Kathleen Lute Public Library
🏢 Western Library System · Ogallala, Nebraska
Kathleen Lute Public Library
The Kathleen Lute Public Library serves as Keith County's full-service public library at 610 West A Street in Ogallala — the county seat perched beside Lake McConaughy on Nebraska's High Plains. With more than 57,000 volumes, 65,000 annual circulations, 22 public computers, and evening hours Monday through Thursday until 8 PM, it is the largest and most comprehensively resourced library in the surrounding region.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–1pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 610 West A Street, Ogallala, NE 69153
Phone: (308) 284-4354
Website: ogallalapubliclibrary.com
Plus Code: 85HW47HH+R7 (Ogallala, NE)
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📖 About Kathleen Lute Public Library
The Kathleen Lute Public Library is the public library of Ogallala and Keith County, Nebraska, named in honor of a local benefactor whose support helped sustain the library's mission on the High Plains. Ogallala sits at the confluence of the North and South Platte Rivers — a crossroads made famous during the cattle-drive era as a key stop on the Great Western Cattle Trail — and the Platte River still defines the character of the surrounding landscape. Today the library serves nearly 7,000 registered users and circulates more than 65,000 items per year, an exceptionally high rate that reflects the breadth of its programs and the importance of the library to Keith County families. The collection exceeds 57,000 volumes and patrons have access to 22 public internet computers. Regular programs include Tuesday morning storytimes with Trenton, a Wednesday Craft & Chat session, a monthly Book Club on the third Thursday, and a robust Summer Reading Program with weekly events. Through NebraskAccess, all Keith County residents can access statewide databases at no cost, and the library's OverDrive/Libby partnership provides free digital borrowing. The library is a member of the Western Library System.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Keith County's primary library with 57,000+ volumes and more than 65,000 annual circulations — one of the busiest per-capita libraries in western Nebraska
- Evening hours Monday through Thursday until 8 PM serve working families, students, and commuters throughout Keith County
- 22 public internet computers and free wireless access — the largest public computing cluster in the region
- Named for local benefactor Kathleen Lute, whose support helped maintain the library's collections and services
- Located in Ogallala — the historic Great Western Cattle Trail county seat — beside Lake McConaughy on Nebraska's High Plains
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Keith County cardholders can borrow and research free through Nebraska's statewide digital resources:
📚 Services
- Circulating collection of more than 57,000 volumes
- 22 public internet computers and free wireless internet
- Wireless printing (black & white and color) from any device
- Interlibrary loan through the Western Library System
- Libby / OverDrive e-books and audiobooks
- NebraskAccess statewide databases
- Genealogy and large-print collections
🎸 Programs
- Story Time with Trenton — Tuesdays at 10 AM (songs, dancing, crafts, and story)
- Craft & Chat — Wednesdays at 10 AM (adults bring own projects)
- Book Club — third Thursday of each month
- Summer Reading Program with weekly featured events (comedian, magic show, chalk day, Build-An-Animal workshop)
- Youth programs and seasonal events
📍 Nearby Libraries in Western Nebraska
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Kathleen Lute, and why is the library named after her?
Kathleen Lute was a local benefactor whose generous support helped sustain the Ogallala public library's collections and operations in Keith County. The library was renamed in her honor to recognize her lasting contribution to literacy and community life on Nebraska's High Plains.
What are the library's hours, including evening hours?
The Kathleen Lute Public Library is open Monday through Thursday from 9 AM to 8 PM, Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM, and Saturday from 10 AM to 1 PM. The library is closed on Sunday. The extended weekday evening hours until 8 PM are one of the most patron-friendly schedules in western Nebraska.
How large is the library's collection compared to other rural Nebraska libraries?
With more than 57,000 volumes and 65,411 annual circulations, the Kathleen Lute Public Library is substantially larger than most rural Nebraska libraries. It also maintains 22 public internet computers — one of the largest public computing facilities in the western Nebraska region.
What regular programs does the library offer?
The library runs a Tuesday morning Story Time at 10 AM (with Trenton — songs, dancing, crafting, and a story), a Wednesday Craft & Chat at 10 AM for adults to bring their own projects and socialize, and a monthly Book Club on the third Thursday. The Summer Reading Program runs weekly through July with featured events like comedy, magic, and hands-on workshops.
📜 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.
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