Webb City Public Library
🏢 Missouri Evergreen Consortium · Webb City, Missouri
Webb City Public Library
Webb City Public Library has served the Tri-State mining region of Jasper County since its dedication on January 1, 1915 — making it one of Missouri's longest-operating Carnegie libraries still in continuous use. The 1915 Richardson Romanesque building at 101 S. Liberty Street incorporates actual lead and zinc ore from local mines into its exterior, a permanent nod to the industry that built the town, and features beautiful stained-glass windows that draw visitors to this day.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–5pm |
| Tuesday | 8am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–5pm |
| Thursday | 8am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 101 S. Liberty Street, Webb City, MO 64870
Phone: (417) 673-4326
Website: webbcitylibrary.org
Plus Code: 86974GWJ+RR (Webb City, MO)
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📖 About Webb City Public Library
Webb City's Carnegie library grew from the determination of the Civic Improvement Association, a group of local women who won a $25,000 Carnegie Corporation pledge in 1913. Voters approved a maintenance mill tax by an overwhelming majority on April 6, 1913, the site was purchased at the southeast corner of Liberty and First streets, and Chicago architect Grant C. Miller — who had supervised more than 50 library buildings — designed the structure in a blended Gothic-and-modern style using Carthage limestone and materials from local zinc and lead mines. Total construction cost was $23,944.20; the library was dedicated January 1, 1915. An arched entrance canopy was added in 1957, and in 2004 the library expanded with a third-floor genealogy wing while preserving the original 1915 character. Today Webb City Public Library is part of the Missouri Evergreen consortium, sharing resources with libraries statewide and offering patrons access to Kanopy and other digital services.
⭐ What makes this library special
- One of Missouri's few original Carnegie libraries still operating as a public library, dedicated January 1, 1915
- 1915 Richardson Romanesque building by Chicago architect Grant C. Miller, featuring exterior walls inlaid with lead and zinc ore from local mines
- Beautiful stained-glass windows considered one of the library's signature interior attractions
- 2004 third-floor addition houses genealogy materials while preserving the 1915 architectural character
- Extended evening hours Tuesday and Thursday until 8 p.m. for after-work visits
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Webb City library cardholders can access digital resources through Missouri Evergreen and statewide partners:
📚 Services
- Genealogy collection on the third floor (added 2004)
- Public computers, printing & free Wi-Fi
- Quiet study environment with comfortable seating
- Interlibrary loan through Missouri Evergreen statewide consortium
- Reference and reader's advisory assistance
- Community programming and meeting space
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytime and youth programming
- Summer reading program
- Genealogy research assistance
- Community events and seasonal programming
📍 Nearby Libraries in Southwest Missouri
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Webb City · Browse all Missouri libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Webb City Public Library building have mining rock in the walls?
When the Carnegie-funded library was constructed in 1913–1914, architect Grant C. Miller incorporated lead and zinc ore from local mines directly into the exterior facade — a deliberate tribute to the mining industry that had built Webb City into a prosperous community. The Jasper County area was one of the most productive lead-and-zinc mining regions in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Is the Webb City Public Library still in the original 1915 Carnegie building?
Yes — it is one of the very few Andrew Carnegie libraries in Missouri still operating as a public library in its original structure. The building received a third-floor genealogy addition in 2004 and an arched entrance canopy in 1957, but the 1915 Richardson Romanesque core, stained-glass windows and original Carthage limestone exterior are intact.
What nights is Webb City Public Library open late?
The library is open until 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday hours are 9 a.m.–5 p.m. The library is closed Sunday.
Does the library have genealogy resources?
Yes. The library's third-floor genealogy wing, added in 2004, holds materials for researching Jasper County and regional family history. Staff can assist with genealogy inquiries, and cardholders also have access to statewide databases through the Missouri Evergreen consortium and MOREnet resources.
📜 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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