Bowie Public Library
🏢 City of Bowie · Bowie, Texas
Bowie Public Library
Serving Montague County since 1920, when the Thursday Club started the library with donated books, the Bowie Public Library — formally the Faye Ruth Shaw Memorial Library — occupies a building dedicated in 1972 in memory of a beloved local schoolteacher. With 32,000+ items and TexShare database access, it remains the primary public library resource for the North Texas ranch and farm country around Bowie.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–5pm |
| Thursday | 9am–5pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 301 Walnut Street, Bowie, TX 76230
Phone: (940) 872-2681
Website: bowiepubliclibrary.com
Plus Code: 8654H46X+JX (Bowie, TX)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Bowie Public Library
The Bowie Public Library, officially the Faye Ruth Shaw Memorial Library, serves the city of Bowie and greater Montague County in north-central Texas, about 80 miles northwest of Fort Worth. Library service in Bowie began around 1920, organized by the Thursday Club, whose members built the collection through donations and community fundraising. In 1972 the library moved into its current building after Marvin Shaw donated funds to memorialize his late wife Faye Ruth Shaw, a longtime Bowie public school teacher, and the building was dedicated on June 25, 1972. Today the library holds more than 32,000 items across print, audiobooks, DVDs, video games, board games, eBooks, and magazines. Genealogy and local history materials trace the stories of Montague County families and the city of Bowie, and the collection includes archives accessible through the UNT Portal to Texas History. Cardholders have access to TexShare databases — state-funded resources covering magazine articles, encyclopedias, business data, and more — plus Libby for digital books and audiobooks. The Friends of the Library, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, supports programming and events throughout the year.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Library service in Bowie since 1920 — organized by the Thursday Club and rooted in community giving
- Formally the Faye Ruth Shaw Memorial Library, dedicated June 25, 1972, in memory of a beloved Bowie schoolteacher
- More than 32,000 items including books, audiobooks, DVDs, video games, board games, and digital resources
- Montague County genealogy and local history collection, with archives on the UNT Portal to Texas History
- TexShare database access: state-funded magazine, encyclopedia, and research databases for all cardholders
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
A Bowie Public Library card provides access to TexShare statewide databases and digital media platforms at no charge:
📚 Services
- Public computers and free Wi-Fi
- Printing, faxing, and copying services
- Montague County genealogy and local history collection
- Interlibrary loan for items not in the local collection
- Book, movie, and media donations accepted (preferably Fridays)
- Reference and reader's advisory assistance
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes and youth programs
- Summer reading club for all ages
- Art receptions and community exhibits
- Friends of the Library events (monthly meetings, September–May)
- Adult programs and community gatherings
📍 Nearby Libraries in North Texas
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the history of the Bowie Public Library?
Library service in Bowie began around 1920 when the Thursday Club organized a community lending collection. The library grew over decades and in 1972 moved into its current building, which was dedicated on June 25, 1972, as the Faye Ruth Shaw Memorial Library after Marvin Shaw donated funds to memorialize his late wife — a beloved Bowie public school teacher.
What are the library's hours?
The library is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed Saturday and Sunday, and also closed on major holidays including New Year's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, and Thanksgiving week. Public computers and printing close 15 minutes before closing.
Does the library have genealogy or local history resources for Montague County?
Yes. The library maintains a genealogy and local history collection with records and materials relating to Montague County families and the city of Bowie. Historical Bowie and Montague County newspapers are also accessible through the University of North Texas's Portal to Texas History, which digitizes records from libraries and archives across the state.
What digital resources are available with a Bowie library card?
Cardholders can access TexShare databases — a state-funded suite of magazine and reference databases — plus Libby by OverDrive for downloadable eBooks and audiobooks, and LearningExpress Library for test preparation and career-building tools. Contact the library for the current Libby access instructions.
📜 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 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.
✎ Notice something out of date? Suggest a correction and we’ll verify and update it.