Underwood Public Library

🏢 McLean-Mercer Regional Library · Underwood, North Dakota

Underwood Public Library

Tucked inside Underwood's City Hall at 88 Lincoln Avenue, the Underwood Public Library has been a McLean County institution since 1951, when a local homemaker's club donated the very first books and the city voted a mill levy to keep it going. Morning and afternoon sessions (Mon & Wed 9–3, Tue & Thu 1–6) fit around school and work schedules in this small prairie community of about 800 residents.

📞 (701) 442-3441🌐 underwoodnd.org🧭 Get directions
🕑 Hours & visit📖 About⭐ Highlights📚 Services📍 Nearby❓ FAQ

🕑 Library Hours

Monday 9am–3pm
Tuesday 1pm–6pm
Wednesday 9am–3pm
Thursday 1pm–6pm
Friday Closed
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.

📍 Location, Contact & Directions

Address: 88 Lincoln Avenue, Underwood, ND 58576

Phone: (701) 442-3441

Website: underwoodnd.org

Plus Code: 85VWFV58+4P (Underwood, ND)

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👋 Use the Library Online

&🔍Search the Underwood catalog →&🌐Library info & city website →&🎓North Dakota State Library →

📖 About Underwood Public Library

The Underwood Public Library traces its roots to 1951, when a homemaker's club organized the first formal public library for this McLean County town on the Missouri River plain. A city mill levy approved in the 1960s put it on a sustainable footing, and it has grown ever since — first sharing space in a corner of the old city hall, now operating out of the newer City Hall building at 88 Lincoln Avenue. In 1989 the library joined the McLean-Mercer Regional Library system, gaining access to a monthly book exchange and shared cataloging through the Central Dakota Library Network. Today its roughly 6,350-volume collection covers fiction, nonfiction and graphic novels, supplemented by e-books and downloadable audiobooks available through the statewide ODIN system. Public computers and free Wi-Fi make it a drop-in resource for residents and travelers passing through Underwood on U.S. Highway 83.

⭐ What makes this library special

  • Founded 1951 by a local homemaker's club — one of the earliest community-organized libraries in McLean County
  • Joined the McLean-Mercer Regional Library system in 1989, unlocking a monthly book exchange and shared catalog
  • Collection of roughly 6,350 volumes plus e-books and downloadable audiobooks through the statewide ODIN network
  • Free public Wi-Fi and public access computers available during all open hours
  • Split daily schedule (mornings Mon & Wed, afternoons Tue & Thu) serves early risers and after-school visitors alike

📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card

Underwood cardholders can borrow, stream and research free through North Dakota's statewide digital collections:

&📚 ODIN Electronic ResourcesNorth Dakota's statewide database gateway — encyclopedias, periodicals, academic journals and more, free for all ND library cardholders.
&📱 Libby / OverDrive (ND Library2Go)Borrow e-books and audiobooks free with your North Dakota library card through the statewide consortium.
&🎧 ND Talking Book ProgramFree braille and audio downloads for eligible North Dakota residents with print disabilities.
&🎓 Mango LanguagesSelf-paced language learning in dozens of languages, available free through the North Dakota State Library.

📚 Services

  • Public access computers and free Wi-Fi
  • E-books and downloadable audiobooks via ODIN / ND Library2Go
  • Interlibrary loan through the McLean-Mercer Regional Library and Central Dakota Library Network
  • Monthly book exchange with other McLean-Mercer member libraries
  • Reference assistance and reader's advisory

🎸 Programs

  • Storytime with the Seniors — senior high school students read to younger children on the 2nd Wednesday of each month during the school year
  • Summer reading program for children and teens
  • Community programs coordinated through the McLean-Mercer Regional Library

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

When did the Underwood Public Library open, and who started it?

The first formal public library in Underwood was established in 1951 by a local homemaker's club that donated the founding book collection. The city approved a mill levy in the 1960s to fund ongoing operations, and the library moved to its current home in City Hall at 88 Lincoln Avenue.

What are the library's hours, and why is it closed on Fridays and weekends?

The library is open Monday and Wednesday 9 a.m.–3 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday 1–6 p.m. It is closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The split morning/afternoon schedule is designed to fit a small-town budget while offering access across different parts of the workday and school day.

Can I borrow e-books or access online databases with my Underwood library card?

Yes. Through the McLean-Mercer Regional Library's membership in the statewide ODIN network, cardholders can download e-books and audiobooks via ND Library2Go (Libby/OverDrive) and access a wide range of online databases including encyclopedias, magazines and academic journals at no cost.

Is the Underwood library connected to any larger library system?

Yes. Since 1989 the library has been a member of the McLean-Mercer Regional Library system and participates in the Central Dakota Library Network, which allows it to share resources, monthly book exchanges and interlibrary loans with other member libraries across McLean and Mercer counties.

✎ Notice something out of date? Suggest a correction and we’ll verify and update it.

✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.

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