Jay C. Byers Memorial Library
🏢 City of Cleveland · Cleveland, Oklahoma
Jay C. Byers Memorial Library
Named in 2002 to honor Cleveland attorney Jay C. Byers — a Cleveland High School Class of 1955 graduate who overcame spina bifida, earned degrees from the University of Tulsa, and left a substantial bequest to the library upon his death — this Pawnee County library has served Cleveland since 1936 and now occupies a remodeled 1930 school building at 215 East Wichita Avenue.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9:30am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 9:30am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 9:30am–6pm |
| Thursday | 9:30am–6pm |
| Friday | 9:30am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–2pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 215 E Wichita Avenue, Cleveland, OK 74020
Phone: (918) 358-2676
Website: jcbyerslibrary.okpls.org
Plus Code: 86858G6Q+F6 (Cleveland, OK)
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📖 About Jay C. Byers Memorial Library
Jay C. Byers Memorial Library is the public library of Cleveland, Oklahoma, a Pawnee County city on the Arkansas River. The Cleveland Library Association established the library on February 17, 1936, with an inaugural collection of 2,127 books and an annual circulation of 20,279. After several relocations — first in the Cleveland National Bank building, then to 109 West Delaware in 1970 — the library moved into a remodeled 1930 school building at 215 West Wichita. In 2002, the library was renamed to honor Jay C. Byers, a Cleveland High School Class of 1955 graduate who was born with spina bifida, earned a history degree from the University of Tulsa in 1959 and a law degree in 1961, and practiced law in Cleveland for 35 years. Byers had a lifelong passion for books; when he died in a Texas traffic accident in 2000, he left a sizable financial gift to the library. A special reading area inside also honors Charles Loyd Willig, another Class of 1955 graduate who became an English professor and poet. Today the library serves all of Pawnee County and residents within 20 miles of Cleveland.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded February 17, 1936 — one of Pawnee County's longest-serving public libraries
- Renamed in 2002 for Cleveland attorney Jay C. Byers, Class of 1955, who bequeathed a major gift upon his death in 2000
- Housed in a remodeled 1930 school building at 215 East Wichita Avenue in downtown Cleveland
- Serves all of Pawnee County and anyone living within 20 miles of Cleveland
- Free document scanning, text-a-librarian service (918-217-4766), and 24/7 Wi-Fi (password: cleveland)
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Jay C. Byers cardholders can access free eBooks, tutoring, and research tools through Oklahoma's statewide digital resources:
📚 Services
- Circulating collection with interlibrary loan through Oklahoma libraries
- Public computers and internet access
- Free Wi-Fi 24/7 (password: cleveland)
- Document scanning (free)
- Faxing ($1.00 per page) and printing (10–75 cents per page)
- Text-a-librarian at (918) 217-4766
- Meeting space and community events
- Library cards free with proof of current local address
🎸 Programs
- Book club and community calendar of events
- Children's programming and summer reading
- Accelerated Reader Book Finder for school-age readers
- Brainfuse HelpNow for student tutoring and homework help
- JobNow and VetNow career and veteran support services
📍 Nearby Libraries in Northeast Oklahoma
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Cleveland · Browse all Oklahoma libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Jay C. Byers, and why is the library named after him?
Jay C. Byers was a Cleveland, Oklahoma attorney who graduated from Cleveland High School in 1955. Born with spina bifida, he overcame his condition, earned a history degree from the University of Tulsa in 1959 and a law degree in 1961, and practiced law locally for 35 years. Byers had a lifelong passion for reading. When he died in a Texas traffic accident in 2000, he left a substantial financial gift to the Cleveland public library — a bequest large enough that the library was renamed in his honor in 2002.
When was the Cleveland library founded, and where has it been located?
The Cleveland Library Association established the library on February 17, 1936, with 2,127 books in donated office space in the Cleveland National Bank building. It moved to the second floor in the early 1940s, then to 109 West Delaware in 1970, before settling into the current remodeled 1930 school building at 215 East Wichita Avenue.
How far does the library's service area extend?
The Jay C. Byers Memorial Library serves all of Pawnee County and anyone living within 20 miles of Cleveland. Library cards are free with proof of a current local address.
Does the library offer any tutoring or career support services?
Yes. Through Brainfuse, library cardholders have free access to HelpNow (live online tutoring and homework help), JobNow (job-search coaching and resume review), and VetNow (support services for veterans) — all available 24/7 with a valid library card.
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