Joplin Public Library
🏢 Joplin Public Library · Joplin, Missouri
Joplin Public Library
The Joplin Public Library serves Jasper County's largest city from its location at 1901 East 20th Street, open seven days a week with extended evening hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 8 p.m. The library offers a Makerspace, passport acceptance services, homebound delivery, a robust genealogy collection with Ancestry Library Edition access, and a Library of Things — making it one of the most full-featured public libraries in southwest Missouri.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–6pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–6pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | 1pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 1901 East 20th Street, Joplin, MO 64804
Phone: (417) 623-7953
Website: joplinpubliclibrary.org
Plus Code: 86973G94+XH (Joplin, MO)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Joplin Public Library
The Joplin Public Library is the public library of Joplin, Missouri — a regional hub city of approximately 50,000 in Jasper County at the edge of the Ozarks, where Interstate 44 meets U.S. Route 66. Joplin has a significant place in Missouri history: the city was the site of the deadliest single-tornado event in U.S. history since modern record-keeping began, when an EF5 tornado on May 22, 2011 killed 161 people and devastated much of the south side. The library survived, and in the years since has served a central role in Joplin's community recovery and civic life. It operates as a standalone city library and maintains a mission of opening "tomorrow's doors today through diverse opportunities to learn, create, explore, and have fun." Its annual Joplin Reads Together community reading program and the Writers' Faire reflect deep roots in local literary culture. The library's genealogy resources — including in-house Ancestry Library Edition and Digital Sanborn Maps of Missouri — are exceptional for the region, as is its collection of military records through Fold3. A Makerspace and Library of Things round out its role as a community innovation hub.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Open seven days a week, including Sunday afternoons (1–5 p.m.) and extended Tuesday & Thursday evenings until 8 p.m.
- U.S. Passport Acceptance Facility serving Jasper County (appointment required)
- Makerspace and Library of Things for hands-on creating, making, and borrowing beyond books
- Outstanding genealogy collection: in-house Ancestry Library Edition, Digital Sanborn Maps (Missouri), Fold3 military records, and HeritageQuest
- Joplin Reads Together community reading program and annual Writers' Faire highlight a strong local literary culture
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Joplin cardholders can research, stream, and learn online through the library's digital collection and Missouri statewide resources:
📚 Services
- U.S. Passport Acceptance Facility (by appointment)
- Makerspace for creative and technical projects
- Library of Things — borrow equipment and specialty items
- Homebound delivery service for residents unable to visit
- Genealogy databases including in-library Ancestry Library Edition, Fold3, HeritageQuest, and Digital Sanborn Maps
- Public computers, printing, and free Wi-Fi
- Meeting rooms for community use
- Reference and reader's advisory assistance
🎸 Programs
- Joplin Reads Together — annual community reading program
- Writers' Faire — community writing and literary arts event
- Summer reading program ('Unearth a Story' theme for 2026)
- Children's and teen programming
- Adult programs and author events
📍 Nearby Libraries in Southwest Missouri
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Joplin Public Library offer passport services?
Yes. The Joplin Public Library is a registered U.S. Passport Acceptance Facility and accepts passport applications by appointment. Call (417) 623-7953 or visit the library's website to schedule. Bring your completed DS-11 form, proof of citizenship, a government-issued photo ID, one passport photo, and the required fees.
What is in the library's genealogy collection?
The Joplin Public Library has one of the strongest genealogy collections in southwest Missouri. In-library computers give access to Ancestry Library Edition (1.5 billion records), Fold3 (military records and photos), HeritageQuest (census images 1790–1940 and family histories), Digital Sanborn Maps for Missouri towns and cities, and HeritageQuest's collection of 20,000+ local and family histories.
What is the Library of Things at Joplin Public Library?
The Library of Things lets cardholders borrow non-traditional items — tools, equipment, games, and specialty items — just like checking out a book. The library also operates a Makerspace for hands-on creative and technical projects. Check the library's website or ask at the circulation desk for the current inventory.
What is Joplin Reads Together?
Joplin Reads Together is the library's annual community-wide reading program, in which residents across Joplin read and discuss the same book. It's complemented by the Writers' Faire, an event celebrating local writing and literary arts. Both programs reflect the library's strong ties to Joplin's civic and cultural life.
🛂 This library offers U.S. passport services. See how library passport acceptance works — requirements, fees and appointments — and find other passport acceptance libraries by state.
📜 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 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 a makerspace / 3D printing. See how library makerspaces and 3D printing work and find other libraries with a makerspace makerspaces 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.