Caldwell Parish Library
🏢 Caldwell Parish Library · Columbia, Louisiana
Caldwell Parish Library
Caldwell Parish Library anchors the civic life of Columbia, the seat of one of Louisiana's smallest and most rural parishes, from its home on Jackson Street. The sole library outlet for Caldwell Parish's 10,000 residents, it holds more than 7,000 pages of digitized historical newspapers dating to 1923, partners with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to put free books in the hands of children from birth, and maintains a dedicated Genealogy Room for researching north-central Louisiana family lines.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 8am–5pm |
| Tuesday | 8am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 8am–5pm |
| Thursday | 8am–5pm |
| Friday | 8am–5pm |
| Saturday | 8:30am–12pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 211 Jackson Street, Columbia, LA 71418
Phone: (318) 649-2259
Website: caldwell-parish-library.info
Plus Code: 86494W4G+7M (Columbia, LA)
📱 Scan for directions
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Caldwell Parish Library
The Caldwell Parish Library is the only public library in Caldwell Parish, a largely rural north-central Louisiana parish where the Ouachita River flows past Columbia, the parish seat. Housed in a 7,410-square-foot facility at 211 Jackson Street, the library serves approximately 10,000 residents with a collection of nearly 36,000 print materials supplemented by e-resources including the Louisiana Library Connection's statewide databases, Cloud Library eBooks, and digital newspaper archives. The library's partnership with Advantage Archives provides free public access to more than 7,000 pages of the Caldwell Watchman newspaper, spanning from 1923 to 1952 — an invaluable primary source for local history. A Genealogy Room with non-circulating reference materials supports family-history research. The library also partners with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, placing free books monthly in the homes of children from birth through age five across the parish. Evening adult-education classes (held Tuesdays and Thursdays in partnership with Louisiana Delta Community College) serve residents working toward GED and workforce credentials. The Davis Memorial Reading Garden, with memorial bricks available through Bricks R Us, offers a quiet outdoor space adjacent to the library. Director Tammi Hartsfield oversees a staff of four.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Sole public library in Caldwell Parish, serving 10,000 residents from a 7,410-sq-ft facility on Jackson Street in Columbia
- Free digital access to 7,000+ pages of the Caldwell Watchman newspaper archives (1923–1952) through Advantage Archives — a primary source for parish history
- Dedicated Genealogy Room with non-circulating reference materials for tracing north-central Louisiana family lines
- Partners with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library — providing free monthly books to Caldwell Parish children from birth through age five
- Davis Memorial Reading Garden on the library grounds, with engraved memorial brick options available
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Caldwell Parish cardholders can read, research and learn free through the library's statewide and local digital collections:
📚 Services
- Genealogy Room with non-circulating reference materials
- Public computers, printing & free Wi-Fi (5 public terminals)
- Dolly Parton Imagination Library enrollment for children birth–age 5
- Interlibrary loan through the Louisiana library network
- Davis Memorial Reading Garden and outdoor space
- Flag retirement box for proper disposal of worn U.S. flags
- Reference and reader's advisory assistance
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes and youth programs
- Summer Reading Program
- Adult education classes (Tuesdays & Thursdays with Louisiana Delta Community College)
- Imagination Library — free monthly book deliveries for young children
- Community events and author programs
📍 Nearby Libraries in Northeast Louisiana
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Columbia · Browse all Louisiana libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Caldwell Parish Library's hours?
The library is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to noon. It is closed on Sundays.
What is the Caldwell Watchman archive, and can I access it for free?
The Caldwell Watchman archive is a free digital collection of more than 7,000 pages of the local Caldwell Parish newspaper, spanning from 1923 to 1952, made available through a partnership with Advantage Archives. It is one of the best resources for tracing local history and families in the parish during that era, and any library patron can access it through the library's website.
Does Caldwell Parish Library participate in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library?
Yes — the library partners with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to provide free monthly books to enrolled children from birth through age five across Caldwell Parish. Families can inquire at the library about signing up and view the current selection of titles on display in the Children's Room.
Is there a genealogy collection at the Caldwell Parish Library?
Yes. The library maintains a dedicated Genealogy Room with reference materials for researching north-central Louisiana family lines. The materials in the Genealogy Room do not circulate and must be used on-site, making a visit to the library the best way to access them.
📜 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 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.