school visits
- Library of Things lends non-book items, alongside board-game and Comics Plus digital collections
- Serves all of Franklin County as a district public library, with youth services, meeting and study rooms, and outreach for homebound residents
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Frankfort cardholders can stream, download, and research free with the library's digital collections:
📚 Services
- Original Paul Sawyier paintings on view
- Library of Things (non-book item checkout)
- Board game checkout
- Public meeting rooms and study rooms
- Children's and teen services with interactive youth displays
- Outreach services for residents unable to visit in person
- Public computers, printing, and free Wi-Fi
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes
- Book discussion groups
- Storytelling series and heritage lectures
- Teen and youth programming
- Community programs and events
📍 Nearby Central Kentucky Libraries
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Frankfort · Browse all Kentucky libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Paul Sawyier Public Library offer passes to local attractions?
Yes. The library lends Experience Passes that cardholders can use to visit participating cultural institutions and attractions, checked out with a Paul Sawyier library card. See museum passes at the library for how pass programs typically work.
What meeting and program spaces are available at the Frankfort library?
The library has several bookable spaces, including the Sower Board Room, the River Room and a Youth Program Room used for family events. Community groups can submit a room-rental request through the library, and the Youth Services Department features interactive displays and regular programming for children and teens.
Can I see original Paul Sawyier paintings at the library?
Yes. The library is named for Paul Sawyier, an impressionist painter closely associated with Frankfort, and it displays a small collection of his original paintings, many depicting the Frankfort area. They can be viewed during regular library hours at 319 Wapping Street.
Which nights is the Paul Sawyier Public Library open late?
The library stays open until 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Friday hours run 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m., and Sunday a short afternoon shift from 1 p.m.–5 p.m.
Who does the Paul Sawyier Public Library serve?
It is the Franklin County District Public Library, serving all of Franklin County, Kentucky, including the capital city of Frankfort. It is a political subdivision of the Commonwealth governed by a Board of Trustees, so any Franklin County resident can get a card.
What can I borrow besides books at the library?
Beyond its book and media collection, the library runs a Library of Things for non-book items and offers board games for checkout, plus digital collections like Comics Plus. Outreach services are available for residents who cannot visit in person.
🧰 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 has study rooms. See how library study rooms work — booking, time limits and quiet vs group rooms — and find other libraries with study rooms libraries with study rooms 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.