Hastings Memorial Library
🏢 Western Library System · Grant, Nebraska
Hastings Memorial Library
Hastings Memorial Library has served Grant and Perkins County since 1920, when the local Women's Club started a lending collection in a schoolroom. Named in memory of Frances Elizabeth Hastings — daughter of the attorney whose donated building gave the library its permanent home — it now occupies a renovated former Masonic Temple at 505 Central Avenue and offers a makerspace, genealogy archives, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and free New York Times access to every cardholder.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–1pm, 1:30pm–5pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–1pm, 1:30pm–5pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–1pm, 1:30pm–7pm |
| Thursday | 10am–1pm, 1:30pm–5pm |
| Friday | 10am–1pm, 1:30pm–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–12pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 505 Central Avenue, Grant, NE 69140
Phone: (308) 352-4894
Website: libraries.ne.gov
Plus Code: 85GWR7VG+M3 (Grant, NE)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Hastings Memorial Library
Hastings Memorial Library is the public library of Grant, Nebraska, seat of Perkins County on the High Plains of southwest Nebraska. Perkins County was organized in 1887 and is believed to have been named for Charles E. Perkins, president of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. The library traces its roots to 1920, when the Grant Women's Club established a lending collection in Miss May Beck's schoolroom. By 1926 the club purchased a permanent building for $1,225, and in 1948 the village of Grant assumed operational control. The name 'Hastings Memorial' honors Frances Elizabeth Hastings, the late daughter of attorney George B. Hastings, who bequeathed his law office building to the city with the request that it serve as the library's permanent home — a role it filled from December 1967 through 2003. After outgrowing a succession of downtown addresses, the library moved in September 2003 into a renovated former Masonic Temple at 505 Central Avenue — marking its 80th anniversary with a collection of 10,000 volumes. Today it holds more than 15,000 items, maintains a creative makerspace studio, preserves the Perkins County Newspaper Archive, and participates in the Western Library System and Nebraska OverDrive, giving cardholders free access to Libby e-books, audiobooks and full digital access to the New York Times.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded in 1920 by the Grant Women's Club — over a century of continuous community library service in Perkins County
- Named in memory of Frances Elizabeth Hastings, honoring attorney George B. Hastings whose donated building gave the library its permanent home in 1967
- Current home at 505 Central Avenue is a renovated former Masonic Temple, occupied since September 2003 — the library's 80th anniversary
- Makerspace studio with creative equipment, plus the Perkins County Newspaper Archive and genealogy resources
- Free New York Times digital access and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library enrollment for children birth–5 years
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Grant cardholders can borrow, research and stream online free through Nebraska's statewide and local digital programs:
📚 Services
- Public computers (8 stations) with free internet access and free Wi-Fi
- Makerspace studio with creative and educational equipment
- Genealogy and local history resources including Perkins County Newspaper Archive
- Interlibrary loan through the Western Library System
- Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (free monthly books for children birth–5 years)
- Reference and reader's advisory assistance
- Downloadable e-books and audiobooks via Nebraska OverDrive / Libby
🎸 Programs
- Family Storytime and 1000 Books Before Kindergarten
- Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (free books for ages 0–5)
- Teen Summer Reading Challenge and board game nights
- Adult Bestsellers' Club book discussion group
- Annual Puzzle Tournament (April)
- Summer Reading Program for youth
- Golden Sower Award participation
📍 Nearby Libraries in Southwest Nebraska
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called Hastings Memorial Library if it is in Grant, not Hastings?
The library is named in memory of Frances Elizabeth Hastings, the late daughter of Grant attorney George B. Hastings. In his will, Mr. Hastings bequeathed his law office building to the city of Grant for use as a permanent library home, and the family asked that the library bear Frances's name as a memorial. The library has no connection to the city of Hastings, Nebraska.
When was Hastings Memorial Library founded?
The library was founded in 1920 by the Grant Women's Club, which established a lending collection in a local schoolroom. By 1926 the club purchased a permanent building, and in 1948 the village of Grant took over operations. In September 2003 — its 80th anniversary — the library moved into its current renovated home at 505 Central Avenue, a former Masonic Temple.
What makerspace resources does Hastings Memorial Library offer?
The library operates a creative makerspace studio with equipment and workspace available to the community. The studio has scheduled hours, usage guidelines and pricing menus for equipment use. Contact the library at (308) 352-4894 or visit the website for current availability and age requirements.
Is the library open on Wednesday evenings?
Yes. Wednesday is the library's late night — it stays open until 7:00 p.m. (with the usual 1:00–1:30 p.m. lunch break). All other weekdays are 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Saturday is 9:00 a.m.–noon, and the library is closed Sunday.
📜 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 has a makerspace / 3D printing. See how library makerspaces and 3D printing work and find other libraries with a makerspace makerspaces by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.